Wolfgang Rabbel studied Geophysics at Kiel University. In 1987 he earned his doctorate on a study on seismic exploration of near-surface fault zones. He completed his habiltation in Geophysics in 1994 with a study on the seismic structure of the crystalline part of the earth crust based on investigations at the super-deep continental drillhole KTB (S Germany). In 1995 he became a Professor of Geophysics at the Institute of Geosciences at Kiel University.