India is home to more than 581 PhD colleges out of the 39,000 colleges that offer PhD courses across various disciplines to educate and build careers as Assistant Professors, Professors, Associate Professors or Lecturers. Pursuing a career as an Assistant Professor is one of the most sought-after professions considering the fact that approximately 6,00,000 students appeared for the UGC NET 2024 exam last year.
As per the latest development reported by The Times of India, UGC has announced that a PhD is no longer a mandatory educational requirement for the post of Assistant Professor across various colleges and Universities. This act was taken to speed up the process of filling vacant positions in India and also to increase the talent pool who have been waiting for a long time to get into the system.
In order to become an Assistant Professor, candidates must pursue a master’s degree across any discipline of their choice with a minimum aggregate score of 55% or above from a recognized college or university. They are then required to clear various PhD entrance exams such as UGC NET, IIT JAM 2024, CSIR UGC NET, GATE etc, post which they would be eligible to get admissions across any top PhD Colleges in India such as IITs, IIMs, and JNU.
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The average salary of an Assistant Professor is INR 4.00 LPA. The salary of an Assistant Professor usually depends on various factors such as qualifications, job sectors, experience, and skills. According to UGC, as per the new amendments by the 7th pay commission, new lecturers' salary has considerably increased. The earlier band for Assistant Professors was between INR 37,400 - 67,000 per month but post recommendation, it stands at a whopping amount of INR 1.31 L per month.
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Table of Content
- How to Become an Assistant Professor: Quick Facts
- What Does an Assistant Professor do
- Assistant Professor Qualification
- Assistant Professor Eligibility Criteria
How to Become an Assistant Professor: Quick Facts
Eligibility | Candidates must have completed a master’s degree in any discipline with a minimum aggregate of 60% or above Candidates must also clearUGC NET 202exam |
Employment Opportunities | Associate Professor, HOD, Counselor, Professor |
Required Skills | Research Skills, Analytical Skills, Knowledge about Topics, Counseling, Training |
Starting Salary | INR 2.90 LPA |
Average Salary | INR 4.00 LPA |
Highest Salary | INR 10.9 LPA |
What Does an Assistant Professor do
Assistant Professors are academic professionals who teach across colleges and universities and guide their respective students in particular subject domains. They also help the students with their research and dissertations and mark their assessment assignments. Read More: Associate Professor Jobs
Some of the essential duties of an Assistant Professor are discussed below,
- Assistant Professors are responsible for assisting their college/university in all activities, and events and helping in the smooth administration of the institute.
- Assistant Professors are also responsible for the recruitment and training of the junior teaching staff like ad-hoc professors.
- They must also conduct their own research, write dissertations, and publish articles & journals.
- Assistant Professors are also in charge of representing their college/university at various conferences and seminars.
- Assistant Professors teach undergraduate and postgraduate students and guide them in their research work and help them clear their doubts.
Assistant Professor Qualification
There are certain requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to become an Assistant Professor. Some of the major qualifications to become an Assistant Professor are listed below for your reference.
- Aspiring candidates must complete a bachelor’s degree in any relevant discipline from various streams such as Arts, Commerce, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Science, Languages, Journalism & Mass Communication and etc.
- It is also required that the candidates must complete their master’s degree in any relevant discipline preferably in the same discipline as in bachelor’s program
- Besides fulfilling the above qualifications, it is also mandatory for the candidates to appear for National Eligibility Test (NET) which is conducted by UGC or the CSIR.
- Candidates must also pursue PhD from any recognized university which is ranked among the top 500 universities,
- To become an Assistant Professor in the discipline of Management studies, candidates must have a master’s degree in any related discipline or full-time 2 years PGDM declared equivalent by AIU.
Assistant Professor Eligibility Criteria
There are certain eligibility criteria that must be followed to start a career as an Assistant Professor in India. Some of the essential eligibility criteria are discussed below for your reference. Read: How to Become a Lecturer in India
- Candidates must complete their bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum aggregate score of 50% or above from a recognized institute
- Candidates must also complete their master's degree across any discipline with a minimum aggregate of 55% or above from a recognized institute.
- Candidates need to qualify in the National Eligibility Test (NET) or a State Level Eligibility test- SLET/ SET.
- Candidates who are or have completed a PhD program, then the candidate is exempted from appearing in UGC NET exam.
UGC Guidelines for Assistant Professor
Since it is a mandatory requirement to clear the UGC NET exam, there are certain guidelines that are set by UGC for recruiting Assistant Professors. There is also direct recruitment for Assistant Professors which is usually done on merit by the duly constituted selection committee. UGC has laid down some basic eligibility criteria as well which are discussed below for your reference.
- Candidates must have a sound academic record with a minimum aggregate score of 55% or above or an equivalent CGPA score throughout
- Candidates also need to clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) or an accredited test (State Level Eligibility test- SLET/ SET).
- Clearing NET/SLET/SET is one of the mandatory requirements for the appointment of Assistant Professors.
- However, candidates who are or have been awarded a PhD degree in accordance with the University Grants Commission shall be exempted from the requirement of appearing in NET/SLET/SET.
- A relaxation of 5% may be provided to scheduled caste/scheduled tribe/differently-abled.
- For recruitment of a Physiotherapy Assistant Professor, a bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy or master’s degree in physiotherapy with a minimum aggregate of 55% or above. Read More: Eligibility to Become a Professor
How to Become an Assistant Professor in India
To become an Assistant Professor in India, candidates must prepare themselves right from the school level. Candidates must maintain a good academic score from the beginning and also participate in academic events and acquire certificates from school as well as college levels. Candidates must pursue their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in any of the relevant disciplines such as arts, commerce, humanities, law, social sciences, science, languages journalism & mass communication etc.
Post completion of a master’s degree, candidates need to appear for the UGC NET exam. It is one of the mandatory requirements to become an Assistant Professor. Candidates must also publish their research papers in various peer journals as it will add value to candidates' resumes.
How to Become an Assistant Professor After 12th
Undergraduate Preparations: Some of the most crucial steps that must be followed in order to be an Assistant Professor after clearing their bachelor's degree are as follows,
- Candidates must prepare themselves for entrance exams to pursue undergraduate degrees in any discipline.
- Candidates must complete an undergraduate degree in any discipline with a minimum aggregate of 50% or above from a recognized institute.
- Candidates must take part in various college activities and seminars especially those related to academics.
- Candidates can start preparing for UGC NET right from their undergraduate level so as to save time and be clear on the first attempt.
Postgraduate Preparations: Some of the most crucial steps that must be taken after completion of an undergraduate degree in order to become an Assistant Professor are as follows.
- Candidates must clear the entrance exam to pursue a master's degree.
- Candidates must pursue a master’s degree in any discipline preferably in the one in which the candidate has done a bachelor’s degree.
- Candidates must publish their research work in various magazines and peer-reviewed journals.
- Candidates must appear for the UGC NET exam in order to pursue a career as an Assistant Professor.
- Candidates must do various certification courses as well in order to develop teaching and research skills which will be very helpful in skill development.
PhD Courses
Candidates have ample options for pursuing a PhD degree depending upon their choice. PhD Courses can be pursued across various streams as already discussed above. Candidates aspiring to pursue PhD Courses can enrol themselves across any of the three programmes as listed below,
- Full-time,
- Part-time
- Online PhD
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Some of the top PhD Courses are tabulated below with all the relevant information for your knowledge. Check: List of PhD Courses
Parameters | PhD History | PhD Social Work | PhD in Mechanical Engineering | PhD in Legal Studies |
---|---|---|---|---|
Duration | 3 Years | 3 - 6 Years | 2 - 5 Years | 3 - 5 Years |
Eligibility | Candidates must have completed a master's degree in History or any other relevant discipline with a minimum aggregate of 55% or above. Candidates are also required to appear for UGC-CSIR-NET, UGC-NET etc |
Candidates must have completed a master's degree in Social Work or any other relevant discipline with a minimum aggregate of 55% or above. Candidates are also required to appear for UGC-CSIR-NET, UGC-NET etc |
Candidates must have completed a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or any other relevant discipline with a minimum aggregate of 55% or above. Candidates are also required to appear for UGC-CSIR-NET, UGC-NET etc |
Candidates must have completed a master's degree in Legal Studies or an M.Phil in Law or any other relevant discipline with a minimum aggregate of 55% or above. Candidates are also required to appear for UGC-CSIR-NET, UGC-NET etc |
Top Colleges | Banaras Hindu University University of Hyderabad University of Calcutta Jamia Millia Islamia |
Tata Institute of Social Science University of Delhi Loyola College University of Delhi |
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay National Institute of Technology, Trichy |
NALSAR, Hyderabad IIT Kharagpur NLU Jodhpur |
Entrance Exams | CSIR-UGC NET UGC NET JMI Entrance Exam |
CSIR-UGC NET CSIR JRF GATE |
UGC NET JNUEE GATE |
JRF- GATE NIPHER PhD |
Average course fees | INR 5000 - 1,00,000 | INR 1000 - 2,00,000 | INR 96,000- 3,16,000 | INR 6000 - 1,50,000 |
Average Salary | INR 2 LPA - 12 LPA | INR 3 LPA - 8 LPA | INR 3,50 LPA - 10 LPA | INR 4 LPA - 12 LPA |
List of Top PhD Colleges in India
India has been a hub of PhD colleges. Students from abroad also pursue PhD from India. There are more than 591 PhD colleges in various disciplines such as law, management sciences, arts and humanities, engineering etc. Many of the top colleges in India rank among the top 500 best PhD colleges globally.
Some of the top PhD colleges in India are tabulated below for your reference.
Name of the Colleges | Location | Average Course Fees (INR) |
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Jai Hind College | Mumbai | 23,777 |
Bishop Heber College | Thriucillapalli | 21,000 |
Ahmedabad University | Ahmedabad | 48,000 |
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research | Chandigarh | 3470 |
School of Planning and Architecture | Bhopal | 46,000 |
National Institute of Fashion Technology | Delhi | 1,22,050 |
Jawaharlal Nehru University | Delhi | 3970 |
University College of Medical Sciences | Delhi | 58,000 |
National Institute of Technology | Durgapur | 64,100 |
Benefits of Becoming an Assistant Professor
Being an Assistant Professor is considered as a profession of great reputation. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to work in the teaching sector. There are many benefits of working as an Assistant Professor. Some of these benefits have been listed below:
- Job satisfaction: Many people enter the teaching profession because of their love for teaching and their dedication to shaping the lives of students. Therefore, the positive influence they can have on a student’s life gives a lot of job satisfaction.
- Follow Your Interest: Being an Assistant Professor gives one the freedom to follow their interest and research in the same field. Not only research, being an Assistant Professor allows one to spread their findings and discuss them with their students.
- Stability: Being an Assistant Professor is a very stable job with long-term security as well as the freedom to take risks and research in a domain other than the main interest. So this provides a lot of peace of mind and stability.
- Opportunity for Collaboration: Being in the academic field provides opportunities for cross-discipline interactions and research in collaboration with other academic experts.
- High Dignity: Assistant Professors have a high dignity in society since they are academic professionals and people often respect and admire their opinion on matters of importance.
Skills Required to Become an Assistant Professor
Being an Assistant Professor requires a certain set of skills including technical and soft skills which have been listed below for your reference:
Communications skills | Excellent research, writing and interpersonal skills | Strong analytical, observational and Problem-solving |
Presentation | Passion for teaching | Time-management |
Public speaking | published work | Patience |
Detail-oriented | Good listener | Good record of attending conferences and academic event |
Assistant Professor Jobs
There are many types of professors in India and their designations vary according to job profiles. Some of these have been tabulated below for your reference.
Job Profile | Description | Average Salary (INR) |
---|---|---|
Assistant Professor | An Assistant Professor is responsible for teaching students and guiding students regarding academic research and course material. They must also conduct their research and write dissertations at the same time. | 4.90 LPA |
Associate Professor | An Associate Professor is a mid-level academic professional who has a doctorate in a particular subject and teaches students regarding a particular subject. | 8.50 LPA |
HoD | A Head of the Department is also an academic professional who heads the academic department of a college/university and is responsible for designing the course material and syllabus of a subject. They are also responsible for managing the department staff. | 10.20 LPA |
Professor | A Professor is the highest academic professional with more than 20 years of academic experience in a college/university with a doctorate in a particular subject or field. | 12.00 LPA |
Salary of an Assistant Professor
The average salary of an Assistant Professor is INR 5.67 LPA. The salary of a professor depends on the qualification, skills, location, experience, designation etc. of the professor. Some of the average salaries of professors based on their job profile have been listed below:
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
---|---|
Assistant Professor | 5.67 L |
Associate Professor | 8.90 L |
HOD | 12.24 L |
Professor | 10.20 L |
Senior Professor | 22.15 L |
How to Become an Assistant Professor: FAQs
Ques. What are the qualifications required to become an Assistant Professor?
Ans. Some of the essential qualifications required to become an Assistant Professor are that the candidates must have completed a master's degree in any discipline and must have cleared UGC NET exam.
Ques. Can I become Assistant Professor without PhD?
Ans. According to UGC, it is not mandatory to obtain a PhD to become an Assistant Professor but it is mandatory for professors.
Ques. Which degree is best to become an Assistant Professor?
Ans. Any master’s degree across any discipline is sufficient provided candidates clear the UGC NET exam to become an Assistant Professor.
Ques. Is NET compulsory for Assistant Professors?
Ans. According to the guidelines of UGC, it is required to clear the UGC NET exam but it is not required to pursue a B.Ed degree.
Ques. Is it hard to become an Assistant Professor?
Ans. No, it’s not hard to become an Assistant Professor but candidates might face some hurdles in acquiring high degrees as there will be a lot of entrance exams and tough challenges.
Ques. Are Assistant Professors permanent?
Ans. Assistant Professors are not tenured but they fulfil all the responsibilities of tenured professors and are offered under the 7th pay commission.
Ques. What is the age limit of the Assistant Professors post?
Ans. UGC has laid down the age criteria. Candidates between the age of 25 to 35 can apply for the post of Assistant Professor provided they fulfil educational requirements.
Ques. Is Assistant Professor the same as the lecturer?
Ans. Yes, both are the same thing but the term lecturer has now been abolished.
Ques. What are the PhD course fees?
Ans. The average course fees in INR 3000 -1,12,000
Ques. What is the average salary of an Assistant Professor?
Ans. The average salary of an Assistant Professor is INR 4.00 LPA.
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