Jack slep Dec 27, 2016:

There are two successive postgraduate degrees: kandidat nauk (Candidate of science) and doktor nauk (Doctor of science). Both are a certificate of scientific, rather than academic, achievement, and must be backed up by original/novel scientific work, evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals and a dissertation defended in front of senior academic board. It's possible to defend two degrees of kandidat independently, but not simultaneously; a doktor in one field may also be a kandidat in a different field.
Kandidat nauk can be achieved within university environment , specialised research facilities or within research and development units in industry. Typical kandidat nauk path from admission to diploma takes 2–4 years. The dissertation paper should contain a solution of an existing scientific problem, or a practical proposal with significant economical or military potential. The title is often perceived as equivalent to Western Ph.D., although this may vary depending on the field of study, and may not be seen as such outside of Russia but as a more significant degree.

FreEditor Dec 27, 2016:

Thank you, Jack! I've been trying to say the same.

Jack slep Dec 25, 2016:

To continue this time-wasting discussion, A Candidate is a Candidate, a legitimate academic title like English BS ( Bull Shit), MS (More $hit), and PhD (Piled higher and Deeper). I could give you a thousand examples of nonequivalence between Russian and English in sciences and technology--accept it, explain it parenthetically and then use it. You'll be surprised how many become "English" words, for example, in Soil Science.

Jack slep Dec 25, 2016:

FreEditor, I was about to reference your Wikipedia site above when I noticed it. In my 66 years of R>E translation, I've always used Candidate without objection. A Candidate is an academic degree awarded by the Dissertation Council to a doctoral student after he/she has passed examinations in a major subject and has defended his/her dissertation in public. A Doctor of Sciences is the highest academic degree conferred upon persons already holding the academic degree of Candidate of Sciences after they have defended their doctoral dissertations in public and have gained recognition of the fact that their dissertations represent original and outstanding contributions to science.
Wikipedia: "The degree was first introduced in the USSR on January 13, 1934, by a decision of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR. According to the UNESCO International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED),[1] for purposes of international educational statistics Candidate of Sciences is equivalent to PhD." This is followed by "However,..." I don't care what the "purpose," IMHO Candidate and PhD are not equivalent, never have been except for those who accept rubbish instead of research.

Marlin31 Dec 24, 2016:

Both PhD in Physics and Mathematics and Candidate of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics are valid. At least, you can't apply for a PhD position if you aren't a Candidate of Sciences. On the other hand, if you are a Doctor of Sciences, you can't apply for a PhD position because you are overqualified for the position,

FreEditor Dec 24, 2016:

Here is a good source on "кандидат наук": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidate_of_Sciences

FreEditor Dec 24, 2016:

Thank you, Frank. The articles confirm that Russian and Western degrees are not a complete match.

Frank Szmulowicz, Ph. D. Dec 24, 2016:

Here is a description of the difficulty of translating доктор наук in the western context: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Доктор_наук#.D0.90.D0.BD.D0.B0...

The English-language wiki article uses Doktor Nauk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doktor_nauk

The concept of a Habilitated Doctor appears to be the closest to the Russian realia.

FreEditor Dec 24, 2016:

Российская и Западная системы ученых степеней не совпадают. Поэтому получается, что "кандидат наук" - это российская реалия и лучше переводить эту ученую степень как "Candidate of Science".

FreEditor Dec 24, 2016:

Если согласиться, что "кандидат наук" это "PhD", то как тогда переводить "доктора наук"? Тоже как "PhD"? Это же бессмыслица будет тогда.

FreEditor Dec 24, 2016:

На Западе при желании можно получить PhD за 5-6 лет учебы в колледже, университете и т.д. А в России получение кандидата, а затем доктора наук длится намного дольше. Поэтому "PhD" не может быть прямым эквивалентом "кандидата наук". Я думаю, что подойдет компромиссный вариант "Candidate of Science in ... (Russia's rough equivalent of PhD)" или что-то в этом роде.

FreEditor Dec 24, 2016:

Насколько я знаю, система ученых степеней в России отличается от трехступенчатой системы, принятой на Западе: бакалавр, магистр, а потом доктор наук (PHD). По-моему в России все еще сохранилась советская система ученых степеней: сперва 5 лет учебы в институте и диплом, потом аспирантура, защита кандидатской и кандидат наук, а потом нужно годами работать, проводить исследования, печататься и т.д. чтобы получить доктора наук. Поправьте меня если ошибаюсь.