Research Plan

How do you build a PhD dissertation plan?

A plan covers the literature review, methodology, data collection, writing and defence. From 1 January 2027 topic registration and the OAK decision are abolished, so a candidate defending after that date does not see those deadlines on the timeline. Publications are not a separate stage — they run in parallel throughout, because review at OAK journals takes months. That is why this timeline shows them on their own row.

OAK requirements: how many articles do you need?

Under OAK Presidium Regulation No. 2894, registered on 23 June 2017, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) must publish at least 7 scientific works before defending: 3 of them articles in OAK-listed journals (at least 1 in a prestigious foreign journal) and 2 international conference materials. For a Doctor of Sciences (DSc) the figures are 15 works, 10 journal articles and 2 conference materials. DSc candidates in the social sciences and humanities must additionally publish a monograph.

Source: OAK Presidium Regulation No. 2894 — lex.uz 2894

How does a DSc plan differ from a PhD plan?

A DSc plan is longer and has one extra phase. Data collection and publications both expand, because 10 journal articles take considerably longer than 3. In the social sciences and humanities a monograph phase is added. The OAK decision also takes longer — roughly 60 days for a PhD and 90 for a DSc.

How do I get the timeline as a Word file?

Once your plan is built, choose the Word document from the Download menu. The file follows OAK document conventions: an approval block, a general-information table, the schedule, per-phase tasks, milestones with a signature column, and the publication plan. You can print it and hand it in directly.

For independent researchers

Independent researchers keep the PhD phases over a longer period. For work outside the OAK route there are 8 methodology templates: empirical, survey, systematic review, case study, qualitative, mixed methods, computational and design-based.