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Academic ranks in the United Kingdom

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386: 672: 343: 382:' (in some Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the title 'associate professor' can be used instead of 'reader'). In some countries, senior lecturers are generally paid the same as readers, but the latter title is awarded primarily for research excellence, and traditionally carries higher prestige. Traditionally, heads of departments and other senior academic leadership roles within a university were undertaken by professors. 38: 404:, enabling their holders to be termed professors or readers while holding academic posts at the level of lecturer. This results in a two-tier professoriate, with statutory professors – or named chairs – having higher status than the relatively recently created category of titular professors. Similar hierarchies among the professoriate exist in a small number of other UK universities. Some universities, including the 366:
countries (excluding Australia and Canada), as well as in Ireland, traditionally a professor held either an established chair or a personal chair. An established chair is established by the university to meet its needs for academic leadership and standing in a particular area or discipline and the
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in the UK are known as professors; for example 'professor of violin'. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the term 'professor' is properly and in formal situations given to singing and instrumental tutors in the music colleges / conservatories of music, usually the older and more august ones: The
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In the UK the title 'Professor' has historically been reserved for full professors, with lecturers, senior lecturers, and readers generally addressed by their academic qualification (Dr for the holder of a doctorate, Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Mx otherwise). However, the current University of Oxford
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post is filled from a shortlist of applicants; only a suitably qualified person will be appointed. A personal chair is awarded specifically to an individual in recognition of their high levels of achievements and standing in their particular area or discipline.
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have adopted the style of 'associate professor' in lieu of 'reader'. The varied practices these changes have brought about have meant that academic ranks in the United Kingdom and in Australia are no longer quite as consistent as they once were.
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in the United Kingdom are the titles, relative seniority and responsibility of employees in universities. In general the country has three academic career pathways: one focused on research, one on teaching, and one that combines the two.
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Many professorships are named in honour of a distinguished person or after the person who endowed the chair. Some chairs have a long history and considerable prestige attached, such as the
578:. The expression has become almost obsolete for singing and instrumental tuition in the universities. The same convention applies throughout Europe in the National Colleges of Music. 1083: 1247: 1221: 549:. Some academic societies and professional institutions also award or designate certain post holders or members as 'professor'; these are usually personal awards. The 553:, formerly the College of Preceptors, is a long-standing example of this, as are the amalgamated bodies included in the Society of Teachers in Business Education. 1367: 835: 55: 272: 177: 529:' may be awarded to a retired or former professor, who may well retain formal or informal links with the institution where the chair was formerly held. 329: 102: 1025: 74: 1386: 81: 538: 370:
In most universities, professorships are reserved for only the most senior academic staff, and other academics are generally known as '
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Academic staff whose main focus is essential teaching, educational needs, and for senior grades, often pedagogic research:
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Lecturer or clinical lecturer: this is largely equivalent to an 'Assistant Professor' rank at a US university
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has retained the role of lecturer, but replaced senior lecturer and reader with associate professor.
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Assistant lecturer, demonstrator, seminar leader, associate lecturer, graduate teaching assistant
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Vice-chancellor (sometimes provost; increasingly 'vice-chancellor and chief executive officer' )
1518: 1462: 1429: 1319: 747:) give the same titles as Research & Teaching track academics to give parity to the roles. 683:, ranging from professors to lecturers, in their academic regalia during a graduation ceremony. 655: 600: 571: 567: 379: 137: 1557: 1529: 744: 523:
may, if they wish, use the title of ‘Professor’, or they may keep their previous title of ‘Dr
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Privatdozent, Juniorprofessor, Wissenschaftlicher Assistent, Akademischer Rat (W1, C1, A13)
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introduced a new structure. The academic rank structure is superseded by the new structure.
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Departmental lecturer (non-ladder faculty position employed or paid by the university)
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Privatdozent, Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter ohne eigenstÀndige Lehrbefugnis
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honorary/visiting associate professor or honorary/visiting principal lecturer
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Academic staff whose responsibilities encompass both research and teaching:
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Common titles for honorary, visiting and honorary visiting academics:
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Professor, distinguished professor, chaired professor, or equivalent
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Senior teaching fellow / senior university teacher / senior lecturer
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Research and teaching career pathway at the University of Oxford
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Reformed academic rank structure of the University of Cambridge
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Department/school directors of studies, or personal tutors
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Administrative ranks: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
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Attaché temporaire d'enseignement et de recherche (ATER)
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Principal research fellow / principal research associate
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Hochschuldozent, Oberassistent (W2, C2), Privatdozent
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Professor (extraordinarius, W2, W3 without chair, C3)
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Senior lecturer (not all universities have this title)
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Research Associate, lecturer, researcher, instructor
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has adopted the American terminology entirely, while
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universities to use some form of hybrid terminology:
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Professorial research fellow / director of research
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As in the USA, the title of 'professor 330: 316: 1158: 122:Learn how and when to remove this message 727:Professorial teaching fellow / professor 670: 384: 341: 857:Principal (who is also vice-chancellor) 541:, which date back to the 16th century, 532: 14: 1598: 1096: 556: 71:"Academic ranks in the United Kingdom" 1275: 782:honorary/visiting professorial fellow 521:now notes that Associate Professors " 587:Research and teaching career pathway 493:University Lecturer (post‑probation) 60:adding citations to reliable sources 31: 504:University Lecturer (pre‑probation) 24: 1169: 1124:"University of Oxford Style Guide" 792:Honorary/visiting senior lecturer 25: 1627: 750: 547:Lucasian Professor of Mathematics 362:In the United Kingdom, like most 1082:25 February 2020. Archived from 36: 1611:Education in the United Kingdom 1254: 1240: 986:Privatdozent, Honorarprofessor 796:honorary/visiting senior fellow 603:(or principal lecturer in some 396:During the 1990s, however, the 47:needs additional citations for 1616:Academia in the United Kingdom 1222:"Academic Promotions Guidance" 1214: 1189: 1140: 1116: 1090: 1072: 1050: 1018: 842:Administrative ranks: Scotland 13: 1: 1097:Mister, Nicola (6 May 2021). 1080:"Great news - we've moved..." 1011: 876: 357: 869:Heads of departments/schools 831:Heads of departments/schools 778:Honorary/visiting professor 7: 1407:Research and teaching track 994: 799:Honorary/visiting lecturer 581: 10: 1632: 561:Instructors at many music 482:University Senior Lecturer 1511: 1480: 1400: 1338: 1307: 1026:"Research career pathway" 945: 918: 785:Honorary/visiting reader 816:Pro-chancellor (titular) 803:honorary/visiting fellow 576:Trinity College of Music 426:University of Birmingham 418:Staffordshire University 138:Academic ranks worldwide 1524:Distinguished professor 1503:Postdoctoral researcher 1302:Academic ranks overview 1170:Oxford, University of. 946:MaĂźtre de confĂ©rences, 770:Honorary/visiting ranks 719:Teaching career pathway 688:Research career pathway 438:University of Cambridge 1463:Senior research fellow 1103:www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk 822:Deputy vice-chancellor 702:Senior research fellow 684: 605:post-1992 institutions 572:Royal Academy of Music 568:Royal College of Music 539:Gresham professorships 393: 392:, University of Oxford 347: 346:The Backs at Cambridge 1558:Professor of practice 1339:North American system 745:University of Glasgow 677:King's College London 674: 543:Regius professorships 414:University of Warwick 410:University of Reading 402:Titles of Distinction 388: 345: 1250:. 25 September 2017. 1086:on 25 February 2020. 959:Assistant professor 948:ChargĂ© de recherche 940:Associate professor 852:ancient universities 847:Chancellor (titular) 836:directors of studies 813:Chancellor (titular) 681:University of London 642:University of Oxford 533:Named professorships 507:Assistant Professor 496:Associate Professor 485:Associate Professor 406:University of Exeter 398:University of Oxford 56:improve this article 1434:associate professor 1401:Commonwealth system 1358:Associate professor 1353:Assistant professor 1228:. 25 September 2017 1226:UCL Human Resources 825:Pro-vice-chancellor 662:Associate professor 557:Professors of music 551:College of Teachers 445: 430:Kingston University 1580:Teaching assistant 1493:Research associate 1488:Research assistant 1472:research professor 1453:Research assistant 1415:Associate lecturer 1154:. 11 January 2012. 1038:on 10 October 2018 983:Adjunct professor 910:Professor (chair) 866:Deans of faculties 834:Department/school 828:Deans of faculties 756:Emeritus professor 739:Teaching associate 711:Research assistant 708:Research associate 685: 449:Previous structure 443: 422:Swansea University 394: 348: 1593: 1592: 1382:Adjunct professor 1001:Lecturer § Tenure 992: 991: 514: 513: 340: 339: 132: 131: 124: 106: 16:(Redirected from 1623: 1481:Junior positions 1374:Non-tenure track 1363:Professor (full) 1320:Ranks and titles 1296: 1289: 1282: 1273: 1272: 1266: 1265: 1264:. February 2013. 1258: 1252: 1251: 1244: 1238: 1237: 1235: 1233: 1218: 1212: 1211: 1209: 1207: 1193: 1187: 1186: 1184: 1182: 1167: 1156: 1155: 1144: 1138: 1137: 1135: 1133: 1128: 1120: 1114: 1113: 1111: 1109: 1094: 1088: 1087: 1076: 1070: 1069: 1067: 1065: 1054: 1048: 1047: 1045: 1043: 1037: 1031:. Archived from 1030: 1022: 881: 880: 860:Deputy principal 714:Research support 640:Specific to the 446: 442: 376:senior lecturers 332: 325: 318: 134: 133: 127: 120: 116: 113: 107: 105: 64: 40: 32: 21: 1631: 1630: 1626: 1625: 1624: 1622: 1621: 1620: 1596: 1595: 1594: 1589: 1585:Teaching fellow 1546:Head of college 1512:Other positions 1507: 1498:Research fellow 1476: 1458:Research fellow 1425:Senior lecturer 1396: 1334: 1303: 1300: 1270: 1269: 1260: 1259: 1255: 1246: 1245: 1241: 1231: 1229: 1220: 1219: 1215: 1205: 1203: 1197:"Role profiles" 1195: 1194: 1190: 1180: 1178: 1168: 1159: 1146: 1145: 1141: 1131: 1129: 1126: 1122: 1121: 1117: 1107: 1105: 1095: 1091: 1078: 1077: 1073: 1063: 1061: 1056: 1055: 1051: 1041: 1039: 1035: 1028: 1024: 1023: 1019: 1014: 997: 936:Senior lecturer 879: 863:Vice-principals 844: 810: 772: 759:Emeritus reader 753: 721: 705:Research fellow 690: 638: 589: 584: 559: 535: 360: 336: 307: 128: 117: 111: 108: 65: 63: 53: 41: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1629: 1619: 1618: 1613: 1608: 1606:Academic ranks 1591: 1590: 1588: 1587: 1582: 1577: 1576: 1575: 1573:Vice-principal 1570: 1560: 1555: 1548: 1543: 1538: 1533: 1526: 1521: 1515: 1513: 1509: 1508: 1506: 1505: 1500: 1495: 1490: 1484: 1482: 1478: 1477: 1475: 1474: 1465: 1460: 1455: 1449: 1448: 1446: 1445:Research track 1442: 1441: 1436: 1427: 1422: 1417: 1411: 1410: 1408: 1404: 1402: 1398: 1397: 1395: 1394: 1389: 1384: 1378: 1377: 1375: 1371: 1370: 1365: 1360: 1355: 1349: 1348: 1346: 1342: 1340: 1336: 1335: 1333: 1332: 1327: 1322: 1317: 1311: 1309: 1305: 1304: 1299: 1298: 1291: 1284: 1276: 1268: 1267: 1253: 1239: 1213: 1201:info.lse.ac.uk 1188: 1176:Admin.ox.ac.uk 1157: 1139: 1115: 1089: 1071: 1049: 1016: 1015: 1013: 1010: 1009: 1008: 1003: 996: 993: 990: 989: 987: 984: 981: 978: 977: 974: 971: 968: 964: 963: 960: 957: 951: 950: 944: 941: 938: 932: 931: 928: 925: 921: 920: 917: 914: 911: 907: 906: 900: 894: 888: 878: 875: 874: 873: 870: 867: 864: 861: 858: 855: 848: 843: 840: 839: 838: 832: 829: 826: 823: 820: 817: 814: 809: 806: 805: 804: 797: 790: 783: 771: 768: 767: 766: 763: 760: 757: 752: 751:Emeritus ranks 749: 741: 740: 737: 734: 731: 728: 720: 717: 716: 715: 712: 709: 706: 703: 700: 697: 689: 686: 669: 668: 665: 659: 652: 637: 634: 618: 617: 614: 611: 608: 598: 588: 585: 583: 580: 563:conservatoires 558: 555: 534: 531: 512: 511: 508: 505: 501: 500: 497: 494: 490: 489: 486: 483: 479: 478: 475: 472: 468: 467: 464: 461: 457: 456: 453: 452:New structure 450: 359: 356: 351:Academic ranks 338: 337: 335: 334: 327: 320: 312: 309: 308: 306: 305: 300: 298:United Kingdom 295: 290: 285: 280: 275: 270: 265: 260: 255: 250: 245: 240: 235: 230: 225: 220: 215: 210: 205: 200: 195: 190: 185: 180: 178:Czech Republic 175: 170: 165: 160: 155: 150: 144: 141: 140: 130: 129: 44: 42: 35: 26: 18:Personal chair 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1628: 1617: 1614: 1612: 1609: 1607: 1604: 1603: 1601: 1586: 1583: 1581: 1578: 1574: 1571: 1569: 1566: 1565: 1564: 1561: 1559: 1556: 1554: 1553: 1549: 1547: 1544: 1542: 1539: 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892: 891:United States 889: 886: 883: 882: 871: 868: 865: 862: 859: 856: 853: 849: 846: 845: 837: 833: 830: 827: 824: 821: 818: 815: 812: 811: 802: 798: 795: 791: 788: 784: 781: 777: 776: 775: 764: 762:Senior fellow 761: 758: 755: 754: 748: 746: 738: 735: 732: 729: 726: 725: 724: 713: 710: 707: 704: 701: 698: 695: 694: 693: 682: 678: 675:Academics of 673: 666: 663: 660: 657: 653: 650: 647: 646: 645: 643: 633: 631: 627: 623: 622:Russell Group 615: 612: 609: 606: 602: 599: 597: 594: 593: 592: 579: 577: 573: 569: 564: 554: 552: 548: 544: 540: 530: 528: 524: 520: 509: 506: 503: 502: 498: 495: 492: 491: 487: 484: 481: 480: 476: 473: 470: 469: 465: 462: 459: 458: 454: 451: 448: 447: 441: 439: 436:In 2021, the 434: 431: 427: 423: 419: 415: 411: 407: 403: 399: 391: 390:Christ Church 387: 383: 381: 377: 373: 368: 365: 355: 352: 344: 333: 328: 326: 321: 319: 314: 313: 311: 310: 304: 303:United States 301: 299: 296: 294: 291: 289: 286: 284: 281: 279: 276: 274: 271: 269: 266: 264: 261: 259: 256: 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Retrieved 1225: 1216: 1204:. Retrieved 1200: 1191: 1179:. Retrieved 1175: 1151: 1142: 1130:. Retrieved 1118: 1106:. Retrieved 1102: 1092: 1084:the original 1074: 1062:. Retrieved 1052: 1040:. Retrieved 1033:the original 1020: 947: 885:Commonwealth 800: 793: 786: 779: 773: 742: 722: 691: 639: 619: 590: 560: 536: 522: 518: 515: 435: 395: 369: 364:Commonwealth 361: 349: 297: 278:South Africa 118: 109: 99: 92: 85: 78: 66: 54:Please help 49:verification 46: 29: 1181:18 December 1060:. Uq.edu.au 519:Style Guide 400:introduced 248:New Zealand 243:Netherlands 1600:Categories 1530:AgrĂ©gation 1519:Chancellor 1387:Instructor 1152:Jobs.ac.uk 1012:References 927:Professor 877:Comparison 545:, and the 474:Professor 463:Professor 460:Professor 358:Professors 82:newspapers 1468:Professor 1439:Professor 1042:9 October 649:Professor 596:Professor 372:lecturers 153:Australia 148:Argentina 1420:Lecturer 1392:Lecturer 1308:Overview 1064:9 August 995:See also 955:Lecturer 850:Rector ( 582:Pathways 527:emeritus 293:Thailand 273:Slovakia 258:Portugal 238:Malaysia 173:Colombia 1315:Faculty 1232:9 April 1206:9 April 1132:4 April 1108:9 April 905:system 899:system 893:system 887:system 380:readers 378:' and ' 208:Hungary 203:Germany 193:Finland 183:Denmark 96:scholar 1536:Docent 1430:Reader 1006:Fellow 903:French 897:German 765:Fellow 656:Reader 601:Reader 471:Reader 455:Grade 288:Sweden 268:Serbia 263:Russia 253:Norway 228:Jordan 218:Israel 198:France 163:Canada 158:Brazil 98:  91:  84:  77:  69:  1127:(PDF) 1036:(PDF) 1029:(PDF) 854:only) 283:Spain 233:Kenya 223:Italy 213:India 188:Egypt 168:China 103:JSTOR 89:books 1234:2023 1208:2023 1183:2016 1134:2021 1110:2023 1066:2009 1044:2018 428:and 374:', ' 75:news 1470:or 1432:or 679:of 630:UCL 626:LSE 488:10 477:11 466:12 58:by 1602:: 1224:. 1199:. 1174:. 1160:^ 1150:. 1101:. 801:or 794:or 787:or 780:or 644:: 574:, 570:, 510:9 499:9 424:, 420:, 416:, 412:, 408:, 1295:e 1288:t 1281:v 1236:. 1210:. 1185:. 1136:. 1112:. 1068:. 1046:. 654:( 607:) 331:e 324:t 317:v 125:) 119:( 114:) 110:( 100:· 93:· 86:· 79:· 52:. 20:)

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