The hierarchy and job title of every professor distinguishes them from one another. While some are assistant professors who are entry-level professors, others are associate professors or mid-level faculty of colleges and universities after gaining substantial years of experience. Apart from the primary job of teaching, an Assistant Professor and an Associate Professor vary on several parameters such as eligibility criteria, salary, and qualifications.
To become an Assistant Professor one can pursue courses such as M.Phil after completing their Postgraduation in a relevant subject, however in order to become an associate Professor one has to pursue PhD in a relevant subject. India is home to several top PhD Colleges that enrol students only on the basis of PhD entrance exams such as UGC NET, GPAT, and IIT JAM. As per the new notification of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the eligibility to become an Assistant Professor includes clearing UGC NET after the students have cleared their Post Graduation.
The average course fee for PhD courses ranges between INR 50,000 – 1.50 LPA. The average salary of an Assistant Professor in India ranges from INR 5.25 L PA – 11 LPA and the average salary of an Associate Professor in India ranges from INR 8.36 LPA – 22.4 LPA. Read More: Salary of an Associate Professor
Table of Content
Who is an Assistant Professor
In simple terms, an Assistant Professor is the entry–level or junior faculty member of any college or university. They usually hold an MPhil or PhD degree and have a good amount of experience in research and teaching in their specific area of expertise. Assistant professors are not tenured, but they still possess all the duties of a tenured professor.
They are appointed either on a “non-tenure or temporary” basis and hired for 1 to 3 years, or as “tenure track” faculty who get the opportunity for permanent position only after 5 to 7 years. Typically, they assist in creating lesson plans and evaluate students’ progress by supervising their tests and projects.
Additionally, an assistant professor’s job structure may also include:
- Giving lectures in classes and organizing conferences regarding program studies and related topics.
- Developing proper coursework of subjects for the students.
- Answering queries and questions of the students to improve their understanding and knowledge of the subject.
- Evaluating assessments and projects of the students.
- Publishing papers and reports.
- Assisting the college administration in making important decisions.
Assistant Professor Qualifications: Assistant professors require a master’s degree to start their career in teaching. However, there is a proper educational structure one must follow to become an assistant professor.
- Bachelor’s degree- To earn a master’s degree and further a doctoral degree, candidates must first graduate from a bachelor’s degree program. As an aspiring assistant professor, a candidate’s grade in their bachelor's is very important as it will determine their entry into the master's program and their future career as an assistant professor.
- Master’s degree- After completing their bachelor's, candidates need to choose a subject for master’s study and earn a master’s degree. Once done, aspiring students may go for a PhD program or doctoral study in the area of their expertise.
- Doctoral study or PhD- Though the essential qualification an assistant professor need is a master’s degree; there are many universities and colleges that prefer assistant professors to have a PhD. Earning a doctoral degree demands extensive coursework and research, as well as proper completion of a project or dissertation.
- Work experience- While pursuing a PhD, it is also significant to have good work experience. Apart from their dissertation, they should also try and publish research reports regarding their subject to showcase their skills and knowledge. They may also apply for internships and part-time lectures to grow their experience at the college level.
Who is an Associate Professor
When assistant professors are promoted, they earn the title of associate professors. They are middle-level professors who have successfully completed their doctorate or PhD and have at least 8 to 9 years of experience in teaching students.
To earn the title of associate professor, however, every professor aspirant should conduct good research to enhance their knowledge in the respective field and publish their research in academic journals and papers.
The responsibilities and job structure of an associate professor are more or less the same as an assistant professor, but an important difference between the two is that an associate professor often has tenure and more work experience.
Job responsibilities of an associate professor include:
- Developing curriculum and study plans for their respective courses.
- Giving lectures to students related to their subjects.
- Working as an advisor to students and helping them plan their thesis.
- Attending college and university meetings and taking crucial decisions regarding hiring and budgets.
- Publishing journals and research.
- Guiding students to broaden their overall skills and knowledge.
Associate Professor Qualifications: Some of the necessary qualifications to become an Associate Professor are listed below for your reference,
- Get a bachelor's and master's degree- Just like an assistant professor, aspiring associate professors should also get a bachelor's degree so that they may meet the requirements for their master’s program. During the undergraduate period, students must confidently decide on subjects that they want to pursue in the future.
- Get a doctorate or PhD- Associate professors need to get a PhD degree in the relevant discipline. For candidates applying for direct recruitment as associate professors, a PhD degree is a compulsory qualification. PhD programs generally take around 5 years to finish which also includes the research as well as the overall dissertation time. The dissertation then needs to be presented before the committee of professors.
- Work as an assistant professor or as a lecturer- Getting hired as a lecturer or as an assistant professor in a college is one of the best ways to make their way up to become an associate professor. While many candidates directly get placed as associate professors others it may take up several years to achieve the rank. Read More: Associate Professor Qualifications
Assistant Professor vs. Associate Professor
When planning one’s career in postsecondary teaching, it is very decisive to understand the basic differences between Assistant vs. Associate Professor. One of the key differences between the two is that associate professors are much more experienced than assistant professors and receive more salary and recognition.
Unlike assistant professors who only command undergraduate students during class hours, associate professors instruct graduate students in their research and also after finishing assistantships.
To get a better understanding of the differences between assistant professor and associate professor, take a look at the below-mentioned table:
Parameters | Assistant Professors | Associate Professors |
---|---|---|
Eligibility | Master’s degree in the concerned discipline from an Indian university. Minimum 55% in postgraduation Equivalent degree from an accredited international university. SLET/SET qualified with NET. |
Good academic records. PhD degree. Master’s degree with at least 55% marks. |
Qualification | Professional experience in teaching or research. Research papers presented to the committee or in appropriate journals. |
Minimum 8 years of experience in teaching in a university or college. Research in an academic subject. Evidence of any published research, policy papers or books. A minimum score as stated in the API (Academic Performance Indicator) set out in the UGC regulation. |
Courses | Master’s in Science, Arts or Commerce. | PhD in Science, Arts or Commerce. |
Job Profile | Teaching Conducting Research Assisting full professors Working with the university committee | Teaching Conducting seminars and research. Working with teaching assistants. Undertaking crucial administrative tasks. |
Area of Work | Education Private and Government |
Education Private and Government |
Average salary | INR 4,11,540 LPA | INR 9,00,000 LPA |
Assistant Professor vs. Associate Professor: FAQs
Ques. What is the major qualification required for an assistant professor?
Ans. Major qualification for becoming an assistant professor is to have a Master’s degree in a relevant subject.
Ques. What are the benefits of becoming an associate professor?
Ans. Some benefits are:
- Handsome salary
- Great experience teaching graduate students
- Job security
Ques. What are the top colleges for PhD in India?
Ans. Top colleges for PhD in India are:
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Madras
- Banaras Hindu University
- Amity University
Ques. What are the top colleges for associate professor?
Ans. Top colleges for associate professor are:
- Birla Institute of Technology
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- University of Delhi
- Amity University
- University of Hyderabad
Ques. Can I become an assistant professor without PhD?
Ans. As per UGC, you can’t become an assistant professor without PhD.
Ques. What is the salary difference between an assistant professor and associate professor?
Ans. Average salary of an assistant professor is around INR 4,15,000 LPA, whereas, the average salary of an associate professor is around INR 9,00,000 LPA.
Ques. How to apply for UGC NET?
Ans. Visit the official website- ugcnet.nta.nic.in
- Select on application form.
- Click new registration.
- Enter your details.
- Fill the form.
Ques. What are the different job roles after PhD?
Ans. Professor
Assistant Professor
-Associate professor
-Researcher
-Head of the Department
Ques. What are top colleges for Masters in Education (MEd) in India?
Ans. Department of Education, New Delhi
-Faculty of Education, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
- Department of Education, Bangalore
Ques. Where can one get hired after PhD?
Ans. Candidates can get hired in government universities or private institutions, coaching centers, etc.
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