ADD ADVICE TO FAVFurther / higher education lecturer
Further / higher education lecturers plan and conduct lectures, seminars and practical demonstrations in further education (FE) or higher education (HE) institutions.
What lecturers do
- design and research new course units
- assess coursework and mark examinations
- assist the administration of the courses in the department.
In further education (FE):
- teach vocational courses (like City & Guilds) or general courses (like GCSEs and A-levels) to post-16 students or adults at college.
In higher education (HE):
- teach undergraduate degrees and postgraduate courses (including PhDs and professional diplomas) in universities and HE colleges
- undertake research into new areas and publish findings
- act as personal tutors and take tutorials
- supervise research students.
Key skills for lecturers
- ability to work well with students of all ages and backgrounds
- organisational skills
- the ability to work as a team with colleagues
- extensive knowledge of your own subject area
- effective verbal communication skills
- written skills to produce coursework materials.
Training to be a lecturer
A teaching qualification is now required to teach in FE, though this can be gained while in service. In HE, a good academic record (including published research and usually a PhD) is essential.
Salaries for lecturers
Salaries in FE range from about £17,000 to £20,000 for unqualified staff, and around £26,000 to £31,500 for qualified staff.
HE salaries range from about £24,500 to £37,000 for lecturers, to about £38,500 to £44,000 for senior lecturers.
