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Who is a Lecturer?
Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire ~ W.B. Yeats
In career as lecturer, individuals teach us about the subjects in great detail, as they are masters in their respective subjects. When we enter our colleges for the first time, we find most of the things different from our previous academic institutions. The school teachers are usually more strict but in colleges, we find them easier as they do not ask us to prepare notebooks and it becomes our call to make notes on the basis of their lectures delivered in classrooms. Here, in this article, we will discuss how to become a lecturer, lecturer salary, junior lecturer roles and responsibilities.

Lecturer in a Nutshell
Someone who is employed by colleges and universities to provide lectures to students enrolled in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes is known as lecturer. Students usually prepare notes from lectures delivered by him or her to study for examinations.
Quick Facts for Lecturer
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Industry
Education
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as lecturer is suitable for everyone regardless of their gender. Any one can become a lecturer whether he or she is male, female or belongs to any other gender.
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Any special needs
Yes
Candidates with several special needs can opt for this career. The career demands expertise in communication and interpersonal skills. A professor also has to conduct research and document it for contribution in academic publications.
Table of Contents for Lecturer
What is the role of Lecturer?
Individuals who opt for a career as a lecturer are employed by universities and other academic institutions to deliver lectures and tutorials to students. He or she possesses expertise in one or more subjects and provide students lectures on that particular subject. In career as lecturer, individuals have to conduct research and contribute to academic publications. Individuals in the lecturer profession oversee students' study projects, such as master's or doctoral dissertations and final year undergraduate projects. To help the department obtain funding from external sources for a variety of research initiatives, they conduct research, develop, and prepare offers and proposals.
Planning
A lecturer is responsible for planning the content to provide lectures and tutorials to students. He or she provides guidance to students for academic preparation.
Research work
A lecturer stays involved in conducting research and contributing to academic publications. He or she is responsible for developing research agendas for academic grants.
Contribution
A lecturer is responsible for contributing to curriculum revisions, course and degree requirements.
Consultation
A lecturer often required to provide consultation to academic boards, committees and councils. He or she ahs to attend academic conferences and faculty meetings.
Types of a Lecturer
In this section, we have discussed the types of lecturer profession.
Guest Lecturer: A guest lecturer is a professional who delivers lectures on his or her area of expertise and takes one two classes. A guest lecturer is not usually an academician. He or she may be a working professional in any other industry who possesses immense knowledge.
Contractual Lecturer: A contractual lecturer is basically a full-time lecturer employed on a contract basis. The duration of his or her service may vary depending on the requirements of educational institutions.
Part-Time Lecturer: A part-time lecturer does not deliver lectures on a full-time basis. He or she can complete the curriculum by providing lectures on an hourly basis. He or she usually gets paid depending on the number of hourly lectures he or she delivers in the academic institution.
What is the workplace/work environment of Lecturer like?
Individuals in the lecturer profession deliver lectures in a classroom setting. Besides delivering lectures, they also stay involved in research that needs to be documented for academic publication. Therefore, we can say a lecturer is also responsible for contributing to academic publications. To carry out such research activity, they may often require to travel. University provides him or her research grant if their research proposal gets approved.
Does Lecturer require travelling?
Likely
Individuals in the lecturer profession are required to attend meetings with other faculty members and academic staff. They are often required to travel for research purposes.
Employment Shifts
Full Time, Part Time
The employment shift for a lecturer varies. He or she may work from home and provide classes through virtual classrooms. A lecturer is employed full-time, part-time as well as a contractual basis by the university or institute. Yes, a lecturer career falls into certain shifts. He or she requires to work from early morning to evening. In career as lecturer, an individual usually work seven hours a day.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
The lecturers employed on a contractual basis have similar responsibilities as permanent lecturers. But the duration of their services in the institution is contractual, it could be for two months or two years. Individuals in the lecturer profession are paid lesser than permanent lecturers.
Work Place
universities
In career as lecturer, individuals deliver lectures in a university setting. They may often be required to travel for research purposes. Lecturers may conduct his or her research in the laboratory. Individuals in the lecturer profession are also required to attend meetings with the board of education and faculty members.
Presence in Geographical Area
Semi-urban, Urban
Most universities and educational institutions are situated at urban or semi-urban locations.
Time Pressure
Likely
Individuals in the lecturer profession are required to work under time pressure as they have the responsibility to cover the curriculum and provide students assignments on time for further evaluation. They also have to submit a research proposal on time to get a research grant from the university.
Overtime Details
Individuals who opt for a career as a lecturer are often required to work extended hours and deliver lectures on extra classes to ensure timely completion of the syllabus and students are not left with any doubts.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 35 Hours
Individuals in the lecturer profession work a minimum of 35 hours per week. Their working hours may often get stretched due to research activities.
How to become a Lecturer?
Steps to become a Lecturer
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Lecturer?
This article describes how to become a lecturer after 12th. Here, in this section, we have discussed some of the skills required in a career as lecturer.
Teaching skills: In career as lecturer, individuals must be familiar with public speaking as he or she has to deliver lectures among a whole class of students.
Pedagogy skills: Individuals who opt for a career as a lecturer have to develop an academic curriculum for various undergraduate and postgraduate courses. If you are wondering how to become a lecturer, then you should focus on these particular skills. They add various chapters required in the curriculum to upgrade the skills of students.
Interpersonal skills: A lecturer must possess interpersonal management skills to manage various tasks along with providing lectures to students.
Industry expertise: A lecturer must be aware of the functioning of the academic industry. If you are wondering how to become a lecturer, then you should focus on these particular skills. He or she must know about various academic progressive roles offered by universities in the industry.
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Lecturer?
We have mentioned below certifications that individuals may opt for who want to establish a career as lecturer. If you want to know how to become a lecturer in India, then read the entire article.
Internship Availability
Several universities have made it mandatory for PhD students to teach students and deliver lectures to undergraduate students as per their academic curriculum. We can say PhD students get to teach and train themselves during their academic years.
Career Path Progression for Lecturer
Junior Lecturer: An individual in the lecturer profession or assistant professor usually provides assistance to a senior lecturer in research. He or she also delivers lectures to students enrolled in undergraduate courses.
Senior Lecturer: A senior lecturer serves as an educator as well as holds a research position. He or she may deliver lectures on a part-time basis and in rest, hours stay involved in the research. He or she possesses expertise in specific areas.
Lecturer Jobs and Salaries
Junior Lecturer
Contractual/Permanent
- Starting Salary 30000
Job Description
A junior lecturer is required to take up teaching responsibilities such as lesson planning, checking answer sheets and in some cases assisting a senior lecturer in their classes. They also identify students who need help academically and help them catch up with their studies.
Salary Description
Salary of junior lecturers depends on several factors such as expertise, experience and location of the institute or the grade of the institute. The starting salary is around Rs. 30,000 and goes uptill Rs. 50,000 at the top level.
Senior Lecturer
Contractual/Permanent
- Starting Salary 46500
Job Description
A senior lecturer is responsible for developing and instructing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He or she is responsible for providing advice and support to students in both academic and extracurricular activities. A senior lecturer is generally responsible for supervising, training and evaluating assistant lecturers.
Salary Description
The salary of a senior lecturer varies depending on various factors. An entry-level senior lecturer could earn more than Rs. 500,000 per annum. A senior-level Senior lecturer could earn more than Rs. 800,000 per annum according to payscale.
What is the job outlook for Lecturer?
There are around 39,000 colleges in India that offer various courses as per the demand of students to build careers in numerous fields. On average 500,000 students appeared in UGC NET last year. We can say there is strong competition in the industry but it provided numerous opportunities to PhD holders. Besides teaching in universities and colleges, the lecturer can also provide coaching classes to students and teachers in private institutes. Assistant professor salary in India is high in comparison to school teachers.
A lecturer career progression depends on the load of increased work and responsibilities he or she can take which involves teaching, research and administration. Several lecturers are required to perform all three responsibilities efficiently. Promotions are provided to individuals on the basis of their research profile and their ability to take up the varying roles.
Frequently Asked Questions for Lecturer
Que. What is the average salary of an assistant professor in India?
Ans.The average salary of an assistant professor in India ranges Rs. 30,000 to 50,000 per month.
Que. What is JRF?
Ans.JRF stands for Junior Research Fellowship. It is provided to selected students enrolled in Ph.D. or M.Phil. programme who fulfil the eligibility criteria. An amount of Rs. 16000 is provided to students on a monthly basis.
Que. What is the eligibility criteria for JRF?
Ans.The aspiring individuals must complete their master’s degree programme with a minimum of 55 per cent of marks and qualify UGC NET, CSIR NET, UGC-CSIR NET, GATE, SET or SLET.
Que. What is superior Ph.D. or M.Phil.?
Ans.M.Phil. is a postgraduate level programme while Ph.D. is a doctoral degree programme.
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