Promotion, docent and distinguished teacher

When you are ready to apply for promotion to professor, you send an email to rekrytering-teknat@uu.se stating that you wish to apply for promotion. Specify the subject your application concerns.

Since 2025-04-22 it is stated in the guidelines that an evaluation of merits for promotion may be done at most once every three years. In following, an application for promotion may be submitted at the earliest three years after the previous application has been submitted.

Subjects in which it is possible to apply for promotion to professor

You will then receive a link to Uppsala University’s recruitment system Varbi, where you upload your application. The link is open for one week. Your application is treated as having been received by the faculty when you have uploaded it in Varbi.

Instructions for application pdf, 119 kB.

Proposal and appointment of referees and subject representatives

• Referees are appointed by the disciplinary domain/faculty board, acting on a proposal from the section dean of the section in which the applicant is employed. The section dean must ensure that there are no conflicts of interest.
• For promotions to professor, at least three referees must be appointed, one in the subject area and two in the field of specialisation.
• There must be at least one woman and at least one man among the referees, unless there are special reasons otherwise.
• The referees must have been approached and have accepted the assignment when the proposal is sent to rekrytering-teknat@uu.se.
• Points to remember when preparing proposals for referees
• Appointment of subject representatives

Processing

First meeting of the Recruitment Committee

When subject representatives and referees’ statements have been received, a first meeting is planned for the matter in the Recruitment Committee.

The subject representative acting as rapporteur presents the applicant’s research and teaching qualifications and after discussion and deliberation the Recruitment Committee decides whether promotion is possible. If the candidate meets the criteria, they are invited in for a presentation of their research and interview.

Second meeting of the Recruitment Committee

The presentation of research and interview take place. The Recruitment Committee then decides whether or not to propose promotion.

The Working Committee proposes promotion to the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor decides on promotion. The faculty officer draws up a new employment contract. In the case of promotion from associate professor to professor, a new salary is set following a standard formula.

Different regulations for promotion to associate professor

For assistant professors in a six-year position employed in recruitment matters announced after 2018-12-01 but before 2024-09-01, the applicable regulations are the Guidelines for the Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and for Appointment of Docents and of Distinguished University Teachers at the Faculty of Science and Technology.

For assistant professors employed in recruitment matters announced from 2024-09-01 and for lecturers, the regulations applying to promotion to associate professor are the Guidelines for the Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and for Appointment of Docents and of Distinguished University Teachers at the Faculty of Science and Technology.

For assistant professors in a four-year position (advertised before 2018-12-01), the regulations applying to promotion to associate professor are the Guidelines for promotion of Assistant professor to Associate Professor at the disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology (TEKNAT 2014/214).If you are in this category and want to apply for promotion to associate professor, please contact rekrytering-teknat@uu.se

Initiation by the applicant

When you are ready to apply for promotion to associate professor, you send an email to rekrytering-teknat@uu.se stating that you wish to apply for promotion. You will then receive a link to Uppsala University’s recruitment system Varbi, where you upload your application.

The Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University state that a written application to be considered for promotion from associate senior lecturer (assistant professor) to senior lecturer (associate professor) must reach the faculty board at the latest six months before the appointment as associate senior lecturer (assistant professor) ends. Your application is treated as having been received by the faculty when you have uploaded it in Varbi.

According to the Faculty's guidelines, a lecturer must have been employed as a teacher at a higher education institution for at least three years or the equivalent to apply for promotion to senior lecturer.

Instructions for applying pdf, 119 kB.

The faculty officer at the Faculty Office continues the processing of the matter and will contact you in due course.

Proposal and appointment of referees and subject representatives

• Referees are appointed by the section dean, acting on a proposal from the head of the department at which the applicant is employed. The head of department must ensure that there are no conflicts of interest.
• At least two referees must be appointed for the promotion of a lecturer to associate professor.
• There must be at least one woman and at least one man among the referees, unless there are special reasons otherwise.
• With the exception of any referee specially appointed to assess teaching expertise, all referees must address all assessment criteria.
• The referees must have been approached and have accepted the assignment when the proposal is sent to rekrytering@teknat.uu.se.
• Points to remember when preparing proposals for referees
• Appointment of subject representatives

Processing

First meeting of the Recruitment Committee

When subject representatives and referees’ statements have been received, a first meeting is planned for the matter in the Recruitment Committee.

The subject representative acting as rapporteur presents the applicant’s research and teaching qualifications and after discussion and deliberation the Recruitment Committee decides whether promotion is possible. If the candidate meets the criteria, they are invited in for a test lecture and presentation of their research/interview.

Second meeting of the Recruitment Committee

The test lecture, presentation of research and interview take place. The Recruitment Committee then decides whether or not to propose promotion.

The Working Committee decides on promotion if it is a promotion from assistent professor. The head of department has salary negotiations with the applicant.

The head of department decides on promotion if it is a promotion from lecturer and a new salary is set following a standard formula.

Local HR draws up a new employment contract.

Application procedure

Docent applications are handled continuously during term time.

Applications are submitted via the university's recruitment system Varbi. Email docentur-teknat@uu.se to get a login link. The application is considered received by the faculty when you have uploaded it in Varbi.

Docentship can be applied for within the faculty's doctoral programme subjects.

The applications are assessed by the Faculty of Science and Technology's Docentship Committee.

The assessment is made in accordance with Chapter 12 of the guidelines for recruitment and promotion of teachers at the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Application

The application must be written in English and describe how you fulfil the criteria for being admitted as docent.

Instructions for the application

Processing of applications for docent status

Full preparation process for a docent position

Policy documents and guidelines

Guidelines for the Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and for Appointment of Docents and of Distinguished University Teachers at the Faculty of Science and Technology (TEKNAT 2023/69) - see Chapter 12.

Instructions for applying for docent status

Instructions for referees

Link to courses offered