Useful information | Professorship Vacancies

Professorships are governed by the provisions of Section 67, 68 and 70 of the Hessian Higher Education Act (HessHG) in the version of 14 December 2021. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research also provides general information on professorships in Germany on the following website: research-in-germany.org. 

We have summarised some of the main passages of the Hessian Higher Education Act for you here in a reading version in English and also included some further references. Please note: This English translation is intended to provide English-speaking readers with a better understanding of the legal framework. It is exclusively for information purposes and only the German version is legally binding.

Professorial tasks (Section 67 Hessian Higher Education Act)

In accordance with their role in science and art, teaching and research, professors work independently in their subjects. Among others, their task is to:

• Implement research or development projects
• Support and supervise the next generation of academics and artists
• Hold courses in their subjects in all degree programmes
• Contribute to the reform of studies and provide academic advice
• Play a part in examinations
• Participate in self-administration at the university, e.g. by becoming a member of elected committees or holding office.

Employment relationships (Section 67 Hessian Higher Education Act)

Professors are engaged either as civil servants or as employees. In principle, both options are possible if our job advertisements do not explicitly include only the prospect of an employment relationship. An employment relationship can be permanent or temporary, and a civil service relationship can constitute either a limited or an unlimited tenure. The civil service relationship is a special feature of the German higher education system, where, for example, health insurance and pension provisions are organised differently and there are additional rights, privileges and duties vis-à-vis the German state. It is not necessary for you to decide already at the time of your application whether you would like to have civil servant status. There is time for this until the actual appointment procedure, and we are happy to discuss it with you during our negotiations.

Appointment requirements (Section 68 Hessian Higher Education Act)

Apart from the requirements specified in the respective advertisement, there are minimum statutory requirements for professorial appointments. These include:

• Completed university studies, as a rule a doctoral degree
• Capability for scientific or artistic work, as a rule demonstrated by the quality of the doctoral degree
• Additional academic achievements
• Aptitude for teaching

If you are appointed as a civil servant, the general service requirements of the Civil Servant Status Act additionally apply.

Assistant professorships (tenure track) (Section 70 Hessian Higher Education Act)

Assistant professorships (W1) are professorships with a probationary period during which the additional academic achievements mentioned under Section 68 must first be accomplished in order to then qualify for a tenured professorship. As a rule, assistant professorships are limited to six years. The teaching duties of assistant professors are reduced accordingly in favour of independent research. Whether the probationary period has been successfully completed is then determined within an evaluation procedure involving external academics.

As a rule, assistant professorships are advertised as tenure track appointments, that is, with the prospect of a permanent professorship with a higher salary grade (W2) following successful evaluation.

In the case of assistant professorships, further special requirements apply concerning applications. The applicant should not have completed a doctoral degree at Goethe University or have undertaken academic work outside Goethe University for at least two years after completing it. The duration of academic work during and after the doctoral degree should not exceed nine years or the duration of academic work after the doctoral degree should not exceed four years. In the case of the successful completion of further training as foreseen in medical disciplines, the duration of academic work after the doctoral degree should not exceed seven years.

As a foundation university, Goethe University is autonomous in its professorial appointments. As a basic principle, professorships are advertised publicly and internationally. After the closing date for applications, the appointment committee convenes and selects suitable candidates from all the applications received on the basis of the criteria specified in the advertisement. These candidates are invited to what is referred to as "Vorsingen" (an "audition"), which usually consists of an academic presentation before the university public and a teaching demonstration as well as an intramural discussion with the appointment committee (job interview). The university then obtains comparative external appraisals of the shortlisted candidates. Finally, the appointment committee prepares a proposal, which generally consists of a list of three names. This proposal is approved by the Executive Board and the Senate, and the first person on the list is invited for an interview. Following the appointment negotiations regarding resources and personal remuneration, the President calls the candidate to the chair. Having accepted the appointment, they can then take up service at Goethe University.