How To Become A Professor In South Africa (2025)

Becoming a professor in South Africa is a challenging yet rewarding journey that requires academic excellence, research contributions, and teaching experience. Professors play a vital role in shaping the future of higher education, conducting research, and mentoring students. This guide will walk you through the academic path, qualifications, skills, and additional requirements necessary to achieve this esteemed position.

1. Understanding the Role of a Professor

A professor in South Africa is a senior academic who engages in teaching, research, and administrative duties at a university. Professors often lead research projects, publish academic papers, supervise postgraduate students, and contribute to the development of curricula.

Professors typically fall into different categories:

• Lecturer: An entry-level academic position.
• Senior Lecturer: A mid-level academic rank.
• Associate Professor: A more advanced academic role requiring extensive research and teaching experience.
• Professor (Full Professor): The highest academic rank, requiring significant contributions to academia.

Each of these levels comes with different responsibilities, but all require academic qualifications, research, and experience.

2. Educational Pathway

To become a professor, you need to progress through a rigorous educational and academic journey. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Step 1: Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree

The first step is earning a bachelor’s degree in your chosen field of study. This typically takes three to four years at a South African university.

• A strong academic performance is essential to qualify for postgraduate studies.
• Choose a field with research potential and university teaching opportunities.

Step 2: Earn an Honours Degree

An honours degree is usually a one-year postgraduate program that prepares students for research and specialized academic work.

• Some universities allow direct entry into master’s programs without an honours degree, depending on academic performance.

Step 3: Complete a Master’s Degree

A master’s degree, which takes one to two years, allows you to specialize further.

• Coursework-based master’s programs provide structured learning and examinations.
• Research-based master’s programs focus on producing a dissertation.
• A strong research background at this level is crucial for PhD admission.

Step 4: Attain a Doctorate (PhD)

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is mandatory for becoming a professor. It takes about three to five years and requires conducting original research, writing a thesis, and publishing in academic journals.

• During your PhD, present at conferences, publish papers, and collaborate with other researchers.
• Many universities require at least three peer-reviewed journal publications before awarding a PhD.

3. Gaining Teaching and Research Experience

Academic experience is just as important as qualifications.

Step 5: Start as a Tutor or Junior Lecturer

Many PhD candidates work as tutors, research assistants, or junior lecturers. This helps them gain valuable teaching experience and build professional relationships within academia.

Step 6: Secure a Lecturer Position

Once you have completed your PhD, you can apply for lecturer positions at universities.

• Lecturers focus on teaching undergraduate students, conducting research, and publishing academic papers.
• Developing a strong research portfolio at this stage is crucial for career progression.

Step 7: Progress to Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor

• Promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer requires continued research, teaching excellence, and publication in reputable journals.
• To become an Associate Professor, you must have a strong research record, postgraduate student supervision experience, and leadership contributions to academia.

Step 8: Become a Full Professor

To attain the title of Professor, you must have:

• An extensive record of peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals.
• Supervised numerous PhD and master’s students to completion.
• Obtained research funding and led major research projects.
• Contributed significantly to academic leadership, including serving on university committees.

4. Essential Skills for Professors

Aside from academic qualifications, becoming a professor requires several key skills:

1. Research and Analytical Skills – Conducting and analyzing research is central to academia.
2. Teaching and Communication Skills – Professors must explain complex topics clearly and engage students effectively.
3. Writing and Publishing Skills – Academic writing, grant applications, and journal publications are crucial for career growth.
4. Leadership and Mentorship – Supervising students and leading research teams are essential responsibilities.
5. Time Management – Balancing teaching, research, and administrative duties requires strong organizational skills.

5. Building a Strong Academic Portfolio

A successful professor must demonstrate expertise in their field through an impressive academic portfolio. Here’s how to build one:

• Publish Regularly – Aim to publish in high-impact journals, books, and conference proceedings.
• Supervise Postgraduate Students – Mentoring master’s and PhD students is a key criterion for promotion.
• Secure Research Grants – Obtaining funding from organizations like the National Research Foundation (NRF) enhances credibility.
• Network with Academics – Collaborate with other researchers, attend conferences, and join academic associations.

6. Challenges and How to Overcome Them

The path to becoming a professor is not without challenges:

1. Lengthy Educational Journey – Completing a PhD and progressing through academic ranks can take over a decade.

   • Solution: Stay committed, work on research collaborations, and build strong academic networks.

2. Competitive Job Market – Securing a university position is highly competitive.

   • Solution: Gain diverse teaching experience, publish consistently, and establish an academic niche.

3. Funding and Research Support – Many researchers struggle to secure grants.

   • Solution: Apply for multiple funding sources, collaborate with senior researchers, and develop strong research proposals.

7. Alternative Paths and Considerations

If you are passionate about teaching and research but do not want to follow the traditional university professor route, consider:

• Private Universities – Some private institutions may have different academic promotion structures.
• Research Institutes – Organizations like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) offer research-based career opportunities.
• Industry Collaboration – Many professionals contribute to academia through industry research partnerships and guest lectures.

If you are passionate about knowledge, mentorship, and innovation, the journey is well worth it!

Professors have a variety of responsibilities, depending on their institution and field of expertise. Their main duties typically include:

1. Teaching – Professors design and deliver lectures, lead discussions, assign coursework, and evaluate student performance. They may teach undergraduate and graduate courses.

2. Research – Many professors conduct original research in their field, publish papers, write books, and present at conferences. This is especially important at research universities.

3. Mentoring & Advising – They guide students academically and professionally, helping with career choices, graduate school applications, and research projects.

4. Service & Administration – Professors often serve on university committees, participate in faculty governance, and contribute to their academic departments.

5. Public Engagement – Some professors engage with the public through guest lectures, media appearances, consulting, or community outreach.

Their workload varies depending on the type of institution (e.g., research university vs. teaching-focused college) and their career stage

Benefits Of Being A Professor

Being a professor comes with many benefits, both personal and professional. Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Intellectual Freedom

• Professors have the opportunity to explore their interests, conduct research, and contribute to knowledge in their field.
• They can teach and develop courses based on their expertise and passions.

2. Job Stability and Security

• Tenure-track positions provide long-term job security.
• Universities and colleges often offer stable salaries, health benefits, and retirement plans.

3. Work-Life Balance

• Many professors have flexible schedules, allowing them to balance teaching, research, and personal life.
• Summers and semester breaks offer time for travel, projects, or relaxation.

4. Influence and Impact

• Professors shape the future by educating and mentoring students.
• Their research can influence policies, industries, and academic thought.

5. Professional Development

• Opportunities to attend conferences, publish work, and collaborate with other scholars.
• Access to university resources like libraries, labs, and research grants.

6. Autonomy in Work

• Unlike many corporate jobs, professors often have control over their work, including research topics, course design, and teaching methods.

7. Prestige and Recognition

• Being a professor is a respected position in society.
• Academic achievements can lead to awards, invitations to speak at events, and leadership roles.

8. Opportunity to Travel

• Professors often travel for conferences, research, or sabbaticals, sometimes with funding from their institution.

9. Collaborative and Stimulating Environment

• Surrounded by students and fellow academics, professors engage in thought-provoking discussions and research.

10. Opportunity to Make a Difference

• By mentoring students and contributing to research, professors help advance knowledge and improve society

South Africa has many distinguished professors across various fields. Here are a few well-known ones:

Science & Medicine

1. Salim Abdool Karim – Epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist, known for his work on HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
2. Quarraisha Abdool Karim – Leading HIV/AIDS researcher and public health expert.
3. Glenda Gray – Pediatrician and medical researcher, prominent in HIV vaccine development.
4. Tim Noakes – Sports scientist and advocate of the low-carb, high-fat diet.

Humanities & Social Sciences

5. Achille Mbembe – Philosopher and political theorist, known for his work on postcolonialism.
6. Pumla Gqola – Feminist scholar and expert in African literature and gender studies.
7. Jonathan Jansen – Education expert, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State.
8. Adam Habib – Political scientist and former Vice-Chancellor of Wits University.

Engineering & Technology

9. Tshilidzi Marwala – AI researcher and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg.
10. Mamokgethi Phakeng – Mathematician and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town.