Dr. rer. nat. - Leibniz Universität Hannover

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
This English version of the Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty
of Mathematics and Physics, and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of
Leibniz Universität Hannover is for information only and is not legally binding.
Joint Regulations
of the Faculty of Natural Sciences,
the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and
the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
for Conferral of the Degree of
Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.)
at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
(published in the Official Gazette of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover dated 2008-09-03)
Sec. 1
Sec. 2
Sec. 3
Sec. 4
Sec. 5
Sec. 6
Sec. 7
Sec. 8
Sec. 9
Sec. 10
Sec. 11
Sec. 12
Sec. 13
Sec. 14
Sec. 15
Sec. 16
Sec. 17
Sec. 18
Conferral of the Academic Degree of Dr. rer. nat.
Graduation Performances
Admission Requirements
Admission to Doctoral Studies
International Doctoral Procedures
Application for Doctoral Studies and Submittal of Doctoral Thesis
Opening of Doctoral Procedure
Doctoral Thesis Assessment
Oral Doctoral Examination
Thesis Defence
Assessment of Oral Examination or Thesis Defence and Overall Assessment of Graduation
Performances
Duplication of Doctoral Thesis
Doctoral Certificate and Implementation of Doctoral Procedure
Renewal of Doctoral Certificate
Honorary Doctorate
Revocation of Doctoral Degree
Amendment of Doctorate Regulations
Coming into Effect and Transitional Provisions
Annexe
Appendices 1 to 5

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Sec. 1
Conferral of the Academic Degree of
Dr. rer. nat.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover (hereinafter called Leibniz Universität Hannover) confers,
through the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the Faculty of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science (hereinafter called the Faculties), following a doctoral procedure, in
compliance with the following regulations, the academic degree of "Doctor of Natural Sciences" (Doctor rerum
naturalium, abbreviated: Dr. rer. nat.).
Sec. 2
Graduation Performances
(1) Graduation performances consist of the doctoral thesis and optionally the oral doctoral examination or the
thesis defence.
(2) The doctoral thesis is a scientific paper independently prepared by the doctoral candidate in the field of
natural sciences (hereinafter to be understood as the subject categories specified in the annexe), provided this
paper constitutes a scientific progress. The doctoral thesis has to deal with a coherent subject-specific topic
and comprise a self-contained presentation of the research work and its results. Scientific publications may
form a part of a doctoral thesis. If the doctoral thesis consists of several scientific papers, a presentation of the
guidelines of the papers submitted has to be added in an appropriate extent. In case of several authors of
such scientific papers, the contribution of the doctoral candidate must be clearly distinguishable without a
doubt. Parts of the doctoral thesis may have been published even before their submittal.
(3) The oral doctoral examination extends to a major subject (Sec. 9 Para. 4) and a minor subject (Sec. 9
Para. 5). The oral examination in the major subject serves as proof that the doctoral candidate masters this
subject in an appropriate broadness and profoundness. This includes the ability to critically discuss the
formulated problem and the results of the doctoral thesis and to integrate them into the overall field of the
major subject. The oral examination in the minor subject is to prove if the doctoral candidate features
respective content-related and methodical knowledge and has an overview of modern developments.
(4) The thesis defence includes a scientific presentation reflecting the essential contents of the thesis, as well
as a subsequent discussion. The defence is to show that the doctoral candidate is able to critically discuss the
results of her or his doctoral thesis and integrate them into the scientific environment. This includes the ability
to present and explain in-depth knowledge, relating to both content and method, in the subject area mainly
touched by the doctoral thesis.
Sec. 3
Admission Requirements
(1) For admission to doctoral studies for the degree of Dr. rer. nat., either of the following is required:
a) regular natural science studies, having been concluded with a passed diplom examination, a master
examination, a final state examination, or an equivalent final examination at a scientific university in the scope
of the Constitutional Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, or
b) regular studies of teacher training for grammar schools or vocational schools, in two natural science school
subjects (e. g. biology, chemistry, geography, mathematics, physics, food science), having been concluded
with the passed master examination or the first state examination for teacher training for grammar schools or
vocational schools in the scope of the Constitutional Law of the Federal Republic of Germany.
(2) Applicants not fulfilling the requirements of Para. 1 but proving to have studied at least eight semesters at a
scientific university and obtained a degree, may direct a well-founded application to the dean regarding the
request for assessment of admission requirements. For the equivalence of the final examination of a foreign
scientific university, the prevailing equivalence agreements apply.
(3) Highly qualified graduates from universities of applied science may, on the basis of their well-founded
application addressed to the dean, be admitted to doctoral studies, provided they have successfully taken
assessment tests as per Para. 5. after a course of study at Leibniz Universität Hannover usually extending to
two semesters. For graduates from universities of applied science having concluded a consecutive, ten
semester course of study, the two semester studies at Leibniz Universität Hannover shall be waived.

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
(4) An application regarding the assessment of admission requirements as per Sec. 3 Para. 2 or 3 shall be
made out in writing before beginning to work on the doctoral thesis and shall be directed to the dean of the
faculty where the doctoral studies are to take place. She or he will take over the procedure for the assessment
of admission requirements and will inform the other faculties affected by the application, if need be. The
applicant has to attach to the application the records concerning the previous studies and a statement if she or
he already failed a final academic or state examination in a natural science course of study. The application
has to include a specification of the examination performances rendered, if any, whose equivalency to an
assessment test is to be ascertained. A statement by the professor scheduled for the supervision of the
doctoral candidate has to be attached to the application as well.
(5) Applicants as per Para. 2 and 3 have to take assessment tests in three subjects. The assessment tests are
to prove that she or he has the skills or knowledge that can be acquired in a natural science course of study at
Leibniz Universität Hannover extending to at least eight semesters with a full academic qualification.
According to Para. 4, the applicant may make suggestions in the application as to the subjects of the
assessment test. Previously rendered examination performances have to be allowed for appropriately and
may replace assessment tests. The faculty council decides on the assessment test subjects and appoints the
examiners. The decision has to be communicated to the applicant in writing. The applicant agrees upon
examination dates with the examiners. Subsequent to the examination, the examiners will communicate the
examination result to the examinee in oral form and to the dean in writing. The assessment tests shall be
completed within six months after the faculty council decision. Failed examinations may be repeated once.
Further repetitions are subject to faculty council consent.
Sec. 4
Admission to Doctoral Studies
(1) An application for admission to doctoral studies has to be made out in writing and directed to the dean of
the respective faculty. This has to be done at the beginning of the work on the doctoral thesis, but not later
than three months before thesis submittal. In the application, the candidate has to specify the working title of
her or his doctoral thesis. The working title of the doctoral thesis shall be fixed by the applicant in agreement
with a professor of Leibniz Universität Hannover or the natural science disciplines of Hannover Medical School
and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation. A project outline of the intended doctoral
thesis has to be attached to the application.
(2) Teachers in the sense of these Doctorate Regulations are understood to be professors, assistant
professors, lecturers, and private lecturers of a scientific university. Junior group leaders having been
supported through a programme of a research promotion institution with external survey and whose respective
application has before been approved by the faculty council, will be equated with Leibniz Universität Hannover
assistant professors as regards their doctorate-granting right, i. e. the mentoring of doctoral candidates.
(3) The applicant has to attach to the application of admission to doctoral studies:
a) a CV including specification of the educational background, completed, if need be, by a full list of scientific
publications;
b) the proofs (in certified photostat) that admission requirements as per Sec. 3 have been met;
c) a declaration if she or he has filed an application for a doctoral procedure at another university or faculty
already before or at the same time; if so, full details have to be specified,
d) a declaration of readiness containing the working title and made out by a professor of the university
specified in Sec. 4 (1) to provide an appropriate scientific supervision of the doctoral candidate. If such
commitment is not available, it is a doctoral thesis which has to be prepared externally.
The faculty to which such admission application has been directed will be responsible for the doctoral
procedure.
(4) The admission to doctoral studies is decided upon by the responsible faculty. The application for admission
to doctoral studies and the records attached will remain at the faculty. The faculty may refuse admission to
candidates with externally prepared doctoral thesis, should a proper scientific assessment of the doctoral
thesis appear to be impossible.
(5) Through admission to doctoral studies, the doctoral candidate acquires the entitlement to the appraisal of
her or his doctoral thesis.

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Sec. 5
International Doctoral Procedures
In case of joint doctoral procedures implemented by the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of
Mathematics and Physics, or the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of Leibniz
Universität Hannover with foreign universities, the respective faculty council will be authorised to take specific
decisions for the particular case. As to their requirements, such decisions must not rank behind these
doctorate regulations.
Sec. 6
Application for Doctoral Studies and Submittal of Doctoral Thesis
(1) An application for doctoral studies for the degree of Dr. rer. nat. requires admission to doctoral studies and
has to be directed in writing to the dean of the responsible faculty (Sec. 4 Para. 1). The application has to be
accompanied by:
a) Four identical typewritten copies of a doctoral thesis. The doctoral thesis shall be made out in German or
English. If a well-founded application is submitted, formulation of the thesis in another language may be
allowed for. Specifications regarding the title page layout may be seen from Appendix 1. The doctoral thesis
has to include at its beginning a short summary in German and an abstract in English (one page each), which
also have to be filed in an electronically readable version. The doctoral thesis shall include at the end a short
CV including specification of the educational background. The doctoral thesis must not have been published
previously.
b) A declaration by the doctoral candidate stating that she or he has composed the doctoral thesis
independently and has completely specified any means and sources used as well as the institutions, if any,
drawn on for assistance.
c) A declaration stating that the doctoral thesis has not already been used as master thesis, diplom thesis or
similar examination paper.
d) A full list specifying the scientific publications of the doctoral candidate.
e) Proposals as to the supervisor designation, the examination board, and, with the end of the display period
at the latest, suggestions regarding place and time of examination.
(2) With the application for doctoral studies, the doctoral candidate irrevocably declares if she or he chooses
the oral examination (Sec. 9) or the thesis defence (Sec. 10). If the oral examination has been selected, two
examination subjects she or he has selected have to be specified (Sec. 9 Para. 4 and 5). The major subject is
that examination subject to whom the topic of the doctoral thesis may be attributed in its essential parts.
(3) The application for doctoral studies, one copy of the doctoral thesis submitted, and the records submitted
remain at the responsible faculty.
(4) The application for doctoral studies may be withdrawn as long as an oral presentation on the doctoral
thesis has not yet been held.
Sec. 7
Opening of Doctoral Procedure
(1) For opening of the doctoral procedure, the responsible faculty designates as supervisor a professor (Sec. 4
Para. 2) to perform the doctoral thesis assessment for the natural science subject mainly involved in the
doctoral thesis, at Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover Medical School, or the University of Veterinary
Medicine Hannover, Foundation. In exceptional cases, within three years after her or his leaving, even a
former professor of one of the three scientific universities mentioned may be appointed as supervisor.
Furthermore, the responsible faculty appoints as second examiners for doctoral thesis assessment one or
more professors with doctorate-granting right, working in the scientific universities mentioned or other scientific
universities. Supervisors and second examiners have the same rights in the doctoral procedure, with the
exception of the provision stipulated in Sec. 7 (5), and are hereinafter jointly refererred to as supervisors.
(2) In case the doctoral thesis touches the subject area of a faculty other than the responsible faculty as per
Sec. 4 and it seems advisable for the assessment of the scientific performance rendered by the doctoral
candidate, a professor of the respective faculty has to be denominated as second examiner.
(3) If the doctoral thesis has been initiated and supervised by a person not being a member of a university, this
person may be requested to give an advisory opinion.

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
(4) In case the doctoral candidate has chosen the oral examination, the faculty will decide on the subject
combination selected.
(5) When opening the doctoral procedure, the responsible faculty will establish, either for the oral examination
(Sec. 9) or the thesis defence (Sec. 10), a council of at least three professors acting as examiners and will
convey to one of the professors of the responsible faculty the council chairmanship. At least two examiners
have to be in a full-time working position at one of the universities mentioned in Sec. 4 Para. 1. For the oral
examination, the council normally comprises two examiners for the major subject selected by the candidate
and at least one examiner for the minor subject the candidate has chosen. The supervisor may act as
examiner, but not as chairperson. In case a person not being a member of a university has been requested to
give an advisory opinion as per Para. 3, this person shall be asked to contribute to the examination board in
advisory capacity.
Sec. 8
Doctoral Thesis Assessment
(1) The supervisors will individually and independently of each others assess if the doctoral thesis submitted
may be approved as graduation performance or not.
(2) Each supervisor will make a written presentation, recommending either acceptance or rejection of the
doctoral thesis, at the same time giving reasons for the recommendation made. If acceptance of the doctoral
thesis is suggested, this has to be accompanied by a well-founded proposal as to the grade allocated. The
following grades may be assigned:
excellent =0
very good =1
good =2
satisfactory =3
(3) Allocation of the grade of "excellent" as overall grade of the doctoral thesis requires that his grade has
been proposed by all of the supervisors.
(4) For a period of at least two weeks, normally during the lecture period, the doctoral thesis and
presentations, as well as expert opinions, if any, will be displayed in the administrative office of the responsible
faculty for inspection by the professors of the faculties mentioned in Sec. 1. The dean of the responsible
faculty will inform the professors accordingly. During the display period, each member of this group of people
is entitled to raise an objection against a doctoral thesis assessment proposed. The objection has to be
addressed to the dean of the responsible faculty. It has to be made out in writing and accompanied by
grounds.
(5) In case a professor of a faculty other than mentioned in Sec. 1 but belonging to a scientific university
specified in Sec. 7 Para. 1 Clause. 1 has been appointed as supervisor, in the pending doctoral procedure the
professors of her or his faculty have the same rights as the professors of the faculties mentioned under Sec. 1.
(6) The doctoral thesis is deemed to have been accepted when all supervisors have recommended its
acceptance and no objection as per Sec. 8 Para. 4 against acceptance of the thesis has been raised.
(7) The doctoral thesis is deemed to have been refused when all supervisors have recommended the refusal
and no objection as per Sec. 8 Para. 4 has been raised against the refusal. The doctoral procedure is
therewith completed, and the dean of the responsible faculty will inform the respective person accordingly in
writing, including grounds and an advice on legal remedies.
(8) If a decision on the doctoral thesis acceptance has not yet been taken in the procedure as per Sec. 8
Para. 6, 7, the responsible faculty establishes a council of at least five professors to this end. This council has
to include the dean of the responsible faculty as chairperson, and the supervisors. If need be, the responsible
faculty appoints further second examiners who should preferably be external persons. Sec. 8 Para. 1, 2, 4, 5
will apply accordingly. After termination of the display period (Sec. 8 Para. 4) of the presentations requested in
addition, the council will discuss in a non-public session, taking into consideration all presentations at hand
and all objections received as per Sec. 8 Para. 4. Decision minutes of the session have to be taken. The
council decides on the thesis acceptance. In case of acceptance, the council fixes the assessment. If an
immediate acceptance cannot be made, but successful completion of the thesis may be anticipated within an
appropriate period after meeting requirements as to the thesis, for the time being the council just decides on

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
the requirements to be met, thereby fixing an appropriate period for fulfilment of the requirements. On
application by the doctoral candidate, for good reasons the period may be extended. In case requirements are
not met within the time limit, the doctoral thesis is considered to have been refused, whereupon the respective
person is informed accordingly in writing, including an advice on legal remedies. After fulfilment of the
requirements, the council will again decide on the acceptance of the doctoral thesis and, if so, on its
assessment. Should the doctoral thesis be refused, the doctoral procedure is terminated. The dean of the
responsible faculty will inform the respective person accordingly in writing, including grounds and an advice on
legal remedies.
Sec. 9
Oral Doctoral Examination
(1) If the doctoral thesis has been accepted, the competent dean will shortly fix a date, normally during the
lecture period, and a place in the rooms of the responsible faculty where the oral examination will be held, if
this kind of examination has been selected. Place and date of the oral doctoral examination will be
communicated in writing to the doctoral candidate and the council members as per Sec. 7 Para. 5 with
indication of the title of the doctoral thesis and will furthermore be announced to the university public at the
universities as per Sec. 4 Para. 1. There must be at least five working days between announcement and
examination. The examination is presided by the chairperson of the examination board.
(2) The professors as per Sec. 4 Para. 2 have the right of access to the oral examinations. Further listeners
may be admitted with the consent of the doctoral candidate and the examination chairperson.
(3) Each doctoral candidate has to be examined individually. The examination begins with a short presentation
of 15 - 20 minutes duration, in which the doctoral candidate outlines the essential parts and results of the
doctoral thesis. The short presentation is normally accessible to the university public; by agreement with the
doctoral candidate, the examination chairperson may restrict admission to participants as per Sec. 9 Para. 2.
The subsequent non-public examination talk extends to the major subject (Sec. 9 Para. 4), and the minor
subject (Sec. 9 Para. 5). In all, it has a duration of 60 minutes minimum, 100 minutes maximum, thereof at
least 30 minutes in the major subject. The examination in the major subject is to extend to different fields,
among them the subject area mainly touched by the doctoral thesis. In the oral doctoral examination,
subsequent to the examinations in the major and minor subjects, each professor present may ask questions
as to the doctoral thesis and the examination subjects.
(4) The subjects eligible as majors have to belong to the subject categories specified in the annexe to the
Doctoral Regulations. They are determined by the relevant competent faculty.
(5) The subjects from the subject categories specified in the annexe may be freely combined as major and
minor subjects. The relevant faculty may decide to also admit other subjects as examinations subjects. It is not
allowed to combine subjects extensively overlapping with each others.
Sec. 10
Thesis Defence
(1) If the doctoral thesis has been accepted, the competent dean will shortly fix a date, normally during the
lecture period, and a place in the rooms of the responsible faculty where the thesis defence will be held, if this
kind of examination has been selected. Place and date of the thesis defence will be communicated in writing
to the doctoral candidate and the council members as per Sec. 7 Para. 5 with indication of the title of the
doctoral thesis and will furthermore be announced to the university public at the universities as per Sec. 4
Para. 1. There must be at least five working days between announcement and examination. The examination
is presided by the chairperson of the examination board.
(2) The thesis defence is accessible to the university public.
(3) Each doctoral candidate has to be examined individually. The thesis defence begins with a presentation of
45 minutes duration maximum, in which the doctoral candidate outlines the essential contents and results of
the doctoral thesis and integrates them into the scientific environment. After the presentation, at first the
council members as per Sec. 7 Para. 5 have the right to ask questions relating to the topic and the scientific
environment. Subsequently, attendees are given the opportunity to ask questions as to the presentation.
Duration of the thesis defence shall be at least 75 minutes, but not extend 120 minutes.

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Sec. 11
Assessment of Oral Examination or Thesis Defence
and Overall Assessment of Graduation Performances
(1) Directly after the oral doctoral examination or the thesis defence, the examination board will ascertain in a
non-public session if and with which result the doctoral candidate has passed the oral doctoral examination or
the thesis defence, which grade will be allocated to the doctoral thesis, and the overall assessment awarded to
the graduation performances. In case according to Sec. 8 Para. 8 a grade for the doctoral thesis is already
available, such grade has to be adopted. Prior to that, the examination board may turn for advice to the
professors having attended the oral doctoral examination or the thesis defence.
Each assessment awarded by one of the examiners involved is of equal weight. For decision making, in case
of an oral examination the impression received from the short presentation will also have to be taken into
account. For the thesis defence assessment, the presentation quality and the topical reference of questions
asked have to be taken into consideration as well. Each assessment has to be expressed in grades as per
Sec. 8 Para. 2, or the respective examination has to be assessed failed. In fixing the grade of the doctoral
thesis, each assessment awarded by one of the supervisors involved is of equal weight.
When determining the overall assessment awarded to the graduation performances, the assessment of the
doctoral thesis is of a weight of 2/3. Depending on the overall impression gained from the respective
examination performances, the examination board may, as additional assessment decision, round up or down
the result of each calculation of average between two full grades to the nearest full grades as per Sec. 8 Para.
2. The overall assessment of excellent may only be allocated when the doctoral thesis and the oral
examination or thesis defence, respectively, have each been assessed as excellent.
(2) If a doctoral candidate fails to appear at the examination or discontinues the examination, the examination
is deemed failed, unless adequate grounds are provided. In case adequate grounds have been delivered, the
dean will fix a new examination date, taking into consideration Sec. 9 Para. 1 or Sec. 10 Para. 1, respectively.
(3) Short minutes have to be taken of the oral examination or the thesis defence, as the case may be. Besides
indications as to place, date, time of beginning and termination of the examination, the minutes will contain the
names of the doctoral candidate, the examiners, and, in case of the oral doctoral examination, names of
further attendees
the title of the doctoral thesis
the ascertainment that the examination has been passed
the grade of the oral doctoral examination or the thesis defence,
the grade of the doctoral thesis,
the overall grade of the graduation performances.
The minutes have to be signed by the chairperson of the examination board.
(4) The chairperson of the examination board will inform the doctoral candidate without delay of the results
specified in Sec. 11 Para. 3 and will make out to her or him a preliminary certification of the graduation result.
(5) In case the oral doctoral examination or thesis defence is deemed failed, the doctoral candidate may
repeat the oral doctoral examination or thesis defence once after three months at the earliest and after twelve
months at the latest.
(6) The doctoral procedure is terminated when the doctoral candidate has not applied for a repetition within
one year after having failed the oral doctoral examination or thesis defence or when the doctoral procedure
has definitively been failed. The dean of the responsible faculty will inform the doctoral candidate in writing of
the termination of the procedure, including grounds and an advice on legal remedies.
(7) The examination board may impose conditions on the doctoral candidate as to the final version of the
doctoral thesis to be published. The determination of such conditions has to be specified in the minutes of the
examination. Fulfilment of the conditions will be checked and certified by the board chairperson according to
Sec. 7 Para. 5.
Sec. 12
Duplication of Doctoral Thesis
(1) Within six months of passing the oral doctoral examination or thesis defence, the doctoral candidate has to
publish the approved final version of the doctoral thesis. The regulations for publication and delivery of the
doctoral thesis as well as the number of copies to be delivered will be determined by the responsible faculty in
compliance with the general guidelines decided upon by the Senate of Leibniz Universität Hannover.

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
(2) The title page has to be designed in accordance with the specimen in Appendix 2 and shall be drafted in
the language of the doctoral thesis. The terms“Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover”, “Faculty
........”, “Doctor of Natural Sciences” and “Dr. rer. nat.” are adopted without changes. The doctoral thesis shall
contain a short CV at its end including educational background and a list of publications, if applicable.
(3) In case the doctoral candidate fails to adhere to the delivery deadline, her or his rights acquired in the
course of the doctoral procedure will expire. The preliminary certification as per Sec. 11 Para. 4 has to be
returned. At a well-founded request by the doctoral candidate, the dean will decide on an appropriate delivery
deadline extension.
Sec. 13
Doctoral Certificate
and Implementation of Doctoral Procedure
(1) The Doctoral Certificate is made out according to the specimen in Appendix 3 or 4, respectively. It is
personally signed by the president of Leibniz Universität Hannover and by the dean of the responsible faculty
and furnished with the seal of Leibniz Universität Hannover. It is dated to the day of the oral examination or
thesis defence but not delivered until the doctoral candidate has complied with the publishing duty as per Sec.
12 and with the other obligations according to Appendix 5.
(2) The doctorate conferral is performed by handover or delivery of the Doctoral Certificate. It is not until then
that the doctoral candidate is entitled to hold the doctoral degree.
Sec. 14
Renewal of Doctoral Certificate
At the request of a member of the faculty, the Doctoral Certificate may be renewed to mark the fiftieth
anniversary of the oral doctoral examination or the thesis defence, subject to a respective decision taken by
the responsible faculty council.
Sec. 15
Honorary Doctorate
(1) Leibniz Universität Hannover, through its faculties, may confer the academic honour of "Doktor/ Doktorin
der Naturwissenschaften ehrenhalber" (Doctor rerum naturalium honoris causa, abbreviated: Dr. rer. nat. h. c.)
as an award for excellent performances rendered in the field of natural sciences, according to Sec. 1
(2) The honoree must not be a member of Leibniz Universität Hannover.
(3) A respective application has to filed by at least five professors as per Sec. 4 (2), of Leibniz Universität
Hannover, or of the natural science disciplines of Hannover Medical School or of the University of Veterinary
Medicine Hannover, Foundation. The conferment is decided upon by the faculty whose subject area is mostly
touched by the performances to be honoured.
(4) The honorary doctorate conferment is performed by handover of a certificate personally signed by the
president of Leibniz Universität Hannover and by the dean of the responsible faculty and furnished with the
seal of Leibniz Universität Hannover, accentuating the merits of the person to be conferred the honorary
doctorate.
(5) The conferring of the honorary doctorate will be communicated to all ministries and all scientific universities
within the territorial application of West German Constitutional Law.
Sec. 16
Revocation of Doctoral Degree
The revocation of doctoral degree and the respective procedure are implemented on the basis of the legal
requirements. This analogously applies to the academic degree of "Doktor der Naturwissenschaften
ehrenhalber".

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Sec. 17
Amendment of Doctorate Regulations
Any amendment of these joint doctorate regulations requires identical decisions of all faculties as per Sec. 1.
Sec. 18
Coming into Effect and Transitional Provisions
(1) These doctorate regulations will come into effect on the day of their publication in the Official Gazette of
Leibniz Universität Hannover. Any previous doctorate regulations will lose their validity.
(2) In case a doctoral candidate has been admitted to the doctorate on the basis of doctorate regulations
previously in force, such admission will continue to apply, and candidates will have to declare in writing by the
time of the application for doctoral studies (Sec. 6) their wish to pursue the doctoral procedures as per the
regulations in force at the time of admission, should this be requested.
(3) The deadline for admission to doctoral studies as per Sec. 4 (1) will enter into force six months after
publication of these doctorate regulations.

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Annexe
The subjects from the following subject categories are natural science subjects in the sense of these
Doctorate Regulations and are eligible as major subject according to Sec. 6 (2):
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geosciences
- Geography
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Physics

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Appendix 1
Title Page Layout of the Doctoral Thesis submitted to the Faculty:
(Title of Doctoral Thesis)....................................................................................................
Doctoral Thesis
submitted to the (Faculty) of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
for acquisition of the degree of
Doctor of Natural Sciences
Dr. rer. nat.
by
........................................................................................................
(degree previously acquired (if any), e. g. Dipl.-Phys., first name, surname)
born on.......................................................in..............................

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Appendix 2
Title Page Layout of the Doctoral Thesis approved by the Faculty:
................................................................................................................................................
(Title of Doctoral Thesis)
Doctoral Thesis
approved by the (Faculty)...........................................................................
of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
for acquisition of the degree of
Doctor of Natural Sciences
Dr. rer. nat.
of
........................................................................................................
(degree previously acquired (if any), e. g. Dipl.-Phys., first name, surname)
born on.......................................................in..............................
(Year of Publication or Printing)
Reverse of Title Page:
Supervisor:....................
Second Examiner:................
Day of doctoral degree conferment:................................
(The day of doctoral degree conferment is understood to be the day of the oral examination or the thesis
defence.)

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Appendix 3
Specimen of Doctoral Certificate
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
through the...........(Name of Faculty)......
with this document confers upon
(Ms. or Mr.)........(Name of Doctoral Candidate)........
the degree of
Doctor of Natural Sciences
(Doctor rerum naturalium, Dr. rer. nat.).
(She or He) has proved (her or his) scientific competence
in a doctoral procedure
by (her or his) doctoral thesis
........................(Title of Doctoral Thesis)..........................................
as well as by the oral examination
and thereby acquired the overall grade of
............................................................................................ .
In the doctoral procedure,
...........................................................................................
...........................................................................................
have contributed as supervisors.
The doctoral thesis has been evaluated as................................ .
The oral examination in ........... as major subject and ............ as minor subject
has been evaluated as ...................................... .
Hannover, (Date)
............................................... ......................................................
The President
The Dean
of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
(Name of Faculty)
Universität Hannover

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Appendix 4
Specimen of Doctoral Certificate
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
through the...........(Name of Faculty)......
with this document confers upon
(Ms. or Mr.)........(Name of Doctoral Candidate)........
the degree of
Doctor of Natural Sciences
(Doctor rerum naturalium, Dr. rer. nat.).
(She or He) has proved (her or his) scientific competence
in a doctoral procedure
by (her or his) doctoral thesis
........................(Title of Doctoral Thesis)..........................................
as well as by the oral examination
and thereby acquired the overall grade of
............................................................................................ .
In the doctoral procedure,
...........................................................................................
...........................................................................................
have contributed as supervisors.
The doctoral thesis has been evaluated as ................................. .
The thesis defence has been evaluated as ................................. .
Hannover, (Date)
............................................... ......................................................
The President
The Dean
of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
(Name of Faculty)
Universität Hannover
............................................... ......................................................

Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, and the
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Appendix 5
Other Obligations:
The doctoral candidate has to furnish a certification made out by the doctoral thesis supervisor as to the
proper return of resources temporarily made available, including respective records.