2026-03-12

How to Read a German Faculty Job Advertisement

What “W2,” “Besoldung,” and “Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache” actually signal when you are deciding whether to apply.

German faculty advertisements compress a great deal of hiring reality into a few dense paragraphs. Before polishing a cover letter, slow down and decode the rank, the language expectation, and whether the post is tenured, tenure-track, or a fixed-term junior professorship.

Pay attention to the Besoldung grade and any reference to a tenure evaluation. A W1 junior professorship with a tenure option differs sharply from a permanent W2 or W3 chair. If the ad mentions a teaching load in semester hours, compare it with your current load and with norms in your discipline.

Language clauses matter more than candidates from abroad often assume. “Sehr gute Deutschkenntnisse” usually means you will teach in German within a short period. Ads that welcome applications in English still often expect committee interviews partly in German.

Finally, note the application packet list: publication list, teaching evaluations, research concept, and sometimes a shortlist of referees. Missing one item can remove you before any committee reading begins. Map every requested document against a checklist before you write a single sentence of narrative.