One of the most reputable careers today is to become a professor. They work at universities and other higher educational institutes. A professor’s job, besides teaching, includes conducting research, publishing academic works, and expanding the knowledge gained in their field of expertise. A professor’s job is crucial for the educational sphere and the world of intellectual pursuits in general. So, suppose you love one particular field of study and enjoy teaching and research. In that case, you have a career as a professor before you. This is a guide to the career of a professor in the UK. It describes the steps to becoming a professor and the qualifications and main skills required for this profession.

What Does a Professor Do?

A professor is a senior academic staff member who combines teaching with research and administration. Although the exact role varies depending on the institution and the subject, broad responsibilities include:

• Teaching and Lecturing: Professors design and conduct classes for undergraduates and graduates. They prepare lectures, prepare syllabi, assess students’ progress, and meet with them during office hours.
• Research: Professors are expected to do original research in their specific area of specialisation. This means designing and conducting an experiment, collecting and analysing data and publishing the research results in an academic journal or a book.
• Supervising Students: Professors supervise PhD students in their research projects, provide guidance on academic writing, and assist them in completing their thesis.
• Publishing Academic Work: Professors must publish research in a journal, book or conference paper. Publishing is essential for career progression and maintaining academic credibility.
• Presenting at Conferences: Professors also present their ongoing and completed research studies at national and international academic conferences. This enables them to share knowledge, collaborate with other scholars in the area, and stay updated with the latest developments in their field.
• Administrative Responsibilities: Almost all professors have administrative responsibilities with the faculty or the university (e.g., sit on committees, assess applications for academic programmes, help develop university policy).
• Mentoring: Professors often mentor junior faculty members, postdoctoral researchers and students, helping them develop their academic careers.

Average Professor Salary in the UK

In the UK, a professor’s salary varies depending on the years of experience, the location and the kind of institution. Professors who just got promoted to a professorship earn from £55,000 to £65,000.

A mid-level professor with several years of experience can expect to earn between £65,000 and £90,000. A senior professor (or one with some leadership position, such as a head of department) can earn over £100,000. Those working at highly regarded or research-intensive universities or with a strong track record in research and a large body of published work can earn significantly more.

Key Skills for a Successful Professor

To become a successful professor in science, one needs academic excellence, research capabilities, and some people skills. The following skills are essential.

• Expert knowledge within your field: Professors must have deep and thorough knowledge within their particular field. This allows them to translate their knowledge into practical teaching, to think up new research, and to stay abreast of new developments in their field.
• Teaching and Communication Skills: Professors should be able to convey technical material and concepts clearly to students. Strong communication and presentation skills are necessary to deliver lectures, write academic papers for journals, publish books and present research at conferences.
• Research skills: Conducting high-quality research is an essential part of the job of a professor, and this involves the skills necessary to design and carry out experiments or other types of studies, collect and analyse data, interpret results and contribute to the body of knowledge in a given area.
• Time management and organisation: Professors have many responsibilities. They teach courses, conduct research, do administrative work, and mentor students. Good time management and organisation are important for staying on track and getting things done.
• Mentoring and Leadership: Senior academics play a vital role as mentors of students and junior faculty. Strong leadership qualities which inspire and motivate others are crucial for academic advancement.
• Problem-solving skills: A professor needs to think creatively about research. Many challenges need to be addressed in this area. Thinking and solving problems are crucial to both academic and administrative aspects of a professor’s life. This also applies to teaching as professors may need to change strategies or communicate with students better.
• Publication and writing excellence: Professors are expected to publish their findings regularly regularly, which requires the capacity to write well in an academic style. Writing journal articles, monographs (books), and papers presented at conferences is part of the day-to-day responsibilities of the professor, and standing within a discipline is often dependent on hitting publication targets.

Steps to Become a Professor in the UK

Here’s how you can become a professor in the UK:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: The first step to becoming a professor is earning a bachelor’s degree in the field you wish to teach. It is essential to excel in your undergraduate studies, as this will help you secure a place in a competitive postgraduate program. Choosing a subject you are passionate about is crucial, as you will spend years researching and teaching this subject.
2. Pursue a Master’s Degree: After completing your bachelor’s degree, you will need to obtain a master’s degree in your chosen field. This will allow you to gain more specialized knowledge and begin developing the research skills you will need as a professor. A master’s degree typically takes one to two years to complete, depending on the subject and whether you study full-time or part-time.
3. Complete a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy): Earning a PhD is a critical requirement for becoming a professor. A PhD is a research-based degree where you contribute original research to your field of study. The process typically takes three to five years to complete, and it involves writing a thesis or dissertation based on your research. Your PhD will be supervised by an academic mentor who will guide you through your research.
   During your PhD, you may also have opportunities to teach undergraduate students, which will help you gain valuable teaching experience. Teaching assistantships are common in many universities and provide a stepping stone toward a full academic career.
4. Gain Postdoctoral Research Experience: After completing your PhD, many aspiring professors gain additional research experience through postdoctoral positions. A postdoc is a temporary academic appointment where you conduct further research, publish papers, and build your academic reputation. Postdocs are often required to work on specific projects or collaborate with senior researchers.
   Gaining postdoctoral experience is important for enhancing your research skills, expanding your professional network, and building a portfolio of published work, all of which will strengthen your application for a professorship.
5. Publish Academic Work: Publishing research is one of the most critical aspects of becoming a professor. Academic success is often measured by the number and quality of your publications. This includes publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals, contributing to books or academic anthologies, and presenting at conferences. Consistently publishing high-quality research helps establish your reputation in your field and demonstrates your expertise.
6. Apply for a Lecturer or Assistant Professor Position: In the UK, the typical path to becoming a professor starts with a position as a lecturer or assistant professor. These are academic roles where you teach undergraduate or postgraduate students and continue your research. To secure one of these roles, you will need to demonstrate both strong teaching abilities and a track record of published research.
   In addition to teaching and research, lecturers are often required to participate in university administration, such as serving on committees or advising students.
7. Work Toward Promotion: After gaining experience as a lecturer or assistant professor, you can work toward promotion to higher academic ranks. The typical academic career progression includes:
   • Lecturer: Entry-level academic teaching and research role.
   • Senior Lecturer or Reader: A more advanced role that involves greater research responsibilities and administrative duties.
   • Professor: The highest academic rank, typically achieved after many years of teaching, research, and publications.
8. Get promoted: Promotion to the position of professor is based on a combination of research achievements, teaching excellence, and contributions to the academic community. Strong mentorship, leadership, and continued publication are essential for advancing in academia.

Tips for Aspiring Professors

• Focus on Building a Strong Research Portfolio: Make sure you concentrate on building a research portfolio. The best way to achieve this is by publishing original research in academic journals. Start at the beginning of your PhD journey. Find a suitable supervisor and collaborate with them to build your research portfolio. Attend conferences and submit papers for publication.
• Gain Teaching Experience: As much as possible, obtain formal teaching experience while still in a postgraduate programme – such as through teaching assistantships, guest lecturing or tutoring positions.
• Network with Other Academics: If you are meeting scholars who work in your field, you can make connections for potential collaboration, research funding and career opportunities. Go to academic conferences, become a member of academic professional associations, and engage with your academic network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should You Become a Professor?

A professorship is a path to making important contributions to a field through research, teaching and mentoring. Professors can shape the future of their fields, inspire students to greatness, and engage in the forefront of their discipline. An academic career can be deeply rewarding for someone passionate about knowledge, discovery, and learning.

Is a Career as a Professor Right for You?

The life of a professor is relatively easy for people who love their field of study, enjoy doing research, and are committed to teaching. Students must be willing to invest considerable time to learn and refine their crafts and their skills as scholars, teachers, committee members, and administrators. Still, the rewards are the opportunity to do what you love, have a positive effect on your students’ lives, and make a contribution to the field.

What Are the Salary Prospects for Professors in the UK?

New professors in the UK can expect to earn between £55,000 and £65,000 a year. In comparison, mid-level professors generally earn between £65,000 and £90,000. Senior professors or those with emeritus titles or in some form of leadership position can expect to earn more than £100,000. Professors at elite or research-intensive universities earn higher salaries than those who might command a higher pay packet for their research credentials and a large body of published work. There are also variations in salaries by location, with universities in London generally paying more than in other parts of the country to account for the cost of living.

What Qualifications Are Needed to Become a Professor?

In the UK, getting a university professorship will require you to have a bachelor’s degree, then a master’s degree, then a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in your field, some years of postdoctoral research experience, and a large portfolio of academic publishing (i.e., publications in peer-reviewed journals), and some experience teaching at the university level as a lecturer or teaching assistant.

Do You Need Work Experience to Start a Career as a Professor?

Yes, I believe that work experience is vital for becoming a professor. Most professors start their careers as lecturers or assistant professors and have a certain amount of experience in teaching, research and publishing. The first experience one would get after completing the PhD would be a postdoctoral research position since this would allow the person to focus on starting and developing their research. Academics is a field that is renowned for its publishing culture. This would give them the necessary research experience to become a professor. They also mentor students and participate in academic committees.

What Is the Career Outlook for Professors?

Employment prospects for academics in the UK are fairly good – particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, healthcare and the social sciences. A major source of academic jobs is postdoc positions. While these are only relatively short-term contracts, once you’ve finished one, you’ll have the experience and CV credentials to apply for the next postdoc position. The competitive element comes when applying for a tenured professor job – especially at an elite university. But, as with other academic roles, career progression can be slow. For professors, this means advancing to more senior academic roles, should they wish to. You would need to demonstrate that you have a strong research portfolio and are regularly publishing and demonstrating excellent teaching.

What Are the Career Progression Options for Professors?

Professors can rise to more senior positions in their institutions, such as head of department, dean or pro-vice-chancellor, a route that often involves increased administrative responsibilities in addition to higher remuneration. Professors can also begin to specialise in their research or take up increased duties in mentoring and advising postgraduate students. Some professors may pursue parallel careers as consultants, research directors or public intellectuals.

What Are the Exit Options and Opportunities Beyond the Professor’s Role?

Professors acquire a wide range of transferable skills in research, teaching and leadership – some may find their calling in continuing to serve as professors. In contrast, others might forge a career as a consultant, policy advisor or author (just a few of the many non-academic career paths I have seen). Some move to corporate training, research and development, or leadership roles in nongovernmental organisations or think tanks. Others apply the experience they gained in academic research and leadership to publishing, media or government advisory positions.