Academic ranks in Norway

Academic ranks in Norway are the titles, relative importance and power of professors, researchers, and administrative personnel held in academia.

Norway has three academic career pathways, which are roughly similar to those of the United Kingdom:

Norway currently has two professorial ranks, the normal rank of (full) Professor, and the more rare rank of Research Professor, which requires similar competence as a Professor. Additionally, Norway has a part-time full professor rank which is designated as Professor II, but which is otherwise identical to the normal full Professor rank.

In Norway, the word "professor" is only used for full professors, i.e. the most senior academics, at universities or scientific institutions at a similar level. The title is protected by law, and may only be used by accredited institutions under certain conditions.

Historically, professors were appointed for life by the king upon the advice of the cabinet, that is, by the King-in-Council. Due to the increasing number of appointments, this changed in 1989 when the institutions received the right to formally appoint professors. Historically there were a given number of professors and each professor was appointed to a specific chair. Currently each institution can establish professorships at will and promote associate professors to full professors if they meet the statutory requirements. All people who are appointed as (or promoted to) professors must have formal professor competence, that is, they must be awarded such competence through an evaluation by a scientific, independent committee.

Appointments are usually for life, although time-limited appointments are possible (especially if the position is externally funded). The mandatory age of retirement in Norway is 70, however. Professors who have turned 70 are required to leave their positions, but by law retain the right to use the professor title. In some cases retired professors may keep their office, and they usually have access to university infrastructure as long as they are still active as researchers.

The traditional position of docent, often translated as reader, applied to people of the same competence as a Professor who did not hold a professorial chair and who formally ranked below Professors, was abolished in 1985, when all docents received the title of professor.

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