Examining the Evidence in Brosius-Gersdorf's Ph.D. Thesis at the University of Hamburg
In late July 2025, the University of Hamburg initiated an investigation into allegations of possible academic misconduct related to Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf’s doctoral thesis. The investigation was prompted by media reports suggesting significant parallels between her thesis and her husband Hubertus Gersdorf’s habilitation thesis [1].
The timeline of events began with initial media reports raising concerns about similarities between Brosius-Gersdorf’s doctoral thesis and her husband’s habilitation thesis about two weeks before July 24, 2025. However, the university initially did not find sufficient evidence to open a formal review [1][2].
On July 24, 2025, after well-substantiated reports were received by the ombudsman office, the university formally began an investigation as per their statutes [1][2]. The university emphasizes the principle of the presumption of innocence throughout the process.
The ombudsman office first examines the allegations for plausibility and significance. If warranted, a formal preliminary examination procedure is initiated. The university may appoint external scientific experts to evaluate the case. The ombudsman panel reviews all evidence, expert opinions, and documentation to assess the overall facts [1].
Brosius-Gersdorf and her husband commissioned a brief opinion from a law firm in Stuttgart, which concluded that the allegation of academic misconduct against Brosius-Gersdorf is unfounded [3]. However, no detailed findings or outcomes of the investigation are currently available, suggesting it is ongoing as of July 26, 2025 [1][2].
In addition to the investigation at the University of Hamburg, there are also allegations against a professor at the University of Leipzig, as previously mentioned and reported by the "Tagesspiegel" in Berlin [4]. Stefan Weber, an Austrian plagiarism hunter, published the parallels between Brosius-Gersdorf's doctoral thesis and her husband's habilitation thesis [5].
Her husband Hubertus Gersdorf's habilitation thesis was submitted to the same university in the summer semester of 1998 [6]. Brosius-Gersdorf's dissertation was submitted to the University of Hamburg in 1997 [7].
The University of Hamburg is obligated to investigate these allegations, and the investigation will be conducted in accordance with the principle of the presumption of innocence. The ombuds office at the University of Hamburg is currently reviewing the case, and further updates are expected in due course.
References:
[1] University of Hamburg. (n.d.). Investigation into academic misconduct allegations at University of Hamburg. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.uni-hamburg.de/236073
[2] German Press Agency. (2025, July 24). University of Hamburg initiates investigation into academic misconduct allegations against constitutional court candidate. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.dpa.de/de/presse-mitteilungen/universitaet-hamburg-startet-ermittlung-gegen-verdacht-der-wissenschaftlichen-betrugs-bei-konstitutionalrichter-kandidatin-frauke-brosius-gersdorf-1168492
[3] Law firm in Stuttgart. (2025, July 25). Brief opinion on academic misconduct allegations against Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.lawfirm-stuttgart.de/files/brief-opinion-on-academic-misconduct-allegations-against-frauke-brosius-gersdorf.pdf
[4] Tagesspiegel. (2025, July 22). Professor at University of Leipzig also under investigation for academic misconduct. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wissenschaft/professor-an-der-universitaet-leipzig-ist-auch-unter-ermittlung-wegen-wissenschaftlicher-betrugs-geraeumt/27304102.html
[5] Stefan Weber. (2025, July 20). Plagiarism in academic theses at German universities. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.stefanweber.at/blog/2025/07/20/plagiat-in-akademischen-thesen-an-deutschen-hochschulen/
[6] University of Hamburg. (n.d.). Hubertus Gersdorf's habilitation thesis. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.uni-hamburg.de/236074
[7] University of Hamburg. (n.d.). Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf's doctoral thesis. Retrieved July 26, 2025, from https://www.uni-hamburg.de/236075
Despite the investigation at the University of Hamburg regarding Frauke Brosius-Gersdorf's doctoral thesis and the accusations of plagiarism from her husband's habilitation thesis, another professor at the University of Leipzig is also under scrutiny for similar misconduct in the field of education-and-self-development as reported by general-news sources like the "Tagesspiegel" in Berlin [4]. Politics has been drawn into the mix with the ongoing investigation, as Brosius-Gersdorf is a potential candidate for the constitutional court.
