Medical School OWL

• A recognised doctoral degree from a German university or
• An equivalent academic qualification from a foreign research university

• High-quality scientific research following a PhD

• At least 7 peer-reviewed original papers published or accepted for publication, of which 4 as first or last author (max. 2 cases of shared authorship)

• Completion of specialist medical training (if the specialism involves direct or indirect responsibilities in patient care)

• Proof of academic teaching qualification (at least 9 teaching hours (LVS), of which 3 LVS must have been at the Faculty of Medicine, OWL)

• At least one positive student evaluation of a course

• Teaching training comprising at least 60 work units + basic training from the OWL Faculty of Medicine comprising at least 4 work units (link to Faculty Development course catalogue)

• Participation in a training course on good scientific practice comprising 5 work units (link to the Faculty’s course catalogue)

• Ongoing participation in training courses in the area of core competencies for early-career researchers and teaching staff

The written habilitation thesis must demonstrate the candidate’s outstanding ability to conduct independent academic research in their chosen subject area.

Publications used to fulfil the requirements for the habilitation may not be used as the written habilitation thesis.

The following may be submitted as the written habilitation thesis:

• Cumulative habilitation thesis:

  • At least 5 thematically related original papers

  • All published after the doctoral degree

  • First or last author only (max. 2 shared authorships)

  • Peer-reviewed and already published, or at least accepted for publication

  • Summary of the individual papers, demonstrating the interrelationship between the works and establishing links to other current research findings (length: 18–25 pages)

• Habilitation thesis: ascholarly work representing a significant advance in scientific knowledge within the discipline (monograph).

• Language: German or English

• Topic from the area of expertise in which the applicant wishes to obtain the post-doctoral habilitation (qualification to teach)
• Not from the specific area of expertise for the written habilitation thesis
• At a level typical of the programme type
• Three proposed topics must be submitted
• The topic will be determined by the Habilitation Committee
• Maximum 30 minutes

• A presentation lasting a maximum of 20 minutes and a 30-40 minute colloquium
• Topic: from the academic field of the intended post-doctoral habilitation, but should go beyond the presentation of research findings from the written post-doctoral habilitation thesis
• A proposed topic must be submitted
• The topic will be determined by the Habilitation Committee
• Optional: presentation with a maximum of 5 slides

• Initial contact and advice from the relevant departmental representative
• Contact the Habilitation Office and express your interest
• If necessary, arrange a consultation with the Habilitation Office
• Preliminary enquiries and the subsequent submission of applications are made via an online portal. You can gain access by contacting the Habilitation Office.
• Preliminary formal review of the habilitation requirements by the Habilitation Office

Before a proposal is submitted, the chair of the committee usually holds a meeting with the candidate to discuss the planned post-doctoral habilitation.

Once the requirements for habilitation have been met and the written habilitation thesis has been submitted, an application to initiate the habilitation procedure may be made (please note the submission deadlines).

Applications are submitted via the faculty’s online portal. This can be found at the following link:
https://hapo.medizin.uni-bielefeld.de/

To obtain access, please first contact the Habilitation Office (email habilitationsbüro.medizin@uni-bielefeld.de).

Certain documents or certified copies are still required in paper form (by post or in person).

If the application is approved, the Habilitation Committee will normally appoint three reviewers. The reviewers, acting independently of one another, each submit a written report on the written habilitation thesis and recommend to the Habilitation Committee that the thesis be accepted, rejected or returned for revision. The reports are usually completed within two months.

Once the written habilitation thesis has been accepted, a date will be agreed with the candidate for both the teaching lecture and the research lecture, each to be followed by a colloquium.

The presentations and the colloquium are primarily intended to demonstrate the candidate’s ability to present complex issues and theories in a scientifically sound and critical manner, whilst ensuring they are easily understood. The sessions are open to the university community.

Further information can be found under ‘Habilitation Theses’.

Following the lectures and the colloquium, the Habilitation Committee decides on the recognition of the oral habilitation examination.

If a positive decision is reached regarding the oral habilitation examination, the qualification to teach is granted.

The person who has completed the habilitation is entitled to use the doctoral title with the suffix ‘habilitata’ or ‘habilitatus’ (habil.).

Unless the written habilitation thesis has already been published, it must be published within one year of passing the oral habilitation examination.

Following the successful completion of the procedure to establish teaching eligibility, the Habilitation Committee decides on an application by the habilitation candidate for the grant of teaching authorisation (venia legendi). The award of the venia legendi confers the right to use the title ‘Privatdozent [senior lecturer]’ or ‘Privatdozentin’.

The Privatdozent [senior lecturer] is required to deliver a public inaugural lecture on a topic of their own choosing within their field of teaching. The inaugural lecture should take place during the lecture term, no later than six months after the colloquium.

1. The Privatdozent [senior lecturer] has the right to deliver courses within the scope of the teaching authorisation granted.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of civil service regulations, the Privatdozent [senior lecturer] is obliged to deliver at least one course comprising two teaching hours in each academic year; this may also include the marking of examinations. Proof of the teaching undertaken must be provided annually to the dean, without being asked, in an appropriate manner.
3. In addition to paragraph 2, Privatdozenten [senior lecturers] are entitled to conduct examinations in accordance with the faculty’s regulations.

The committee holds approximately two meetings per term. All documents must be submitted in full by the deadline

The workshop is usually held online via Zoom once a term.

Upcoming dates:

• Wednesday, 25 November 2026, 3.00–7.00 pm (15 places available)

 

Registration details:

Registration is by email only to the Habilitation Office’s official email address: habilitationsbuero.medizin@uni-bielefeld.de.

Your registration must include:

• A statement explaining your motivation or the background to your registration
• Your contact details and institutional affiliation