According to the Regulations on the training of scientific, pedagogical and scientific personnel in the system of postgraduate professional education in the Russian Federation, passing candidate exams is necessary both for obtaining the degree of candidate of science, and for those applicants for the degree of doctor of science who do not have the degree of candidate of science .

So passing the candidate's exams - or the candidate's minimum - is important in any case.

Why do you need a candidate minimum?

The candidate minimum allows you to determine how ready a person is for independent research work. This is one of the most important stages, which reflects all the essential stages of postgraduate study.

Expert opinion

During certification, each stage from this plan is included in the assessment of the department, and therefore, without a candidate's minimum, one cannot, in principle, qualify for successful certification.

Nina Kuznetsova

Project Expert

In what disciplines do they pass the minimum?

There are three main disciplines in which candidate exams are taken. This is:

• foreign language;
• History and philosophy of science;
• special discipline.

The first two exams can be taken while still studying at the magistracy. Then the graduate student may not attend classes in these disciplines (of course, in case of successful passing of the exams).

Expert opinion

The decision to attend or miss classes in these disciplines is then optional and is at the discretion of the graduate student.

Nina Kuznetsova

Project Expert

When is an applicant allowed to take these exams?

There are several conditions that determine the admission of the applicant to pass the listed exams:

• To pass the PhD exam in a foreign language, you must first prepare an abstract on a pre-selected dissertation topic in a foreign language.

It's not like that everywhere. In many universities, admission to the exam is the delivery of 300 thousand characters of oral translation plus written translation. All this must be formalized in a strict form and naturally within a certain period of time.

• To pass the PhD exam in the history and philosophy of science, you must first prepare an essay on the history of the branch of science chosen by the applicant - and get a credit for this essay.

• To pass an exam in a special discipline, it is necessary that at least one article on the subject of the applicant's dissertation (preferably at least two), as well as at least a couple of chapters of the dissertation itself, be published in the journals from the VAK list.

When each of these exams is passed, the applicant is issued a special certificate for that exam. When the last exam is passed, these certificates are replaced by one, unified, confirming the successful passing of candidate exams.

Important to remember!

If the university where the postgraduate student is being trained cannot take candidate exams, this does not cancel their passing - it simply changes the approach to it.

This institution may apply for a PhD student to pass the PhD minimum at another institution of higher education. Then the surrender takes place in another university, but the results are still taken into account to the exact same extent as if the surrender took place directly in the applicant's "native" educational institution.

If you are an applicant for an academic degree, sooner or later you will face the question of passing candidate exams or, as they are also called, “candidate minimum”.

Attachment for passing the candidate minimum

Validity of candidate exams

Often, an applicant who passed the PhD minimum some time ago (maybe several years) is faced with doubts about "shelf life" at the candidate's exams .

Thus, we can state with confidence that the candidate exams expiration dates Dont Have ! The basis for such a statement is the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation of October 8, 2007 N 274 "On approval of programs for candidate examinations"

Certificate of passing candidate exams

Upon completion of the candidate's examinations, the postgraduate student receives document about the results of the exams.

You can contact us for help in writing an essay, translating a text, selecting literature, as well as in writing a review, a review by a manager.

Frequently asked Questions

1. Good day! I have a problem with the transfer of candidate exams in another specialty. When I entered the scientific hand, I was put into a state-funded place in another specialty, then they assured me that this was not a problem. Passed the exams. Scientific guide died, the faculty was disbanded, the university stopped training in my direction. As a result, I have a certificate of passing exams in the specialty 12.00.01 IFN, FL and in the specialty 23.00.02. When applying for an attachment in another organization, they refused to accept the certificate, arguing that the Higher Attestation Commission would not accept it. Is it possible to correct the situation in any way?

Answer:
Good afternoon!
You need to pass exams in the specialty in which the defense is planned. To do this, you need to come to any educational institution where there is a specialty on 12.00.01, and attach yourself to pass the candidate.

2. Hello, please explain this situation. I passed the exams for the candidate's minimum in 1996 - philosophy, in 1997 - pedagogy, in 1998 - German. Passed successfully. But he failed to defend his dissertation. Are the test results valid now? Thank you.
Answer:

Good afternoon!
In accordance with paragraph 2 of the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated October 8, 2007 No. 274 (registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia on October 19, 2007 No. 10363), the results of candidate exams passed before the entry into force of the said order are valid indefinitely. It should be taken into account that instead of the exam in philosophy, an exam in the history and philosophy of science was introduced. Mutual offset of these disciplines is impossible.
The candidate exam in a special discipline is considered valid if the specialty in the Nomenclature has not changed after the entry into force of the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated February 25, 2009 No. 59 "On Approval of the Nomenclature of Specialties of Scientific Workers" (registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia on March 20, 2009 No. 13561) or has undergone only editorial changes, or the cipher of the specialty has been changed (letter of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated July 12, 2011 No. SI-754/04 “On candidate exams”).

Question. I live in Kazakhstan. Can I take Russian as a foreign language? About ten years ago, I passed the candidate minimum in all subjects: foreign, philosophy and specialty (musicology). Can I protect them? Thank you!

Answer. In accordance with the minimum candidate examination program, it is not prohibited to take Russian as a foreign language.

Candidate exams do not expire. The basis for such a statement is the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation of October 8, 2007 N 274 “On Approval of Candidate Examination Programs”.

Question. I am an applicant for a department in a veterinary academy. Say:

• exam in the specialty I will have this discipline or a whole direction, which includes anatomy and therapy;
• if I don't defend my dissertation when I graduate (this spring), what does it mean and is it possible to defend it later?

Answer. Candidate exams are taken in accordance with the scientific specialty (scientific specialties) and the branch of science provided for by the nomenclature of scientific specialties, for which academic degrees are awarded, approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (hereinafter, respectively - the scientific specialty, nomenclature), for which training is carried out ( prepared) dissertation.

Doesn't threaten anything. You can defend your dissertation when you are ready for it. It doesn't really matter how long it takes.

Question. Tell me, please, what candidate exams should be passed to prepare a dissertation in the specialty 22.00.08?

Answer. Candidate exams are taken in three exams: English, philosophy and history of science and specialty. In your case, the specialty is Sociology of Management.

Question. Tell me, in 2010 I passed the candidate exams, now I want to defend myself, do they pass?
Answer. Candidate exams do not have an expiration date. All the changes that were associated with them were introduced before 2010.

Question. I have been taking exams for a candidate minimum for a long time, if the document is lost, do I have to take it again?

Answer. In accordance with the Letter of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation dated October 28, 2014 No. 13-4139 “On confirmation of the results of candidate exams”, in case of loss of previously obtained certificates, the organization, upon a written application from applicants for academic degrees, has the right to make duplicates of the required certificates. A duplicate certificate of the results of candidate exams can be issued by the organization on the current date at the time of request and is valid for an unlimited period of validity.

Question. Hello! Last year, I passed the candidate's minimum exams in the specialty "microbiology" - English. history and philosophy of science, microbiology. However, I was given certificates of passing them separately, and in front of the exam column "history and philosophy of science" they wrote (biological sciences), in front of the exam in the specialty they did not write anything. I was told at work that this is wrong, what should I do?

Answer. On the basis of Letter No. 13-4139 of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation dated October 28, 2014 "On confirmation of the results of candidate exams", persons who passed candidate exams on July 13, 2014 and later are issued a certificate of training (study period) according to the model established by the organization that takes candidate exams. There is no single sample and requirements for issuing a certificate. Therefore, your certificate is valid in the form in which it is.

Question. Please tell me, can a citizen of Kazakhstan pass his language as a foreign language at a Russian university?

Answer. Nowhere is it written that the exam in a foreign language should be held in English or German. But there are difficulties. You need to find a university where there is a commission authorized to take a candidate exam in the Kazakh language.

Candidate examinations are part of the preparation for the defense of a dissertation. Their delivery is regulated by the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation of March 28, 2014 No. 247. The candidate minimum consists of three exams:

• Special discipline

It is determined by the topic of the dissertation. In accordance with it, the code and name of the direction of training, the code and name of the scientific specialty and the name of the scientific branch are established. The nomenclature of scientific specialties was approved by the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation of October 23, 2017 No. 1027.

• History and philosophy of science

A graduate student should be familiar with the general and particular problems of the philosophy of science, as well as know the history of the scientific development of the chosen specialty.

• Foreign language

The PhD student must be fluent in one of the following languages: English, German, French or Spanish. His knowledge should allow him to work in a foreign language environment. Speech, auditory perception (listening), writing and reading are assessed.

Who is eligible to take the candidate exams

Anyone who has a higher education, with a specialist or master's degree can pass the candidate's minimum.

Full-time graduate students usually take these exams in their second year of study. If the applicant is not studying in graduate school, he can do this at any convenient time.

The condition for admission to candidate exams is attachment to an accredited organization and submission of all necessary documents.

Where to take exams

In a special discipline, exams are taken at an institution that has postgraduate studies in the chosen direction. The same applies to cases when the applicant, as a special discipline, passes philosophy or a foreign language.

An exam in a foreign language and the history and philosophy of science for graduate students is also held on the basis of their institution. For applicants who are not studying in graduate school, it is necessary to attach to an organization that has the right to take such examinations. An application for attachment for passing the candidate minimum is submitted by the institution on the basis of which the applicant defends himself.

Such organizations should have independent departments of philosophy or foreign languages. To accept the candidate minimum, they must have special accreditation. All issues related to attaching and passing exams are usually easily resolved with the help of a supervisor.

The procedure for conducting candidate examinations

After attaching to the desired organization, you must pass exams within the next six months. They are usually held in spring and autumn. If the applicant has not passed the test, he will have to re-register all the documents and re-attach to the scientific institution.

Any such examination is administered by a committee of at least two persons, one of whom is a Ph.D. in that specialty.

The training program was approved by the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation dated 08.10.07 No. 274. However, these are only standard questions, and each department can independently supplement them, as well as choose the form of conduct (tickets, interviews, etc.). Therefore, it is necessary for a department not chosen in advance to find out exactly how the exam is conducted, and to take the necessary materials (tickets, questions, methodological recommendations, etc.).

The list and features of passing the exams of the candidate's minimum

The candidate minimum includes 3 exams:

Special discipline

It is rented according to the minimum program reflected in Order No. 274, and according to the program approved by a particular department. It may include both written assignments (tests, essay), and an interview in a free form and / or on tickets.

History and philosophy of science

It is given in three sections: general problems of the philosophy of science, philosophical problems of the chosen scientific branch and its history. It usually takes the form of a regular oral ticket exam.

Foreign language

First, the text is translated from a foreign language into the language of instruction. Its volume is 15 thousand characters (about 7 pages of text). The translation provided by the applicant is checked, and then the second part of the exam, the oral one, passes. It includes reading and retelling a text of 3000 characters for 40-60 minutes (for the humanities, the retelling is in a foreign language, for others - in the language of instruction), as well as viewing and retelling a short text of 1500 characters in 2-3 minutes with those the same requirements. Then the commission can talk with the applicant in a foreign language on issues related to his specialty.

What documents are required to pass the candidate minimum

The list of such documents must be specified at a particular department. Usually this:

• a copy of the diploma of higher education;
• copy of the passport;
• application for permission to take the exam;
• application of the sending organization (if it is necessary for attachment);
• the required written work (abstract, translation, etc.), the list of which must be clarified in advance.

Other documents may be required at the department, usually this does not cause any difficulties for the applicant.

Reception of documents and passing of candidate examinations is carried out free of charge.

Grades when passing the candidate's minimum are set, but the task of passing it as "excellent" is not for the applicant. However, in order to successfully pass the exam, it is recommended that you carefully prepare for it.

Philosophy and history of science

Often in the departments of philosophy, graduate students are invited to listen to the appropriate course of lectures, which are desirable to attend; You can also purchase methodological materials or find them yourself on the Internet. Usually, to pass the exam, you need to write an essay on one of the proposed topics. You can do it yourself or, for example, seek help from specialists.

Foreign language

For graduate students, special courses are organized to prepare for the exam, which include lectures, seminars, independent work on translating texts, compiling an abstract in the chosen specialty, and writing original articles. Applicants who are not studying in graduate school should take the questions and requirements for the exam from the appropriate department. For successful delivery, it is necessary to correctly complete more than half of each of the proposed tasks (retelling the text and talking with the examiner).

Passing a foreign language can be difficult if the applicant does not speak it well. In this case, additional lessons with the teacher are necessary. The best option would be to apply for tutoring services to one of the employees of the department where the exam will be taken.

If the candidate minimum failed

Candidate exams can be taken once every six months. Therefore, in case of failure, there is no particular reason to panic. The main thing is that you need to have a margin of time, so you need to take care of the preparation and delivery of the candidate's minimum immediately after starting work on your dissertation.

Validity of candidate exams

Once passed, the exam no longer requires a retake and is valid indefinitely. According to its results, the applicant is issued an appropriate protocol. After passing all three exams, such intermediate documents are replaced by a final certificate (previously - a certificate).

Its form is not specifically fixed, each department determines the type of such a document independently. However, it must bear the signatures of the chairman of the commission, the head of the graduate school, and the seal of the institution that took the exam.

To pass candidate exams, persons who are not studying at the North-Eastern Federal University named after M.K. To do this, it is necessary to submit the following documents to the educational and methodological department of the DOKO:

2. Passport (copy, original);

3. Diploma specialist or master(copy, original);

4. Photo 3 * 4 2pcs, one photo is attached to the application form, the second - for a temporary pass. University staff must provide 1 photo.

5. Certificate of passing candidate exams, when passing earlier candidate exams in other organizations, passing a candidate exam in the specialty.

6. A copy of the certificate of change of surname / name, if necessary

When submitting an application, the applicant is obliged to familiarize himself with the Charter of the NEFU, the Regulations on the procedure for attaching persons to pass the candidate's exam, pass the candidate's exams and their list.

Attachment of external students is carried out according to the programs of areas of training for a period no more than 6 months. Candidate exams are held within the framework of the winter examination session (December), the summer examination session (May) of the examination commission approved by the order of the University, consisting of candidates and doctors of science.

Candidate's exam in the discipline "History and Philosophy of Science". For admission to the exam, you must pass an essay on a given topic, close to the topic of a scientific dissertation.

Candidate exam in the discipline "Foreign language". In a foreign language, an interview is scheduled to assess the level of foreign language proficiency, if the level of language proficiency allows the applicant to prepare independently - he is attached as an external student and given a task for independent work (translation of a monograph, a terminological dictionary), if the level of language proficiency is insufficient - the applicant is recommended to take courses preparation for the candidate exam. A foreign language is chosen at the discretion of the applicant: English, French, German.

PhD exam in the discipline of a scientific specialty. To be admitted to the exam, it is necessary to pass candidate exams in the disciplines "History and Philosophy of Science", "Foreign Language". If you have previously passed the candidate's exam in the discipline "Philosophy", this exam must be retaken in the "History and Philosophy of Science". The department, together with the external student and his supervisor, develop and approve an additional work program, the department provides a memo and an idea of ​​​​the admission of the external student to pass the candidate's exam.

Passing the candidate's exam for external students involves self-study of the course, if you doubt your own preparation, we are ready to offer you courses to prepare for the candidate's exams. Courses to prepare for the PhD exam in the discipline "History and Philosophy of Science" is 56 academic hours, a group of 5 people, duration - 1 semester, cost - 13300 rubles. Courses to prepare for the candidate's exam in the discipline "Foreign language" is 144 academic hours, a group of 5 people, duration - 2 semesters, cost - 28800 rubles.

Certificate of passing candidate exams is prepared up to 14 days depending on the workload of the department. If the candidate exams were passed in 2011 and later, the protocols for passing the candidate exam are stored in the educational and methodological department of the DOKO. If the candidate exams were passed in 2010 or earlier, a copy of the protocols for passing the candidate exams must be provided. You can get a copy of the protocol in the NEFU archive at: st. Kurashova, 30/4 (area of ​​the shopping center "Vector"). If the candidate exams were passed in other organizations, you must provide the original certificate of passing the candidate exams of another organization.

Address: st. Kulakovsky, d.42 (GUK), 1st floor, office. 128

According to the regulation on postgraduate education, all applicants for the degree of candidate or doctor of science must pass the candidate's examination. The purpose of such examinations is to determine the level of preparation of a graduate student for conducting independent scientific work.

What is the candidate minimum?

The candidate minimum is certification in three subjects: English language, philosophy and specialties. In some cases, if the topic of the dissertation does not coincide with the specialty of the applicant, he also takes an additional exam on it.

The prerequisites for passing the candidate minimum are:

• According to the profile specialty - in the printed publications included in the list of the Higher Attestation Commission. The graduate student must also prepare the first 2 chapters of the future dissertation.
• On the history and philosophy of science - preparing an essay and passing a test on this subject.
• In a foreign language - on the topic of a future scientific qualification work, written in English or another foreign language.

You can take exams at a university that has the appropriate accreditation. If the educational institution is not included in this list, the Academic Council submits a petition to another university or research institute that accepts candidate exams.

What do you need to pass the candidate minimum exams?

Preparation for certification in three disciplines involves independent work and the study of scientific literature. You can pass the candidate minimum in philosophy and English while still studying at the master's program - this gives you the right to enter graduate school without an exam in these subjects.

Who does not pass the candidate minimum?

Passing the subject in graduate school exempts from compulsory classes in philosophy and a foreign language. The following persons are exempted from passing the candidate minimum:

• having a degree,
• working as assistant professor
• preparing for the defense of a doctoral dissertation.

For graduate students, the time of certification according to K.m. not limited. After passing each exam, a certificate is issued, which has no statute of limitations. The implementation of the minimum program involves obtaining a single certificate necessary to protect the scientific qualification work. The future scientist needs to decide in advance on the topic of the dissertation. If it does not coincide with the specialty received, a retake of the exam in this subject will be required, which is important when planning further education. K.m. in philosophy and English is the same for all areas, so you will not need to retake it in the future.

Features of training in three subjects require compliance with the following instructions:

• The first is the history of philosophy and science. To obtain admission, the applicant must submit an abstract with the mark of the supervisor and his review. Only if you receive a satisfactory grade, you can start preparing for the next stage of the exam.
• The second exam, which is mandatory for a graduate student or applicant, is a foreign language. The minimum requirement for it is the translation of a text related to the specialty in which the dissertation is being written. The text should be in the form of an abstract, the volume of which exceeds 200,000 characters (one page in Word is about 2.5 thousand characters). One of their teachers from the Department of Foreign Languages ​​leaves his review.
• To pass the last subject - a specialty, you must write an application with a request to allow the applicant to the candidate's minimum exam. If a satisfactory grade has not been obtained, the graduate student may retake the exam.

Personal training includes the study of literary sources, the authors of which belong to different "schools". This allows you to gain extensive knowledge, deeply study the material.

What documents are required to pass the candidate minimum

Certification of applicants is carried out in an educational institution that has the appropriate accreditation. Exams are taken 2 times a year during examination sessions. Within the terms approved in the order of the rector, the following documents must be drawn up:

1. The head of the department must submit memos with a request to form a commission and indicate the date of the examinations.
2. Memo on the approval of an additional program for the delivery of K.m. The document is endorsed by the head of the department, secretary and chairman of the Academic Council.
3. Service note head. department of a foreign language, containing recommendations on the inclusion of university employees with a specialty "foreign language" in the Academic Council.
4. Application for admission to the exams in K.m. The document is drawn up on a special form, in a strictly prescribed form, after which it must be endorsed by the supervisor. If such an exam is taken at another educational institution, the application is endorsed by the secretary of the dissertation council or its chairman. The graduate student must submit the document for consideration in person.

The candidate examination program is approved by the Ministry of Education of Russia, the terms of the candidate minimum - by the university or research institute.

Need help writing a research paper?

Where and how are exams taken?

Attestation of applicants for a scientific degree is carried out in a higher educational institution that has state accreditation or a license to conduct postgraduate education.

Specialty exam(standard minimum program) are taken in universities and organizations with relevant postgraduate studies.

There is no big difference in which university to take the candidate's minimum. It is enough to apply to the university where there is a postgraduate study in your specialty. You can find out on the official website of the university. The easiest option is to pass the candidate's minimum where you studied and completed graduate school.

In the past, an exam in a specialty could only be taken at the university where the defense of a scientific and qualification work was planned.

At the moment, the seeker has the right to pass the candidate minimum in one organization, and defend a dissertation in another, which is not a violation.

To pass the exam in the specialty, the applicant presents two copies of certificates of a positive assessment in English (or another foreign language) and philosophy, for sending a copy of them to the Higher Attestation Commission. The originals are attached to the file and kept in the attestation commission.

Features of passing the candidate minimum in various subjects

Certification in the main disciplines is carried out in universities that have independent departments of philosophy, a foreign language and postgraduate studies in a particular specialty. The staff of such higher educational institutions or organizations must have candidates of sciences and at least one doctor of sciences.

To successfully pass the exams in various specialties, you must:

• In philosophy - the presence of an essay with a review, attendance at scientific seminars and classes on the subject. The applicant must submit an application for the department no later than one and a half months before the start of certification. The minimum program includes 84 questions on philosophy and history of science common to all specialties. To receive a certificate, you must earn a satisfactory grade.
• Candidate's minimum in a foreign language is reading and interpreting a text of 250,000 characters. The examinee is allowed to use a glossary of terms compiled by himself. Before passing the exam, it is necessary to receive a review of an abstract in English, as well as publish 2 articles. Written translation of the text of 2 thousand characters is performed.
• By specialty - the exam is taken according to a standard program developed at the department of the university and approved by the Ministry of Education, as well as according to an additional program developed on the basis of a dissertation research. If it is necessary to retake an exam in a specialty related to the topic of the dissertation, it must be passed before submitting documents to the Academic Council of the university. Article about.

Successful completion of the candidate minimum and obtaining a certificate allows the applicant to obtain admission to the future, build a successful career and contribute to the development of science.