Academic career advice

Tips and resources to help you build a successful career in academia. From skills development during your PhD to preparing for a role in university administration, all academic career steps are covered. Here, you will find advice on promoting your work, growing your professional reputation and developing collegiate networks to support your academic career progression - or to help you move into industry.

A professor takes a question during a lecture

How to motivate students? The answer hasn’t changed

We all know how to motivate students – it’s putting theory into practice that’s the problem. Understanding how motivation works can help

Ian Taylor

Loughborough University

Managing upwards in higher education, part 2: relational and personal boundary skills

The second in a two-part series focuses on protecting your integrity, building goodwill across your institution and setting boundaries around your time and availability to create sustainable, constructive relationships with your manager

Tom Chapman

University of Southampton

A lecturer stands in front of a microphone

What to do when faculty spread conspiracy theories in the classroom

Are your university colleagues superspreaders of misinformation? Here’s what to do when fellow academics promote conspiracy theories, and how to safeguard critical thinking – without compromising academic freedom

Stefan T. Siegel

University of St Gallen

How to navigate power dynamics in academia

Working under different managers and management styles can be as much of a learning curve for early career academics as their work. Find out how to stay balanced in a changing workplace

Ahmet Küçükuncular

Near East University

A chess player moving a rook across the board

Managing upwards in higher education, part 1: structural and political skills

Strategies for academics on working effectively with managers while protecting their time, integrity and career trajectory

Tom Chapman

University of Southampton

Lessons for academics in resilience, persistence and coping with failure

Rejection is part of every academic journey, but that doesn’t make it easier to bear. Drawing from personal experiences, Bhawana Shrestha reflects on how shifting mindsets, embracing support and practising ‘gentle ambition’ helped her build resilience

Bhawana Shrestha

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Why PhDs are more carousel than rollercoaster

How to make the most of the opportunities that teaching, research and seminars bring to your PhD journey

Nicholas Maldarelli

The University of Edinburgh

An academic’s guide to the art of negotiation: part two

How to understand your negotiation partner’s drivers, handle difficult situations and learn from each interaction

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

Five ways to centre faculty development at your university

Teaching quality can be an institution’s biggest asset, improving student retention and boosting reputation. So why not move faculty development to the centre of institutional strategy?

Salah Al-Majeed, Hayat El Asri

Al Akhawayn University

An academic’s guide to the art of negotiation, part 1: how to prepare

The first in a two-part series explores how to use Marshall Rosenberg’s ‘non-violent communication’ framework to help you prepare for negotiations in the workplace

Natalie K. D. Seedan

The University of the West Indies

Balloons, meritocracy concept illustration

EDI is meritocracy – why is that hard to understand?

Equity, diversity and inclusion is misunderstood when it is seen as valuing identity instead of skill within the systems that determine academic career progression. But it is in the sector’s interest to recognise and support talent, no matter what it looks like, writes Brooke Szücs

Brooke Szücs

The University of Queensland

How to build unbreakable self-confidence: an academic’s guide

A strong foundation of professional self-confidence is crucial when treading the academic career path. Follow these five tips to cement yours

Ayten Erçoban Evren

Near East University

An early career researcher’s guide to impact

Research impact can often be reduced to an administrative task, yet looking past metrics and seeing your work come to life can be incredibly rewarding. Here’s how to connect with the ‘why’ of your research

Andy Phippen, Louise Rutt

Bournemouth University, University of Plymouth

A pair of hands scroll social media on a smartphone

Harness the powers of social media for learning

Replace mindless scrolling with little moments of learning by curating your social media feed. Here’s how

Norlin Nosbi, Nurul Azhani Yunus, Abdul Rahim Othman, Mazian Mohammad

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

The unexpected benefits of academic blogging

Academic blogging can open doors to collaboration and career growth. Discover its benefits, and learn how to build a culture that supports it.

Jenny Scoles

The University of Edinburgh

‘An academic career is not a heptathlon’

The secret to establishing a career in academia is focus and deliberate choices, whether the path is into research, teaching or impact. Here, Robert MacIntosh explains why persistence and planning are more important than ever

Robert MacIntosh

University of the West of Scotland

An illustration of a robot soaring upwards on an arrow

Leading a personal development review? Think about GenAI for scholarship

With personal development reviews taking place over the summer, perhaps this is the moment to focus on how teaching and learning practitioners are using GenAI for efficiency in terms of scholarship

Steve Briggs

University of Bedfordshire

An academic conducting research on her laptop

How I use social media as a research tool

Drawing from her autoethnographic experiences, Bhawana Shrestha discusses how she uses social media platforms to deepen collaboration, enrich methodology and widen participation in research

Bhawana Shrestha

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Students and a teacher having a discussion in the classroom

Teaching your first course? Follow these steps

Just landed your first adjunct teaching role and don’t know where to start? Here’s how to make the most of your strengths, design a clear syllabus and deliver engaging, manageable sessions

Daniel Martínez, Robert Sanford

Independent academic

Peer review and career developing in university teaching

Peer review as a collegial approach to educator development

Expert support, structured reflection and near-peer dialogue can replace compliance and evaluation as a way to improve teaching practice. This practical framework aims to turn conversation into action

Hasti Abbasi

Deakin University

A survival guide for academic department leaders

Administrators walk a line between support for faculty and accountability for performance, writes Saleem H. Ali. Here, he offers six tips for building good governance and legacy

Saleem H. Ali

University of Delaware

Is the tick-box structure of promotion preventing true collaboration?

Academics can be so focused on the hoops they have to jump through on the path to success, they forgo opportunities for genuine collaboration. Perhaps it’s time for a shift in mindset, writes Nick Quinn

Nick Quinn

University of Glasgow

A phone screen with several different GenAI apps displayed

Can we use GenAI to subvert the neoliberal university?

Generative AI can be a tool of resistance against the corporatisation of higher education – or it can be just another distraction to make us ‘zombies in the loop’ of the system. Here is how we can choose the former

Richard McInnes

Adelaide University

Nurse entering information into computer

Supporting pathways for nurses into clinical research

Organisational support for clinician researchers is an effective way to ensure that healthcare research is translated into clinical practice. Here’s how a partnership between an Australian university and a local health service aims to amplify impact

Natasha Roberts

The University of Queensland

Seven tips to turn teaching practices into scholarship outputs

What are universities looking for when they ask for examples of scholarship outputs? Find out what could provide evidence of this work and how it can enhance your academic career

Steve Briggs, Julie Hulme

University of Bedfordshire, Nottingham Trent University

An academic holding a pile of books in front of a library bookshelf

Arts and humanities scholars can engage with policy, too

Advice for arts and humanities academics who want to develop their impact profile while staying true to their roots

Charlotte Faucher

The University of Bristol

Preparing for a research-active career during your PhD

How can you balance the demands of your PhD thesis with publishing other work to support your academic career goals? This article offers practical strategies for managing both

Anjan Pal

University of York

A hand places a wooden block atop three others

Are module leaders missing out on professional development?

Let’s support module leaders with effective and engaging training opportunities. Here are five ways to do it

Gustavo Espinoza Ramos , Louis Spring

University of Westminster

Smiling woman talking to healthcare professional

Key challenges for patient and public involvement leads

The research team member who leads on PPI must act in the interests of healthcare patients and the public as well as support the needs of the research project. Here is advice for how to succeed in this emerging role

Gary Hickey

University of Southampton

How to create an environment your employees can thrive in

Creating a workplace culture your employees can develop and grow in requires intentional leadership. Here’s how to cultivate a nurturing environment and reap the benefits

Judy Holmes

Colorado State University Global

The impact of business relationship managers in higher education

The role that bridges the gap between digital transformation and the wider university is often misunderstood. Here, Bhupinder Siran explains what a business relationship manager does, and the position’s challenges and rewards

Bhupinder Siran

University of Southampton

Image of a person taking off in a hang glider

Is your academic career cleared for take-off?

Academic career advice to help you reach new heights in higher education, from crafting the perfect CV to navigating teaching and research pathways

Campus contributors

Campus

How to use a ‘manual of me’

This team-building activity costs nothing and will help you and your staff understand each other better. Here’s a guide to using this simple tool

Alexandra Head

University of Southampton

A lectern with two microphones in front of a crowded audience

How to communicate your research to anyone

Presenting research to a non-academic audience requires a different set of skills compared with speaking to your peers. Follow these techniques to get your point across to the layman

Mats Vermeeren

Loughborough University

How to make the most of AI in careers advice – and avoid the grifts

Careers services are perfectly placed to use artificial intelligence to help students transition into the workplace, both by developing expertise themselves and by training students to use AI tools in their recruitment journeys

Séan Richardson, Keiran Whitwell

London South Bank University

How will AI reshape academic employment?

The rise of AI in higher education highlights the need for academics to upskill and adapt to new roles and ways of working. Read about how to future-proof your career

Patrice Seuwou

University of Northampton

How to make extra money in academia

How to find and make the most of dissertation supervision, extra marking and public speaking opportunities to supplement your income

Rushana Khusainova, Edoardo Tozzi

The University of Bristol

Knowledge exchange professional services career framework

How a career framework for knowledge exchange can foster a culture of professional growth

A career framework can provide pathways for personal and professional development. Here, Jane Shepard explains how one arts-based institution identified the skills required by professional services staff who help facilitate knowledge exchange

Jane Shepard

University of the Arts London

Want to teach during your PhD? Here’s what you should know

How to prepare for your first teaching experience, manage your time and keep students engaged in class

Marios Kremantzis, Rushana Khusainova

The University of Bristol

How to prevent compassion fatigue

Many educators experience compassion fatigue at some point in their careers. Prevent it by shifting your perspective, setting boundaries and building strong support networks

Bhawana Shrestha

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

An illustration of tiny figures putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle

Universities need to move interdisciplinary professional associations to the next step

Inter- and transdisciplinary teaching is going beyond communities of practice – but it’s still too small to compete with discipline-based professional associations. Here are the questions we should be asking to move forward

Gabriele Bammer

Australian National University

African colleagues at a conference session

International research needs international research professionals

When researchers in poorer countries are expected to deliver programmes to the exacting standards of funders in the Global North, it makes international collaboration more difficult. Here, Mary Ryan calls for skills development initiatives to align global aspiration and reality

Mary Ryan

University of Glasgow

‘Academic writing equals chaos’

If you are stalled in your latest writing project, Glenn Fosbraey shares three tips for breaking through blocks, getting organised and finishing the final draft

Glenn Fosbraey

University of Winchester

How to transition from a student to a researcher mindset

Tips for developing a professional network, building resilience and making a realistic research career plan

Noman Mahtab

London College of Contemporary Arts

A woman gives a talk to a room of colleagues

A practical guide to better public speaking: part two

The second in a two-part series, here’s how to hone your public speaking skills, using the three Cs

Anna Christodoulou

University of Westminster

An academic edits a research paper with a red pen

The pros and cons of peer reviewing

Weighing up whether to take on the role of peer reviewer? Arina Ziganshina draws on her own experience to outline the upsides and downsides

Arina Ziganshina

Dubai Medical University

A speaker stands at a lectern with a microphone

A practical guide to better public speaking: part one

Getting through long, not-so-interesting talks is a common experience in academia. But if we all agree it can be done better, how can we start delivering better presentations?

Anna Christodoulou

University of Westminster

‘Researchers have a responsibility to publish’

Without publication, advancements in knowledge will be stifled or even halted altogether, writes Walid Saad. Here he explains the many benefits to publishing for established scholars and students alike

Walid Saad

Virginia Tech

Traffic light sequence from green to red

Trying to decide what, where and when to publish research?

It’s a strategic balancing act, writes Walid Saad. While academic researchers often know why it’s important to publish their work, the timing, location and medium can be less evident. These tips are geared to sharing research for maximum effectiveness

Walid Saad

Virginia Tech

A car driving on a bridge across the sea

Five actions to drive your career forward in the third space

Third spaces professionals can often find themselves excluded from traditional academic promotion or career development opportunities. Here’s how to carve your own path

Steve Briggs

University of Bedfordshire

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