How to Become A College Lecturer In South Africa

Lecturer is an academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis.

Who is Considered a Lecturer?

In most institutions, the title of a professor is reserved for those who are tenured and work as part of the institution’s faculty with high seniority and experience.

On the other hand, a lecturer or instructor is often used interchangeably. This designation refers to anyone who teaches full-time or part-time in universities or higher education institutions.

Can you be a lecturer without a PhD?

It will almost be impossible to become a lecturer without a Ph. D., even if you have degree, masters, and qualifications. If you want to become a lecturer but haven’t got any teaching or a relevant degree, there are courses you can complete but you will most likely to have to pay for them.

What is the age limit for lecturer in University?

Age Criteria to Become a Lecturer

Candidates should not be more than 28 years of age for Becoming a lecturer in college, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) as of the year of the exam. However, SC, OBC, ST, PwD, and women candidates are given a relaxation of 5 years.

How to Become A College Lecturer In South Africa

To become a lecturer, there are several university lecturer qualifications you need to obtain, beginning with your undergraduate studies:

1. Qualifications and Education

Bachelor’s Degree: If you have the intention to work in a higher education institution, you should study a relevant subject for your bachelor’s degree. At this stage, you can major in a more broad topic like Education or even a general subject.

Post Graduate Degrees: To become an expert in the field, you will continue your education and likely need to earn at least your master’s degree in Education or the subject you want to teach. But the learning won’t stop there. To be hired by a university, you will likely need a PhD as well.

Publication and Internships: During your post-graduate degrees, it’s very important to perform research and try to get published. It is equally important to try your hand at internships and apprenticeships to learn from lecturers.

2. Apply for a Job as a Lecturer

After you’ve completed your education and have a PhD, you can start looking for open positions. There are academic job listings for this. You can also get in touch with your institution of choice to ask if there are positions available.

Required Skills

To be a successful lecturer, an obvious requirement is for you to have good communication skills. Both written and verbal communication skills will be important.

Also, working in any educational environment requires patience and understanding. You will come into contact with students at varying levels of ability, so you will want to be able to provide them with what they need to best learn.

Responsibilities of a College Lecturer In South Africa

Lecturers may work alongside other staff members, but they will likely have to know how to do the following:

Lecture (of course)

Create activities

Improve teaching techniques

Assess work

Prepare and grade exams and written work

Advantages & Disadvantage of Being a College Lecturer In South Africa

Before deciding if this career is the right path for you, let’s take a look at some of the upsides and downsides to becoming a lecturer at a college.

Advantages

Research: As a lecturer, the institution may provide you with time and resources to perform research.

Job Satisfaction: Most people who become lecturers have a passion for the subject they teach. As a lecturer, you have the opportunity to challenge ideas and debate theories.

Disadvantages

On the flipside, there are some downsides to considering a career as a university lecturer.

Competition: It is a highly competitive field, so finding a job isn’t always easy, even with the qualifications.

Working Hours: Despite the flexibility of the schedule, lecturers often work weekends and during the evenings.

How do you become a lecture in South Africa?

In order to become a Lecturer, you will need to have, at minimum, completed Undergraduate studies in the field in which you wish to lecture. It is highly advised that you study further, excel in these studies, and have teaching experience before beginning your career as a Lecturer.

How many years does it take to become a professor in South Africa?

An average of ten years should be the regular time for normally active academics to achieve full professorship in a normal and enabling environment.”

Is it hard to become a college lecturer in South Africa ?

Overall, it’s extremely difficult to become a professor. Nowadays, there are many more qualified applicants than there are full-time, college-level teaching positions, making tenure-track jobs in particular highly competitive.

What course should I take to become a lecturer in South Africa ?

Lecturers usually complete one or more Bachelor degrees in their chosen field(s) of expertise, plus postgraduate study to the master’s or doctorate level. Previous teaching experience is also highly regarded. Complete a Bachelor degree in your chosen field of study.

Can you be a lecturer without a PhD in South Africa ?

It will almost be impossible to become a lecturer without a Ph. D., even if you have degree, masters, and qualifications. If you want to become a lecturer but haven’t got any teaching or a relevant degree, there are courses you can complete but you will most likely to have to pay for them.

How many years does it take to become a lecturer in South Africa ?

Ans. It may take 6-8 years for you to become a college professor. Completing graduation, post-graduation and gaining prior work experience counts up to the time for getting job as a professor.

What is the age limit for lecturer in University in South Africa ?

Age Criteria to Become a Lecturer

Candidates should not be more than 28 years of age for Becoming a lecturer in college, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) as of the year of the exam. However, SC, OBC, ST, PwD, and women candidates are given a relaxation of 5 years.

How much are professors paid in South Africa?

R677,468 (ZAR)/yr.

Is being a college professor stressful in South Africa ?

College Professors Have Least Stressful Job In America, CareerCast.com Says. College professors have the least stressful job in America, beating out seamstresses, according to a new ranking from CareerCast.com, and it’s causing a lot of outrage online. University professors have a lot less stress than most of us.