First Audition? How to Apply for (Junior) Professorships

Graduate Studies Support Program

This workshop is part of the Graduate Studies Support Program of Berlin University Alliance. For an overview of all Graduate Studies Support Program events, click here.

This course will be delivered in a blended learning format, combining an asynchronous online input with individual one-to-one sessions. 

From the 16 September to 7 October, you will have access to a self-study video of 03:10 hours in length, which presents all essential content on the topic of »Applying for (Junior) Professorships« in detail. Over the course of the three weeks you will be able to watch the video at your own convenience. You will also prepare a 3-minute presentation following the suggestions provided in the video.

You will then be able to schedule a one-to-one feedback session with the trainer via Zoom (1 hour), where you will have the opportunity to clarify any remaining questions about applying for professorships. You will then give your prepared 3-minute presentation to present your own profile and receive feedback. This one-to-one session can be tailored to your interests and needs, e.g. to get feedback on your CV or other application documents, to discuss your application strategy or to practice interview questions.

Please note: Watching the video and preparing a 3-minute presentation is a mandatory prerequisite for meaningful participation in the one-to-one session.

Timeline

You will have access to the self-study video from 16 September to 07 October 2025.

The personal feedback sessions will be arranged individually with the trainer and will take place between 07 and 27 October 2025.

Target group

The seminar is aimed at postdocs of all levels of experience and is designed for participants with little or no experience of appointment procedures.
 

Objectives

The aim of the video is to inform you in detail about all phases of the appointment procedure for W1 to W3 professorships in Germany and to provide you with concrete help and tips for your application. The video starts with the procedure and formal aspects of the appointment process. Then, all necessary application documents (especially CV, cover letter, concepts) are discussed in detail and partly illustrated with sample materials. In the third part, the expectations and requirements of the interview with the appointment committee are discussed. You will receive tips and short demonstrations on how to structure your scientific presentation and teaching demonstration. In addition, the most frequently asked questions and topics of the interview will be presented.

Subsequent support

Participants have the opportunity to send their application documents to the trainer when they enter the application phase and receive
written feedback on how to optimise them.