How do I become an academic?

Academia is a competitive profession. Unsurprisingly, there is a strong emphasis on excellent qualifications.

• What qualifications do I need to become an academic?

Your discipline

The routes which academics take to achieve success in their careers can vary widely, particularly between disciplines.

• Science, engineering and technology disciplines
• Humanities disciplines
• Clinical and other professional disciplines

Professional experience

In some disciplines, having non-academic professional experience can be a definite advantage for an academic career. This is commonly the case for clinical and other health professions (see link above), and may apply in other disciplines. In most fields, to progress in academia, you would also need to consider gaining a doctoral-level qualification and further academic research experience:

• Could I enter academia using my professional experience?

Other considerations

You may also find several topics in the section PhD and beyond useful to consider, even at an early stage in your academic career. In particular:

• Would moving university help my career?
• Which type of university would suit me?
• Could I return to academia if I leave?