“What is your favorite subject” if I were to ask you? It’s probably your favorite because of how or who taught it to you. Teaching is a skill as well as a performance. Before giving it to an audience, you’ll need to prepare, research, and rehearse.
The fundamental difference between a Teacher and a Professor is; A Teacher teaches in school and a Professor teaches in a college. Apart from this, there are differences based on qualifications, duties, and skill sets.
In this blog, you’ll learn about how to become a Professor, the job preparation required, salary insights, top colleges in India and abroad, and the best countries abroad to work as a Professor.
Who is a Professor?
A Professor is a professional who teaches at the college or university level and holds a doctorate in his respective field. Before earning the title of “Professor,” one must pass a series of exams and gain relevant experience and credentials.
How to Become a Professor
To understand how to become a Professor it is important that one should have a an interest in teaching the subject they are passionate about. Since it is a possibility that the intial years of teaching won’t pay very well. During this, the passion for teaching will help you run through.
One can become a Professor only after completing a Masters degree and qualifying the UGC-NET exam. Further which one can apply for a PhD program.
Step 1: Stream to select
The choice of the stream is completely dependant on which subject you plan to teach as a Professor. Thus, it is difficult to say which stream one should choose. However, if you are somebody who isn’t sure about the subject, choose the science stream, post which one can opt for any undergraduate degree.
Step 2: Certification Courses & Project Courses
There aren’t any specific certificate courses one can apply to. However, certificate courses in teaching will be a valuable addition for your profile.
Name of the course | Duration |
Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms by Relay Graduate School of Education | 2-4 weeks |
University Teaching by University of HongKong | 2-4 weeks |
Certificate in Teaching English Grammar by Asian College for Teachers | 6 weeks |
Step 3: Educational Qualifications
Teaching is a skill that develops with time and experience. Participate in internships, research projects, and conferences throughout the course. It will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to become a professor.
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How to become a Professor After 12th
Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in a field that interests you. A student may know what subject they want to specialize in from the beginning of college or discover it later. It could be different for those enrolled in the Honours program.
In India
In India there aren’t any specific degrees on teaching at a college or university level. One will have to compete an undergraduate degree, followed by a postgraduate degree in the same subject. However, one can specialize in a particular topic related to the subject during their postgraduate studies.
UG Courses In India
One should have a minimum of 55% in their Grade 12. Additionally, one will have to appear for the university-specific entrance exam. Here are a few undergraduate courses in India one can to know how to become a Professor:
Name of the course | Duration |
Bachelors in Arts English/Economics/ Philosophy/Political Science | 3- 4 years |
Bachelors in Engineering | 4 years |
BSc. in Zoology/Microbiology/Physics/Chemistry | 3- 4 years |
Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Commmunication | 3 – 4 years |
Bachelors in Business Management/admisnistration | 3 – 4 years |
Top colleges
Here are a few colleges that offer the courses mentioned above:
Name of the College | Location |
Jawaharlal Nehru University | Delhi |
Christ University | Delhi |
KJ Somaiya College of Science and Commerce | Mumbai |
SXC Xavier College | Ranchi |
Centre for Research in Art of Film and Television | Delhi |
Indian Institute of Mass Communication | New Delhi |
Indian Business School | Hyderabad |
IMED | Pune |
VIT | Bhopal |
Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management | Hyderabad |
Abroad
The eligibility criteria to apply for an undergraduate program abroad are:
- A minimum of 55% in Grade 12 from a recognized board or university.
- Language proficiency test score – IELTS, TOEFL, PTE
- Letter of Recommedation (LOR), Statement of Purpose (SOP).
UG courses Abroad
Here are a few undergraduate courses abroad one can to know how to become a Professor:
Name of the course | Duration |
Bachelors in Education | 3 – 4 years |
Bachelors in Arts : Social Sciences/ Economics | 3 – 4 years |
Bachelors in Science : Live Sciences | 3 – 4 years |
Bachelors in Engineering or Medicine | 4 – 5 years |
Top colleges
Here are a few colleges that offer the courses mentioned above:
Name of the College | Location |
Harvard University | US |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | US |
University of Greenwich | UK |
Teesside University | UK |
University of Toronto | Canada |
University of Texas at Austin | Austin, Texas |
University of Oxford | Oxford, UK |
Humber College | Toronto, Canada |
The University of Sydney | Sydney, Australia |
The University of Adelaide | Australia |
Step 4: Job Prep
- Internships:
Internships can range from teaching assistants or personalized small group teaching jobs. These internships will help you understand how you can break down content to meet the learning needs of the focused students.
You will learn to create lesson plans and activities for teaching. Moreover, teaching techniques can be learned better when put into practice.
- Portfolio creation:
Your portfolio will include teaching experience. your teaching methods, innovations. You can also increase your certifications. Creativity is important to teaching, the more creative you’re in your teaching the more likely you are to get your content through the students.
Portfolio will also help you prep for PhD admissions.
- Freelance
Freelance opportunities in teaching are for positions of Lecturers or Visiting faculty. Once you have build a teaching experience, the more credibility and references you will be able to get.
- Qualification exam:
You will have to qualify the UGC-NET or CSIR-NET, etc. to be eligible for teaching in colleges and universities.
Skills to become a Professor
Teaching Skills
- Communication Skills
- Presentation skills
- Creative Teaching
- Problem solving
Research Skills
- Analytical skills
- Writing skills
- Curriculum planning
- Critical thinking
Social skills
- Time management
- Networking
- Mentoring
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Salary for a Professor
The salary for Professors differs based on their qualifications, position, and teaching experience. According to websites like ambition. box, salary expert, and glassdoor here’s a table with the estimated average annual salary.
Salary in India for a Professor
Job Role | Research Assistant | Lecturer | Assistant Professor | Associate Professor | Professor | HOD/Director |
Avg. salary p.a. | 3 LPA | 3.6 LPA | 6.6 LPA | 12.3 LPA | 18.8 LPA | 14.5 LPA |
Salary abroad for a Professor (different location, graph/table)
Country | USA | UK | China | Japan | Australia | Netherlands |
Avg. salary p.a. | $57,346 | £91,891 | CNY 307,221 | JP¥1,03,66,381 | $159,993 | $78829 |
Top recruiters in India
- Indian Institute of Technology
- Birla Institute of Technology
- Symbiosis Open Education Society
- IMRB International
- Delhi University
- IGNOU
- Amity University
- Lovely Professional University
- JNU
- Jaipur University
Top countries to work as a Professor abroad
- Australia
- New Zealand
- The United Arab Emirates
- The United Kingdom
- Netherlands
- United States
- Germany
- Japan
- China
- South Korea
Though it would take sometime for you to reach the position of a Professor, it is position that is rewarding and high satisfaction. One should have excellent people skills, patience, and subject expertise. One should try to become a Professor to share their knowledge and expertise with more people and inspire them to pursue their ambitions.
FAQs for How to become a Professor
Who is a Professor?
A Professor is a professional who teaches at the college or university level and holds a doctorate in his respective field. Before earning the title of “Professor,” one must pass a series of exams and gain relevant experience and credentials.
How much does a Professor earn in Japan?
Professors in Japan earn JP¥1,03,66,381 annual salary.
What should I include in my portfolio as a Professor?
Your portfolio will include teaching experience. your teaching methods, innovations. You can also increase your certifications. Creativity is important to teaching, the more creative you’re in your teaching the more likely you are to get your content through to the students. The portfolio will also help you prep for Ph.D. admissions.
What is the eligibility criteria to apply for an undergraduate program abroad?
The eligibility criteria to apply for an undergraduate program abroad are:
A minimum of 55% in Grade 12 from a recognized board or university.
Language proficiency test score – IELTS, TOEFL, PTE
Letter of Recommendation (LOR), Statement of Purpose (SOP).
Which institutes hire Professors in India?
Indian Institute of Technology
Birla Institute of Technology
Symbiosis Open Education Society
IMRB International
Delhi University
IGNOU
Amity University
Lovely Professional University
JNU
Jaipur University