How to Become an Assistant Professor in India: Eligibility & Process

An assistant professor is one of the highly respected careers in India. It offers highly rewarding career opportunities in top universities and colleges in India. After completing the master’s degree, most students seek to begin their academic career as an assistant professor. If you also dream of teaching university and college students, this can be the right fit for you.  

It is a common perception that a PhD degree is required for an assistant professor. This confusion mostly prevails among the students who have just completed their master’s. If you are also confused about the process of becoming an assistant professor, this blog will certainly help you. In this, we will discuss the requirements, exams you need to pass to become an assistant professor.  We will also discuss whether a PhD is mandatory for this or not. This blog will guide you through the detailed process of becoming an assistant professor. 

Who are Assistant Professors and what do they do?

Before discussing the process, let's have a brief overview of what actually assistant professor actually is. An assistant professor is an entry-level position in higher education institutions. The primary responsibility of the assistant professor is to teach university/ college students in a particular academic discipline. He/she teaches students enrolled in undergraduate/ postgraduate courses. Apart from teaching, other responsibilities are associated with this role. 

Here are the main responsibilities of an assistant professor- 

Responsibility	Description
Teaching	Give classroom lectures and tutorials to undergraduate or postgraduate students.
Preparing Materials	Create notes, presentations, and assignments for classroom use.
Evaluating Students	Conduct exams, quizzes, and grade student performance.
Research Work	Conduct academic research and publish papers in journals or conferences.
Student Guidance	Guide students in their projects and research.
Academic Development	Learn new teaching methods to make teaching more interesting
College Participation	Take part in meetings, academic committees, and university events.
Curriculum Planning	Help design or improve course structure and teaching strategies.

Process to Become an Assistant Professor In India

To become an Assistant Professor, you need to have proper planning and the right qualifications. In addition to this, you must have a clear understanding of the process and requirements for this. Any confusion or wrong information may make it difficult for you to become an assistant professor. To provide you with correct information, here is the step-by-step on  how to become an assistant professor- 

Step 1 - Complete a Bachelor's Degree or a Graduation 

If you have made up your mind to become an assistant professor after 12th, enroll and complete your bachelor's degree in the area of your interest. Although a bachelor's degree is not a minimum requirement for this role, it can provide a pathway with foundational knowledge. 

In technical fields, a bachelor's degree plays a major role in qualifying exams like GATE after B.Tech. However, it is not essential for other domains like the humanities, science, social sciences, etc. 

Step 2 - Choose your Area and Enroll in the Master’s Degree 

Your Master’s degree is the main determinant of your field in which you want to pursue your academic career. In the master’s degree, you will choose the area of specialization in which you want to become an assistant professor. A master’s degree is the minimum educational requirement to teach in higher education institutions. 

Your subject in the master’s degree will allow you to appear in the entrance exams for this job profile. For this, you need to complete your master’s degree with good marks. 

Step 3 - Appear and Pass Entrance Exams

Once you have completed your master’s degree, you become eligible for entrance exams for an Assistant Professor. Exams such as UGC NET are conducted at the national level for eligibility to assistant professorship and PhD admissions. 

You need to appear for such exams in your respective subject that you have studied in the master’s. If you qualify in exams, you become eligible to teach students in universities/institutions. You can also appear for these exams while pursuing your master’s when you are in the 3rd semester. Here are different exams for different subjects-

Exams	Subject
UGC NET	For Humanities, Commerce, and Social Sciences
CSIR NET	For science subjects
GATE	For engineering and technical streams(PhD Required)
SET/SLET	State Level Exam for Humanities, Commerce, and Social Sciences

Step 4 - Apply for Assistant Professor Vacancies

Once you become eligible for the Assistant Professorship, you can start applying for the vacancies in various universities and colleges.  You have to keep tracking the notifications to apply for these positions.  The vacancies are primarily by-

Category	Examples	Where to Find Job Vacancies
Central Universities	Delhi University, JNU, BHU, AMU, etc.	Official university websites, CUET PG portal, UGC job portal
State Universities	Mumbai University, Calcutta University, etc.	State university websites, State Higher Education Dept sites
Private Universities & Colleges	Amity, Lovely Professional University, etc.	Official websites, Naukri, LinkedIn, and College-specific career pages
Public Service Commissions (PSC)	UPPSC, MPPSC, BPSC, RPSC, etc.	Respective PSC websites, Employment News, and State PSC alerts
National Job Portals	Naukri.com, Indeed, TimesJobs	Online job listings, filters for “Assistant Professor” roles
CUET/UGC Job Portals	UGC, CUET Samarth	https://cuet.samarth.ac.in, https://www.ugc.ac.in/jobportal
College Career Sections	Specific college websites	Careers/Recruitment section of individual college sites

Step 5 - Prepare for the Interview

Once you get shortlisted for any vacancy,  you can start preparing for the interview. A strong preparation for an interview increases your chances of getting selected. Your interview for an assistant professor role may include- 

• Personal Interviews
• Demonstration Lectures
• Group Discussions (in some cases)

If you get selected in the interview, you will get confirmation for this job from the particular university or examination body. 

Is a PhD Mandatory to Become an Assistant Professor?

As per the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC), a PhD is not a mandatory requirement to become an Assistant Professor. Candidates who have qualified for the UGC NET/CSIR NET (at least for Assistant Professorship) are eligible to teach in universities/colleges. 

However, to get promoted to senior roles such as Associate Professor or Professor, a PhD degree is required. You cannot get promoted to these roles without a doctoral degree. 

If you are a working professional, looking for a flexible doctoral degree, you can also consider, Online Doctorate of Business Administration (Online DBA Doctorate) apart from a traditional PhD. It is an Online Doctoral program that not only opens doors to academia but also in the global business landscape. This online doctoral program is equivalent to a traditional PhD and is offered by reputed foreign universities in 100% online mode.

Eligibility Requirements to Become an Assistant Professor

To become eligible for the assistant professor position, you  must meet the following criteria-

• Master's Degree- A master's degree in the relevant field in which you are interested in becoming an assistant professor is required. The master’s degree must be pursued from a highly accredited higher education institution. 
• Academic Achievements- You need to have a good academic background with at least 55% to 60% marks or equivalent CGPA in a Master’s degree.  
• Qualifying Exams- You need to pass the qualifying exams, such as UGC-NET or CSIR NET, to become eligible for this program. This is required if you do not have a PhD degree. 

Difference between Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor

Here is the difference between Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor.

Criteria	Assistant Professor	Associate Professor	Professor
Position Level	Entry-level	Mid-level academic rank	Senior-most academic rank
Eligibility	Master’s + NET/SET or PhD	PhD + Teaching/Research Experience (8+ years)	PhD + Extensive Experience (10+ years) + Research Work
Main Role	Teaching & basic research	Advanced teaching, research & mentoring	Academic leadership, research, and mentoring
Research Expectations	Optional / Limited	Required (publications in journals)	High (significant publications, research projects)
Student Supervision	UG/PG level	PG + Some PhD supervision	PhD supervision, examiner, research guide
Promotions	Eligible for promotion to Associate Professor	Can be promoted to Professor	Top of the academic hierarchy
Administrative Roles	Limited	Department-level responsibilities	HoD, Dean, Committee Heads
Salary (Approx.)	₹57,700 – ₹1,82,400/month (Pay Level 10)	₹1,31,400 – ₹2,17,100/month (Pay Level 13A1)	₹1,44,200 – ₹2,18,200/month (Pay Level 14)

Challenges Faced in the Assistant Professor Journey

Becoming an Assistant Professor is a great career. But the journey has some challenges. It’s better to know them early so you can prepare well.

• Tough Exams: Exams like UGC NET and CSIR NET are not easy. Lakhs of students apply, but only a few get selected. You need strong preparation to pass these exams.
• Fewer Government Jobs: There are very few government teaching jobs. Many people apply for the same post. It makes the selection very hard. Also, government job notifications come late sometimes.
• PhD Needed for Promotion: You can get an Assistant Professor job without a PhD. But if you want to become an Associate Professor or Professor, a PhD is a must.
• Pressure to Publish: Professors are expected to write and publish research papers. This is hard for beginners. It takes time and proper guidance.
• Teaching and Research Balance: You need to teach students and also do research. It’s hard to manage both. Many new professors feel stressed because of this.
• Job Issues in Private Colleges: Some private colleges offer low pay or short-term jobs. These jobs may not be stable. Sometimes, salaries are delayed, too.
• Extra Work: Assistant Professors also perform administrative tasks, such as administering exams, attending meetings, and organizing events. It takes time and adds pressure.
• Need to Learn New Skills: Online teaching is growing fast. Professors must learn digital tools and new teaching methods. It takes extra time and effort.

Online DBA: A Practical Alternative for Academic Growth

Online DBA Doctorate is the best alternative for working professionals looking for leadership careers in academia or the corporate world. It is highly practical with a focus on business-oriented research. With a 100% online mode of learning, this program offers the opportunity to manage your career along with a doctoral degree. 

This online doctorate is a much better option than a traditional PhD. This online doctorate offers- 

• 100% online learning with flexible schedules.
• Industry-focused curriculum and global faculty
• Opportunities to solve real-world problems with applied research.
• Shorter duration than a traditional PhD.
• Reputed “Dr” title within 3 years. 
• Eligibility for academic positions in India and abroad (subject to university norms). 
• Career transformation to leadership positions in the global business landscape. 

Average Salaries for Assistant Professors In India 

Assistant Professor salaries vary based on the type of higher education institution. Government jobs pay more and give extra benefits. Private colleges may pay less at the beginning. However, it keeps on increasing with time. Here is a table to show the salary range-

Type of Institution	Pay Level	Monthly Salary Range	Additional Benefits
Central Govt. Universities	Level 10	₹57,700 – ₹1,82,400	HRA, DA, medical, pension, research grants
State Govt. Colleges	Varies	₹40,000 – ₹90,000	HRA, DA, state-level allowances
Private Tier-1 Colleges	N/A	₹50,000 – ₹1,20,000	May offer bonuses, research funds, and accommodation
Mid-level Private Colleges	N/A	₹30,000 – ₹60,000	Basic benefits, fewer allowances
Small/Entry-level Colleges	N/A	₹20,000 – ₹40,000	Limited or no extra benefits

Conclsuion 

Assistant Professor is a great choice for a rewarding career in India. It is a highly respectful and stable job profile with opportunities to teach at the university level. You can begin this journey soon after completing your master’s degree by qualifying for the NET (National Eligibility Test). A doctoral degree is not required to become an assistant professor. However, to get promoted to Associate Professor and Professor, a PhD is mandatory. 

The journey to becoming an assistant professor can be hard, as there is intense competition and few vacancies. Getting a job in public universities and colleges is more challenging. However,  if you stay focused and work hard, you can fulfill your dream easily.