Associate Professor Qualifications: Responsibilities, Qualifications, Skills, Salary, Scope 2023

An Associate Professor is a person who educates pupils beyond high school in a variety of academic and vocational areas. They are also responsible for carrying out research and producing academic articles and books. They work in public and private colleges and universities, professional schools, junior and community colleges, and career and vocational schools, among other places.

Aspirants who wish to become an Associate Professor must fulfill all the qualifications. To work as an Associate Professor one must have to complete their post graduation. For some best universities/colleges one may also ask for a Doctoral degree. There are no specific courses to become an Associate Professor but an individual should score at least 55% marks in each level of education (10+2, UG, PG and PhD). 

See more: PhD courses in India

Apart from the basic eligibility requirements, aspirants may also ask to qualify various exams such as the SET, UGC NET, CSIR, SLET, etc to become an Associate Professor. Also aspirants wishing to become an Associate Professor should possess various skills and abilities such as good communication, problem solving, research, mentoring, organising, etc. 

Also Check: How to become an Associate Professor?

Associate Professors are tenured professors who hold the title of Associate Professor. This post, which ranks above assistant professors, frequently comes with a heavier administrative load and committee membership that is limited to tenured faculty. They are lecturers who are conducting continuing research and inquiry in the field of their choice while adhering to the rules and regulations of the organisation that employed them.

Also see: How to become a Professor 

What does an Associate Professor do?

Apart from their study paper research, associate professors have a variety of tasks, as previously stated. They are expected to do the following tasks:

  • Creating the institution's and students' material and curriculum: Chalk down the syllabus for the upcoming batches of students as per semester or yearly tenure.
  • Performing research: Research on the latest studies in terms of the material and content to go out to students.
  • Delivering advice on important specialised areas: Helping students to identify their areas of future expertise, by assessing them on their strong points.
  • Maintaining up with fresh and recent discoveries and developments: Keeping up to the developments to give students better knowledge and information.
  • Delivering regular lectures to pupils on the assigned subject: Pouring out sessions on subjects and topics assigned on a daily or hourly basis.

See: List of PhD Courses

Qualifications to become Associate Professor

An individual wishing to develop a career as an Associate Professor must have to fulfill the eligibility requirements, one may also require to qualify the entrance exam. In order to become an Associate Professor one must complete their education and are required to perform various research. 

In order to become an Associate Professor, one must meet the following requirements.

Elementary Education and Senior Secondary Education

Aspirants must have completed their 10th and 10+2 level of Education from a recognized Board. One can choose to pursue any stream in their 10+2. In order to get a good college, candidates must score well in their 10+2 Board Exam.

Undergraduate Degree

To become an Associate Professor, it is necessary for an aspirant to complete their graduation, the undergraduate stream is not very important to your future speciality. There are two options for getting into college: merit, which is based on 10+2 grades, or entrance test, which is used in around 80% of colleges and universities nowadays. To be considered an undergraduate degree holder, a student must have a minimum aggregate of at least 55% score. 

Also ReadPhD Specializations

Masters Degree

This is the majors degree that will take you to the speciality and niche where you desire to acquire a professorship once you have completed your undergraduate degree. The admissions procedure is comparable to that of an undergraduate programme. In the end, you'll need to take a specialty test, UGC NET, SET or any other necessary exam.

PhD Degree

This step in the process or set qualification is optional or relevant depending on your field and the relevant requirements, PHD duration is about 3-years, the process of admission would be also similar to Masters as well as UG courses.

Skills Required

Apart from completing Education and research, aspirants wishing to become Associate Professor are also required to possess some skills and abilities. Some of the crucial skills required to become an Associate Professor are given below in the tabular chart:

Research Communication
Mentoring Educating
Assessing Participation
Self Motivated Organizing
Good Working Ethics Problem Solver

Read moreCourses to Become an Associate Professor

Associate Professor Salary in India

Salary of an Associate Professor is dependent on many factors, the location, qualifications,the sector and institution they are working for. According to Glassdoor, the national average salary of an Associate Professor in India is INR 8,97,468 per annum. The average annual salary of an Associate Professor in India according to various aspects are given below: 

Experience Wise Salary

The average annual salary of an Associate Professor various depending upon their working experience, the average salary according to experience is given below:

Years of Experience Average Annual Salary
0 - 2 years INR 2,50,000
2 - 5 years INR 4,00,000
5 - 10 years INR 7,00,000
10 - 15 years INR 10,00,000
15 years and above INR 20,00,000

Qualification Wise Salary

When it comes to qualifications, Associate Professors who completed their postgraduate level are paid the most, although everyone must complete at least three research articles. The average salary of an Associate Professor according to their qualifications are given below: 

Qualifications Average Annual Salary
Diploma Degree INR 1,00,000
Undergraduate Degree INR 1,50,000
Postgraduate Degree INR 2,00,000

Organizations-Wise Salary

The private sector pays more generously than the government, and there is a disparity in terms of income, work load, culture, and benefits given by each. Government organisations, without a question, have more job security than private ones. 

Organization Name Average Annual Salary
Government Organisation INR 2,00,000
Private Organization INR 5,00,000

Top recruiters

Top candidates might come from both public and private universities. Out of the 958 UGC-approved institutions in India, there are over 350 private universities. These private colleges provide lucrative teaching and academic positionsSome of the top recruiters of the Associate Professors in India are given below in the tabular chart: 

Dayananda Sagar University Bangalore MIT- World Peace University Pune
NMIMS Deemed University- Chandigarh Campus CMR University Bangalore
Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research – Mumbai & Bangalore Banasthali Vidyapith

Also check: How to Become an Associate Professor Abroad

Scope of Associate Professor in India

In India, the scope and demand for Associate Professors is extremely considerable; this is a well-paying, high profile and stable position. It is surely a lucrative career option in terms of salary and job opportunities. A master's degree is required, but a doctorate is no longer required. The average pay ranges between INR 2,00,000 and INR 20,00,000, depending on the number of years of experience, expertise and the industry in which you work.

Associate Professor Qualification : FAQs

Ques. Do we need PHD degree to become an Associate Professor

Ans. No, according to a recent declaration by UGC PHD degree isn't mandatory anymore.

Ques. How many years of experience do I need to work as an Associate Professor ?

Ans. You can start working as soon as you finish your masters degree and research papers.

Ques. What is the minimum requirement for becoming an Associate Professor?

Ans. A Master 's degree is mandatory to become an Associate Professor.

Ques. Private institutions or Government Institutions who give higher salaries?

Ans. The private one gives better and higher salary than the government institutions.

Ques. What is the male and female distribution in this career path?

Ans. Higher percentage of males are found than females in this job role.

Ques. How much times does PHD degree completion take 

Ans.  It is around 3-years minimum to maximum of 5-years.

Ques. What are the other positions in the hierarchy above?

Ans. Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Senior Professor are the other positions.

Ques. For a masters degree do we need to take the entrance examination?

Ans. This totally depends on the institution and the field you choose.

Ques Do I need to take science in class 12th to become Associate Professor? 

Ans. This depends on what specialization you wish to have in the future.

Ques. What are the minimum passing marks required in undergraduate to become an Associate Professor? 

Ans. An aggregate of 55% is required for stepping into masters after graduation.

Ph.D. : 35 answered questions

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Ques. What is the minimum GATE score to do a PhD in the IIT, Madras?

● Top Answer By Ranjini Banerjee on 01 Mar 22

Ans. Admission to a Ph.D. program at IIT Madras depends on a number of factors. The GATE cutoff doesn’t have much weightage in the selection process. For shortlisting, IIT Madras considers the 10th, 12th, graduation, and masters percentile along with your GATE percentile. You need to have a valid GATE score but the required score is lower compared to the M.Tech cutoff.  For selection, more emphasis is placed on your performance in the written test and interview. Read more
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Ques. How is the Direct PhD program of IIT Madras?

● Top Answer By Arati Sinha on 29 Mar 23

Ans. If you are considering pursuing a Ph.D. at IIT-M, you might be interested in knowing about the similarities and differences between a regular Ph.D. and a direct Ph.D. Here's what you need to know: Selection Procedure: All Ph.D. candidates, whether applying for a regular or direct Ph.D., have to clear a written exam followed by an interview at the institute. Coursework: A regular Ph.D. scholar has to complete four courses, while a direct Ph.D. candidate has to complete eight courses. If you are interested in a dual degree (i.e., MS by research and Ph.D.), you will need to complete two extra courses. Comprehensive Exam: After completing the coursework (usually taking two semesters), every candidate has to undergo a comprehensive exam consisting of a written test and an interview. You will have two chances to clear the comprehensive exam. If you fail to clear the comprehensive exam, you can still obtain an MS degree and get placed or join the Ph.D. program later. The amount and quality of research work by both kinds of Ph.D. candidates are the same. Financial Assistance: A regular Ph.D. candidate is eligible for financial assistance once to attend any international conference outside India. A direct Ph.D. candidate is eligible for financial assistance twice to attend an international conference outside India. Both regular and direct Ph.D. candidates can attend any national/international conference within India once every semester with full financial assistance. Stipend: The stipend for regular Ph.D. candidates is up to five years. The stipend for direct Ph.D. candidates is up to six years. Pre-Post Doc Fellowship: If you submit your degree within 4.5 years for a regular Ph.D. or 5 years for a direct Ph.D., you are eligible for a pre-postdoc fellowship.Read more
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Ques. How is a PhD in IIT Mandi? Is it good or only a time pass like in most NITs?

● Top Answer By Anumita Dixit on 25 Aug 22

Ans. A Ph.D. from IIT Mandi is certainly not a time pass. You need to put consistent efforts to keep up with the coursework. IIT Mandi follows a demanding curriculum. Ph.D. students need to maintain a CGPA of 7.5 out of 10. Students need to publish 2 reputed journal papers and various conference papers. They also need to deliver research seminars, It is anything but easy.  IIT Mandi has an excellent faculty base. Most faculty members are alumni of old IITs or universities abroad. So, they expect older IIT-level performance from Ph.D. students. Read more
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Ques. How good is doing a PhD in BITS Pilani compared to IITs?

● Top Answer By Ketan Kohli on 19 Jul 21

Ans. Some of my seniors studied at BITS Pilani and while they may not know much about the IITs, they do know that the funds the institute is receiving are helping it grow more and more. The campus is being renovated and more equipment is being bought for the labs. For study projects, lab projects, thesis, and the students who work under the faculty will be interacting with the undergraduate students. The interactions can be instrumental in honing your academics and other skills for success. Some other standout features are: The institute encourages friendships among the students, both seniors, and juniors. The atmosphere is thus welcoming and cooperative. The campus is gradually gaining popularity among recruiters who work in top companies. Sometimes the guest lecturers come from abroad. They also engage in interaction with the students through teleconference. This means the institute is gaining more and more exposure. The faculty in charge of the Ph.D. students is highly successful and well experienced. There is a rise in the IT sectors and with the presence of highly successful industries in and around Hyderabad. The students get a lot of opportunities to mingle with the professionals outside and also engage in projects. Hyderabad also has a number of popular institutes and is a great place for students who are currently and willing to pursue Ph.D. As BITS Pilani is still growing consistently, the fees are getting higher. The money is poured into the expansion of the institute.Read more
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Ques. What is the value of a Ph.D. degree from IIT Bombay?

● Top Answer By Karuna Nair on 13 Mar 23

Ans. If you want to achieve self-satisfaction by gaining maximum knowledge about your research area, a Ph.D. could be a great way to do so. Consider coming to IIT Bombay if you are always enthusiastic about learning something new and doing something innovative. Your work will depend on your area and how far you can reach in the industry. For example, if your area is controlled, you can reach many consulting firms or industries that deal with automation problems. In fact, my lab deals with many industrial problems related to such issues. Your work will be recognized as an asset for IITB, and research is the foremost thing that every professor looks forward to. Apart from that, you can enjoy a good life as a Ph.D. student here, with the freedom to think in many directions and develop your research skills at your own pace. A Ph.D. degree from IIT Bombay is well-recognized. Many of the students, who are doing their Ph. D.s here in controls, are well settled abroad or in India, which proves the worth of this degree.Read more
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Ques. What are all the advantages of doing Ph.d in IIT Madras?

● Top Answer By Aditi Sengupta on 29 Mar 23

Ans. When considering pursuing a Ph.D., it is important to understand the challenges that come with it. However, if you have a passion for research and contributing to the world through your technical knowledge, you can bring about a change. Additionally, pursuing a Ph.D. at IIT Madras can offer many financial advantages and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Here are some of the financial advantages of joining the Ph.D. program at IIT Madras: Stipend: As a Ph.D. student at IIT Madras, you will receive a stipend of 31,000 INR per month. This stipend is provided to help you cover your living expenses while you focus on your research. PMRF Scheme: You can also try for the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship (PMRF) scheme. If you perform well in your first semester, you can apply for lateral entry (or direct entry) and receive a stipend of 70,000 INR per month.  Financial Benefits for Research Conferences and Publications: You can receive financial benefits of 1.5 to 2 lakhs per annum to attend research conferences and publish your work. This can help you expand your research network and showcase your work to a wider audience. Semester Exchange: Semester exchange to top universities across the globe is also possible, subject to your guide's approval. This can provide you with an opportunity to gain exposure to different research environments and cultures. Quarters for Married Ph.D. Students: If you are a married Ph.D. student, quarters are provided in the residential area of IIT Madras. This can help you and your spouse live comfortably while pursuing your studies. High-Paying Job Opportunities: After completing your Ph.D., any top band industry is ready to pay you thousands of dollars. This is because you would have acquired a specialized set of skills and knowledge that are highly valued in the industry. Scientist D Level in Government Organizations: You can also become eligible for entry to the Scientist D level in government research organizations such as ISRO, DRDO, and BARC, provided you have the minimum required experience. Teaching Opportunities: Pursuing a Ph.D. can also help you improve your teaching skills. As a Ph.D. student at IIT Madras, you will have the opportunity to teach B.Tech, Dual Degree, M.Tech, and MS students. This can help you gain valuable teaching experience and learn from your students as well. In conclusion, pursuing a Ph.D. at IIT Madras can provide you with many financial advantages and opportunities for personal and professional growth. If you have a passion for research and technical knowledge, a Ph.D. can help you make a positive impact on the world.  Read more
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Ques. What is the placement scenario after PhD in IIT Bombay?

● Top Answer By Advait Joshi on 17 Mar 23

Ans. The placement scenario after PhD in IIT Bombay is generally poor, according to student feedback and departmental elections. Ph.D. students typically have very specific knowledge that may not be useful to companies, so they may not be recruited by BTech companies. There is no specific body that helps bring companies for Ph.D. students, resulting in a lack of job opportunities for graduates. Ph.D. graduates pursue two directions: Professor in a University or a specified job, but finding a job can be difficult without faculty contacts. The average salary for a Ph.D. student at IIT Bombay ranges from INR 3.4 Lakhs to INR 4.2 Lakhs per year .Read more
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Ques. Is a PhD from IGNOU valid?

● Top Answer By Pankaj Kumar on 18 Oct 22

Ans. PhD from IGNOU is as valuable as from any other university. The UGC has recently ruled that PhD from distance education is no longer valid. This is applicable to every university. PhD is valid only in regular mode. This can be both part-time or full-time. IGNOU offers both so yes PhD from IGNOU is valuable. In fact, it is more valuable than the same degree from Manipal or Lovely Professional University.  PhD from IGNOU is valuable because of the following reasons: Affordable fees  Both part-time and full-time available ( both approved by UGC) Easy distance education Can be pursued alongside a business or profession. What really matters is what you learn during your course and how you apply it.Read more
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Ques. What is the placement record of MSc applied statistics students of IIT Bombay?

● Top Answer By Poornima Sahoo on 18 Mar 23

Ans. The table below shows the key placement highlights of MSc applied statistics students of IIT Bombay. Particulars  Statistics  Median Salary INR 55.4 LPA Average Salary INR 17.9 LPA Placement Percentage 66.67% International Offers 58 Top Recruiters  Accenture | Analog Devices | Apple | CITI Bank | Google | Hindustan Unilever | HONEYWELL | IBM | ISRORead more
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Ques. How will be the selection procedure for direct PhD in IIT Madras?

● Top Answer By Sudesna Gupta on 20 Jul 21

Ans. The selection procedure for a direct Ph.D. in IIT Madras varies as per the department. Usually, there is a primary election that is based on the CGPA that you obtain after clearing any national-level entrance exam like GATE. After this, you need to give an interview and a written test round. If you want to go for MS by research or Ph.D., you will have to appear for a written test which is followed by an interview. These tests are conducted twice a year, in May and in November. Check the IIT Madra website regularly. Once you apply for the Ph.D. position, and you get shortlisted, and then you can appear for the written exam. The written exam is similar to what the GATE exam is and there is no difference for MS and Ph.D. aspirants. Your interview will be conducted only if you clear the written test. However, if you do not clear the written or the interview round, and you are interested in some particular work that is being carried out by any professor, you can approach them directly and ask for a research or project assistant’s position. If the professor is impressed by your work, they may convert you to a full-time Ph.D.Read more
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