We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is an Habilitation?

By Emma G.
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 9,496
Share

In some European countries, the highest academic qualification a person can achieve is known as habilitation. In order to achieve this level of qualification, the candidate must have already earned a doctorate degree. The candidate must then perform intensive independent research and write a thesis outlining his or her work. In some countries, habilitation is required before a professor is allowed to teach unsupervised or becomes the supervisor of doctoral candidates. Completing the process usually takes from four years to a decade.

The tasks a scholar must complete to earn habilitation are similar to those required to earn a PhD or professorial tenure, but they tend to be much more strenuous than either achievement requires. The candidate must act entirely independently without the guidance from a faculty supervisor or board that a PhD candidate would receive. A strong record of research and contribution to the field is essential. To earn habilitation in one of the sciences, the candidate must publish dozens of research papers in recognized scientific journals. If the candidate's field of study is humanities, he or she may be required to write a book that is accepted for publication.

European countries that offer habilitation include Spain, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Most countries in the former Soviet Union also offer this type of certification, including Russia, Lithuania, and the Ukraine. Requirements vary from country to country. In some countries, habilitation is used as a way to prove the ability of prospective professors.

In some parts of Germany, it is considered a certification for professors rather than an academic degree. The certificate confirms that the holder is qualified to teach at a university without supervision. Upon earning the certification, the professor is given permission to teach a specific subject for the rest of his or her life. In this case, it is similar to earning tenure in the United States or Great Britain. In France, earning habilitation allows a professor to oversee research being performed by doctorate students. In both countries, teaching ability is analyzed along with the other requirements.

In Poland, habilitation is essentially a second-level doctorate degree. In order to earn it, the candidate has to publish a dissertation after years of research and study in the field. Technically, the law allows a professor holding a first-level doctorate degree to teach at a university, though a teacher is rarely hired without the second-level degree.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-an-habilitation.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.