profesörlük

Professorship, or profesörlük, is the highest academic rank within Turkish universities. It denotes both the title of a professor and the corresponding appointment to a faculty position. The rank is held by scholars who have demonstrated sustained, high-level scholarly achievement and who are trusted with substantial teaching, supervision, and leadership responsibilities.

The typical path toward profesörlük begins with earning a doctoral degree and establishing an active research profile. After progressing through the ranks, most scholars seek the title of doçent (associate professor) through a formal evaluation process that assesses research output, teaching, and service. To advance to profesörlük, candidates must meet additional criteria over several years, including a significant record of original research, peer recognition, and contributions to their field and university. The final step involves a formal assessment by an expert panel and approval by the university Senate or governing body, depending on institutional rules and national regulations.

Duties of those holding profesörlük include teaching advanced and graduate courses, supervising master’s and doctoral students, leading research projects, attracting external funding, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and contributing to university governance and strategic planning. Professors often chair committees, review others’ work, and play a central role in curriculum development and institutional representation.

In practice, profesörlük is regulated by national higher education law and university statutes, with variations across institutions. It remains the benchmark for scholarly leadership and academic excellence in Turkey, and emeritus professors may retain the title after retirement.