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Career as a professor
In order to obtain a professorship at a university, a major research interest and successful research projects, as well as a passion for teaching, are basic requirements to achieve this career goal. The personal profile is further strengthened by research experience abroad.
To gain eligibility for a professorship at a university of applied sciences, a doctoral degree, university teaching experience, and sufficient practical experience in the particular field of interest are required. On the website of Research in Germany or the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV) you will find further information on how to apply for a professorship.
Moreover, there is the chance to work as a research assistant or lecturer as well as managing an institute within the faculty.
Besides the professional expertise, you should have further key skills that support your everyday research work. The Junior Scientist and International Researcher Center as part of Heine Research Academies offers different workshops and training programmes that will help you to professionalize the way you manage your day-to-day research work and will prepare you for (future) management tasks in research. The „Academic Career Development Programme“ supports you specifically on your way to professorship.
The German Academic System and its funding possiblities
- Overview of Career pathways in Europe (LERU)
Academic Career Maps in Europe - Information plattform regarding the German research system
Research in Germany - Overview of research institutions in Germany
German Research Institutions Database GERiT - German Research Foundation (DFG)
Funding and career information on the different phases of an academic career and the corresponding funding opportunities - Comprehensive information and services for university professors and up-and-coming academics in Germany
German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (Deutscher Hochschulverband, in short DHV) - Online career portal provided by German university magazine (duz)
duz-Research career
European information plattform for researchers
Euraxess - Researchers in Motion
Information plattform regarding the German research system
Research in Germany
Information plattform for transatlantic cooperation and return to Germany
German Academic International Network (GAIN)
Information plattform for building a research career in Germany
German Scholars Organization (GSO)
- Die Junge Akademie (academy of young academics)
- German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV)
- Emmy Noether-Programme of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
- Heisenberg Programme of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
- NRW- Rückkehr Programm MIWF NRW
- Freigeist Fellowship VolkswagenFoundation
- Lichtenberg Professur VolkswagenFoundation
- ERC Starting Grant - European Research Council
- ERC Consolidator Grant - European Research Council
- Fraunhofer Attract Fraunhofer
- Max Planck Research Group Max Planck Society
- Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups Helmholtz Association
- Leibniz Junior Research Groups Leibniz Association
- BMBF Nachwuchsgruppen - Project based funding of junior research groups by the German Ministry for Education and Research (in German)
- Sofja Kovalevskaja Award of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for international researchers who want to start a research group in Germany.
- Junges Kolleg der Nordrhein Westfälischen Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Künste
- Junge Akademie an der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Deutschen Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina
- Wissenschaftskarriere - Das Karriereportal für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Management
- Academics - Stellenmarkt und Karrierebegleiter für Wissenschaft, Forschung, Öffentliches und Gesellschaft
- Euraxess - database for vaccancies and funding opportunies in 40 European countries
- ResearchGate - Jobs in research
- FacultyVacancies - Jobs and faculty postions
- Dual Career Opportunities
Information by Research in German
Information and statistics on an academic career in Germany can be obtained from the National Report on Junior Scholars 2021 (overview of key results).
“Junior scholars appear to improve their chances of being awarded a professorship if they finish a habilitation within a short period of time or at a relatively young age and are able to present a large portfolio of specialist publications. Gender does not have a significant influence on either the probability of being appointed professor or the time lapse between habilitation and appointment. A large proportion of those appointed obtain a post in the first three years after their habilitation.“ (Consortium for the National Report on Junior Scholars 2017)
A professorship with practical links
At Germany's universities of applied sciences, you can also pursue the career path of professorship. With the right mix of teaching, research & practice, an HAW professorship offers the possibility of self-determined work combined with the opportunity to inspire young people for your field.