Professor titles in Germany

What are the different professor titles and who is allowed to use them?

Professor: Who is allowed to use the title?

The professor title (abbreviated in German as “Prof.” for men and “Prof.in” for women) is the highest title granted in academia. In contrast to the title of doctor, the title of professor does not correspond to a specific academic degree but is a professional title. That means that as a rule, the title is linked to the professor’s employment status and therefore expires when the person in question leaves the university or college where they were employed.

What title can be used by retired professors?

In principle, it is both possible and expected for professors to continue to carry the title after retirement. However, German states have different rules for how long a person must have served as a professor prior to retirement.

In some states, different rules apply to professors at state universities than to professors at private universities. Requirements as to whether a retired professor’s title must also indicate that they have retired – with the addition of “ausser Dienst” or “a.D.” (“inactive”) – also vary.

S-Professur – Research professor

The S-Professur corresponds roughly to the “research professor” title. They work at non-university research institutions and hold the title of professor at the same time. However, they are not always appointed for life, so they may lose their title when their employment ends.

Vertretungs- or Verwaltungsprofessur – Administrative professor

The administrative professorship ensures that instruction continues in the absence of a full professor. Holders of these positions assume the full duties of the professorship in question for the duration of their appointment, including teaching, research and administering examinations. Administrative professors (known as “V-Prof” for short) are not awarded the official title of professor during their temporary positions.

Stiftungsprofessur – Endowed professorship

The only difference between endowed professorships and standard university professorships is the funding of the position they hold, some or all of which comes from third-party sources. He or she has the same rights and duties, including when it comes to the use of the title of professor. Such an employment relationship, however, often comes to an end after a certain predetermined period of time. Whether the holders of endowed professorships are allowed to keep the title after their position comes to an end depends on applicable German state law.

Professors at private universities

Private universities may also be permitted to appoint professors, who are then allowed to use the title in the same manner as their state university counterparts. They are, however, frequently subject to far stricter standards if they want to keep their title after leaving the position. Those standards are outlined in applicable state law and sometimes also require the approval of the state ministry in question.

Professors at universities of applied sciences

When it comes to the title, there is no difference between professors at standard universities and professors at universities of applied sciences. The circumstances under which professors at universities of applied sciences may retain their title after leaving their position are outlined in applicable state law and often depends on length of service.

Außerplanmäßige Professur – Supernumerary professor

The title supernumerary professor is an honorary appellation granted to those who have proven themselves in university teaching and research. The complete abbreviation for this title is “apl. Prof. (Dr.)”, though some states allow holders of such positions to do away with the extras. As such, they are not always easily distinguished from full professors. Holders of the supernumerary professor title must continually work as university professors should they wish to retain it. If they don’t, they lose the right to teach and the right to use the title of professor.

Honorarprofessur – Honorary professor

Those named as honorary professor may use this title for the duration of their appointment. Some states explicitly allow holders of such positions to use the “Prof.” abbreviation, but others do not. German states have different criteria pertaining to such appointments (with some even leaving it entirely up to the universities) and to the holders of such appointments. Some states, for example, expect honorary professors to hold regular courses while others do not. Normally, the right to use the title ends when the appointment is terminated by the university, but under certain circumstances, honorary professors can apply to retain the title.

Junior professur – Junior professor

Holders of junior professorships are usually civil servants for a fixed period of time. In some German states, such as Schleswig-Holstein and Brandenburg, junior professors are allowed to call themselves “professor”. In others, like Baden-Württemburg, they must call themselves “junior professor”. The right to the title expires once the employment relationship comes to an end. Hesse, for its part, has introduced what it calls the “qualification professorship” to replace the junior professorship, but state law does not specify how holders of such positions may use the title of professor.

Professor h.c.

Rarely used today, the title Professor h.c. (with the h.c. standing for the Latin “honoris causa”) is awarded for exceptional scientific or artistic achievements or for special service to the respective institution, and it is not dependent on a previous academic career. The title does not come with teaching rights or obligations. It is purely honorary.

Assistenzprofessur and Assoziierte Professur – Assistant and associate professor

Assistant professors are generally postdocs who teach at a university or a university of applied sciences and are working toward habilitation, the degree beyond the doctorate that full professors need in Germany. If habilitation is achieved within four years, assistant professors then receive the associate professor title (also Associate Prof. or ao. Prof.).

Ordinarius or Extraordinarius?

Professors who hold a chair (Lehrstuhl) in Germany are still differentiated from those who do not. A Lehrstuhl is a professorship at a university or university of applied sciences and usually comes with a substantial budget to finance staff members and research. Those "full" professors are called “ordinarius” (male) or “ordinaria” (female).

But there are also adjunct professors who do not hold a Lehrstuhl, and they are referred to as “extraordinarius” (or “extraordinaria”) in Germany. Like full professors, he or she holds a regular professorship and is employed by the university but has a smaller budget and fewer or no employees.

How to address a professor

When writing to a professor in Germany (and Austria and Switzerland), it is important to get the title right. In German, the correct salutation depends on the specific type of professor, but it generally begins “Herr Prof. Dr.” for men and “Frau Prof. Dr.” for women. If the professor in question has not yet obtained a doctorate, then “Herr Prof.” or “Frau Prof.” is sufficient. When writing in English, there is no need for “Mr.” or “Ms.” in the salutation. When addressing verbally in German, use “Herr Professor” for men and “Frau Professor” or “Frau Professorin” for women.

Revocation of the professor title

The awarding of an academic degree, including the title of professor, is an official administrative matter in Germany. The revocation of this title can thus be carried out through a subsequent annulment. Most state higher education statutes reserve the right to revoke the title of professor under specific circumstances, which are clearly outlined in the laws of the state in question.

One potential cause for the retroactive revocation of an academic degree is deceit during the application process for obtaining the degree in question, such as plagiarism. False statements and the fabrication of academic achievements – i.e., intentional deception for the purposes of obtaining a title – can also lead to the revocation of the degree, as can unlawful conduct or behaviour “unworthy” of the office.

Buying a professor title: Is it legal?

The title of “professor” in Germany comes with a significant amount of prestige. As a rule, an academic career leading to a professorship involves many years of hard work at universities or universities of applied sciences.

But is there a shortcut? There are numerous offers on the internet for purchasing the title of professor or honorary professor. In most cases, though, they are gag items like certificates and business cards that can be personalized with your name and whatever title you’d like. There are, though, vendors selling what they claim to be “genuine” titles, with the potential criminal consequences of the unlawful use of titles packed into the small print.

The fact is that the use of an academic title is only permitted by lawfully completing the appointment procedure at a corresponding university. The misuse of titles is punishable by a fine or a prison sentence of up to one year according to Section 132a of the German Criminal Code (StGB).