The remuneration of professors at HSBI

Most professors in Germany are appointed as civil servants if they meet the relevant requirements and are employed by the university. As civil servants, they have a special relationship with their employer based on service and loyalty, which is backed up by a formal appointment. The appointment as a civil servant involves an oath. With this oath, civil servants commit themselves to always working in the interests of the general public and to acting solely in accordance with the law. In contrast to salaried employees  (e.g. academic staff), civil servants are not allowed to go on strike. Their pay or remuneration is determined by law and is therefore generally not negotiable. Civil servants are initially appointed on probation for one year. Subsequently, they become established civil servants.

In principle, you must first have successfully completed the appointment procedure for professors. There are various requirements for becoming a professor with civil servant status:

• Age limit: Becoming a civil servant is possible up to the age of 50. Periods in which you have raised children or cared for relatives as well as periods of military service and civilian or voluntary service may be taken into account. Exceptions to this age limit are possible.
• Examination by a public medical officer: This examination is intended to determine whether you meet the health-related requirements for civil service. If you do not have German citizenship, please apply for an examination by a public medical officer in your home country at the German embassy or consulate.
• Nationality: All EU citizens as well as citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can become civil servants in Germany without any problems. Are you a citizen of another country? Even then, you can become a civil servant on request to the responsible Ministry of Culture and Science.

What if you cannot become a civil servant because you do not meet all the requirements? We can still hire you as a professor. You will then be an employee under private law like other academic staff. As such, you will receive a salary similar to that of professors with civil servant status.

There are three remuneration grades for professors (W1, W2 and W3). Most professorships at HSBI are advertised as W2 professorships. The basic monthly remuneration in 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. 

As a civil servant, you pay taxes on your income just like other employees. However, you have to take out private health insurance as a professor with civil servant status. In addition, your employer will provide you with a subsidy for health and care costs amounting to at least 50 percent of the costs. You are welcome to contact HSBI for advice on this topic. 

Being employed at HSBI comes with a variety of advantages:

• HSBI’s Welcome Center offers special support for international scholars with all administrative matters (visa, insurance, authorities etc.).
• International scholars at HSBI can participate in a German course.
• Employees of HSBI have 30 days of paid leave per year (for a full-time position).
• HSBI finances further and advanced training for its employees in agreement with their superiors.
• Employees of HSBI can take part in a sports and health programme in Bielefeld free of charge or for a small fee.
• HSBI offers the possibility of a sabbatical if a replacement has been found (for employees with a permanent employment contract).
• HSBI has its own day-care centre in Bielefeld and offers a free holiday programme for children between the ages of 6 and 12 during the Easter and autumn school holidays.

Please find out more on your advantages as a professor at HSBI here.

If you have questions about your contract or the employment process, please contact our appointments officer Bastian Meerkamm. For general questions about living and working in Germany, please contact the Welcome Center for international scholars (welcome@hsbi.de) and check the info website for international scholars at HSBI.