Frequently asked questions

The recruitment requirements for professors are set out in Section 47 of the Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act (LHG) and include the following requirements:

• Completed university degree
• Pedagogical aptitude, for example proven by teaching experience or further training in university didactics
• Special aptitude for academic work; for professorships in the field of design, special aptitude for artistic work must be demonstrated
• Special achievements in the application or development of scientific knowledge and methods - this is demonstrated by at least five years of professional practice, of which at least three years must have been spent outside the university.

In addition to the statutory recruitment requirements, further qualifications and skills are usually expected:

• You are enthusiastic about teaching and enjoy passing on your knowledge to young people
• You are able to teach courses in English and value interdisciplinary collaboration
• You are motivated by active participation in the further development of study programmes and course content

Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences organises the HAWKarriere mentoring programme together with eight other universities. The cross-university programme supports you in the form of 1:1 mentoring by an experienced professor over a period of one year on your way to becoming an HAW professor.

In addition, further internal and inter-university funding opportunities are available to you on your way to becoming a professor. Further information can be found here.

For your complete application we usually ask for

• Documentation of your academic career
• A complete list of your publications
• A detailed overview of your practical experience with information on the duration, scope and type of activities
• Documentation of your previous teaching activities, including duration and scope
• An overview of the third-party funding you have received to date
• If applicable, confirmation of participation in further training on the subject of teaching

Please also note the specific requirements in the respective job advertisement, which may require further documents or evidence.

The teaching load of a professorship at a university of applied sciences is generally 18 semester hours per week. A reduction for activities in self-administration and third-party research funding is possible.

The recognition of activities as an employee of a research institute depends on the research focus of the respective institution. For example, employment at institutions with a focus on basic research cannot be recognised as non-university practical experience. In the case of institutions with a focus on application-oriented research, which is carried out in cooperation with practice partners, for example, recognition may be possible. If you have specific questions, please get in touch with the contact person named in the job advertisement.

Teaching experience can be proven in various areas. Teaching experience is usually recognised through teaching assignments at universities. However, activities in adult education or further education can also be recognised.

As a rule, you provide evidence of your teaching aptitude as part of the appointment presentation.

To keep you informed about professorship vacancies in the greater Stuttgart area, we have set up a talent pool in cooperation with Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Sciences and Hochschule der Medien. Would you like to be one of the first to hear about new professorship vacancies in the greater Stuttgart area or even be notified directly of vacancies that are specifically suitable for you? Then register here for our talent pool!

If you are not bound to the greater Stuttgart area, you can find more professorships at universities of applied sciences here.

There are two employment models for appointment as a professor:

1. Appointment as a civil servant is only possible for a 100% position. If certain (e.g. family) requirements are met, a temporary reduction to a lower level of employment can be applied for after the civil service appointment.
2. Employment in an employment relationship - part-time and full-time possible. In contrast to employment model 1), it is not possible to be appointed as a civil servant.

Self-employment is possible for a maximum of one day (8 hours) per week alongside a full-time professorship. Working in another employment relationship is generally possible with a part-time professorship as an employee.

An appointment procedure at HFT Stuttgart is divided into the following steps:

1. Publication of the job advertisement and application
2. Review of the application documents by the appointment committee
3. Appointment committee meeting:
   1. Review of the application documents and selection of applicants
   2. Setting a date for the first interview
   3. Sending out the appointment invitations
4. Initial interviews
5. Appointment committee meeting:
   1. Candidate selection for the appointment presentations
   2. Selection of topics and scheduling of the appointment lectures
   3. Mailing of the appointment invitations
6. Appointment lectures:
   1. Compulsory lecture
   2. If applicable, presentation of a self-chosen topic (possibly in English)
7. List creation by the appointment committee
8. Coordination of the appointment committee with the rectorate
9. Decision and resolution in various committees
10. Appointment interview and appointment
11. Professorialisation

As a rule, an appointment procedure takes around 12 months from the start of the advertisement to taking up office.

As a professor at HFT Stuttgart, you can receive a reduction in your regular teaching load under certain conditions. A reduction of the teaching load is possible in the following cases:

• Involvement in academic self-administration: When taking on internal functions in academic self-administration (e.g. as dean, vice dean, dean of studies or in other management functions, for example academic management of a department or staff unit)
• Laboratory and/or workshop management
• Successful acquisition of third-party funding and implementation of third-party funded projects

When you start working as a professor, you are initially a probationary civil servant for three years. After four to five semesters, there is usually a public trial lecture at the university. After a successful evaluation during the probationary period, you will be appointed as a permanent civil servant after three years at the latest.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes, in exceptional cases (which must be checked in each individual case) special regulations may apply, for example

• if you were already a civil servant in another employment relationship
• if you were already a civil servant as a probationary professor.

For detailed information on your individual case, please contact our Presonal department.

In principle, the age limit for becoming a civil servant in Baden-Württemberg is currently 47. However, under certain conditions, it is possible to become a civil servant up to the age of 52 if creditable periods can be proven.

According to § 48 paragraph 2 LHO, these include

• If the applicant is already employed by the federal government or another federal state as a lecturer or professor and their state of health makes it appear justifiable
• Care of a minor child/care of a relative: for each case, increase by 2 additional years
• Increase by the period of military/civilian service actually completed

Applications can only be submitted via the online portal. You can use the "Online application" button in the job advertisement to submit your application conveniently and paperless within the specified application period. Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications sent by post.

Please apply to us with your detailed application documents:

• Cover letter
• curriculum vitae
• Certificates (e.g. degree certificates, training certificates, employment references)
• If applicable, proof of a recognised severe disability/equal status
• If you obtained your university degree in a non-EU country, please also enclose a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) with your documents. An extract from Anabin (information portal on foreign educational qualifications) is not sufficient.

Yes, you will receive an automated confirmation of receipt as soon as we receive your application. If you cannot find an e-mail in your inbox, please also check your spam folder. If you do not find a notification from us there either, please send an e-mail to personal(at)hft-stuttgart.de so that we can check your request and help you further.

If you have any questions or problems, please get in touch with the contact person from the Human Resources and Organisation department listed in the job advertisement or contact personal@hft-stuttgart.de.

If you are interested in several positions, you are welcome to apply for them at the same time. However, a separate and complete application must be submitted for each position via the online portal.

1. Find the right job: In our job portal you can search for open positions and discover the right job for you.
2. Submit your application: You can use the "Apply now" button to upload your documents directly to our online portal.
3. Confirmation of receipt: After submitting your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt.
4. Checking your application: Your documents will be carefully checked by the Human Resources and Organisation department and the relevant specialist department.
5. The interview: If your application is convincing, we will invite you to a personal interview. The interview will preferably take place in person at our university - so you can gain a first impression of your potential new working environment.
6. Offer of employment & welcome on board: Once the interviews have been completed, you will receive feedback from us and - if all the general conditions are right - a binding offer. If you decide in favour of us, we look forward to welcoming you to our team soon!

If you fulfil all the requirements, you will be hired in the pay group specified in the job advertisement. In the job advertisements, the necessary requirements for the specified grouping are listed under "Your profile". If you have any questions, please contact our Human Resources and Organisation department.

You can find the corresponding salary tables of the state's collective labour agreement (TV-L) here:
Salary tables of the LBV for tariff employees
Salary tables of the LBV for civil servants

An above-average degree is required for a doctorate at the HFT. This can be a Diplom, Magister or Master's degree from a university, an equivalent state examination or a Master's degree from a university of applied sciences. Above-average means that the degree programme was completed with an overall grade of at least 2.5 or with the grade "good pass". In exceptional cases, academic achievements after graduation, such as publications, can also be recognised as proof of above-average qualifications. The doctoral project must then be accepted by the doctoral committee of the doctoral association. The detailed requirements for admission to doctoral studies are regulated in §6 of the doctoral association's framework doctoral regulations .

At a university of applied sciences, you work and conduct application-oriented research. You will always endeavour to establish a practical relevance for the scientific questions you address. The supervising professors at HFT Stuttgart maintain direct and intensive contact throughout the entire period of doctoral supervision.

The doctorate should normally be completed within three to four years.

The first step towards a doctorate is to find a suitable doctoral topic and a supervisor for your doctorate. Further information on the first steps can be found here. You can also find a list of research areas with the respective professors who are eligible to supervise a doctorate here. A complete list of all professors with the right to award doctorates at HAWs in Baden-Württemberg can be found on the website of the doctoral association(https://www.promotionsverband-bw.de/)

There are various funding options open to you during your doctorate. In addition to scholarships from foundations, you can apply for a position as a research assistant at HFT Stuttgart. Employment in a company or in the public sector offers you a further opportunity to earn money and do your doctorate alongside your job or to be employed as a doctoral candidate for further qualification towards a doctorate in your main job.

There are currently four options for doing a doctorate at a university of applied sciences, such as HFT Stuttgart, which differ in terms of funding and type. Further information can be found here

In the job advertisements at HFT Stuttgart, positions for doctoral topics or for research assistants are frequently advertised, which are very well suited as a basis for your own doctoral project and already narrow down the framework.

As a doctoral student at HFT Stuttgart, you will benefit from an excellent research infrastructure: state-of-the-art laboratories and a library with an extensive collection offer ideal conditions for your academic work. The Institute for Applied Research (IAF) provides support with project applications and other research matters. Thanks to the strong network with local companies and research institutions, application-oriented research approaches can be designed and the transfer of results supported.
The Graduate Academy provides additional support through counselling, qualification and networking.

German language skills are not an admission requirement for a doctorate at HFT Stuttgart. English is the scientific language in many research projects. In principle, the dissertation can also be written and defended in English. Nevertheless, German language skills will make it easier for you to access the culture and make contacts. The International Office at HFT Stuttgart offers a variety of different German courses that can be used by young researchers.

As a doctoral candidate at HFT Stuttgart, you will complete your doctorate through the Baden-Württemberg Doctoral Association, but will be supervised at HFT Stuttgart throughout your doctoral studies. The doctoral association exercises the independent right to award doctorates of the state's universities of applied sciences and awards doctoral degrees.

The Baden-Württemberg Doctoral Association can award a total of seven doctoral degrees, six of which can be obtained at HFT Stuttgart, depending on the research unit in which the doctoral procedure is completed:

Doctor philosophiae - Dr phil.

Doctor oeconomiae - Dr oec.

Doctor rerum politicarum - Dr rer. pol.

Doctor rerum socialium - Dr rer. soc.

Doctor rerum naturalium - Dr rer. nat.

Doctor of Engineering - Dr.-Ing.

As an umbrella organisation, the Baden-Württemberg Doctoral Association exercises the independent right to award doctorates at the universities of applied sciences in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Each research unit has its own doctoral regulations. In addition, framework doctoral regulations apply to all research units.

An overview of all doctoral degree regulations can be found here.

After the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, the doctorate is the highest educational goal for the promotion of young academics. In the course of the doctorate, the ability to work independently and scientifically over a longer period of time is acquired, in which new knowledge is gained through independent research. This academic work is called a dissertation and, upon successful completion, awards graduates a doctorate in their specific discipline. It qualifies you for specialisation in a subject area, for an academic career at a university or research institution or for a career in the non-university sector.

Your profile as a lecturer

• Academic qualifications: You have a university degree in your field of specialisation
• Practical experience: You shine with several years of subject-related professional experience and outstanding performance
• Didactic skills: You have didactic skills, which you have ideally acquired through experience in teaching or training or through participation in further education and training courses in university didactics
• Personal qualities: You enjoy teaching - you are enthusiastic about working with young people and passing on your knowledge to them.

Legal basis:

The awarding of teaching assignments is based on § 56 para. 2 in conjunction with § 47 of the Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act (LHG). The following requirements apply:

• §56 (2) p.1 LHG: "Lecturers must at least fulfil the requirements of §47 (1) nos. 1 and 2 or (4) and their previous education, ability and professional performance must correspond to the area of responsibility intended for them."
• §47 (1) No. 1 LHG: "a completed university degree"
• §47 (1) No. 2 LHG: "pedagogical aptitude, which is generally to be proven by experience in teaching or training or by participation in further and advanced training in university didactics"
• §Section 47 (4) LHG: "Insofar as it corresponds to the nature of the subject and the requirements of the position, in particular a temporary professorship, anyone who demonstrates outstanding subject-related achievements in professional, academic or artistic practice and pedagogical aptitude may also be appointed as a professor in deviation from paragraphs 1 to 3."

You will organise courses independently and contribute your valuable professional experience. The focus is on the development and implementation of your courses, from conceptual planning to active knowledge transfer in the lecture theatre.

• Conception & planning of the course
• Creation of learning materials and scheduling
• Realisation of courses with a focus on practical knowledge transfer
• Supervision and counselling of students
• Preparing, conducting and correcting examinations (if included in the teaching assignment)

The total of all teaching assignments at state universities in Baden-Württemberg may not exceed 8 semester hours per week (SWS).

Are you interested in a teaching position at HFT Stuttgart but there is no suitable vacancy advertised? Then please send us a detailed speculative application directly to the relevant study area.

To apply for a teaching position, you must submit the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Informative curriculum vitae
• Copies of relevant certificates

If you have a university degree from a non-EU country, please also submit a certificate evaluation from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

If applicable, submit proof of a recognised severe disability/equal status.

In the case of an unsolicited application, details of the desired degree programme and subject of the planned teaching assignment must be provided.

Yes, if the teaching activity is expressly provided for in your employment contract at HFT Stuttgart. However, if teaching is not an integral part of your contract, it is not possible to carry out a teaching assignment at HFT Stuttgart. A teaching assignment at another university is of course possible.

In general, online teaching is possible in exceptional cases. Please coordinate this individually with your department.

The possible remuneration rates according to the lecturer guidelines are 40 euros, 43 euros, 45 euros or 48 euros per hour.

We ask for your understanding that any travelling expenses incurred cannot be reimbursed by us.

As a lecturer at HFT Stuttgart, you benefit from free further training opportunities such as

• Basic university didactics workshops
• Digital teaching and innovative teaching methods
• Personal coaching and counselling
• Baden-Württemberg certificate for university didactics