habilitation thesis

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Habilitation and equivalent qualification

The German "Habilitation" serves as evidence of an individual's capability of researching independently and of teaching in a certain subject area. Traditionally in Germany, a habilitation serves as a formal qualification needed to become a university professor. Along with the habilitation, one is awarded teaching qualification (Lehrbefähigung) and (upon request) a teaching license (Lehrbefugnis). For a professorship at a university of applied science, there is no need for habilitation.

As an alternative to habilitation, there are other options to qualify for the position of university professor (see here ). If you aspire to become a university professor, you should find out how important the habilitation is within your discipline. In some disciplines, most newly appointed university professors did not do a habilitation, whereas in other disciplines it is almost impossible to get a professorship without habilitation. Only with the discipline-specific knowledge you can decide whether or not you would like to complete a habilitation.

If you would like to work on a habilitation, you should have a professor who supports your plan. This relationship is typically not as close as it was during the doctoral phase.

For the habilitation, you must complete both written (habilitation thesis; cumulative work, if allowed) and oral tasks (an academic talk with colloquium, public talk). Specific regulations about the habilitation can be found in the faculty-specific regulations of the university's Regulations for habilitation External link (in German).

Habilitation

What is a habilitation.

The habilitation is the highest academic degree that can be obtained at an academic university. It symbolizes the ability to work independently in research and teaching and is traditionally a prerequisite for appointment to a professorship in many countries, particularly in German-speaking countries.

Historical background

The habilitation has its roots in the medieval European university system and was originally the formal permission to teach at a university - the so-called "venia legendi". This privilege was granted by the faculties and marked the transition from student to teacher.

In the 19th century, the habilitation became established in Germany as an independent academic degree and became a prerequisite for obtaining a professorship. It served as proof of the ability to represent a subject area in its entirety in research and teaching. The habilitation also conferred the right to use the title "Privatdozent", which allowed habilitated professors to teach at universities and supervise students.

The role and significance of the habilitation has changed over time. In particular, the introduction of junior professorships and the increasing internationalization of science have triggered discussions about the necessity and form of the habilitation. Nevertheless, it remains an important milestone on the path to professorship in many disciplines and countries.

The habilitation reflects the traditional view of academic excellence and independence and is closely linked to the German university tradition and its influence on the global academic system.

Differentiation from doctorates and junior professorships

In contrast to the doctorate, which is the first academic degree and primarily demonstrates the ability to carry out independent academic work, the habilitation is aimed at a more comprehensive qualification. It includes not only research, but also teaching and often also the ability to lead academic projects.

The introduction of junior professorships offers an alternative way of gaining the qualification for a professorship without following the traditional path of habilitation. Junior professorships are intended to enable younger academics in particular to become independent at an earlier stage.

Excursus: Habilitation at university vs. University of Applied Sciences

The traditional habilitation path at universities aims to confirm the candidate's comprehensive teaching and research skills and is often a decisive step on the path to a professorship.  At universities of applied sciences, on the other hand, where the focus is more on practice-oriented teaching and applied research, the path to a professorship is somewhat different. Traditional habilitations are less common here. Instead, emphasis is placed on practical professional experience outside the academic world and on teaching skills. Some universities of applied sciences have developed their own qualification procedures that meet the specific requirements of applied research and teaching and still offer similar recognition to the habilitation.

Despite these differences, the aim of both routes remains similar: to confirm the ability to work independently in research and teaching and to promote young academics. As the academic sector evolves, the paths to professorship at universities and universities of applied sciences may continue to converge and new, more flexible models for academic careers may emerge.

The habilitation process

The path to habilitation is demanding and requires a number of steps to be completed by the habilitation candidate. The process may vary slightly depending on the subject area and university, but generally follows a set framework.

Requirements and admission to habilitation

In order to be admitted to habilitation, applicants must usually have an outstanding doctoral degree and often several years of academic activity after the doctorate. The exact requirements may vary depending on the subject area and institution, but generally include a list of scientific publications that make a significant contribution to the subject area.

Components of the habilitation

The habilitation typically includes:

• Habilitation thesis : A comprehensive academic work that provides new insights and distinguishes the candidate as a leading expert in their field. The habilitation thesis can be either a monograph or a cumulative habilitation consisting of several publications.
• Teaching sample : A course given by the candidate to demonstrate teaching competence. The teaching sample is usually assessed by a committee.
• Lecture followed by a scientific discussion : This serves to demonstrate specialist knowledge and the ability to engage in scientific debate.

Assessment and evaluation procedure

After submission of the habilitation thesis and completion of the teaching sample, the entire portfolio is reviewed by a committee. This committee is usually made up of professors from the relevant department. The assessment criteria include the academic quality of the habilitation thesis, the teaching competence and the professional discussion. The successful completion of the habilitation procedure leads to the award of the venia legendi, the teaching license that enables the habilitated person to use the title "Privatdozent" and to work independently in research and teaching.

The path to a habilitation

The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the dissertation in the field of business at Munich Business School. At Munich Business School, the DBA offers experienced specialists and managers the opportunity to combine their practical experience with a well-founded academic thesis. The program aims to enable participants to systematically analyze complex business challenges and to develop and implement solutions.

Requirements and criteria for a habilitation

The habilitation places high demands on candidates that go far beyond those of a doctorate. It reflects not only research performance, but also teaching skills and the ability to independently manage academic projects.

Scientific achievements and publications

One of the core aspects of the habilitation is proof of outstanding academic achievements. This usually includes:

• Habilitation thesis : a comprehensive academic paper that contributes significant new findings to the field. The requirements for the habilitation thesis are higher than for a doctoral thesis and usually require that the results are published in renowned journals.
• Publication list: A list of publications in scientific journals that demonstrates the candidate's research achievements and contribution to the advancement of the field.

Teaching expertise

In addition to their research achievements, habilitation candidates are expected to have strong teaching skills. This is often demonstrated by:

• Teaching test : a trial lecture or seminar in which candidates demonstrate their ability to convey complex subject matter in an understandable and engaging manner.
• Teaching experience : Proof of previous teaching experience, for example through teaching assignments, seminars or lectures given during the postdoctoral phase.

Third-party funded projects and research networks

The ability to manage research projects and acquire third-party funding is becoming increasingly important:

• Third-party funded projects : Evidence of successful applications for research funding and management of research projects funded by external funding.
• Research networks : Active participation and contributions to scientific networks, working groups and professional societies that promote networking and exchange within the scientific community.

Core requirements for the habilitation

Significance and prospects after habilitation.

After the challenging path of the habilitation, academics are at a decisive turning point in their academic career. The habilitation not only opens up traditional paths into teaching and research, but also offers a wide range of prospects in the academic world and beyond. This section looks at the many opportunities available after the habilitation and the considerations involved in choosing a future career path.

Habilitation as a qualification for professorships

In many countries, particularly in German-speaking countries, the habilitation is a recognized prerequisite for appointment to a professorship at a university. It signals comprehensive competence in research and teaching and opens up the opportunity to teach, conduct research and supervise the next generation of academics as a fully-fledged member of the academic community.

Alternatives to the traditional professorship and international perspectives

Not every habilitation leads directly to a university professorship. The academic landscape offers a wide range of career opportunities, from research positions in specialized institutes to leadership roles in industry. In addition, an international academic career often requires adaptation to the respective country-specific qualification paths and career models.

Discussion about the future of the habilitation in the modern academic system

The role of the habilitation in the academic career path is the subject of ongoing debate. In view of the challenges and uncertainties associated with long academic qualification paths, there are increasing calls for reforms and alternative qualification models.

Challenges and future of the habilitation

The habilitation has long been an established route to academic teaching qualifications and professorships. However, it is also increasingly the focus of critical discussions that question its role and significance in the modern academic system.

Critical consideration of the role of the habilitation

The habilitation is often criticized for its long duration, high demands and the associated professional uncertainty. In addition, at a time of increasing internationalization and mobility in academia, the habilitation is not recognized everywhere, which can impair the career opportunities of habilitation graduates in an international context.

• Time commitment and career uncertainty : The habilitation process is time-consuming and can take several years, which means a period of career uncertainty for many academics.
• Research funding : Securing research funding is becoming increasingly competitive and can pose an additional challenge for habilitation candidates.
• International recognition: The habilitation is primarily a German-speaking phenomenon. Its international recognition is limited, which can restrict opportunities for an international academic career.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about habilitation

The habilitation is a complex and sometimes confusing process that often leads to many questions. Whether you are in the early stages of your academic career or actively preparing for a habilitation, here you will find answers to some of the most common questions surrounding the topic. These FAQs should help you to develop a better understanding of the habilitation process and provide you with guidance in your planning.

What is the difference between a doctorate and a habilitation?

The doctorate (Ph.D.) is the first academic degree that represents an independent academic achievement and paves the way into academia. The habilitation, on the other hand, is an additional qualification that is acquired after the doctorate and proves the ability to teach at university level as well as the ability to conduct independent research. It is traditionally regarded as a prerequisite for a professorship at universities in German-speaking countries.

Is a habilitation necessary to become a professor?

In many cases, the habilitation is a traditional requirement for appointment to a professorship in Germany and some other countries. However, there are increasingly alternative paths, such as junior professorships or tenure-track positions, which can enable a professorship without a habilitation.

How long does the habilitation process take on average?

The duration of the habilitation process can vary, but is generally between two and six years after completing the doctorate. This period depends on various factors, including the subject area, institutional requirements and the habilitation candidate's individual situation.

What are the alternatives to a habilitation?

Alternatives to the traditional habilitation include junior professorships, tenure-track positions and the possibility of obtaining a professorship through non-university research experience or significant contributions to a subject area. In some cases, many years of teaching and research activity without a formal habilitation can also lead to a professorship.

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Habilitation (Postdoctoral Thesis)

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Dissertations, Habilitation Theses, Other Qualification Theses

What are the particularities to be considered when publishing a dissertation, a habilitation thesis or any other qualification thesis?

Dissertations

Habilitation theses, other qualification theses.

In order to fulfill the publication requirement for your dissertation, you have the choice between several publication types. One possibility is the electronic publication of your dissertation on OPUS. Further possible publication types

To publish your dissertation via OPUS , please proceed as follows:

• Please create a PDF file , preferably a PDF/A file . In doing so, please also observe the other technical requirements .
• Please settle copyright and licensing issues so that no third party rights conflict with the publication.
• To be able to publish your dissertation on OPUS, a registration under "My OPUS" is required.
• If you do not have an account yet, you can register under "New user? ..." with your e-mail address.
• Please enter in the online form all necessary information describing the document and upload the corresponding file(s).
• At the end you have to accept the licensing terms. This will send the document to us.
• In order to be able to publish your dissertation, please also send us the completed and signed licensing terms (DE) afterwards.

A curriculum vitae does not have to be published in the dissertation (see Doctoral Degree Regulations (PromO) Sec. 13, par. 3, cl. 1). Especially in the case of an electronic publication we recommend not doing so for reasons of privacy. Please remove the CV, if necessary, and adapt the table of contents accordingly before uploading the file. Deletion is no longer possible after the publication.

After you have uploaded your work and we have formally reviewed it, you will receive feedback from us if everything is in order from our point of view.

If changes need to be made, we can refer the document back to you and you can make the correction. Please note that changes are no longer possible after publication.

If everything is in order, you can have the 6 printed copies of the dissertation prepared that must be submitted in addition to the electronic version. Please note the guidelines for the outer form .

The online and the printed version must match exactly in order to ensure the correct citability of your work. This means that also the formatting and pagination must be identical. Therefore, please print only the final PDF file and not the manuscript from Word, InDesign or LaTeX to avoid differing formatting, breaks, etc. If the printer makes changes to the file, e.g. inserts or removes blank pages or even changes pagination, please ask for the corresponding file and inform us about it.

To submit the printed copies and the corresponding documents please contact the Team Publication Services (T3) of the University Library.

Further information on the submission and further procedure

After clearance of your dissertation by the dean or the chairperson of the doctoral committee, you will automatically be notified by email that your document has now been published.

Habilitation theses written at the University of Stuttgart are to be published as well (see Habilitation Regulations (HabilO) Sec. 12, par.1, cl. 1). As for dissertations, you also have the choice between several publication types here. One possibility is the electronic publication of your habilitation thesis on OPUS. Other possible publication types are the release through a publishing house, as a self-print, within an institution series or as a cumulative habilitation thesis.

To publish your habilitation thesis electronically via OPUS , please proceed as follows:

• To be able to publish your habilitation thesis on OPUS, a registration under "My OPUS" is required.
• In order to be able to publish your habilitation thesis, please also send us the completed and signed licensing terms (DE) afterwards.

A curriculum vitae does not have to be published in the habilitation thesis. Especially in the case of an electronic publication we recommend not doing so for reasons of privacy. Please remove the CV, if necessary, and adapt the table of contents accordingly before uploading the file. Deletion is no longer possible after the publication.

If everything is in order, you can have the 5 printed copies of the habilitation thesis prepared that must be submitted in addition to the electronic version.

The online and print versions must match exactly in order to ensure the correct citability of your work. This means that also the formatting and pagination must be identical. Therefore, please print only the final PDF file and not the manuscript from Word, InDesign or LaTeX to avoid differing formatting, breaks, etc. If the printer makes changes to the file, e.g. inserts or removes blank pages or even changes pagination, please ask for the corresponding file and inform us about it.

After the clearance of your habilitation thesis by the dean or the chairperson of the habilitation committee, you will automatically be notified by email that your document has now been published.

Students of the University of Stuttgart can also publish their own qualification theses (bachelor’s and master’s theses, etc.) on OPUS. It is required that the publication is approved by the supervisor .

To publish your qualification thesis via OPUS , please proceed as follows:

• To be able to publish your qualification thesis on OPUS, a registration under "My OPUS" is required.
• In order to be able to publish your qualification thesis, please also send us the completed and signed licensing terms (DE) afterwards. Please note that your supervisor must also sign on the form.

As soon as we have received all required data and documents in full, your qualification thesis will be released after a formal review by employees of the University Library.

If changes need to be made , we refer the document back to you so that you can make the necessary corrections. You can then upload the document again.

After publication , you will automatically be notified via email that your document has now been released.

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Publishing PhD and Habilitation Theses

All PhD and habilitation theses written at Leibniz Universität Hannover, regardless of how they are published, need to be submitted to the TIB.

Submission of deposit copies

The publication of theses and the submission of mandatory copies is regulated by the PhD regulations or habilitation regulations of the respective faculty at the Leibniz Universität Hannover. The General Guidelines for the Submission of Doctoral and Postdoctoral Teaching Qualification (Habilitation) Theses to Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB) apply to the type and scope of the submission.

You have various options for publishing your PhD or habilitation thesis and the associated research data. We recommend digital publication in the Leibniz Universität Hannover repository under an open access licence.

More about digital publication

directly to the LUH repository

If you have already signed an agreement, we will check your eligibility for self-archiving. If necessary, we will be happy to contact the publisher on your behalf. If you have any questions about secondary publication, please contact the Repositories group .

Your research data can be published in the repository together with your thesis. Please upload your research data as a separate file.

Please check this page before publishing your research data.

Please log in to the repository with your LUH e-mail address. You can generate a password using the forgotten password function.

If you no longer have an LUH e-mail address, we can create an account for you. To do so, please contact hochschulschriften tib eu .

Select the collection 'Dissertations & Habilitations > Dissertations', please enter the metadata in the upload form and upload your dissertation as well as associated research data.

Please submit your thesis as a PDF file (our recommendation: PDF-A, see Introductory information on the PDF/A standard ) and provide us at least 3 keywords in German and English, the title and an abstract in German and English.

You first upload the PDF file to a non-publicly accessible cache on the publication server. Your work will then be checked by us, approved and thus made publicly accessible. Any embargoes you may have requested will be taken into account. Finally, we will send a certificate of submission to your doctoral office.

The publication agreement ("Appendix I") offers the following licences to choose from:

• Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Germany
• Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Germany
• Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives 3.0 Germany

If no free licence has been selected, the following applies: The author grants the TIB the following rights of use: (1) the non-exclusive, perpetual right of use for publication on the Internet in the LUH repository, the server of the German National Library, servers of other libraries, archives and aggregators (e.g. Google Books) and (2) the non-exclusive, perpetual right of use for the metadata to verify the publication in relevant bibliographic databases. This licence is not considered Open Access-compliant and is not recommended for dissertations.

6. a What is text and data mining?

Text and data mining is the automated analysis of one or more digital or digitized works to extract information, in particular patterns, trends and correlations.

6. b Why do we offer the CC-BY licence 3.0 Germany and not CC-BY 4.0 International?

The Creative Commons licences (CC licences) of version "3.0 Germany" are adapted to German law. The wording of the limitation of liability clause in the CC licences of versions 3.0 Unported and 4.0 International does not, for example, fulfil the requirements of German consumer protection law in Section 309 No. 7 of the German Civil Code (BGB) according to the current legal situation: CC licences are classified as general terms and conditions (Mantz, Reto, "Creative Commons-Lizenzen im Spiegel internationaler Gerichtsverfahren", GRUR Int. 2008, 20, 21). As a rule, the contractual partners are consumers to whom the provisions on general terms and conditions apply. Liability for injury to life, limb and health may not be limited. This was not taken into account in the wording of the limitation of liability clause. Even if it should be taken into account that the CC licences are designed for worldwide use, that the particularities of all national laws cannot be taken into account and that injury to life, limb and health will be rare, there is currently no case law or legal basis that declares the provision of Section 309 No. 7 BGB inapplicable in this context.  (Brehm, Elke, "Guidelines on text and data mining for research purposes in Germany", DOI: https://doi.org/10.34657/9388 , p.20)

If images are "cited" - i.e. they are analysed and discussed and are not merely decorative - the image citation right applies. The thesis as a whole can also be published under a CC licence. However, care must be taken to ensure that the relevant images are labelled as protected material. Ideally, this should be done directly below the image, e.g. in the form of "Fig. 1, title, source, © Publisher XY". In addition, you can add a note at the beginning or end of the publication, such as "This thesis is published under licence XY. Exceptions are illustrations, which are marked with an appropriate copyright notice". If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us: TIB Publikationsberatung

In justified individual cases (e.g. ongoing patent proceedings or contractual reasons), your thesis may be published at a later date. The request for such suspension must be sent to the TIB with an explanatory statement, countersigned by the head of the faculty (dean), the academic supervisor and the applicant. With written permission, you can enter the embargo date when uploading your thesis to the repository. If you submit printed copies, they will only be visible in the catalogue and available for loan after the embargo period has expired.

After this procedure, a certificate of submission will be sent to your doctoral office.

Yes, this is possible. The LUH repository is available for digital secondary publication (self-archiving). Digital access to your PhD thesis has many advantages (see FAQ1). If your thesis has been published by a publishing house, you will need to consider the terms of your author's agreement made with the publisher (see FAQ 3).

If your thesis is also published by a publisher after publication in the LUH repository, four printed copies must be submitted to the TIB. If your thesis is published in an institutional publication series, six printed copies must be submitted to the TIB.

For the following series, we require additional copies for the interlibrary exchange:

•  Institute of Geotechnics. Communications: 10
• Institute of Mechanics of Structures and Computational Mechanics, Research and Seminar Report: 7
• Institute of Urban Water Management and Waste Technology, Publications: 10
• Institute of Continuum Mechanics: 10
• Scientific papers of the Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics: 6

Yes and no: The first digital publication must be made via the LUH repository. Therefore, you grant TIB a non-exclusive right of utilization, i.e. you may also make the thesis - in whole or in part - available on other platforms, repositories, in other formats or publish it with a publisher after publication in the LUH repository.

We recommend the following naming convention:

Dissertation_Surname_Firstname_year_of_publication or Habilitation_Surname_Firstname_year_of_publication

and for attached research data:

Dissertation_Surname_Firstname_year_of_publication_research_data

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover awards the following academic degrees through the faculties due to doctorate:

• Doktorin der Naturwissenschaften / Doktor der Naturwissenschaften / Dr. rer. nat.
• Doktorin der Gartenbauwissenschaften / Doktor der Gartenbauwissenschaften / Doctor rerum horticulturarum / Dr. rer. hort.
• Doktorin der Rechtswissenschaften / Doktor der Rechtswissenschaften / Dr. iur.
• Doktorin der Wirtschaftswissenschaften / Doktor der Wirtschaftswissenschaften / Dr. rer. pol.
• Doktorin der Philosophie / Doktor der Philosophie / Dr. phil.

Honorary doctorates are not listed here.

Please also consult the doctoral degree regulations of your faculty.

Team Hochschulschriften und Geschenke

Phone: +49 511 762-3434 Email:  hochschulschriften tib eu

Address: Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB), Team Hochschulschriften und Geschenke Welfengarten 1 B, 30167 Hannover, Germany