Higher Education Lecturer
What is the work like?
Higher education lecturers teach and carry out research in universities and some colleges. They teach academic and vocational subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate level to students over the age of 18.
As a higher education lecturer your work would include:
- teaching (lectures, seminars, practical demonstrations and fieldwork)
- preparing for teaching sessions and developing teaching materials
- setting and marking assignments and exams
- assessing students’ work and progress
- acting as personal tutor to a number of students
- conducting research (often on behalf of sponsors) with the aim of publication
- supervising students’ research
- attending, and contributing to, professional conferences and seminars
- making contacts with commercial, industrial and public sector organisations
- carrying out administrative tasks.
You could be employed in a joint teaching and research position. You would contribute to the research activities of your department and publish your work in journals and books.
In a college the focus of your work is likely to be on teaching rather than research.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
For most jobs you would need:
- a relevant degree (first class or 2.1)
- a PhD (or be working towards it)
- the ability to carry out original research and have work published.
You would also need to have experience of teaching, or be able to demonstrate that you have potential to teach. You may be able to gain experience by taking on teaching duties (possibly being paid an hourly rate) whilst you are a research student. Some universities advertise opportunities under job titles such as Graduate Teaching Assistant.
To teach vocational subjects, you would need a relevant degree or professional qualification and several years' relevant work experience.
What further training and development can I do?
As a higher education lecturer you would usually have the opportunity to do a wide range of in-house training, and may also be supported in doing external courses if they are relevant to your work.
Postgraduate qualifications, with titles such as Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (Higher Education), are available. These are sometimes compulsory for new staff on permanent contracts and can be done alongside your lecturing work.
The courses are accredited by the Higher Education Academy, and lead to Registered Practitioner status on successful completion. Visit the Higher Education Academy website for more details.
Where can I go for more information?
5th FloorSt Andrew’s House
18-20 St Andrew Street
London
EC4A 3AY
Information and Advice Service: 020 7936 5798
Email: advice@lluk.org
Related profiles...
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Lecturers on a full-time contract can earn between £25,000 and £38,000 a year.
- Senior lecturers can earn around £46,000 or more a year.
See University and College Union for more details of pay and conditions.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your working hours would vary depending on your duties and responsibilities. You would be likely to work long hours, but would have flexibility in arranging the timing of some aspects of your work, such as research and student tutorials. There may also be the opportunity for part-time work.
You may be able to take a sabbatical of up to one academic year so that you can pursue your own research work. You would usually need to have been in post for a set number of years before this was an option.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- expertise in your subject area
- the ability to motivate and inspire students
- the confidence to lecture to large groups of students
- the ability to express yourself clearly, both in speech and in writing
- organisational skills
- commitment to your own professional development.
What opportunities are there?
You would usually be employed in universities and some colleges, but there are also jobs in postgraduate institutions such as law and business schools.
With experience you could have the opportunity for promotion to senior (or principal) lecturer with academic management responsibilities, and then to reader, with responsibility for high-level independent research. Promotion to these levels is very competitive, so your work would have to be of a very high standard.
If you have an outstanding research and publishing record, you could be promoted to professor, with responsibility for furthering research, for example by setting up new research teams and bringing in new research funding. At this level you may also be head of a department, or a group of departments and would not do so much teaching.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading:
Education Guardian
Times Higher Education Supplement
jobs.ac.uk
PhDjobs
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
Search
Contact an adviser
Email
Call back
or phone: 0800 100 900
Bilingual advisers available
Face-to-face advice
