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Teaching, writing and law

University Lecturer

Teaches life science or medical subjects to university students and often carries out research alongside the teaching.

Lecturers work in universities and some colleges, splitting their time between teaching, marking, supervising students and their own research. It suits someone who knows a subject deeply, enjoys explaining it and is happy to write grant bids and papers as part of the job.

Also called Higher education lecturer, Assistant professor, Associate professor or Biology instructor.

At a glance

Way in
PhD, often in biological sciences, biomedical science, biochemistry and medicine or pharmacy
Pay in the US
$84,620 a year, the medianFor biological science teachers, postsecondary, 2025
Pay in the UK
£37,000 starting to £65,000 with experienceFor a higher education lecturer, the nearest National Careers Service profile
US outlook
Much faster than average, 2025-2035
Suits you if
You want to keep learning one subject in depth and enjoy passing it on to others.

Pay is a guide: it moves with the country, the employer, the sector and the years in the job. Figures from O*NET OnLine (US) and the National Careers Service (UK); see the sources below.

The work

What does an university lecturer do?

  • Plan and deliver lectures, seminars, practical classes and online sessions
  • Write coursework and exams, mark them and give students useful feedback
  • Supervise undergraduate projects and guide postgraduate research students
  • Carry out research, apply for funding and publish findings in journals
  • Act as a personal tutor and take a share of department admin

Where they work

  • Universities
  • Medical and veterinary schools
  • Colleges that teach degree courses
  • Research institutes

Skills

The skills an university lecturer needs

  • Subject depthexpert knowledge in one area of life science
  • Teachingexplaining hard ideas to large and small groups
  • Researchdesigning studies, analysing data and writing papers
  • Writinggrant applications, reviews and course materials
  • Time managementbalancing teaching, research and admin
  • Mentoringsupporting students through projects and careers

Route in

How to become an university lecturer

  1. Gain a strong first degree in the subject you hope to lecture in
  2. Complete a PhD, often after a master's, and publish research along the way
  3. Gain teaching experience as a lab demonstrator or graduate teaching assistant
  4. Apply for lecturer posts, often after one or more postdoctoral research jobs

Degrees people take

  • Biological sciences
  • Biomedical science
  • Biochemistry
  • Medicine or pharmacy

In the UK, new lecturers usually take a teaching qualification soon after starting, and can apply for Advance HE Fellowship.

Practise for it

The quizzes and tools that fit

Also on biofideX

Next to it

Careers to weigh against it

Sources

Where the facts come from

Written for biofideX from these public sources. The pay figures are theirs, copied as published, last read 2026-10-25.

Requirements differ by country and change over time; check with the body that registers the profession where you will work. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.

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