Career policy for academic staff
Leiden University wants to attract the best academics. What requirements does it set for new academic staff members? What requirements must you meet for a career in academia? Read more about our career policy for academic staff.
PhD basis for academic career
You will need a PhD if you wish to take the next step in your academic career, regardless of whether this means working as a lecturer, associate professor or professor. This principle does not apply to faculties who are hiring lecturers on a temporary basis. In any other exceptions to the rule, the approval of the Executive Board will be needed.
Experience: within or outside academia
If you are applying for a permanent position, you must have experience outside Leiden University. This can be academic experience at another university or practical experience outside academia.
Performance and development
Once every year you will be invited to a Performance & Development Interview. Your performance and development over the past year will be appraised, and you will make agreements for the year to come.
Permanent contracts, promotions or other awards such as an extra salary raise or a bonus are dependent on the Performance & Development Interview. Your performance must have met the requirements for your position.
Teaching qualification
All university staff with a teaching role must possess one or more teaching qualifications.
PhD candidates and academic staff who have a 0.5 fte contract of less than a year must follow a basic course in teaching skills.
All professors, senior lecturers, associate professors and lecturers with a contract of at least one year for at least 0.5 fte must possess the University Teaching Qualification (BKO).
The Senior Teaching Qualification (SKO) is a qualification for staff who wish to work at a higher level in teaching innovation and development.
Gender diversity
To attract more talent to the University, we aim for greater gender diversity right up to the highest level. We therefore pay particular attention in our recruitment process to applications from people who are underrepresented within particular roles.
More information
For more information on the recruitment and support of academic staff, see the Guidelines on the Appointment of Academic Staff.
- Guideline for the appointment and promotion of lecturers, university lecturers and researchers
- Appointment and promotion of a senior university lecturer (UHD)
Guideline for the appointment and promotion of lecturers, university lecturers and researchers
In the documents below, you will find information about the criteria for the appointment and promotion of university lecturers, lecturers and researchers, as applied within the Faculty of Humanities.
Appointment and promotion of a senior university lecturer (UHD)
Here you will find information about the procedure and criteria for the appointment and promotion of senior university lecturers within the Faculty of Humanities.
Procedure
The procedure for qualifying for a senior university lecturership is as follows:
- The Scientific Director of the institute submits the proposal for the recommendation to the HR department so that, together with FEZ, a staff-technical and financial recommendation can be drawn up for the nomination;
- HR submits the recommendation by the institute’s Scientific Director together with the recommendation prepared by HR and FEZ to the Faculty Board;
- Based on this nomination, the Faculty Board decides whether or not to continue with the procedure;
- The Scientific Director of the institute and the employee will be informed about this decision by the Faculty Board;
- If the procedure is pursued, the Faculty Board will ask the faculty’s committee on academic practice for a recommendation;
- The committee on academic practice will have access to the candidate’s personnel file, receiving this upon request and will also gather further information from national and inernational references, among other sources;
- The committee will then issue a recommendation to the Faculty Board based on this information;
- The Faculty Board makes the decision;
- The Scientific Director of the institute and the employee will be informed about this decision by the Faculty Board.
In the following document, the procedure and the criteria for the appointment of a senior university lecturer (UHD) and promotion from UHD2 to UHD1, as determined by the Faculty Board on 15 November 2016:
Criteria and procedure for appointment and promotion of a senior university lecturer (UHD)