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To become a lecturer, candidates must have at least a UG or PG degree in a field relevant. Each university employs several Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Lecturers daily. Out of all candidates, 47,157 qualified the UGC NET exam in 2022. Over 2,59,734 candidates applied for the Assistant Professor post and out of that, 6,171 qualified
Candidates aspiring to become a Lecturer after 12th can study in any stream at the 10+2 level. This must be followed up with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in a specialisation of choice. For aggregate marks, a minimum of 55% is required when applying to sit for the UGC NET examination. There are several crucial steps to followed in order to become a Lecturer such as Choosing correct subjects, Preparing for Entrance Exams, Selecting Colleges etc. Checkout: List of PhD Courses
Candidates aspiring to become a Lecturer in India should pursue PhD Courses from any of the top PhD Colleges across the country. Admission to candidates aspiring to become Lecturers After 12th are usually done on the basis of PhD Entrance Exams. A PhD degree will help help students work as Professors and Associate Professors. A PhD degree will help in advancing to the Lecturer position in universities. Job positions are available in Central and State Government universities and private universities.
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The range of salary from entry-level lecturer to more experienced lectures earns between INR 2.48 LPA – 7,10,000 LPA. The salary of a Lecturer depends on the various types that they are associated with. There are 3 Types for Lecturers, they are Assiant Professor, Professor, Associate Professor. Apart from, students can also choose to become a Lecturer Abroad across various countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia. The average salary of a Lecturer abroad usually ranges from INR 12 LPA – 33 LPA. Read More: Salary of a Lecturer
- Lecturer: Quick Facts
- Steps to Become a Lecturer
- Types of Lecturers
- How to become a Lecturer in India
4.1 How to Become a Lecturer After 12th
5.1 PhD
5.2 MA
5.3 MSc
6.1 Lecturer in USA
6.3 Lecturer in UK
9.3 Experience Wise
How to Become a Lecturer: Quick Facts
| Industry | Education |
| Eligibility | PhD in a specialisation |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2,48,000 to INR 7,10,000 LPA |
| Job Opportunity | Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Junior Research Fellowship, Lecturer |
Steps to Follow to Become a Lecturer
There are various steps that a candidate needs to follow to become a lecturer. The step by step process to becoming a lecturer is as follows.
- Decision Making: To become a lecturer one needs to make a decision on which subject to specialise in and be aware of the study path. Competition is tough and numerous candidates sit for the entrance examinations annually.
- Subject Choices: At the plus 12 level and undergraduate, there is no requirement to pursue any specific stream and specialisation. A PG degree should follow the UG degree specialisation preferably. Whatever subject one chooses to specialise in, candidates must have expertise in and the basic concepts must be clear.
- Entrance Examination Preparation: With a degree earned, the next step is to start preparing for entrance examinations. The most popular examinations are the UGC NET, CSIR NET and SLET. The eligibility criteria and age limits for each examination is different and must be reviewed.
- After Qualifying Exam: Once results are declared for the entrance examination, one needs to secure a high enough rank for the next step. The organizing committee releases a merit list with the roll numbers of all students who have successfully passed.
- Work or Fellowship: Students with a valid UGC NET score can work as Assistant Professors or choose to work as a Junior Research Fellowship. Jobs for both are updated regularly on the UGC portal. Applications can be submitted accordingly. For Junior Fellowship applications, there is no requirement of submitting any additional entrance test scores.
- What subjects to study at school level: For lecturer job positions there is no requirement to pursue a specific subject at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. One can graduate in Humanities, Computer Science, Engineering, Commerce, Science etc. Applicants can choose the subject of choice when applying for the UGC NET examination.
Types of Lecturers
Below given are the various types of lecturers on the basis of different parameters. On the basis of seniority, there are three ranks for lecturers in India. The ranks are
- Assistant Professor: Assistant Professors are entry-level job titles. Applicants are hired on as Assistant Professors after qualifying for an entrance examination with an undergraduate degree.
- Associate Professor: After working as an Assistant Professor for some years, applicants are promoted to Associate Professor. Typically one needs to work for 14 years before they earn this title.
- Professor: The last rank for lecturers is that of Professor. At this stage, applicants have a doctorate degree and are actively engaged in publication work.
How to become a Lecturer in India
Individuals who wish to become lecturers can start their preparation when they are in school. From the 10+2 level, students can take up specific subjects or apply for certain courses to become teachers and lecturers. The process to do so has been outlined below.
School Level Preparation
- At the class 12th level, students can take up any specialisation, Science, Arts or Commerce.
- A minimum aggregate score of 55% and above is required for General category students. For SC and ST students, a minimum score of 45% is needed.
How to Become a Lecturer After 12th
After completing Class 12th board exam students aspiring students can follow the mentioned step as discussed below in order to become a Lecturer.
UG Preparation
- At the undergraduate level, enrol in a programme specialisation of choice. One can earn a B.Ed. Degree or depending on the entrance examination, earn a BA, B.Com or B.Sc. degree.
- Integrated degree programmes are also acceptable.
- Apply for entrance examinations like UGC NET that accept undergraduate degree holders.
- There is no upper age limit for Assistant Professorship while the upper age is 30 years for Junior Research Fellow.
PG Preparation
- The undergraduate degree can be followed by a masters degree in the same specialisation as M.Com, M.Ed, MA or M.Sc.
- Apply for examinations like CSIR NET, SLET, GATE examinations.
- CSIR NET has the maximum applicant age fixed at 28 and for the GATE exam there is no limit.
- Candidates can also pursue a doctorate degree if they wish to.
Courses to become a Lecturer
Below given is a list of courses to become a lecturer:
PhD
PhD is a 2 to 5 year doctorate degree that focuses on academics and research in the field of interest. It can be pursued in a variety of specializations that fall under Engineering, Management, Commerce, Arts, Humanities, and alike.
PhD Course: Admission Process
The process to apply for the PhD course is as below.
- Visit the official website and register to create a profile using email ID and phone number.
- Login using credentials and start the application process.
- Fill up the application form and select the subject, position and examination centre.
- Upload documents and passport photographs
- Pay a nominal application fee online using debit and credit cards.
PhD Course: Entrance Examination
Below given is a tabulated list of exams to become a lecturer.
| Entrance Exam | Application Dates | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| IIT JAM | September 6 – October 14, 2022 | February 12, 2023 |
| UGC NET | December 29, 2022 – January 17, 2023 | February 21 – March 10, 2023 |
| GATE | September 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022 | February 4, 5, 11 and 12, 2023 |
| GPAT | 4th week of October – 3rd week of December, 2022 | Last week of January 2023 |
Eligibility Criteria for the UGC – NET Exam
The eligibility criteria to sit for the UGC NET examination is as follows.
- The minimum aggregate score of 55% and above at the postgraduate level
- Final year students can apply to the examination
- For UGC NET Assistant Professorship there is no age limit while for a Junior Research Fellowship, the upper age limit is 30 years.
MA
MA is a 2 year PG course offering in-depth knowledge in the field of Humanities, Arts & Liberal Arts, etc. It can be pursued in full-time mode or part-time mode as per the convenience of students.
MA: Admission Process
Admission to MA Course is mostly based on merit marks scored at the UG level. However few institutes also conduct their own exam for admission into MA Course. Below given is an admission process for the same.
- Candidates need to select their desired college and stream.
- They need to apply on the official portal of the selected college.
- They need to upload all the documents and submit the requisite registration fees.
- Upon filling all the details, they will have to wait for the merit list for their admission.
MA: Entrance Exam
| Exam Name | Registration Starts | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| IPU CET 2023 | March 4 – May 31, 2023 |
Online: June 18 – 25, 2023 Offline: July 2 & 3, 2023 |
| DUET 2023 | April – May 2023 | May 21 – 31, 2023 |
| TISSNET 2023 | December 14, 2022 – January 15, 2023 (Closed) | February 25, 2023 |
| PUCET 2023 | 3rd week of May – 4th week of June 2023 | 2nd week of July 2023 |
MSc
MSc is a 2 year PG course in various specialised Science fields such as Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Environmental Sciences, Food Sciences, Life Sciences, and so on. It provides scientific as well as professional entry-level competency to students.
MSc: Admission Process
Admission to MSc courses can be done on the basis of merit marks scored at the UG level. However few institutes conduct their own exam for admission into MSc course. The admission process for the same is given below.
- Candidates need to register themselves for the exam and the college.
- They need to fill all the details and qualify the eligibility criteria for the same.
- They need to qualify the entrance exam with the merit marks,
- Post completing all the formalities, they will get admission on the basis of marks scored.
MSc: Entrance Exam
How to become Lecturer Abroad
Like with other professions, with lectureship and teaching jobs, international jobs are very popular. The pay, eligibility criteria, benefits etc are different from country to country. The best countries to work as a lecturer or professor are the USA, Australia, UK, Germany etc.
Lecturer in USA
In the USA, applicants with a master’s degree in the field they wish to teach are needed. Some colleges not only want professors who have academic experience, they also want those who have hands-on experience in the relative field.
Admission Process
- Educational requirements - The minimum eligibility criteria of a master’s degree are accepted when teaching at technical colleges, community colleges and bachelor’s degrees in universities. For master’s degree programmes, a minimum PhD degree is needed.
- Other Requirements- Prior teaching experience as student instructors or teacher’s aide will be helpful and candidates with an active role in research work is preferred.
| University | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Harvard University | INR 1,160,900 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | INR 836,600 |
| University of California- Berkeley | INR 1,245,500 |
| Columbia University | INR 2,303,000 |
| University of Chicago | INR 3,045,600 |
| Princeton University | INR 2,317,100 |
| Cornell University | INR 1,386,500 |
| University of Pennsylvania | INR 1,771,900 |
Lecturer in Australia
Unlike the USA, the job title is not Professor but a lecturer in Australia. Only the most highly educated candidates with doctorate degrees are accepted in universities.
- Educational requirements- Candidates who have worked as postdoctoral researchers and have a strong doctoral research record.
- Other Requirements- Prior teaching work experience will also be helpful when applying to work as a lecturer.
| University | Fees per Annum |
|---|---|
| Australian National University | INR 2,432,808 |
| University of Sydney | INR 2,646,000 |
| University of Melbourne | INR 2,382,912 |
| University of New South Wales | INR 2,462,400 |
| University of Queensland | INR 2,199,744 |
| Monash University | INR 1,841,400 |
| University of Western Australia | INR 1,884,600 |
| University of Adelaide | INR 2,430,000 |
| University of Technology Sydney | INR 1,840,320 |
| University of Wollongong | INR 3,053,376 |
Lecturer in UK
In the UK, a separate education degree is not needed to teach as a lecturer. Candidates can work as a lecturer with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in their chosen field. Candidates start working as a lecturer with a master’s degree and work towards a doctorate degree at the same time.
- Educational requirements-The minimum criterion to work in this field is to have a master’s degree. Some universities do require a PhD.
- Other Requirements- As a PhD holder, the candidate needs to possess an arsenal of published work like published papers, present papers at conferences, attend workshops etc.
| University | Fees per Annum |
|---|---|
| University of Oxford | INR 26,77,000 |
| University of Cambridge | INR 44,45,500 |
| Imperial College London | INR 54,50,000 |
| University College London | INR 52,47,000 |
| University of Edinburgh | INR 44,11,800 |
| University of Manchester | INR 44,50,000 |
| King’s College London | INR 39,50,000 |
| London School of Economics and Political Science | INR 42,80,000 |
| University of Bristol | INR 37,40,000 |
Benefits of Career as Lecturer
Candidates who work as lecturers have their own reasons to venture into that field. Anyone with a keen interest in teaching and educating students would do well in this field. Listed below are some of the other benefits.
- Salary: The foremost reason to become a lecturer is the salaries. For lecturers who are employed in Government colleges, witness regular salary increments. The starting salary at the beginning of careers is around INR 2,50,000 to INR 3,00,000 LPA.
- Job Security: Lecturer jobs are highly secure. Depending on whether the college is Government or private and what the specialisation is, the job security changes. Overall the job security graph of lecturers is on an upward trend.
- Positive Impact of the Career: Teaching is a demanding but passion-based job. Lecturers are not only helping the students with their careers but also with their self-confidence and personality. Lecturers leave a lifelong impact on the students.
- Higher Studies: Lecturer job entrance examinations require the applicants to possess a master’s degree. After gaining work experience, applicants can go on to earn a doctorate degree in the research area of choice. For professor job positions, a doctorate degree is needed while actively publishing studies.
- Unique Experience: Being a lecturer is a unique experience, unlike others. One is able to interact with young students and get to talk and communicate with them directly. Another aspect is candidates are able to keep refreshing their learned material. Some go on to earn a doctorate degree too.
Skills Required for Lecturer
To be a successful teacher, one needs to possess certain skills. The table lists the top such skills.
| Specialisation or expertise area in a subject | Strong written and spoken communication skills |
| Presentation skills | Organized |
| Self-motivated individual | Research skills |
| Listening skills | Patient and empathetic |
Salary of Lecturer in India
The salary of lecturers in India ranges between INR 2,48,000 and INR 7,10,000, as per Payscale.com. The final salary will depend on the specialisation of the candidate along with the nature of the college, Government or private. Gender of the applicant also plays a part in the final salary.
Average Annual Salary
| Name of Organisation | Average Annual Salary (in Lakhs per annum) |
|---|---|
| Government | INR 9,73,0919 |
| Private | INR 3,28,20010 |
Specialisation Wise
| Specialisations | Salary (in Lakhs per annum) |
|---|---|
| English | INR 1,82,712 |
| Mathematics | INR 5,83,000 |
| History | INR 5,51,364 |
| Physics | INR 1,33,800 |
| Chemistry | INR 5,10,984 |
| Economics | INR 4,21,152 |
| Architecture | INR 5,80,000 |
| Computer Science | INR 2,14,260 |
| Geography | INR 3,03,600 |
| Philosophy | INR 5,70,000 |
Experience Wise
| Experience | Salary (in Lakhs per annum) |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (<1 year) | INR 2,48,000 |
| Early Career Level (1 to 4 years) | INR 2,55,000 |
| Mid Career Level (5 to 9 years) | INR 3,95,000 |
| Late Career Level (10 to 19 years) | INR 5,04,000 |
| Experienced (+20 years) | INR 7,10,000 |
How to become a lecturer FAQs
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility criteria to become a lecturer?
Ans. Applicants need to possess a master’s degree in their chosen field to start working as a lecturer. This criterion holds for teaching in both Government and private institutes.
Ques. How many years does it take to start working as a lecturer?
Ans. One can start working as a lecturer with a master’s degree which equals 5 years of education post class 12th. The starting job position is an Assistant Professor. To work as a Lecturer or Professor one needs a doctoral degree that will take upwards of 3 to 5 years with work experience.
Ques. What are the entrance examinations scores required to start working as a lecturer?
Ans. Commonly accepted entrance test scores are the UGC NET, CSIR NET and SLET scores. Some institutes require a GATE test score too.
Ques. What is the salary range for lecturers in India?
Ans. In India, depending on the work experience, the salary ranges between INR 2,48,000 to INR 7,10,000 LPA, as per Payscale.com.
Ques. How long does it take to earn a doctorate degree in any research field?
Ans. Candidates earn a doctoral degree in 3 to 5 years. The time taken will depend on the research topic and on the structure of the program.
Ques. What subjects are required in class 12th to work as a lecturer?
Ans. To work as a lecturer, one can take up any stream at the plus 2 level from Science, Arts or Commerce. It needs to be followed up with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a subject that one wishes to teach.
Ques. What is the salary difference for lecturers within Government and private institutes?
Ans. The average salary for Government lecturers is INR 9,73,091 LPA while for private institute lecturers the average salary is INR 3,28,200 LPA.
Ques. Is a doctorate degree necessary to work as a lecturer/professor?
Ans. For the Assistant Professor position, a master’s degree is sufficient while for the lecturer position a doctoral degree is required.
Ques. What should one do to start working as a lecturer in a Government institute?
Ans. The starting job position in Government institutes is Assistant Professor. Candidates can earn this title after qualifying for UGC NET or CSIR NET examination. When one qualifies for the exam, vacancies are updated on the official website. Applications can now be submitted accordingly.
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