Organisation of doctoral studies

According to the Education Code, the third-cycle (PhD) programmes refer to the higher education  ISCED level 8 (European Qualification Framework) and are aligned to the level 8 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). At the end of the programme, after successfully defending the doctoral thesis, students are awarded the PhD degree diploma in the respective field(s) of study.

According to the Science and Innovation Code, the confirmation of the title and the issuing of the PhD degree diploma are carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC).

The doctoral degree confers the right to enrol in postdoctoral programmes.

Doctoral higher education programmes are organised in doctoral schools.

The 6 scientific fields are established by the Government Decision “The nomenclature of scientific specialties”:

01 Natural sciences

02 Engineering sciences and technologies

03 Medical sciences

04 Agricultural sciences

05 Social and economic sciences

06 Humanistic sciences

The alignment between scientific fields in Doctoral programmes (III cycle) and study fields in Bachelor’s and Master's programmes (I and II cycles) is determined by the Ministry of Education and Research.

The length of Doctoral higher education programmes is 180 ECTS credits. The duration of studies is 3 academic years. In the fields of human medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture, biological and pharmaceutical sciences, the duration of the doctoral programme is 4 years. 

The allocation of ECTS credits is established by the Council of the Doctoral School and approved by the Scientific Council of the institution, which organises higher doctoral studies. 

The following branches of studies are aligned to the European Union regulations: Architecture; Veterinary Medicine; Dentistry; Medicine; General Medical Assistance; Midwives; Pharmacy. In these fields the structure and duration of doctoral studies comply with the legal provisions applicable at the European level.

Doctoral studies are organised in the following forms:

• full-time;

• part-time;

• distance education.

In the case of part-time and distance learning the duration is longer by one year than in full-time education. The number of ECTS credits and the content of the doctoral programme are the same for all forms of education (full-time, part-time and distance). The total number of ECTS credits is distributed proportionally by years and semesters of studies.

Higher doctoral and postdoctoral studies are carried out through research, development and innovation (R&D&I) activities. The development of the doctoral thesis is part of the educational program of higher doctoral studies and is clearly defined in its objectives.

Doctoral studies are organised in 3 types of programmes:

• Scientific doctorate, which aims to produce original, internationally recognised scientific knowledge. The scientific doctorate is a prerequisite for the development of a professional career in higher education and research;

• Professional doctorate, which aims to develop and innovate professional practices and is focused on applied research, including in the fields of arts and sports. The professional doctorate can satisfy the prerequisite for developing a professional career in higher education and research;

• Industrial doctorate, which emphasises the connection between the doctoral student, the higher education institution and the industrial environment. The industrial PhD programme aims to promote research with commercial perspectives and provides benefits, skills and research facilities in the industrial environment, determining the transfer of knowledge between higher education institutions and companies in the industrial sector.

The Regulation regarding the organisation of higher doctoral studies approved by the Government in 2014, with the latest modifications operated in 2019, sets the minimum reference framework. 

The terms and conditions of Doctoral studies programmes are regulated by the Ministry of Education and Research through the Framework plan for higher doctoral studies, approved in 2020. Each institution establishes its own regulations for the organisation and conduct of doctoral programmes, which may be supplemented by specific regulatory provisions of the doctoral school.

Higher doctoral studies (cycle III) are organised only within the programmes of doctoral schools provisionally authorised or accredited. 

These schools are organised within higher education institutions, and can also be part of national or international consortia and partnerships. Such collaborations often include organisations from the fields of science and innovation, aiming to foster interdisciplinary research and academic excellence in doctoral education.

The Ministry of Education and Research proposes and the Government approves the right to organise higher doctoral studies to higher education institutions, consortia, national and international partnerships, including those established with the participation of organisations specialised in research, development and innovation (R&D&I), and based on the results of their external evaluation.

The decision regarding the provisional operation authorisation and the accreditation of a study programme is adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research, based on the results of the evaluation carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research or another quality assessment agency, registered in the European Register for Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

Postdoctoral programmes

The postdoctoral programmes are organised to carry out fundamental scientific research and advanced applications. These programmes are intended for persons with a PhD degree and last for a maximum of 3 years.

The postdoctoral programmes are organised within the institutions that carry out research, development and innovation (R&D&I) activities. They are financed through project competition organised by public and private institutions, from external sources, grants, scholarships, as well as from special funds of higher education institutions and R&D&I organisations.  

The postdoctoral programme ends with the public defence of the habilitated doctor thesis or based on the synthesis of scientific publications. 

The title of Habilitated Doctor is conferred by the institution which organised the postdoctoral programme and is the highest academic qualification that can be awarded. 

According to the Science and Innovation Code, the confirmation of the title and the issuing of the Habilitated Doctor diploma are carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC).

Admission requirements

All candidates holding a Master's degree or an equivalent study duly recognised document can participate in the admission competition for third-cycle doctoral studies. In the healthcare field, medical residents are eligible to enrol in a doctoral programme during their residency period.

Admission to the third cycle of higher education is organised only to accredited or provisionally authorised doctoral programmes. Admission can be organised by higher education institutions, consortia, national and international partnerships, including those established with the participation of R&D&I organizations. 

Doctoral studies can be offered on places:

• financed from the state budget and without tuition fees, within the limits set annually by the Government;

• with tuition fees;

• with mixed financing.

Each year, the Government approves a set of multiannual doctoral grants, typically lasting a minimum of 3 years. Doctoral grants are awarded to doctoral schools by the National Agency for Research and Development, based on competition of their research project proposals. The methodology for conducting the competition is established by the Ministry of Education and Research.

Citizens of the Republic of Moldova can benefit from the right of access to doctoral higher education programme financed from the state budget (without tuition fees) only once.

The doctoral supervisor in consultation with the doctoral school council establishes the content and form of the admission competition. A doctoral student can be enrolled only upon the recommendation of the doctoral supervisor and after obtaining a favourable opinion from the doctoral school council.

The doctoral schools ensure the transparency of the selection and admission procedures, the assessment criteria, and the standards required of the candidates. They guarantee access to comprehensive admissions information, including publishing it online for public access. 

Award and recognition of credits: The transfer of ECTS credits from previous Master's programmes and the recognition of previous research or artistic experiences are proposed by the doctoral supervisor and approved by the Doctoral School Council.

Status of doctoral students / candidates

After completing the admission procedure and signing the doctoral study contract, the enrolled person has the status of doctoral student of the doctoral school during the duration of the doctoral programme.

The full-time doctoral students receive an individual scholarship or are employed for a fixed period by the organising institution or by one of the institutions constituting the consortium, as university assistants or scientific researchers.

In a doctoral programme, full-time students must balance didactic duties without compromising their research activity. This ensures that students prioritise their doctoral research experience, supported by individual scholarships when employed. The didactic workload must not exceed 25% of that of a full-time teaching assistant position. Part-time doctoral students are not subject to such a limitation.

Supervision arrangements

The Methodology for the approval of doctoral supervisors is established by the Government. Only holders of the title of doctor or habilitated doctor can be appointed as doctoral supervisor. 

The right to supervise doctorates is granted by decision of the Management Board of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC), following a favourable assessment of the candidate's file.

Each institution establishes its own regulations for the organisation and conduct of doctoral programmes, which may be supplemented by specific regulatory provisions of the doctoral school concerned.

The regulations of the doctoral school also apply to doctoral study programmes conducted under joint supervision (co-tutorship), unless otherwise decided by the partnership agreement. The co-tutorship is an agreement concerning the joint supervision of a doctoral student by two scientific supervisors, at least one of whom is from the Republic of Moldova. The co-tutorship can also be organised if doctoral supervisors are from the same institution, consortium or partnership, but have different specialisations or fields of study.

The rights and obligations of doctoral students, doctoral supervisors, as well as the organising institutions of doctoral schools are established by the doctoral higher studies contract.

The doctoral studies contract is concluded with each doctoral student individually, following negotiation, and is signed by the doctoral student, the doctoral supervisor and the representative of the institution that enrols the doctoral student. Doctoral students, coordinated in co-tutorship, sign study contracts with both signatory institutions of the joint supervision agreement. 

The doctoral higher studies contract contains at least the following information:

• data of the doctoral student, doctoral supervisor, institution hosting the doctoral student and the doctoral school;

• chosen research topic;

• the monthly amount of the individual scholarship and/or the amount of tuition fees for full-time doctoral students;

• the amount of tuition fees for part-time doctoral students;

• the language in which the doctoral thesis is written and defended; 

• the deadline for completing the doctoral thesis and conditions for extending the deadline;

• the amount and timing of didactic activities for full-time doctoral students.

During doctoral studies, alongside their supervisor, doctoral students receive support from a Guidance Committee. This committee consists of three other members from the supervisor's research team. The composition of the Guidance Committee is determined by the doctoral supervisor after consulting with the doctoral student.

Employability

The doctoral degree confers the right to work in the field of science, art, and sport, as well as to occupy positions in higher education institutions, enterprises, and organisations in the field of R&D&I, etc. There are no other concrete measures at national level to facilitate access to the labour market after the third-cycle (PhD) degree. 

Assessment

The terms and conditions of the assessment at the doctoral level studies are established by the governmental Regulation regarding the organisation of higher doctoral studies, ministerial regulations, as well as by the University Charter, regulations of the doctoral schools, by doctoral higher education programmes approved by the university senate, etc.

The content of the doctoral thesis is established by the doctoral student in consultation with the doctoral supervisor and must respect the framework structure and limitations imposed by the regulations of the doctoral school. 

The doctoral student submits, at least once a year, a public presentation of the progress of their scientific research programme to the Guidance Committee and the doctoral supervisor.

After approval of the dissertation by the supervisor and the guidance committee, the doctoral thesis is publicly defended before the doctoral commission, composed of at least 5 members.

In the case of defending the Habilitated Doctor diploma, the doctoral commission must include at least 7 members.

The evaluation criteria of doctoral thesis include the assessment of the novelty and originality of scientific results, research methodology, compliance with professional ethics and deontology, the quality of public defence, publications in scientific articles and presentations at scientific conferences, etc.

Certification

Higher doctoral studies end with the public defence of the doctoral thesis, the award of the PhD title and the issue  of the Doctoral Degree Diploma by the institution organising the doctoral programme. The following doctoral degrees are awarded:

• for the scientific doctorate - Doctor of Science, with the acronym Dr.

• for the professional doctorate - Doctor in a Professional field, with the acronym Dr. P.

The postdoctoral programme ends with the public defence of the  habilitated doctor's thesis or based on the synthesis of scientific publications. The title of Habilitated Doctor is conferred by the institution which organised the postdoctoral programme and is the highest academic qualification that can be awarded. 

According to the Science and Innovation Code  and the Methodology for conferring and confirming scientific titles approved by the government,  the confirmation of the titles of Doctor and Habilitated Doctor, as well as the issuance of the respective diplomas, is carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC).

In case of completing the doctoral studies without the public support of the doctoral thesis, the student receives a certificate attesting the attendance of higher doctoral studies, which constitutes professional research experience.

Organisational variation

Postdoctoral programmes

The postdoctoral programmes are organised to carry out fundamental scientific research and advanced applications. These programmes are intended for persons with a doctoral degree and last for a maximum of 3 years.

The postdoctoral programmes are organised within the institutions that carry out R&D&I activities. They are financed through project competition organised by public and private institutions, from external sources, grants, scholarships, as well as from special funds of higher education institutions and R&D&I organisations. 

The Regulation regarding the organisation of postdoctoral programmes, approved by the Government in 2018, sets the minimum reference framework. Each institution establishes its own regulations for the organisation and conduct of post-doctoral programmes, which may be supplemented by specific regulatory provisions of the doctoral school concerned.

The postdoctoral programme ends with the public defence of the habilitated doctor's thesis or based on the synthesis of scientific publications. The title of Habilitated Doctor is conferred by the institution which organised the postdoctoral programme. 

According to the Science and Innovation Code, the confirmation of the titles of Habilitated Doctor and the issuance of the diploma are carried out by the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education and Research (ANACEC).