what is a habilitation thesis

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 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).

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Department of Management, Technology, and Economics

Habilitation process.

The D-MTEC habilitation procedure is governed by the Download Habilitation Ordinance of ETH Zurich .

A habilitation thesis must include papers that have been published or submitted for publication in the subject area, an introduction, a summary, and a motivation section. At least six papers are required for a cumulative habilitation thesis, of which at least two and usually three or more must already have been published in leading international journals. Alternatively, an unpublished habilitation treatise (monograph) may also be accepted.

Habilitation procedure

The candidate submits an application for conferral of the Habilitation & Venia Legendi to the Rector via the Academic Services Information & Planning Office. The following documents are required:

• Letter of application: department and teaching field must be mentioned
• Enclosure 1: CV and list of publications
• Enclosure 2: copy of passport
• Enclosure 3: copy of PhD certificate
• Enclosure 4: teaching evaluations – at least 2 years at ETH
• Enclosure 5: title page of habilitation thesis and the confirmation that the thesis has been uploaded to the ETH Research Collection

Please note, the thesis will not be published during the application process; at the completion of the process the library will contact the candidate.

The Rector confirms the initiation of the habilitation process to the candidate and the department. The Department Coordinator places the habilitation request on the agenda of the next professor’s conference (PK).

• Habilitation thesis as a separate PDF file
• A short abstract of the habilitation thesis
• A proposal suggesting six reviewers (two internal and four external reviewer; no co-authors)
• A list of teaching evaluations, if not previously provided (the candidate must have at least two years of teaching experience at ETH)
• Three proposed topics for a rehearsal lecture (Probevortrag)

PK decides on internal and external reviewers based on the candidate’s proposal.

PK can request that the candidate delivers a rehearsal lecture (Probevortrag). If so, PK will choose one of the proposed topics. If a rehearsal lecture needs to take place, it will be scheduled for one of the next PKs.

Based on the reviewers’ assessments and the rehearsal lecture, PK decides on the further course of the habilitation procedure:

• Negative assessment: the candidate should withdraw the habilitation application
• Positive assessment: the Department Head requests the conferral of the habilitation & Venia Legendi by the Rector in the appropriate teaching field

Following a positive decision by the Rector, a decree will be issued for the habilitation and Venia Legendi; a certificate will be issued along with the conferral of the Venia Legendi (eight semesters). With the awarding of the Venia Legendi, the title of “Privatdozentin/Privatdozent” is conferred. To be able to apply for renewal of the Venia Legendi the candidate must fulfil his or her teaching duties.  

Further information

• chevron_right Habilitation Procedure
• Download vertical_align_bottom Habilitation Ordinance ETH Zurich of 2 June 2004

Submission address

• contacts vCard Download

ETH Zurich Academic Services Rämistrasse 101 HG F 10.1 8092 Zurich Switzerland

Department contact

ETH Zurich D-MTEC Weinbergstrasse 56/58 8092 Zurich Switzerland

Academic Pathways Across Countries

Habilitation.

Post-doctoral dissertation required to teach at universities in Germany and other countries whose higher education systems are influenced by Germany; it serves as proof that you possess the academic expertise and pedagogical skills to teach students as a Professor in your academic discipline.

• The habilitation can be either a thesis (opus magnum) or several scientific publications of outstanding quality (cumulative Habilitation). 

Post-doktorale Qualifikation, benötigt, um an Universitäten in Deutschland und anderen Ländern, deren Universitätssystem von Deutschland beeinflusst wurden, zu lehren. Gilt als Nachweis zur Befähigung zur Lehre als Professor/in in der eigenen Disziplin. 

• Die Habilitation kann entweder eine Thesis (opus magnum) oder mehrere wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichungen von außerordentlicher Qualität (kumulative Habilitation) sein.

General (in English):

• Definition given by University of Passau:  http://www.jura.uni-passau.de/...

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Habilitation

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The habilitation is traditionally established within the German academic system as a further academic qualification after the doctorate. In spite of the recent diversification of academic career paths, in many disciplines, the habilitation still plays a decisive role as a post-doctoral degree that entitles to be appointable for a professorship. The habilitation consists of a habilitation thesis and oral exams, and it certificates lecturing and researching competency within a particular scientific discipline (the so-called venia legendi ).  

Usually, habilitation candidates have a fixed-term position at a university. According to the Federal Law on Temporary Employment in Science (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz), a budget-funded employment at the university is limited to max. six years. This time frame corresponds to what is usually set for the completion of the habilitation thesis. However, this six-years period can be exceeded by third-party funded employments. Post-doctoral or habilitation scholarships are an alternative funding option. Habilitation candidates are subject to directives from part of the chair holder or the head of the institute/department respectively. This might impose restrictions to the development of scientific independence of the habilitation candidate. Analogically to the doctorate, admission and realization of the habilitation is regulated by the habilitation regulation of the respective faculty.

Admission to and administration of the habilitation (post-doctoral lecturing qualification) are subject to the respective habilitation regulations of the faculties , similar to the procedure for a doctoral degree. The habilitation is administrated by a habilitation committee composed of at least six professors. In order to complete the habilitation process successfully, the following tasks have to be performed:

• presentation of a habilitation thesis or proof of equivalent scholarly work;
• an academic lecture with a subsequent colloquium and a course that is discursive in nature to demonstrate suitability for teaching, to be held in front of the panel determined by the habilitation regulations; this panel needs to include student representatives from the relevant subject.

Reviewing of the habilitation thesis is undertaken principally by three university lecturers of whom at least one must not belong to the university awarding the degree. The doctoral degree title can be supplemented with the word "habil" (Doctor habilitatus).

Maria Reiche Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Maria Reiche Postdoctoral Fellowships support excellent female postdocs in their intention to independently acquire a third-party funded project in order to qualify for a scientific career at the TU Dresden with the goal of becoming a professor.

Eligibility: Early career female researchers who have completed their doctorate no longer than six years ago Application deadline: Monday, 14 th June 2021

Further funding options

In addition to scholarship programs for the habilitation from third-party institutions (e.g. Emmy Noether-Programm , Heisenberg-Programm) , there are other interesting funding opportunities, such as travel grants for conferences or stays abroad, funding for international cooperation between working groups (AGs) or funding opportunities for developing and sharpening the scientific profile. The Graduate Academy and TU Dresden offer a wide range of funding opportunities for postdocs. Get an overview right now!

The team of the Graduate Academy will be pleased to help you with any questions you may have about funding your habilitation. Make an appointment or visit the website of the Graduate Academy .

Research stays abroad help sharpen your scientific profile and gain international experiences during the postdoc-phase. They are an asset when applying for research funding and within the appointment procedure. There are various forms of international mobility during the postdoctoral phase:

If you are planning to spend the whole postdoctoral phase abroad (usually one to three years), there are i.e. the DFG with the Research Fellowships , the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation with the Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers or the European Union with the Marie Curie Actions where you can apply for funding. Also the DAAD awards postdoctoral fellowships for research stays abroad of a duration of one to two years. In addition to these cross-disciplinary funding programs, there are numerous subject- or country-specific funding possibilities. For further information please visit the webpages of the Graduate Academy .

As an alternative to applying for funding from German funding institutions, it might be promising to search for funding options within the target country, even though this might be somewhat more time-consuming. For a European-wide search for funding possibilities, it is recommendable to use the EURAXESS database.   

However, also if you are working as a postdoc in Germany, a shorter research stay abroad may be beneficial for your postdoctoral project. Funding for short research stays abroad is provided mainly by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), by the DFG (German Research Foundation) as well as by the Fritz-Thyssen-Foundation (travel grants). Postdocs in the humanities are supported by the Max Weber Foundation (Gerald D. Feldman-Travel Grants). Postdocs of the TU Dresden who are members of the Graduate Academy can apply for travel allowances for short research stays abroad (up to three months).

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Habilitation

The following provides information on completing a Habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) and obtaining a venia legendi (authority to teach) in the Department of Physics.

The Habilitation is governed by the regulations of the Department of Physics Habilitationsordnung des Fachbereichs Physik der Universität Hamburg vom 29. Januar 2003 (PDF).

If you have any questions about the Habilitation, contact the department advisor, Ms. Irmgard Flick ( email ( irmgard.flick "AT" physik.uni-hamburg.de ) ).

Habilitation requirements

Pursuant to the Hamburg higher education act (Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz, HmbHG), a Habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) or equivalent academic achievement demonstrates that its holder meets the formal requirements for a professorship. Successful completion of a Habilitation in one of the subjects of the Department of Physics proves that the holder of the qualification can:

• carry out original research that advances their field significantly, including in an international academic context.
• successfully oversee entire research projects from the initial planning stage to the final publication of the results.
• competently assess the quality of academic work within their own field during the examination process.

The Habilitation procedure is based on the Habilitation thesis submitted by the candidate. Instead of a dedicated Habilitation thesis, candidates may submit one or more scholarly publications of extraordinary significance or, in exceptional cases, an outstanding dissertation. In cases where the Habilitation work consists of a series of individual publications, candidates are additionally required to submit an extensive appraisal summarizing the cumulative work.

Application for Admission to a Habilitation

You must submit an informal admission application for the Habilitation procedure. Address your application to the head of the Department of Physics and submit it to the department advisor along with the following supporting documents (Section 4 subsection 2 of the Habilitation regulations):

• curriculum vitae
• list of publications
• dissertation
• doctoral degree certificate (submit the original certificate; a copy will be made in the Department)
• Habilitation thesis (ten copies, no spiral binding)
• CD-ROM containing the Habilitation thesis as a PDF file
• an affidavit verifying that all work submitted is your own
• declaration stating whether you have already applied for the Habilitation elsewhere

Formal Habilitation thesis requirements

• formal cover page (PDF)
• affidavit (PDF)

Habilitation examinations board

Upon receiving the application along with the required documents, the standing Habilitation examinations board of the Department of Physics (PDF) (ex officio: physics board) decides whether to initiate the Habilitation procedure and appoints an individual Habilitation committee.

Criteria for the appointment of members of a Habilitation committee

The applicant may suggest members for the Habilitation committee; their proposals are to be accepted wherever possible and reasonable.

Membership of the Habilitation committee is subject to the following criteria:

•  the Habilitation committee must consist of no fewer than five and no more than seven professors or other members of Universität Hamburg who have completed a Habilitation. at least four of those committee members must belong to the Department of Physics.
• the Habilitation committee should include members of no fewer than three department institutes.
• every Habilitation committee must include at least one experimental physicist and one theoretical physicist.
• no fewer than two of the members of the Habilitation committee must be thoroughly familiar with the field of research in which the submitted work was completed.

The Habilitation committee may not include:

• any professor assigned to the research associate applying for the Habilitation procedure.
• the head of a research group to which the applicant belongs.
• any scholars with whom the applicant worked directly during their Habilitation period.

Members of the Habilitation committee cannot be appointed as reviewers.

Habilitation thesis review

The Habilitation committee assesses the Habilitation thesis and appoints at least two independent reviewers. A reviewer must be either a professor or a researcher who has completed a Habilitation. No more than one reviewer may belong to the Department of Physics of Universität Hamburg.

Presentation

The head of department sets a date for the presentation in agreement with the chair of the Habilitation committee and the applicant as per Section 2 subsection 1. S/he invites the members of the Habilitation committee, the reviewers as per Section 7, the members of the extended physics board, and the professors responsible for the subject area. All other members of the department are to be informed of the time and place of the presentation by a notice displayed in their institutes.

Presentations normally take 45 minutes and are followed by a discussion.

Habilitation diploma

You will be notified of the decision in writing and receive your Habilitation diploma. The diploma is signed by the dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences as well as the chair of the Habilitation committee; it also bears the Universität Hamburg seal.

Publication

Upon completion of the procedure, one set of the submitted academic works will be placed in the departmental library of the Department of Physics. Another set will be given to the State and University Library Hamburg.

Good scientific practice

Follow the guidelines for good scientific practice published by the conference of physics departments (Konferenz der Fachbereiche Physik, KFP) and outlined in the Universität Hamburg bylaws and the guidelines of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

• KFP: Good scientific practice for scientific qualification reports and theses in physics (PDF)
• KFP: Gute wissenschaftliche Praxis bei wissenschaftlichen Qualifikationsarbeiten in der Physik, german (PDF)
• DFG: Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice / Sicherung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis (PDF)
• UHH: Bylaws for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice and Avoiding Scientific Misconduct at Universität Hamburg (PDF)
• UHH: Satzung zur Sicherung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis und zur Vermeidung wissenschaftlichen Fehlverhaltens an der Universität Hamburg (PDF)

Umhabilitation (transfer to another institution)

An individual who has been appointed a Privatdozent (senior lecturer with no permanent teaching contract) as a result of completing a Habilitation or an equivalent qualification at another university will usually be given a position as a Privatdozent should they transfer to Universität Hamburg; they will obtain their venia legendi (authority to teach) on the basis of an abbreviated Umhabilitation procedure. They will retain their status as a doctor with a completed Habilitation even after leaving their current university. They merely need to regain their authority to teach at the new university.

Teaching authorization—venia legendi

The venia legendi (authorization to teach) is governed by:

• the Universität Hamburg bylaws on granting teaching authorization, Satzung der Universität Hamburg über die Verleihung der Lehrbefugnis als Privatdozentin oder Privatdozent gemäß § 17 Absatz 2 des Hamburgischen Hochschulgesetzes (Privatdozentursatzung) vom 17.11.2011 (PDF)

For more information, see:

• Procedural regulations of the Department of Physics on awarding the venia legendi, Verfahrensregelung des Fachbereichs Physik für die Verleihung der Lehrbefugnis als Privatdozent/in gemäß § 17 Absatz 2 HmbHG (PDF)

Beginning a university teaching career

German-language study on entering the university teaching career: Der Zugang zur Hochschullehrerlaufbahn im Fach Physik an deutschen Universitäten: Habilitation, Juniorprofessur, Nachwuchsgruppenleitung (PDF). Conducted by the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (December 2010)

Habilitations at the Department of Physics

Dr. roman kogler.

Title of the habilitation thesis

The Coming of Age of Jet Substructure at the LHC – Algorithms, Measurements and Searches for New Physical Phenomen

Field of research: Experimental physics Date of habilitation: 15.11.2021

Dr. Jens Bernhard Reinhold Wiebe

Artificial atomic-spin arrays on solid surfaces.

Field of research: Experimental physics Date of habilitation: 24.04.2020

Dr. Rutger Herman Boels

More loops and legs for perturbative quantum field theory.

Field of research: Theoretical physics Date of habilitation: 18.01.2019

Dr. Arya Fallahi

Terahertz acceleration technology towards compact light sources.

Field of research: Experimental Physics Date of habilitation: 29.04.2019

Dr. Kirsten Tina von Bergmann

Non-collinear magnetism in ultrathin films / nichtkollinearer magnetismus in ultradünnen filmen.

Field of research: Experimental Physics  Date of habilitation: 29.10.2019

Dr. Stefan Mendach

Optical rolled-up metamaterials, spin-wave optics, and tubular micro-resonators.

Field of research: Experimental Physics  Date of habilitation: 06.04.2018

Dr. Christian Kränkel

Halbleiterlaser-gepumpte seltenerddotierte festkörperlaser / semiconductor-laser-pumped rare-earth-doped solid-state lasers.

Field of research: Experimental Physics Date of habilitation: 03.02.2017

Dr. Dirk-Sören Lühmann

Quantum simulation with ultracold atoms – solid-state models and beyond.

Field of research: Theoretical physics Date of habilitation: 24.04.2017

Dr. Antonio Negretti

Ultra-cold atoms meet trapped ions: a new interface for quantum information mprocessing and simulation.

Field of research: Theoretical physics Date of habilitation: 11.05.2017

Habilitations at the Department of Physics from 1978-2016

• List 1978-2016 (PDF)

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How is European habilitation viewed in the US?

There is something called a habilitation * in Poland, Germany, Austria, and a number of other European countries.

How is a European habilitation viewed by people in the United States?

* "Habilitation is a qualification required in order to conduct self-contained university teaching, and to obtain a professorship in many European countries. Despite changes implemented in European higher-education systems consequent to the Bologna Process, habilitation is the highest qualification issued through the process of a university examination, and remains a core concept of scholarly careers in these countries ."

• united-states

• 3 I would guess hiring in the US would look at your publications and letters or recommendation, but not your habilitation (and not even your Ph.D.). –  GEdgar Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 17:20
• 2 @GEdgar, looking at the publications, teaching experience etc. is more or less identical to looking at the habilitation, at least in Germany. –  Snijderfrey Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 18:04
• You are asking two questions, and it is not clear whether, and how, they are related. Or is your first question: How is a European habilitation considered in the US? –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 20:01
• 1 @user151413, Yes. That is the question. –  user366312 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 20:41
• 5 The role of a habilitation is hugely dependent on your field of study. In the sciences, the habilitation is a dying breed. (If you apply to a job that requires it, you will typically staple together you post-Ph.D. publications and submit this in lieu, which will almost invariably work.) In the humanities, the "second book" (after the Ph.D. thesis) kind of lingers on. –  Stephan Kolassa Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 16:58

4 Answers 4

An up-front comment : This answer has managed to attract a fair number of downvotes, as well as several very helpful follow-up comments (which have since been moved to chat ). One hypothesis offered by a commenter for why so many have chosen to cast downvotes is that my answer maybe too focused on just one field (economics, which happens to be my field) while failing to explain what a habilitation is. Well, the question was not about what a habilitation is, was it? Instead, it was about how it's viewed in the US (and, presumably, Canada as well).

I've decided to shorten my answer drastically to make it focus on (a) what I believe are commonly held views among academics based in North America and (b) an explanation of why they are likely justified in holding these views.

I suppose any answer to your question will depend importantly on your field of study. My answer is informed by what I know is the state of affairs in my field, economics. However, I believe the views I state below are not limited to academics employed by North American economics departments.

Simply put, most academic economists based at North American universities have never heard of -- or are, at most, barely familiar with -- the concept of a "habilitation". To the extent that they think they know what it is, it's widely regarded as an awkward and even embarrassing device by which a person, after having earned a doctorate, enters an extended period of indentured servitude to some "big name professor", during which time the "habilitand" is supposed to acquire and demonstrate serious research skills and, ideally, manage to publish a couple of well-regarded papers in top-notch journals -- while also having to engage in such career-irrelevant activities as sprucing up the big-name-professor's lecture notes and fill in for the professor's lectures when the professor decide to be some place else.

To the extent that a European habilitation has any value at all in North American economics departments, the only thing that matters are the publications that (should) go along with the additional academic degree. The degree itself is pretty much irrelevant.

Is this state of ignorance willful and detrimental, or is it maybe entirely rational for these academics not to bother finding out a lot about what this habilitation thingy might be all about? I'd say it's the latter. In economics, there has been -- for many decades -- a huge difference in the perceived quality and status of a U.S. or Canadian Ph.D. degree in economics on the one hand and a (continental) European doctoral degree in economics on the other. (Aside: what matters, of course, is the thoroughness and breadth of learning and the research skills that come with the pursuit of the degree, not the nationality of the degree holder.)

Earning a Ph.D. degree from a high-quality North American graduate program was (and largely still is) seen as the vehicle that opens doors toward obtaining an assistant professorship at a selective university or college.

In contrast, most (all?) US econ department hiring committees know -- usually from painful first-hand experience -- that they needn't bother with considering applications from persons whose main qualification is that they have just received a doctorate in economics from a European university. (Well, there have been some notable exceptions to this rule of thumb in economics. However, they are the exceptions that prove rather than refute the rule.) If the European job applicant possesses both a doctorate and a habilitation, the only things that matter are the quality and quantity of the applicants' publications. Well, if the position entails some teaching responsibilities, the applicant's proficiency in English might also matter a bit... If anything, the European doctorate/habilitation candidates might be at a disadvantage relative to their peers with "just" a Ph.D. from a North American institution, who often have just one or two promising job market papers but no publications (yet) in top-notch journals.

• 1 This conversation about downvoting has been moved to chat . Comments below this one should suggest improvements or request clarification only ; please see this FAQ before posting another comment. Let us also remember to be nice . –  cag51 ♦ Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 18:54
• 6 To be fair, if the question is "How is a European habilitation viewed by people in the United States?", and people in the United States view habilitations wrongly , then an answer containing those wrong views is still both correct and useful to the questioner, provided it does represent the prevailing view... –  Steve Jessop Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 20:37

For the most part habilitation is restricted only to Europe.

No real equivalent exists in the United States or other parts of the world. The closest equivalent in the United States would be a promotion after tenure and before reaching a (Full) Professor rank. At many institutions I know, however, there would not be such a rank because the jump to Associate Professor happens before or with tenure.

Many in the US may not have even heard of habilitation, but anyone with close European collaborators will likely know about it. I first learned about it, for example, when I was asked to support a colleague for their habilitation. For those who do know about it, I would not expect there to be any special awe, just a recognition that this is an academic rank and its approximate equivalence in their own system.

• 5 This answer is correct, but I would add that it's restricted only to parts of Europe. My European country does not bother with habilitation. –  user116675 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:11
• 3 @jakebeal I think it is tricky to compare this to any kind of position in the US, whatever it is, because it does not link to any kind of position. It is more like a PhD: A stamp of approval, a degree of some kind, but it doesn't buy you a postdoc/professorship. Most importantly, if you are a professor, there is no need to do it. I think the vast majority of people doing a habilitation at least in Germany are not on any kind of permanent position. –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:29
• 3 @jakebeal I have a hard time believing that (the 2nd part). Everyone I know who does a habilitation has either no permanent job but a long-term postdoc, or - it they are lucky - a permanent assistent-level position (which is not the same as an assistant professorship - for instance, a university assistant in Germany is not allowed to offer courses without participation of their boss, unless they have a habilitation). I don't think I know anyone who has professorship yet is doing a habil. (There might be a point if you are on tenure track, but in fact the mid-term evaulation of a ... –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:59
• 1 @user151413 The people I have known were not in Germany, but in France and Italy. I don't know what the differences there may be, and I know them primarily from a research context. From the perspective of an American their positions all read as equivalent to "professor". –  jakebeal Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 20:13
• 2 @Eric Indeed, that might very well be the reason! As a university professor, you automatically have the "venia" (which allows you to lecture & examine, including the right to act as a PhD examiner - of course you also need to be linked to a department for that), but quite likely not as an FH professor. So if she wanted to confer PhDs, it might very well be that a Habilitation is required, plus potentially a link to a university. (To be fair, I don't know much about FHs awarding PhD, but it is certainly nothing which they traditionally do; though there have been debates about that recently.) –  user151413 Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 16:56

How is European habilitation considered in the US?

It is considered a foreign custom with no relevance to the US.

• The other answers seem to be responding to an earlier version of the question. "Considered" and "Status" are a bit different. –  Anonymous Physicist Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 0:48
• The question changed again. –  Anonymous Physicist Commented Jan 31, 2021 at 4:46

Habilitation is not a term in common use in the US, but if the Wikipedia article is accurate about the meaning, then it would seem that a holder, with no other qualification, would likely be eligible for a faculty position at one of the lower ranks: Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, perhaps.

Most full professors only get there through promotion, not directly. Sometimes an associate professor will be hired as full professor if they are at the verge of promotion at the first university. And a few (very few) people might be hired directly at full if they come from outside academia with an exceptional research record. But in such cases the person can expect to have a short probationary period. So, with habilitation (and a PhD) in hand, more is needed to be hired at full rank. And without experience in academia other than as a student, even initial hiring at associate level is not assured.

But if the person had other relevant experience and held a position similar to full professor or associate, then they might be considered for full professor.

But the holding of it, alone, wouldn't likely be enough. It would further depend on the work done by the person, perhaps the same work that led to the awarding originally.

So, with respect to the final paragraph, most would consider the holder to be very proficient, especially in the German or Austrian case. But every holder of a doctoral degree would be considered very proficient, also. I have no way to guess whether the situation in Poland is the same.

If you hold a PhD or equivalent then habilitation probably doesn't mean much in the US. If you don't have a terminal degree and want to use habilitation to get employed, then you will need to explain in detail what it means in the country in which you earned it. For those jobs requiring a doctorate it might be hard to convince them depending on how firm the rules are. But don't expect that it will be automatically understood.

• 19 For the European countries I know of, habilitation is for the higher ranks rather than the lower, that is, Associate Professor or Full Professor. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 14:52
• 10 Yes, it's a prerequisite, in the sense that once you get the habilitation a university can hire you in one of those positions (e.g. in Italy we need a habilitation for Associate Professor and another one for Full Professor, but not for Assistant Professor). I've never checked, but I suspect it's not defined in the Bologna Process because the details of the habilitation vary wildly from country to country (some require a dissertation, some do not). Indeed it's not equivalent to the title of Associate or Full Professor: it just means that you are eligible if someone wants to hire you. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 15:07
• 2 I don't think it's even transportable from one country to another among those which require habilitation. –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 15:08
• 3 I suspect this answer is quite accurate, although comparisons between the different systems always are a bit off. In Germany, people having "only" a habilitation often are "Privatdozent" or "apl. Prof." . Those positions usually enable to officially supervise PhD students and to apply for faculty positions (usually at another university), but are not necessarily faculty positions themselves. I am not sure how equivalent this is compared to assistant professors. –  Snijderfrey Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 17:57
• 10 At least in Germany (but I assume similarly in other european places) "habilitation" certifies your ability/right to teach ("venia legendia"). This might sound trivial, but this means that you have the right to teach a subject in the way you like, and basically define what is correct and not (no point in math etc., but relevant in humanities). Indeed, it used to be one prerequisite for becoming a professor, but at least in Germany, it is no longer required. In fact, being a professor gives you the very same right to teach. –  user151413 Commented Jan 30, 2021 at 19:26

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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

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• 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.

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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.

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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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Habilitation

Habilitation defines the academic qualification to self-conduct university teaching and research. It is fundamental to obtain a professorship in Germany and many other European countries. The habilitation is the highest qualification level at universities. The requirements to obtain the habilitation degree are specified in the habilitation regulations of the universities (see below).

Admission for habilitation is given upon request according to the local prevailing Habilitation Regulation. The candidate submits a written application addressed to the dean of the relevant faculty indicating the field in which he/she wants to obtain the permission to teach. The additional professional requirements for the admission to the habilitation procedure such as a written habilitation thesis are stated in the respective habilitation regulations of the universities.

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