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 typically
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
- 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 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 complete 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 Floor
St Andrew’s House
18-20 St Andrew Street
London
EC4A 3AY
Information and Advice Service: 020 7936 5798
Email:
advice@lluk.orghttp://www.lluk.org
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk
http://www.ucu.org.uk
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning
adviser, call
0800 100 900 or
use our online
enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at:
www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Lecturers on a full-time contract can earn between
£33,000 and £43,000 a year.
- Senior lecturers can earn up to £55,000.
See the
University and
College Union website for more details of pay and
conditions.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your working hours will vary depending on your duties and
responsibilities. You will usually work long hours, but will 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 will usually
need to have been in post for a set number of years before this
becomes 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 (links open in new window):
Education Guardian
Times Higher
Education Supplement
jobs.ac.uk
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external
sites.
