How Do You Become A Professor? Career Path Advice

For many people, the idea of a career in academia is an exciting prospect – so, how do you become a professor?

Professors play a vital role in shaping the future of education and research. The path to becoming a professor is not simple, but ultimately it can be very rewarding.

In the 2022/23 academic year there was a 3% increase in the number of academic staff employed at UK higher education institutions, according to HESA data.

This article will walk you through the key steps and provide career path advice to help you understand how to become a professor.

What is a professor? What do they do?

A professor is an academic expert in a particular field of study, usually employed at a university or college: 

• Their role includes teaching students, conducting research, publishing findings, and often contributing to the development of their subject area.
• Professors are also often involved in mentoring students, guiding research projects, and sitting on committees that shape the direction of their department or university.

In the UK, the title of ‘Professor’ is typically reserved for those who have achieved significant experience and seniority in their field.

Becoming a professor generally involves a combination of formal education, research experience, and teaching expertise. 

Here’s a breakdown of the steps to follow if you are wondering how to become a professor:

1. Obtain a Bachelor’s degree

First of all, to become a professor you need to get your bachelor’s degree in the subject you love. It will set the foundation for your academic knowledge and begin your academic career. 

Since most professors are experts in only one area of study, it is very important to pick one topic that you love and that you are ready to spend decades researching and learning.

Currently a student and thinking about becoming a professor one day? In the meantime, take a look at the best jobs for students while you’re studying.

2. Complete a Master’s degree

A master’s degree is not always necessary, but it can be a great way to advance on the path towards being a professor.

• In a master’s programme you broaden and deepen your knowledge in your chosen subject, but also strengthen and develop a degree of expertise in a particular aspect.
• It also functions as a stepping stone to doctoral study, necessary for most academic positions.

A master’s degree will also give you experience to take on teaching assistantships in many fields, which will help you in your future career as a lecturer or professor.

3. Complete a Doctorate (PhD)

In the UK, typically you need a PhD, and indeed a doctoral degree in some forms, to become a professor:

• A PhD is a research qualification based on a thesis which you will produce under the guidance of a supervisor.
• Depending on the subject, and the breadth of the research, it can take approximately three to seven years to complete the process.

Your PhD will teach you how to conduct independent research, write academic papers and add to your academic discipline.

4. Gain teaching experience

Gaining teaching experience is one of the most important things to do to become a professor.

When you are doing your PhD you may be expected to help in teaching undergraduate students, which is a very useful classroom experience.

After completing your PhD, you can work as lecturer or research fellow. The undergraduate or postgraduate students are taught by the lecturers, whereas the research fellows are engaged in research rather than teaching.

Speaking of teaching, if instead of becoming a professor you would like to work in secondary or primary education, we have you covered too:

• Teacher Interview Questions And Answers: How To Prepare
• What Qualifications Do I Need To Be A Teaching Assistant?
• How To Write A Teacher’s CV

The briefings above can help you write a CV and prepare for teaching interviews.

5. Publish research

In contributing to their field, professors are expected to write research for publication in peer reviewed and reputable outlets:

• Publishing is a way to show people exactly what you’re an expert on and establish yourself as a thought leader on the subject area.
• The more you get into your academic career, the more you will need a good portfolio of publications. 

Besides publications, attending conferences and presenting, get to know people, expand your professional network and don’t fall behind the latest developments in your field.

6. Seek postdoctoral experience

In most disciplines, especially sciences, gaining postdoctoral experience is a necessary step on the way to becoming a professor.

• Specialised research projects are carried out by postdoctoral researchers who often work together with other researchers to improve knowledge within their field.
• While in scientific disciplines post doctoral positions are more common, you can also find them in humanities and social sciences, though less often.

As a postdoc or as a lecturer, the critical part of being a professor happens whether you work with accumulated research experience.

7. Apply for academic positions

After the PhD, get experience as a teacher and researcher and start to show yourself as a writer, then you should apply for academic posts.

Competition for professorial roles is keen, and a long list of previous experience can precede this stage.

We have several guides covering other career paths too, including:

• How To Become A Financial Adviser: PurpleCV Career Guide
• How To Become A Life Coach: Our Guide

Other advice: How to become a lecturer

Interested in teaching and wondering how to become a lecturer? The process is pretty much the same as how to become a professor.

Although the two elements are related, the role of a lecturer is usually more focused on teaching than research.

Lecturers usually hold a PhD, and may have carried out postdoctoral research. They too are responsible for preparing and delivering lectures, conducting seminars, and assessing student work.

Lecturers also support university administration and in the UK also supervise postgraduate students.

Many lecturers consider becoming a professor as the role requires more responsibility, which is mainly leading research projects, mentoring junior staff, even influencing the academic direction of the department.

Final thoughts: How to become a professor (UK)

Becoming a professor is a challenging and fulfilling career path that requires years of study, teaching experience, and research.

But through persistence and hard work, becoming a professor can be one of the most rewarding careers for those passionate about teaching and research!

During the journey, you’ll need a strong CV that demonstrates your achievements and experience so far. Here’s how to write an academic CV.

Our expert CV writing team can create an outstanding CV for you in next to no time and we also offer interview coaching as part of our accessories.

Also, the PurpleCV blog and YouTube are full of useful guides to support your job search.

No matter whether you aspire to be a professor or have another career path in mind, the team at PurpleCV can help. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.