National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2011
401 - University professors and post-secondary assistants
4011 - University professors and lecturers
University professors and lecturers teach courses to undergraduate and graduate students and conduct research at universities. University professors who are heads of departments are included in this unit group.
Illustrative example(s)
- assistant professor, botany - university
- associate professor, linguistics
- chairperson, food sciences department - university
- chairperson, physics department - university
- computer science professor - university
- department head, geography - university
- English professor - university
- French language professor - university
- lecturer - university
- professor of medicine - university
- university instructor, engineering
- university professor
Exclusion(s)
- College and other vocational instructors (4021)
- Other instructors (4216)
- Post-secondary teaching and research assistants (4012)
Main duties
University professors and lecturers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Teach one or more university subjects to undergraduate and graduate students
- Prepare and deliver lectures to students and conduct laboratory sessions or discussion groups
- Prepare, administer and grade examinations, laboratory assignments and reports
- Advise students on course and academic matters and career decisions
- Direct research programs of graduate students and advise on research matters
- Conduct research in field of specialization and publish findings in scholarly journals or books
- May serve on faculty committees dealing with such matters as curriculum planning and degree requirements, and perform a variety of administrative duties
- May represent their universities as speakers and guest lecturers
- May provide professional consultative services to government, industry and private individuals.
University professors and lecturers specialize in a particular subject matter such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, sociology, business administration or law.
Employment requirements
- A doctoral degree in the field of specialization is required for university professors.
- A master's degree in the field of specialization is required for university lecturers.
- Licences or professional certification may be required for professors teaching future practitioners in certain professionally regulated fields, such as medicine, engineering, architecture, psychology or law.
Additional information
- University professors who are also practitioners in their field of specialization must have the appropriate licences or certification.
- Progression to senior positions within a department, faculty or university is possible with experience.
4012 - Post-secondary teaching and research assistants
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants assist university professors, community college and CEGEP teachers and other faculty members in teaching and research activities at universities and colleges.
Illustrative example(s)
- college laboratory assistant
- college teaching assistant
- graduate assistant - university
- post-secondary research assistant
- research assistant, university
Exclusion(s)
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (4413)
- Other instructors (4216)
Main duties
Post-secondary teaching assistants perform some or all of the following duties:
- Organize reference materials, visual aids and other materials as required by university professors or college teachers for lectures
- Conduct seminars, discussion groups and laboratory sessions to supplement lectures
- Assist in the preparation and administration of examinations
- Grade examinations, term papers and laboratory reports.
Research assistants perform some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct literature reviews, surveys, laboratory experiments and other research for use in scholarly publications
- Compile research results and assist professors in the analysis of results and the preparation of journal articles or papers.
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants specialize in a subject matter based on their field of study.
Employment requirements
- Enrolment in a university or college program is required.
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