Education
Teacher
Plans and delivers lessons to school students, assesses their learning, and supports their academic and personal development.
Non StemPeople FocusedOffice Based
Education
Professor
Teaches at the college or university level and conducts original research within an academic discipline, publishing findings for the field.
Also known as: University Lecturer, Academic, Faculty Member
Compare with another careerWhat you do
Teaches undergraduate or graduate courses, mentors research students, and conducts original research culminating in publications, grant proposals, or conference presentations. Balances time between lecturing, grading, committee and administrative work, and independent or collaborative research. Career progression typically moves from a postdoctoral or assistant professor role toward tenure and more senior academic positions.
Typical work environment
University campus work split between lecture halls, research labs or offices, and academic conferences, with substantial independent, self-directed time for research and writing.
Typical entry point
Postdoctoral researcher or assistant professor after completing a doctoral degree
Relevant subjects
Core
EnglishMathematics
Also relevant
History
Relevant interests
Core
TeachingResearch
Also relevant
WritingLeadership
Useful skills
Research· AdvancedWriting· AdvancedPresentation· AdvancedAnalytical thinking· AdvancedCommunication· Advanced
These are useful, relevant skills to build over time — not a checklist you need to already have.
Common education routes
Master's degree—Other / Not education-specificPrimary route
PhD—Other / Not education-specificPrimary route
These are common routes in, not the only path — and not a university or course recommendation.
Career characteristics
Research-intensiveHigh job securityGood international mobilityDeep technical specialisation
General tendencies for this career, not a guarantee — actual roles vary by employer and location.
Industries
EducationResearch
Tags
Non-STEMAnalyticalOffice-basedResearch-heavy
Related careers
This page describes the career itself — it isn't a personalised match for you. See how well it matches your own Student Digital Profile at /recommendations, or compare it against another career.