Are you interested in a career in Germany?
On your way to a professorship at a german university there are a lot of steps to be taken and a lot of questions to be answered
- How do I become a professor in Germany?
- What am I actually qualifying for when I want to become a professor at a German University?
- Is being involved in the academic self administration part of the secondary tasks a professor has?
- Why is it part of the job tasks actually cultivating and developing science through research and teaching study but also offering a further education?
- Can I be considered for a professorship as an internal candidate?
- Which person on the list later gets the offer for the professorship?
The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV) can support you with all these decisions and be your trusted career partner.
Understanding Academic Staff Categories in Germany
German universities are discussing new academic staff categories alongside the traditional professorship. The debate has gained particular momentum following the German Science and Humanities Council’s (Wissenschaftsrat, WR) 2025 position paper on personnel structures in the German academic system. The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (Deutscher Hochschulverband, DHV) welcomes the WR’s recommendations, especially the clearer distinction between qualification phases and permanent academic duties, as well as early, quality-led decisions in the postdoctoral phase.
The current legal situation remains complex. All German federal states provide for academic staff (wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter), who may -— depending on their duties — also be employed on a permanent basis. However, the current debate on new staff categories mainly concerns positions with more autonomous academic responsibilities outside the professorship. These positions are often linked to a structured probationary and development phase, evaluation procedures and, in some cases, prospects of permanent employment or progression to a senior level.
Only a few federal states currently provide, or intend to provide, specific regulations for such staff categories. Berlin has introduced a new staff category of Lecturer, distinguishing between Researchers with a focus on research and Lecturers with a focus on teaching. Brandenburg recognises Academic Junior Lecturers and Academic Lecturers, as well as Academic Managers. Bremen provides for Lecturers and Researchers, including senior levels after evaluation. Hesse has the designation University Lecturer within the category of academic staff. Saxony provides for Lecturers with the possibility of progression to Senior Lecturer and also recognises Academic Managers. Baden-Württemberg, by contrast, abolished its former Lecturer category in 2024 after it had proved unattractive in practice.
For international researchers, these terms require careful interpretation. Labels such as Researcher, Lecturer or Academic Manager may not correspond to apparently similar positions in other higher education systems. Their meaning may also differ significantly between German federal states, depending on the applicable state higher education law, employment status, evaluation requirements, degree of autonomy, salary framework and prospects of permanence.
Practical Tips
- Check the relevant state higher education law, as staff categories and titles vary considerably between German federal states.
- Do not assume that terms such as Researcher, Lecturer or Academic Manager have the same meaning as in other academic systems — or even in all German federal states.
- Pay close attention to whether a position offers a genuine route to permanent employment and to the conditions governing any required evaluation.
- Consider the position’s degree of autonomy, salary framework and long-term career prospects before comparing it with apparently similar roles abroad.
For a more detailed overview of the current regulations in the individual federal states, see Martin Hellfeier’s full article “New Staff Categories? A Review of Regulations in Individual German Federal States”, published in Forschung & Lehre 2/2026. The article explains the existing models in selected federal states and shows why further legislative clarification is likely to be needed in 2026.
Salaries and Compensation for Researchers in Germany
Germany provides competitive and transparent salaries for researchers at all career stages. Positions at universities and public research institutions follow standardized pay scales – such as TV-L (for state institutions) or TVöD (for federal ones) – which ensure fair and consistent compensation based on qualifications and experience.
Postdoctoral researchers and senior scientists typically earn between € 4,000 and € 5,000 gross per month, with salaries increasing over time. Professors are paid according to the W-scale (W1, W2, W3), depending on their level and responsibilities. The basic salaries of full professors start at around €7,000 per month. Appointment bonuses are also common and often open to negotiation which makes significantly higher salaries possible. The German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (Deutscher Hochschulverband) offers helpful guidance and support in these negotiations.
Researchers benefit from comprehensive social security, health insurance, and family support services. With financial stability and strong institutional backing, Germany is a highly attractive location for advancing your scientific career.
How to impress during the Trial Lecture
The trial lecture (in German: so-called „Berufungsvortrag“) is a central part of the selection process for professorships in Germany. It is meant to demonstrate not only scientific excellence but also didactic and personal qualities. Therefore, the trial lecture should be accessible to a broader audience, with a recommended ratio of one third general understanding and two thirds specific research topics.
In addition to academic expertise, the appointment committee also values the candidate's personal suitability. Therefore, candidates are expected to present not only their professional capabilities but also their communication and interpersonal skills.
Practical Tips for your Trial Lecture
- Your trial lecture should begin with a clear, engaging and accessible introduction, followed by the presentation of specific research topics.
- You should present your independent academic track record, rather than just presenting research results.
- Your presentation slides should be simple and well-organized, avoiding information overload.
The trial lecture is more than just a scientific presentation - it is an opportunity to show both scientific excellence and teaching abilities, as well as one’s personality. Good preparation, which takes into account the specific format and engages the audience, is crucial.
Based on: Dirk Böhmann, So können Wissenschaftler beim „Vorsingen“ überzeugen, Forschung & Lehre 07/2020
Seminars for advanced researchers
Further information:
- all seminars of DHV in english
- full article about the VORSINGEN in german
- need further advice on your individual situation? Try our services
- become a member of DHV