Caspian public university academic policy

11. Final assessment of postgraduate students

Master’s and PhD programs

11.1 Final assessment of the university Master’s and PhD program students is carried out in accordance with the State Educational Standard in the form of passing a complex exam and defending a Master's thesis (project) or PhD thesis in accordance with the academic calendar and approved curricula of educational fields.

11.2 In order to hold a complex exam for Master's and PhD program students, the university forms a SQB in the areas of postgraduate education. By November 1 of this year, the deans submit nominations of the SQB chairmen from among persons with a degree, or a scientific title, or a Ph.D. to the Academic Department. The potential candidates should correspond to the profile of training areas, and not working in this organization. The chairman and the composition of the SQB are approved by the rector order on the basis of the University Board of Studies decision no later than December 1 of the current academic year and are valid for the next calendar year. The quantitative composition of the SQB is determined by the university.
11.3 The SQB includes the following members:
- for the Master's degree specialties - persons with a degree, or a scientific title, or an academic degree corresponding to the profile of graduates; For specialized Master’s program - qualified specialists-expert corresponding to the profile of trained specialists;
- for the PhD degree specialties - persons with a doctor’s degree, a scientific title and a Ph.D., corresponding to the profile of graduates.
11.4 The final assessment is allowed for students who have fully completed the educational process in accordance with the requirements of the educational program, approved working and individual curricula and academic course working program. Admission to the final assessment of Master’s and PhD program students is carried out on the dean’s application and is drawn up by the rector order according to the list no later than two weeks before the start of the final assessment. A graduate student who has not fulfilled the requirements of the educational program, working and individual curricula and academic course working program remains for re-course without completing the summer semester.
11.5 The schedule of the SQB work is drawn up by the deans’ offices with the approval of the chairman and members of the commission, approved by the rector and brought to the general attention no later than two weeks before the start of the work of the SQB.
11.6 Based on the schedule, a time-table is drawn up with the name of the graduate and the appointment of the examination/thesis defense day, signed by the dean.
11.7 The appointment of the supervisor and the topic of Master's thesis (projects) is approved by the rector’s order during the first three months of study on the basis of the Board of Studies decision. Reviewers of Master's thesis (projects) are approved by the rector’s order by a general list on the application of the EP Leader. The place of work, position and education (academic or academic degree in a specialty, basic education in a diploma of higher education) should be indicated. The application must be presented until February 1 of the current academic year.
11.8 Review of Master's theses (project) is carried out only by external specialists with degrees, academic titles, an academic degree of Ph.D, a doctor in profile or a qualified specialist from third-party organizations whose qualification corresponds to the profile of the defended Master's thesis (project).
11.9 The program of the complex examination, the form of its conduct and the content of the tasks are developed by the university independently on the basis of the study courses included in this complex examination. The complex examination for the specialty includes the disciplines of the basic and profile disciplines cycles of the Master's or PhD educational program.
11.10 The complex examination is accepted:
- not later than 1 month prior to the defence of the Master's thesis/project;
- not later than 3 months before the defence of the PhD thesis.
11.11 The results of the complex exam are drawn up by a minute, which is filled out individually for each Master's or PhD educational program student. The minutes of the SQB meeting are kept by its secretary, approved as part of the SQB.
11.12 If the assessment is positive, repassing of the complex examination is not allowed in order to increase it to a higher one.
11.13 The student, who does not agree with the result of the complex examination, shall appeal no later than the next working day after its holding. The appeal commission is created from among experienced teachers whose qualification corresponds to the profile of the training field by the university rector’s order for considering appeals.
11.14 Students who receive an "unsatisfactory" rating at the complex assessment are expelled from the university by the rector’s order, as having not completed their studies with the issuance of the established model certificate issued to citizens who have not completed their education, in the form approved by Order No. 289.
11.15 A Master's program student or PhD program student who did not appear for a complex exam for a good reason writes an application addressed to the chairman of the SQB, submits a document confirming a good reason and can pass the exam on another day of the Board’s meeting. A Master's or PhD program student who has passed a complex examination with a positive assessment is allowed to defend a Master's/PhD thesis.
11.16 The persons who have received "unsatisfactory" rating are not allowed to re-pass the complex examination during this period of final assessment of Master's or PhD programs.
11.17 To re-pass the final assessment, the student expelled from the university writes an application addressed to the university rector in order to get the permission to be admitted to another final assessment. It should be done not later than one month before the start of the final assessment of the next academic year. Admission to another final assessment is issued by the rector order. Students are allowed to re-complete the assessment only on a paid basis.
11.18 Master’s or PhD program student who passed the complex examination is allowed to defend a Master's thesis (project) or PhD thesis. Admission to the defence of Master's thesis (project) or PhD thesis is drawn up by the rector’s order basing on the SQB chairman’s application on the passing of the complex exam and an extract from the Board’s meeting decision signed by the dean.
11.19 A master's student is allowed to defend the thesis if there is at least one publication on the topic of a thesis (project) in scientific outlets, journals or in the materials of an international or republican scientific conference. At least 7 (seven) scientific papers should be published on the topic of the PhD thesis. Master's thesis (projects) and PhD thesis are mandatory checked by the university for plagiarism before defence.
11.20 The Master’s program student defenses the Master’s thesis (project) if there is a positive feedback from the supervisor and one expert review corresponding to the profile of the thesis (project). If the supervisor gives a negative conclusion "not allowed for defence," the Master’s program student is not allowed to defense the thesis (project). The student is allowed to defense the thesis (project) both in case of positive and negative conclusion of the reviewer.
11.21 The defense of the Master's thesis (project) is carried out at an open meeting of the SQB. The defense of the PhD thesis is carried out at a meeting of the Thesis Board.
11.22 Based on the results of the complex exam and the defense of the Master's thesis (project), assessments are made according to the point-rating system for assessing the knowledge of students, taking into account the level of theoretical, scientific and practical training of the student, as well as the feedback of the supervisor and reviewer.
11.23 Master’s and PhD program students who have completed the full course of theoretical education of the educational program, but have not completed the research (experimental research) component, are given the opportunity to re-master the credits of the research component and defend the thesis the next academic year on a paid basis. At the same time, only unstudied credits of the research (experimental) component are payable.
11.24 Master’s program students who have passed the final assessment and confirmed the mastery of the corresponding educational program are awarded Master's degree for the corresponding specialty and a state diploma with an appendix is issued.
11.25 PhD program students who have passed the final assessment and confirmed the mastering of the corresponding professional PhD program curriculum are awarded the degree "Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)" at the request of the Thesis Board of CCFES MES RK.
11.26 The main criterion for the completion of the educational process for the training of Master’s and PhD program student or a doctor in profile is the mastery of the educational program in the amount provided for by the State Educational Standard of postgraduate education.
11.27 In case of early completion of the Master's program and successful defence of the thesis, the student is awarded an academic Master's degree regardless of the study term.
11.28 In case of early mastering of the PhD educational program and successful defence of the thesis and the Thesis Board request approved by the CCFES MES RK to award the PhD program student a degree, the student can be awarded the PhD degree regardless of the study term.
11.29 At the end of the SQB work, its chairman writes a report on the final assessment of postgraduates. It is discussed and approved at the University Board of Studies meeting within a month from the last day of SQB work.
11.30 Based on the results of the final assessment, the order is issued by the rector on the graduation of Master’s program students who completed their studies in the corresponding Master’s educational program and successfully passed the final assessment, with the award of the "Master’s degrees" in the corresponding training fields a state diploma with an appendix is issued.
11.31 Master’s program student who failed to meet program’s educational requirements
is expelled from the university by the university rector’s order as not having completed his/her training with the issuance of the established model certificate issued to citizens who have not completed their education, in the form approved by Order No. 289.
11.32 The list of Master’s program graduates who have completed the corresponding educational programs, indicating their name, first name, middle name (if any), specialties and numbers of diplomas signed by the rector of the university, is submitted to the authorized body in the field of education within a month after the day of the graduation order.
11.33 Graduates of accredited specialties are entitled to the European Diploma Supplement on a paid basis.
11.34 The PhD thesis defence’s organization and conduct is carried out in accordance with the Rules for awarding academic degrees, approved by order of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 31, 2011 No. 127 (with amendments and additions from 30.04.2020 №170).