Studentierende der medizinischen Fakultät der Ruhr Universität Bochum schauen sich Daten an einem Computer an — © RUB, Marquard

Habilitation procedure

The habilitation is a key step in the academic career ladder. The habilitation determines whether candidates can independently represent their subject at the Faculty of Medicine in research and teaching. It is an important prerequisite for applying for a professorship. The successful completion of a doctorate is a mandatory requirement.

It involves writing a habilitation thesis and presenting your research in a scientific colloquium before the Faculty Council. Upon successful completion, you will receive the teaching qualification from our faculty and the right to use the title “Privatdozent*in”.

Gestapelte Aktenordner — © RUB, Marquard

Requirements for the habilitation

In order to be admitted to the habilitation, the following criteria must be met:

Publication record: At least 10 original papers, of which at least 6 as first or last author.
Teaching performance: Following completion of the doctorate, evidence must generally be provided of independent university-level teaching over a period of four semesters, amounting to at least two semester hours per week (SWS). Part of this teaching must have been undertaken at the Faculty of Medicine at Ruhr University Bochum.

Detailed information on habilitation and transfer of habilitation procedures, as well as the relevant contacts, can be found in the Guidance on Habilitation and Transfer of Habilitation (PDF, German).

How to submit an application

After completing your habilitation thesis, you can submit an informal application to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. This application should state the subject area you are aiming for, your supervising professor and the topic of your habilitation thesis. Please send the application together with the required documents digitally as a PDF file to the Dean's Office at apl-habil-medizinrub "«@&.de.

Documents to be submitted

We require the following documents for your application:

Written application
List of your scientific publications and presentations (see template “Guidelines for the presentation of publication achievements”)
List of your teaching achievements
For clinical subjects: Recognition as a specialist* and license to practice medicine*
Doctoral degree certificate*
Declaration of other habilitation attempts
Declaration of your own contribution to the habilitation thesis and co-authors
Declaration that you are familiar with the provisions of the habilitation regulations
Official certificate of good conduct of document type O (if you are not employed at Ruhr-Universität Bochum; this will be sent to us automatically)

*Please submit certified copies or provide us with the originals for comparison.

In addition, we ask you to submit your habilitation thesis both digitally as a separate file and in triplicate bound. Please refer to the information sheet in the download area for the exact requirements.