University Lecturer / Professor

Tertiary level teaching and research

What this life looks like

You expand the boundaries of knowledge and train Africa's next generation of professionals and thinkers. University Lecturers and Professors teach at tertiary level, conduct original research, publish scholarly work, supervise postgraduate students, and contribute to the intellectual life of their institutions and disciplines. African universities are growing rapidly, and the demand for qualified academics who can combine teaching excellence with research productivity is significant.

What she actually does

You design and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate courses, supervise student research projects and dissertations, conduct your own original research, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, apply for research grants, mentor junior academics, contribute to departmental administration, engage with industry and government on applied research questions, and participate in your discipline's national and international academic community.

Where you can work

Sector	Places in Africa
Research Universities	University of Cape Town, University of Lagos, Makerere University, University of Nairobi, University of Ghana
Technical Universities	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Engineering and Technology Nigeria
Private Universities	Aga Khan University, African Leadership University, Ashesi University, American University of Cairo
Regional Institutions	African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), African Development University, pan-African research institutes

Why it matters in Africa

Africa has one of the world's fastest-growing university student populations, but the number of qualified academics is not keeping pace. Many African universities struggle to attract and retain researchers who publish internationally. Initiatives like the Next Einstein Forum (NEF), the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program are investing in building the next generation of African academics who can raise the quality and relevance of African higher education.

Your pathway in

Excel academically at undergraduate level and pursue a master's degree in your field
Complete a PhD — the doctorate is the minimum qualification for a substantive academic appointment in most African universities
Publish your research: academic career progression depends on peer-reviewed publications in recognised journals
Apply for postdoctoral fellowships to build your research portfolio before your first faculty appointment
Develop skills in research grant writing — securing external funding is increasingly essential for academic career advancement

Skills you will need

Tertiary teaching and curriculum design
Research methodology
Academic writing and publishing
Grant writing
PhD supervision
Critical thinking and scholarship

A woman in this field

Quarraisha Abdool Karim

South Africa

Quarraisha is one of Africa's most celebrated scientists and one of the world's most accomplished epidemiologists. As Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA, she has led landmark research on HIV prevention in women — including the groundbreaking CAPRISA 004 trial showing that a topical microbicide gel reduced HIV transmission in women by 39%. A winner of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society, she is a towering example of what African women can achieve through academic research.

Research the PhD application requirements at three African universities in a field that interests you — understanding what the pathway to an academic career involves is essential planning
Study for academic writing: read journal articles in your field regularly and analyse how they are structured — scientific and academic writing is a distinct genre
Research the African Academy of Sciences at aasciences.africa — it is the continent's premier scientific body and its resources help aspiring academics understand the African research landscape
Apply for undergraduate research assistant positions in university departments that interest you — starting to participate in real research before your postgraduate studies gives you a significant head start