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How to Become a Lecturer

How to Become a Lecturer

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  4. How to Become a Lecturer


How to Become a Lecturer



Searching for a career to teach, inspire and educate others on a subject you love? Then explore a career as a lecturer! This career is very popular for people who want a rewarding career and are passionate about a particular subject.

Whether it Is chemistry, fine art, engineering, or the humanities, there are a huge variety of university courses in need of engaging lecturers who want to inspire a new generation in a subject area they love. As well as career fulfilment, the potential for progression and financial benefits are all the more reason to explore this unique career.

What does a university lecturer do?

Lecturers work in universities and higher education colleges, teaching students in one subject area. Like a teacher, lecturers educate students through giving lectures, conducting seminars, running workshops, and helping to prepare them for assignments. However, as they work with undergraduate and postgraduate students, they offer more in-depth teaching in their subject.

Each higher education institution offers a different syllabus with a variety of modules, and as a lecturer, you are likely to specialise not just in a subject but in one aspect of that subject. You will promote more independent learning in your students, encouraging them to share their own views and conduct their own research. Some lecturers also conduct academic research alongside their teaching and publish articles in academic journals or textbooks.

Lecturer roles often include daily duties such as:


Primary School Teachers

  • Designing modules for a university course, including weekly teaching materials, unit assignments, and seminar discussions/preparations
  • Delivering lectures and seminars at least once weekly
  • Marking coursework, assignment, and exams
  • Providing feedback and guidance to students
  • Providing one-to-one tutorials
  • Supervising PhD. students and Masters degree students
  • Supervising final year dissertation students
  • Taking on the duties of a personal tutor for a small group of student
  • Conduct and write up research for publication
  • Carry out general administrative tasks such as admissions, suspensions, and induction paperwork
  • Use the university’s online learning portal to upload materials, carry out virtual meetings, update timetables and give feedback on work

How much does a higher education lecturer earn?

In the UK full time, lecturers have a typical starting salary of £33,000, which can go up to £54,000 per year or more depending on experience.

£0,000
Average Starting Salary for a Lecturer

What qualifications do lecturers need?

To become a lecturer, you will need a good Bachelor’s degree (2:1 or above), Masters’s degree, and usually a PhD. However, if you have a good undergraduate and postgraduate degree, you could gain a position as a lecturer or assistant lecturer and work on a PhD. whilst employed. Your qualifications will need to be in an area relevant to the subject area you will be teaching. You may be required to take a higher education teaching qualification as a lecturer if you do not already have one, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE).

Suppose you want to lecture on a specific career course such as accountancy, dentistry, law, or veterinary surgery. In that case, you might also need to have industry qualifications such as being a qualified and registered veterinary surgeon. Vocational courses may also require you to have a certain amount of practical/industry experience, which will be discussed further below, and often accept apprenticeships in place of a traditional degree. 

Do you need work experience to become a lecturer?

Although work experience isn’t always needed, most lecturers have conducted original research projects in their chosen field due to their PhD. or are working towards this. Alongside PhD. research, any experience as a researcher or research assistant in your field would be beneficial when applying for lecturing job vacancies. Another aspect of being a lecturer is teaching, so any experience developing your teaching skills will be advantageous or experience with public speaking, tutoring, giving conferences and presentations, or running academic workshops.

Some UK universities require a teaching qualification, teaching experience, or practical experience; however this is often a desirable and not essential requirement. However, for vocational subjects, you will need a certain amount of work experience/practical experience before becoming a lecturer. Carpentry, cosmetology, biomedical engineering, and radiology are just a few examples of degree courses that involve a lot of practical elements, and therefore lecturers will need substantial work experience.

Before becoming a lecturer, jobs such as assistant lecturer, graduate teaching assistant, and further education lecturer can help you get your foot in the door. You will gain experience lecturing and work your way up to becoming a HE lecturer.

What skills are needed to become a lecturer?

Lecturing can be challenging work, with a range of hard skills and soft skills you need to develop in order to succeed alongside your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications and experience. You might not have all of these skills fully honed yet, but if you have a passion for lecturing, it will be worth working on your professional development in these areas.


  • Verbal and written communication skills

  • Excellent at presenting information

  • Organisational skills

  • Engaging and personable manner

  • Good IT skills

  • Ability to employ different teaching methods

  • Ability to meet deadlines

  • Excellent written and verbal English

  • Creative and critical thinking

  • The ability to work independently and collaboratively

Career prospects for a lecturer

There are great opportunities for career progression when you become a lecturer, and you can make a huge impact not only on the lives of your students but also your industry as a whole. Through experience and professional development courses, you can work your way up to becoming a senior lecturer or principal lecturer, which requires you to take on more duties and oversee the work of other lecturers. 

You can also progress to professor, chair, or dean with further professional qualifications, experience, and research.

You can progress to course director, module leader, or head of department, who are more managerial and less student-facing. Other opportunities include becoming an examiner or academic author.

Want to know more about careers in teaching? Explore our courses and find out how we can help you progress in the education sector.


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