A Meaningful Career: These Are the Responsibilities of Professors at Universities of Applied Sciences

Teaching is a professor’s core task – especially at a university of applied sciences. Professors give lectures, hold seminars and supervise exercises and practical courses in the laboratory. They impart their expertise and guide students on their journey through their studies and into their careers. In addition, they advise students on questions concerning their studies and conduct oral and written examinations. They also supervise bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral theses.

Full-time professors at universities of applied sciences have a teaching load of 18 weekly hours per semester. By the way, for a professorship at a university of applied sciences, a post-doctoral qualification (Habilitation) is not required.

Promoting the health of people with a history of migration, implementing AI in medium-sized companies or applying pest control in organic farming – the research topics that professors work on are as diverse as they are themselves. As a professor at a university of applied sciences, you will publish your research findings and present them at conferences and congresses. Your research will be practice-related and application-oriented, often in collaboration with local companies or institutions. Drawing on your faculty’s expertise, you will raise third-party funding to realise your research projects.

Are there relevant new research findings in your own field? Which innovations are driving local companies forwards? And how can research findings be made applicable in professional practice? An exciting part of professors’ everyday work is mutual exchange and pushing the transfer of ideas, knowledge and technology. This often involves interdisciplinary collaboration with decision-makers from local industry – but also with interested parties from the general public.

A university is not a company with a strict hierarchy. Quite the opposite is true, actually. Academic self-government means that university employees organise and manage themselves. For this purpose, there is a number of committees in which you can participate as a professor. Whether you become part of an examination committee, a curriculum committee or of the faculty management, the dean’s office or the Executive Board: you actively contribute to the development of studies and teaching as well as research and transfer at the university.

Yes, all positions for professors at HSBI are advertised.

• Current job advertisements

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.

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. 

• Benefits for employees at HSBI

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.

• Find out more about renumeration of professors in Germany and what it means to be a civil servant

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 Bastian Meerkamm! He will put you in touch with the right contact person. 

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.

• How do I become a professor at a university of applied sciences? More information on the job profile.

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 and research experience within our part-time lectureship model.

• Part-time lectureship to catch up on your teaching and research experience

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!

To be appointed as professor at a university of applied sciences you are required to bring five years of work experience, three of which must be 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!

• Tandem position to acquire work experience

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.

• Services and benefits for professors
• Benefits for employees at HSBI