Career and Earnings: How Do You Become a University Professor?

The path to a professorship leads through a doctorate and habilitation or a junior professorship with tenure track. Only a few achieve lifetime civil servant status; perseverance and mobility are essential. In addition to research success, international experience and achievements in the private sector also count today.

Career and Earnings: How to Become a University Professor?

The path to the top of the academic hierarchy is considered one of the greatest professional challenges in Germany. Only a small percentage of junior researchers ultimately achieve the status of a full professorship, while the majority of applicants remain permanently in the so-called academic mid-level (Mittelbau) or move into the private sector. In view of increasing demands on research and teaching as well as the growing internationalization of the higher education market, the professional profile is currently undergoing a significant transformation. Anyone aspiring to a career as a professor must possess not only outstanding scientific qualifications but also a high degree of perseverance and mobility.

The formal basis for an appointment is usually a doctorate, followed by a phase of post-doctoral qualification. Traditionally, the Habilitation is intended for this purpose in Germany, serving as proof of teaching ability in a specific subject area. In recent years, however, alternative paths have become established, particularly the junior professorship. This allows young scientists to conduct independent research and teaching at an early stage, usually linked to a so-called tenure-track option, which leads to a lifetime professorship upon positive evaluation. Achievements in the private sector or outstanding artistic success can also be recognized as equivalent qualifications, depending on the department and type of university.

Requirements and Selection Processes

The appointment procedure itself is a complex and often lengthy process that follows strict legal requirements. An appointment committee evaluates applicants based on criteria such as publication lists, third-party funding acquisition, and teaching experience. For interested parties from the MBA environment or economic sciences, practical experience also plays an increasingly important role. Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen) strictly require several years of professional practice outside the university, while universities place a stronger focus on basic theoretical research. Competition is intense, as a single advertised position often attracts hundreds of highly qualified applications, underscoring the importance of strategic career planning.

Financial remuneration and working conditions vary greatly depending on the salary scale and federal state. While junior professors start in the W1 salary group, established chair holders are paid according to W2 or W3. The basic salary is often supplemented by performance-related bonuses, which can be negotiated for research success, committee work, or during retention negotiations. Despite the high workload and uncertainty during the qualification phase, the freedom in research and teaching as well as the social security provided by civil servant status are attractive. For MBA graduates considering an academic career, a professorship offers the opportunity to link theoretical knowledge with management practice, but often requires additional scientific specialization.