How does the appointment procedure for a professorship work?

Have you applied for a professorship? Then, first of all, you will need some patience. An appointment procedure for a professorship at a university of applied sciences can take many months due to the complexity of decisions made by various committees. We will explain how the process works in the following sections.

What happens after you have submitted your application?

Congratulations, you have completed the first step! The appointment procedure begins after the application deadline has ended. The university establishes an appointment committee to review all submitted applications.

The committee consists of four members from the group of professors, one member from among the academic staff and two members from among the students. At least one of the teaching staff members should be from another university. Every appointment committee member has one vote.

Teaching presentations and interviews

The members of the appointment committee review the submitted applications and consult with each other. They will then make a list of candidates that they consider qualified and suitable. Among other factors, a candidates' previous focuses in teaching and research are taken into account. Subsequently, these applicants are invited for teaching presentations and interviews. The order of these two steps may vary – the teaching presentations often come first, but sometimes the interview will take place before the presentations.

The interview

The interview will have a structured form. That means that all candidates are asked the same questions, so that their answers can be compared in the best possible way. Please be prepared that the committee members will want to know more about you and your skills. What teaching experience do you bring? How do you picture your job at HSBI and in your faculty? What research experience from other universities or universities of applied sciences do you have? And not least: Which questions would you like to ask the committee?    

The teaching presentation

As we are interested in how you impart your knowledge to students, we invite the candidates that the appointment committee considers the most qualified ones to a teaching presentation. For this purpose, the committee will send you one or several topics to prepare and ask you to submit a teaching and research concept, which should include your previous teaching and research experience and your understanding of a teacher/researcher in academia.

External assessment and decision on eligibility to become a professor

After the interviews and teaching presentations of the applicants who were deemed most qualified, your documents will be assessed externally. Why is that? In addition to the opinions of the appointment committee members, we would like to get an external view of the candidates’ eligibility to become a professor and their expertise. At this point in the appointment procedure, there are usually three candidates left. The other candidates will be notified in writing that their application has not been successful.

Decision of the faculty council and appointment ranking

Based on the assessments and the interviews and teaching presentations, the appointment committee will now create an appointment ranking. It usually contains three – in exceptional cases one, two or four – candidates in the order of the suitability, qualification and performance they have demonstrated in the procedure. With the appointment ranking, the committee pronounces itself in favour of appointing the person who is first in the ranking.

This is where further stakeholders come in: The Gender and Diversity Officer and (if severely disabled persons have applied) the disabled employees’ representatives must agree to the appointment ranking. Subsequently, the ranking is forwarded to the faculty council of the faculty to which the professor will belong. If the council members agree to the suggested ranking, the faculty’s dean forwards the suggestion to the university president asking to invite the candidate who is first in the ranking to an appointment interview.

Due to the extent of coordination that is needed for the procedure, it usually takes several months for this point to be reached.

Appointment interview and appointment

The university management is not bound to the dean’s suggestion who should be invited to the appointment interview, but they usually follow it. In the appointment interview, the president, vice president and dean meet the person that is supposed to be appointed. They  clarify last details on the position’s profile, resources and working hours. If both sides agree, the university management appoints the candidate as professor.

 

Infografik-Berufungsverfahren_Englisch
More informationen

Would you like to learn more? You might find the information below useful:

Would you like to apply for a professorship at our university?

We look forward to hearing from you! Please find vacant professorships in our job advertisements.

You do not fulfil all criteria for appointment, but you are interested in becoming a professor at a university of applied sciences? Learn more about our Career@BI project! As part of this project, we will help you catch up on professional or teaching experience.

Contact

Would you like to get in touch with us personally or do you have any further questions? Please do not hesitate to contact our appointments officer Bastian Meerkamm.

Bastian Meerkamm

Dipl.-Verww. (FH)

Bastian Meerkamm

Phone: +49.521.106-7725

bastian.meerkamm@hsbi.de

 

Frequently asked questions about professorships at universities of applied sciences

In Germany, more than 50,000 professors teach at universities and universities of applied sciences. And as the number of students is rising, their number is increasing, too. There are a lot of questions you may have about the career. We answer the most important ones here.

Is there an age limit for professors at universities of applied sciences?

In general, there is no age limit for being appointed as professor at a university of applied sciences. You can neither be too young nor too old. The selection committees, too, prioritise applicants’ suitability in terms of expertise and teaching skills over age considerations. For becoming a civil servant, there is currently an age limit of 50 years.

Can the job as professor at a university of applied sciences be balanced with family/caregiving duties? 

The career as a professor at a university of applied sciences offers a high degree of flexibility. In accordance with legal requirements and in coordination with the faculty, you can organise your working hours to match your individual needs. In addition, we provide support with balancing family and work, for example, through our day-care centre Kita EffHa or other services. Part-time work is also an option. 

How much do professors earn at universities of applied sciences? 

Professors who are civil servants are paid according to the salary group W. Most professorships at HSBI are advertised as W2 professorships. The basic monthly salary in the Land North Rhine-Westphalia is €7,051.97 (as of February 2025). Depending on your individual situation, additional benefits, such as family allowances or capital-forming benefits, come on top. Salaried professors will be remunerated corresponding to the W2 salary group.

Can I submit an unsolicited application for a professorship at a university of applied sciences?

We can only accept applications for advertised professorships. Do you have a general interest in becoming a professor at a university of applied sciences? Do not hesitate to contact our appointments officer!

Do I need a post-doctoral qualification (Habilitation) to become a professor at a university of applied sciences? 

No. A post-doctoral qualification (Habilitation) is not required for a professorship at a university of applied sciences. The formal requirements include five years of practical work experience (at least three of which must be outside the university), a university degree (e.g., master’s degree, Diplom, Magister) and a completed doctorate.

Can I become a professor at a university of applied sciences if I do not have any experience in teaching?

Even if you do not bring any teaching experience, we are delighted about your interest in a career as a professor at a university of applied sciences! What is more important is that you are motivated to impart your knowledge to students. With our Career@BI programme, we offer you the opportunity to catch up in terms of teaching experience within our part-time lectureship model.

Can I become a professor at a university of applied sciences with a bachelor’s degree?

No, that is not possible. A master’s, Magister or Diplom degree and, in addition, a doctorate are usually required. Do you have any questions on this topic? Please do not hesitate to contact our appointments officer Bastian Meerkamm!

So far, I have only worked at the university. Can I become a professor at a university of applied sciences? 

To be appointed as professor at a university of applied sciences you are required to bring five years of work experience, three of which outside the university. With our Career@BI project, you can acquire it as part of a tandem position. If you would like to learn more, please follow the link below!

Are there any special services and benefits for professors at HSBI?

Yes, we have a number of special services and benefits to ensure that you feel comfortable in your work environment. That is why we also support you in enhancing your personal, teaching and professional skills. Whether it's research funding for new appointees, higher education didactic training or a sabbatical: we want you to feel at home at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences.