Promotion / Habilitation

Initiating the Examination Process §7

  1. Conditions for initiating the examination process are the following:
    • The applicant satisfies all requirements for the doctoral degree programme according to §3 of the Regulations for Doctoral Study, Dr. theol.
    • For at least two semesters prior to the initiation of the examination process, the applicant must have studied protestant theology at the Goethe-University or have been active in research and teaching in the faculty. Exceptions may be decided upon by the Doctoral Studies Board.
    • The applicant has demonstrated a sufficient mastery of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Sufficient proof may be provided in the form of the Latinum, the Graecum, and the Hebraicum, or through equivalent academic or ecclesial examinations. The equivalence of such language examinations will be determined by the Doctoral Studies Board. Successful language examinations will be considered proven if the applicant has completed the examinations listed in §3.1 of the Regulations for Doctoral Study, Dr. theol.
  2. The motion for the initiation of the examination process is to be submitted to the head of the Doctoral Studies Board. The following must be contained therein: the topic of the dissertation, the name of the faculty member advising the project, and the names of the readers and examiners whom the applicant proposes.
  3. In accordance with §7.2 of the Regulations for Doctoral Study, Dr. Theol., the following documents are to be submitted along with the motion for initiation of the examination process:
    • A curriculum vitae of the applicant which also provides information regarding his or her academic career, with a passport-sized photograph.
    • The documentation demanded by §3 of the Regulations for Doctoral Study insofar as these documents were not provided by the applicant at the time of acceptance into the doctoral degree programme.
    • Five copies of the dissertation.
    • A written declaration that the applicant independently composed the dissertation and has listed in the bibliography all of the aiding materials used in the production of the dissertation.
    • A written explanation concerning whether the dissertation had been submitted previously in the framework of another examination process and whether it is has already been published in part or in whole.
    • A receipt proving payment of the examination fee (§16 of the Regulations for Doctoral Study).

Evaluation and Exhibition of the Dissertation §8

  1. The dissertation is to be evaluated by at least two professors, employed full-time or otherwise, or by persons with the Habilitation The main occupation of one of the readers shall be that of professor in the faculty. The advisor of the dissertation shall be appointed as a reader. The names of the readers will be provided to the doctoral candidate. The evaluations shall be composed independently of each other.
  2. The applicant has the right to view the written evaluations and opinions of the dissertation; these documents will be in the possession of by the Doctoral Studies Board.
  3. The evaluations shall be submitted after no more than three months following the reception of the dissertation by the readers. The Doctoral Studies Board will strive to provide the evaluations on time.
  4. The readers will propose a mark according to §12.3 of the Regulations for Doctoral Study, Dr. theol. The mark summa cum laude may be granted only when all readers have proposed this mark.
  5. After the evaluations have been submitted, the evaluations and the dissertation will be presented by the chair of the Doctoral Studies Board to all members of the examination committee for review. The members of the examination committee shall confirm their review of the materials through a signature no later than the end of the determined exhibition period.
  6. At the same time of the dispatch of the foregoing to the examination committee, a copy of the dissertation and the evaluations are to be displayed in the dean’s office in the faculty for review by all professors of the faculty and the other members of the Doctoral Studies Board. The exhibition of the aforementioned materials is to be announced to the persons just named. The exhibition period lasts three weeks.
  7. Professors have the right, in writing, to propose changes to the dissertation, to render an opinion on the evaluations, and to oppose the marks proposed by the readers. Proposals, opinions, and objections must be announced before the end of the exhibition period and must be submitted in writing to the head of the Doctoral Studies Board no later than two weeks following the end of the exhibition period.
  8. If all readers reject the dissertation and if no objections to the refusal are made on the part of the faculty’s professors, then the Doctoral Studies Board will declare the course of doctoral study to be unsuccessful. Otherwise, the process will continue.
  9. If the readers or other professors have proposed changes to the dissertation, the examination committee may return the dissertation to the author for a set period of revision. The period shall not exceed one year. The revised dissertation is to be submitted to the examination committee for review. If the deadline for revision is not met, the Doctoral Studies Board will declare the dissertation to be rejected.
  10. If individual readers or persons entitled to making objections (in accordance with §7 of the Regulations for Doctoral Study, Dr. theol.) refuse to accept the dissertation, the Doctoral Studies Board may appoint other readers.