Appointment Procedure

University professors are appointed after an appointment procedure in accordance with the University Act 2002.

Procedure according to the Universities Act 2002

  1. Dedication  
    Dedicating a professorship entails defining a professor’s subject area.

    This is agreed between the Rectorate and the faculty/centre where the professorship is based in administrative terms. Once the particular professorship has been dedicated in the Development Plan, it can be advertised and an appointment can be made.
    The Development Plan outlines all current and planned professorships at the University of Vienna.
  2. Advertising vacancies  
    All professorships are advertised on the website of the service unit Human Resources and Gender Equality. If the professorship is permanent or for a fixed term of more than two years, it is also advertised in national and international print media and in “EURAXESS”.
  3. Your application
    If you are interested in a particular professorship and would like to apply, please send your covering letter together with the yourdocuments to the relevant faculty/centre.
  4. Assessment   
    If the professorship is permanent or for a term that is longer than five years, an appointment committee will be set up by the Senate of the University of Vienna.The Senate commissions a minimum of two reviewers (at least one external and one internal) to determine the academic and pedagogic suitability of the candidates for appointment. The Rectorate can also appoint a reviewer to the committee.

    If the professorship is for a term of up to five years, no appointment committee is set up. Rather, the relevant faculty/centre submits a recommendation to the Rector.
  5. Hearing 
    The appointment committee invites the candidates to presentations (hearings). So the candidates have the opportunity to present themselves and their research topics, and to find out more about the University of Vienna.
  6. Proposal for the professorial appointment

    The appointment committee issues a recommendation on the basis of the assessments received and the evaluation of the hearings. This recommendation is submitted to the Rector of the University of Vienna, who issues the invitation to the appointment negotiations.

    If the professorship is for a term of up to five years, the relevant faculty/centre submits a recommendation to the Rector.
  7. Appointment negotiations
    The professorship candidate is invited to appointment negotiations with the Rector of the University of Vienna.
  8. Taking up your appointment as a university