Ordinary professor

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

Appointment grades

Non-appointment grades

Administrative ranks

In the 20th century, after their doctorate, German scholars who wish to go into academia usually work toward a Habilitation by writing a second thesis, known as the Habilitationsschrift. This is often accomplished while employed as a Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter or Wissenschaftlicher Assistent ("scientific assistant", C1) or a non-tenured position as Akademischer Rat ("assistant professor/lecturer", both 3+3 years teaching and research positions). Once they pass their Habilitation, they can work as Privatdozent and are eligible for a call to a chair.

Since 2002 many paths may lead to a full professorship. One can reach a professorship at a university by habilitation, a successful evaluation as a junior professorship (after 2–3 years) or equivalent performance. In engineering this is often attained through expert knowledge in the industry, and in natural science often by the number and quality of publications. While universities and Fachhochschulen do not have the same legal status, there are no formal differences in academic ranks. Since a new salary scheme was introduced in 2005, both types of universities can appoint W2 as well as W3 professors. In general, a professor at a Fachhochschule has not gone through the process of habilitation or junior professorship. Instead, a doctorate and at least three years of work experience are required. Usually a professor at an applied university is more focused on teaching while a professor at a traditional university is more focused on research.

It is worth noting that in Germany it has been debated whether Professor is a title that one may retain for life once it has been conferred (similar to the doctorate), or whether it is linked to an office and ceases to belong to the holder once the professor quits or retires (except in the usual case of becoming Professor emeritus). The latter view has won the day — although in many German states, there is a minimum requirement of five years of service before "Professor" may be used as a title—and is by now both the law and majority opinion.

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