Higher education lecturer

Higher education (HE) lecturers research and teach academic and vocational subjects at universities and higher education colleges.

Also known as: HE lecturer, university lecturer

• Starter salary£37,000 a year
• Experienced£65,000 a year
• Typical hours36 to 40 a week

What you'll do

In this job, you will:

• design and develop courses to suit students' needs
• teach students through lectures, seminars, online classes and fieldwork
• set assignments and exams, and assess progress
• manage research programmes and budgets
• act as personal tutor to students

Working environment

You could work at a university or at a college.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• knowledge of English language
• excellent verbal communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• excellent written communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with others
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

How to become a higher education lecturer

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship

University

You'll usually need a first class or upper second class degree, relevant to the subject you want to teach.

You'll also need to have completed a postgraduate master's or PhD qualification, or be working towards one. It's common to have had academic work published.

You'll be expected to do a teaching qualification soon after you start. This is normally offered by your university and is done while working.

You may be able to get experience by taking on teaching duties while you're a postgraduate student. Some universities also offer posts as a graduate teaching assistant.

You'll need several years' relevant work experience if you want to teach vocational subjects, for example art or engineering.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

Apprenticeship

You may be able to do an Academic Professional Level 7 Apprenticeship, which is equivalent to postgraduate study.

You can specialise in teaching or research.

To apply, you'll normally need a minimum of a postgraduate qualification in your subject area, or several years' equivalent work experience, plus the agreement of your employer.

It can take between 18 and 24 months to complete.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Career path and progression

After 5 to 7 years you could move up to senior lecturer. You could then become a programme lead, reader or professor.

You could apply for Advance HE Fellowship , which recognises your skills and expertise. There are different grades depending on your experience.

Competition for jobs is strong and promotion depends on how well you perform. You may need to move to another university to take up a teaching or research post.

Guides for this industry

• Education & Teaching: pay, interviews and getting started →

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