How to Become a Professor: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Qualifications, Colleges, Jobs, Scope, Salary

What does a Professor Do

Professors provide education in courses that they have specialized in at their colleges and universities. They instruct students who are studying for a degree or a certification. They also play the role of supervisors for research scholars and may also carry out independent research for publishing scholarly papers and books. Professors participate in the development of curriculum for courses and in preparation of textbooks. 

• Professors are incharge of teaching subjects and interact with students while clearing their doubts
• Professors plan lessons and assignments and assess the progress of students through grading papers and tests.
• Professors conduct research and experiments to advance knowledge in their field
• Professors supervise and guide students working toward doctoral degrees
• A Professor is responsible for sharing knowledge and expertise with their students in their relevant field of study

Types of Professors

A career as a Professor offers immense scope in the education sector in terms of stability and job prospects. They are classified into different roles as mentioned below:

Researcher

Assistant Professor

Associate Professor

HOD

How to Become a Professor in India 

Becoming a Professor in India needs a lot of dedication and hard work with years of experience in the relevant field of teaching. Students who wish to become a Professor must select their preferred stream in their higher studies. 

Candidates aspiring to become a Professor can opt for any stream of the subject of their choice. After which they can pursue various degrees, diplomas, certificates, and integrated degree courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. To become a Professor, candidates have to also appear for various entrance exams conducted at the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD to add points to their academic career.

Candidates also need to have teaching experience with professional certification established through independent research and publications in journals. There are different kinds of assistantships available depending on the academic departments of the students. 

• School Level Preparation: In order to become a Professor, students can opt for any stream depending on the subject that they wish to pursue. Students aspiring to become a Professor can pursue Arts, Science and Commerce courses, depending on the subjects that they want to study further.

How to Become a Professor in India After 12th

Some of the key steps that should be followed to become a Professor across various educational stages after clearing class 12^th are listed below for your reference.

• UG Level Preparation: Students need to follow certain steps in order to become a professor in India. After the completion of 10+2, students have to clear the entrance examination conducted in some institutions. Some colleges offer seats based on their merit marks. The students are required to get 50% marks in their bachelor's degree. 
• PG Level Preparation: Students must plan for a Master’s in the relevant subject. It takes a minimum of 2 years to complete a master’s in India after which students can go for a PhD degree if they are interested in the research field which takes 3-5 years to complete. 

Aspirants also need to clear the competitive examinations conducted at the national or institute level to become professors. Candidates can also start working in private universities and colleges to gain experience and knowledge. 

How to Become a Professor Abroad

Choosing a career path to become Professor abroad is different from India. Abroad, they require extensive research programs that most foreign Universities demand in a Professor role. The selection process is tricky but the candidates need to have a PhD degree. The candidates have to adapt to the culture, Ethos, standards, and reputation of the University. Countries like Canada, Australia and the USA and so provide PhD and master courses. Work experience is required to become a Professor abroad.

Read More: PhD Abroad

How to Become a Professor in the USA

Studying a PhD course in the USA has its perks. Compared to other countries, America shines through its rigorous standard of development and study. Students can have access to develop a more detailed understanding of their dissertation based on their research subject. The candidates are required to earn a master's degree in a specialized subject. To pursue a fully-fledged career as a Professor, they need to complete their doctoral and post-doctoral degree. 

How to Become Professor in Canada

PhD in Canada allows you to work with leading experts and profit from the modern, high-tech facilities offered at Canadian universities. The country offers you a wealth of research opportunities to expand and enhance your expertise. There are countless research opportunities in Canada to look out for as an international student after completion of their higher education. 

How to Become Professor in the UK

PhD in the UK, also referred to as a doctorate, is a 3 to 4-year full-time and 6 years part-time degree. For an Indian student, it is equivalent to 17 lakhs - 34 lakhs INR per year. This cost can be easily supported by scholarships available in the UK for international students such as studentships, scholarships, grants by UK Research and Innovation, etc.

How to Become Professor in Australia

PhD in Australia also referred to as Doctorate is a premier research award and the highest qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework. It is usually three years full-time, and some students take longer, but this usually depends on registration and funding arrangements. PhD can be undertaken in all faculties or across disciplines in top universities of Australia and comprises independent research and writing on an approved topic toward a thesis for examination.

Salary of a Professor in India 

The salary of a Professor in India is based on their qualification, type of organization, and experience. The starting salary of a professor can range from INR 5 LPA and may exceed INR 35 LPA. The salary offered usually depends upon the type of institution hiring, the skills and experience of a person etc.

Read More: Salary of a Professor

Tabulated below is the average salary of a Professor based on the designations that they are working for.