Higher education lecturer : Entry requirements

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, undergraduate and Doctoral degrees relevant to the post are required, along with:

• demonstrable experience of (or clear potential for) teaching;
• the ability to produce original research for peers;
• early publication of academic work.

Entry without a degree is not possible.

Entry without a PhD (or nearing completion of a PhD) is difficult. However, for more vocational or specialised courses, expertise in the relevant field may be just as valuable as a PhD.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• the ability to sustain an interest in and enthusiasm for their area of specialist research and to impart this to students and peers;
• published research and participation at professional conferences and seminars;
• a capacity for original thought;
• proven teaching experience;
• expertise in their own subject area;
• the potential to expand their knowledge in order to teach a broad curriculum;
• excellent oral and written communication skills;
• confidence in dealing with a wide range of people;
• the ability to organise their own workload within competing demands;
• the ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• excellent analytical skills;
• commitment to the profession and to their own continuing professional development (CPD);
• a flexible approach to work;
• good IT skills.

Some research students undertake part-time teaching responsibilities (sometimes paid at an hourly rate) while still registered as students, which is a valuable way to build up teaching experience. There are guidelines limiting the number of hours a full-time PhD student may work - six hours' teaching (not including preparation time) is currently the accepted maximum, while research councils and other funding bodies have their own individual guidelines. Teaching and administrative responsibilities may also be given to research students as a condition of their receiving a bursary. In some universities, such posts are quite structured and come under titles such as graduate teaching assistantships. Check Guardian Jobs , Times Educational Supplement (TES)  and Jobs.ac.uk .

Part-time teaching roles while you are a postgraduate student do not guarantee a full-time post on completion of a PhD. In the early stages of your career, it may be very difficult to gain a permanent contract as a higher education (HE) lecturer and you may have to accept posts on a fixed-term contract.

Get tips for breaking into academia at An Academic Career .

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