The training of higher education applicants for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Sciences at the National Aerospace University "KhAI" is conducted through postgraduate and doctoral programs in accordance with the "Procedure for Training Higher Education Applicants for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Sciences in Higher Education Institutions," approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated March 23, 2016, No. 261.

According to the Law of Ukraine "On Higher Education," postgraduate training, starting from 2016, has been aligned with the European standard of the third cycle of higher education. In particular, an educational component for training at the educational-scientific level – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – has been introduced, which was not included in the previous model of training research and academic staff in postgraduate studies.

Training of higher education applicants for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in postgraduate studies is carried out according to an educational-scientific program and curriculum approved by the Academic Council of the University for each specialty. The educational-scientific program and postgraduate curriculum consist of educational and research components.

In accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Higher Education," the duration of postgraduate studies is four years.

All postgraduate students, regardless of the form of study, are required to attend classroom sessions and complete all forms of current and final assessments provided in the individual curriculum of the postgraduate student and the University’s educational-scientific program.

A mandatory condition for admission to the dissertation defense is the successful completion of the individual curriculum by the postgraduate student.

The dissertation defense is mandatory during the period of postgraduate studies (within 4 years). Postgraduate studies may be full-time (day), evening, or part-time. However, for part-time postgraduate studies, according to Clause 31 of the Procedure for Training Higher Education Applicants for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, no state-funded positions are provided.

For obtaining the degree of Doctor of Sciences, i.e., completing certain research and formalizing its results and preparing publications required for the dissertation defense, a person has the right to enter a doctoral program of a higher education institution. Doctoral training lasts for 2 years.

Since 2016, postgraduate studies are mandatory for all persons preparing a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, except for those conducting scientific work at a higher education institution or research institution. Such persons may obtain the degree of Doctor of Philosophy without entering postgraduate studies, but only in the specialty for which their workplace holds a valid postgraduate license (Clause 34 of the Procedure for Training Higher Education Applicants for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy).

A postgraduate or doctoral student who defends their dissertation before the completion of the standard period of study in the postgraduate or doctoral program has the right, at their discretion, to:

- receive a one-time payment of the remaining scholarship amount allocated in the higher education institution’s budget for the respective calendar year and, upon their request, be dismissed from the postgraduate or doctoral program;

- request a paid academic leave for the period remaining until the end of the normative duration of postgraduate or doctoral studies.

If a postgraduate student defends their dissertation in the second or third year of postgraduate studies and is elected through a competitive process to the corresponding position of a research (academic) staff member at the same higher education institution, the total amount of the remaining scholarship is accrued as a monthly supplement to their salary.

Features of Training

In order to conduct proper research, postgraduate and doctoral students have the right to:

a) academic mobility, implemented in accordance with the "Regulations on the Procedure for Exercising the Right to Academic Mobility," approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated August 12, 2015, No. 5794;

b) academic leave, including for health reasons, pregnancy and childbirth, childcare up to the child reaching three years of age, in accordance with the legislation.