Options after BTech: You might make a great professor.

They say, “if it walks like a duck, and quacks like duck, then it’s a duck.” Check if you all the qualities of a great teacher and you might be best suited for the profession.

How to Become a Professor in India?

Candidates must obtain a Ph.D. in a relevant field from a recognized university to become a Professor. Further to become a Professor, candidates must possess certain professional abilities, such as communication skills, interpersonal skills, the ability to explain and explore new concepts, and so on. And this is the reason it is very important to check the eligibility criteria which says everything about professor qualifications in India.

Eligibility Criteria to become Professor in India

• You should have a Ph.D. degree in the chosen field
• You should qualify in certain exams like UGC NET/ CSIR NET. Or there is an option to undertake NTA’s SLET exam to apply to state-level universities and colleges
• Recently, UGC has relaxed the PhD rules. But the candidate should have real good experience in the Industry

Steps to become Professor in India

Step 1: Complete your PG

You should enroll in the postgraduate program and get a minimum score of 55% to be eligible to take the NET (National Eligibility Test), which is the prerequisite for teaching at a college.

Step 2: Enrolling for PhD

You can now become an associate professor. Now submit an application to undertake research at your university. An M.Phil. or Ph.D. is required for college teaching.

Step 3: Appear for Qualifying Exams

Students must take entrance examinations such as UGC-NET, CSIR UGC NET and others after obtaining Master’s degree.

It is necessary to pass the NET (National Eligibility Test) / SET (State Eligibility Test) exam in order to be appointed as a professor at a university or institution in India.

The UGC (University Grants Commission) usually conducts NET twice a year, in June and December.

That's it.

Individuals who have passed the NET exam are entitled to apply for lecturer positions at all Indian universities, institutions, and colleges; however, SET qualified candidates are only eligible for lecturer positions in universities and colleges at the state level in which they passed the SET exam.

What will you be doing as a Professor

Of course, you teach ! However, a good teacher keeps reinventing teaching techniques and instructional material to fit the student's understanding levels. You should also grade them.

But you also have to spend lot of time on research - study and experimentation in order to expand your understanding. You need to publish your new understandings in prestigious journals.

You also have to do an administrator job. Keep accurate and comprehensive student records and submit to college and accreditation authorities when needed.

Before you complete your PhD and become Professor

General teaching titles are below. However before you complete your PhD you can also be a researcher or a TS (Technical Assistant)

• Associate Professor: An Associate Professor’s job entails attending conferences, conducting research, teaching, resolving administrative concerns, and overseeing students in their course work, among other things.
• Assistant Professor: As an Assistant Professor, you will be assisting a senior professor with his teaching and course design. You would also have to keep track of all of the academic activities that the senior level professor assigns to his students, as well as various areas of teaching such as course management, lecturing, and lesson preparation.
• Professor: A professor’s profession includes instructing university students in a specific field of study. A professor is essentially a specialized educator of a specific subject who also does research and studies in the field of his expertise.

Salary and Pay Scale of Professor in India

In India, an associate professor might make anywhere from Rs 16000-40,000 per month. And a professor might earn between Rs.1.5 lakhs to Rs.3 lakhs per month.

Promotions to Professor

A fortunate few will reach to the highest levels in the ladder

⦁ Stage 1: Professor

⦁ Stage 2: Senior Professor

⦁ Stage 3: Professor of Eminence

⦁ Stage 4: Dean/Director

⦁ Stage 5: Pro- Vice-Chancellor

⦁ Stage 6: Vice-Chancellor

⦁ Stage 7: Chancellor

Where can you work?

The list of institutions, where a professor can work in India are listed below:

⦁ Private Institutions

⦁ Government Institutions

⦁ Coaching Institutes

⦁ Edutech Portals (Reach to contact@theblackbucks.com if you are interested)

⦁ Research-based institutions

⦁ Colleges and Universities

FAQs on How to Become a Professor in India

1. Is a Ph.D. required to be a professor in India?

Mostly Yes, according to the new UGC policy, a Ph.D. will be required for direct recruitment to the position of assistant professor. But UGC has mentioned that an expert in professional field can now be hired in colleges as Professor.

2. How to become a professor in government colleges in India?

In order to become a professor in government colleges of India, aspirants will have to appear in competitive exams such as CSIR NET, SLET, GATE, NET exams.

3. How to become a professor in the UK from India?

In order to become a professor in the UK from India, you will have to earn a Ph.D. degree in the UK.