College or University Teacher

Pay scales vary according to level of qualification, experience, band and multiple other criteria.

As a broad indication, an Assistant Professor may get anywhere between Rs. 15600 – Rs. 39100 and a Professor may get between Rs. 37400 – Rs. 67000.

A college professor also gets summer, winter and autumn vacations, sabbaticals and grants for research, apart from other employment benefits. In some institutions accommodation within the campus is provided.

As the economy booms and the need for qualified work force is increasing day by day, the need for enhancing the number of quality higher learning institutions is being felt. Recently the government of India announced the setting up of many new IIT's and IIM's apart from Central Universities, all this points to the fact that the requirement of quality professors is only going to increase. Hence professorship offers quite a lucrative prospects in terms of future scope.

Professor Amartya Sen: Won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1999) and the Bharat Ratna (1999). Has taught in many universities in India and abroad, written several books. Presently teaches at the Thomas W. Lamont and Harvard Universities.

Late Professor Historian Ram Sharan Sharma: Published 115 books in 15 languages. Served as Head of Department in Patna and Delhi Universities and visiting lecturer at Toronto University. Founder member of the Indian Council of Historical Research’, Dy. Chairman of the International Association, study of Central Asia (UNESCO). Received the Jawaharlal Nehru Award (1989).

A full-time university professor in India is generally in college for 5-7 hours on a normal day. His day begins at 9 a.m. He takes 3-4 classes through the day. When not in class he is available to his students should they require any guidance on projects, research, syllabus etc. At other times he is in the staff room preparing notes for his next lecture, setting question papers or correcting answers scripts and projects submitted by students or interacting with his colleagues on various matters.

The process of learning is never ending. If you wish to do well in this profession, you need to embrace learning. You have to read academic books on your subjects, keep abreast of ongoing discussion and debates in your chosen field. You can also write academic essays and contribute to educational journals. If you make a good name for yourself, you could get an offer to be a visiting lecturer in a reputed university or maybe get an offer to join their faculty too!

Is Professorship not the career you are looking for? Here is a detailed list of all career options that you can explore.

You may also like to read up on other such careers.

Corporate Training as a career

Career as a Counsellor

Career as a School Teacher