Short answer: A tenure-track professorship (in German: Tenure-Track-Professur) is a post with a defined route to a permanent professorship, provided the interim evaluation is positive. According to Forschung und Lehre, the federal and state programme aims to fund 1,000 tenure-track professorships by 2032. According to the report dated 24 September 2024, the first evaluation was positive: by the reference date of 31 May 2023, 971 of the 1,000 posts had been filled for the first time.
Anyone who wants a professorship after the doctorate often faces a phase of fixed-term posts before a permanent chair becomes possible. Tenure track is a model designed to make this route more predictable. This guide explains how the procedure works, what the figures so far show and what to check before you apply.
The most important points
- According to the evaluation report, the federal and state programme was decided in 2016.
- By 2032, a total of 1,000 tenure-track professorships are intended to be funded.
- The evaluation covering 2022 to 2024 found that almost all funded professorships could be filled.
- According to the evaluation, the average age at first appointment was 35.9 years.
- Criticism concerns, among other things, the appointment of women to W2 posts and the compatibility of family and work.
What is a tenure-track professorship?
The term describes a professorship in which the appointment is initially for a fixed period, with a permanent professorship in prospect. The decision on making the post permanent follows an evaluation, which is tied to meeting agreed goals. The detailed criteria are set by the university and its appointment rules, so they can differ from one institution to another.
Unlike a classic junior professorship, the aim of a tenure-track post is from the outset a permanent professorship at the same university. That is the core of the model. How it differs from other routes is shown in the overview of academic careers (in German: Wissenschaftliche Karriere: Überblick), which places the whole picture in context.
How the federal and state programme is set up
According to the evaluation report, the programme was decided in 2016 by the then Federal Ministry of Education and Research. It is meant to support early-career researchers and to improve the predictability of academic careers. A total of 1,000 tenure-track professorships are planned by 2032.
The programme is financed jointly by the federal government and the states. Which university receives a post and how its selection procedure runs is decided by the university itself, within the requirements of the programme.
What the first evaluation shows
The evaluation was carried out by Technopolis Group together with the DZHW between 2022 and 2024. According to the report, the result is positive. Almost all funded professorships could be filled, and the average age at first appointment sits well below the age at which a permanent professorship is usually reached.
| Indicator | Value according to the evaluation | Reference date or period |
|---|---|---|
| Tenure-track professorships in total | 1,000 | Programme target by 2032 |
| Posts filled for the first time | 971 of 1,000 | 31 May 2023 |
| Average age at first appointment | 35.9 years | Evaluation 2022 to 2024 |
| Gap to the age at permanent appointment | around 7.3 years | Evaluation 2022 to 2024 |
The table lists the indicators from the report. The gap to the age at a permanent appointment shows that the path begins earlier. The figures come from a report published in September 2024 and do not amount to a current balance of the programme. They rely on a specialist article (secondary source) with a reference date of 31 May 2023. The current status of the programme is published by the responsible federal ministry and the Joint Science Conference (GWK).
Where the criticism lies
The report also names weaknesses. According to it, women are more often appointed to W2 rather than W3 professorships. In addition, women are considerably less satisfied with the compatibility of family and work than men. According to the evaluation, universities have hardly expanded their support services.
For you as a doctoral candidate or postdoc, this means asking a specific post about its commitments on permanent status, compatibility and support. A general job advertisement often says little about these points.
What to check before you apply
A tenure-track advertisement contains more than the job title. The following points help you judge an offer before you invest time in an application.
- The length of the phase before the evaluation and the criteria for permanent status should be named.
- Resources such as staff, equipment and research time should be visible in the advertisement or the offer.
- The rules on parental leave and on extensions for family commitments should be in writing.
- The post should be linked to a clear university management that confirms the commitment.
Verbal assurances from appointment talks are valuable, but they do not replace a written agreement. Have commitments on permanent status, equipment and parental leave written into the appointment contract or into a supplementary agreement. That protects you if contacts change or committees are reconstituted. A comparison with other offers is easier when every point is documented.
Planning across several years should also take your funding into account. If you move between two fixed-term posts, plan for possible gaps in income and in your insurance status. Which sources can be combined is shown in the overview of the financing of a doctorate (in German).
How the route to a permanent post works in practice
A tenure-track post usually runs in two phases. In the first phase you work on a fixed term and meet agreed targets in teaching, research and academic self-administration. In the second phase an evaluation decides on permanent status. The details are set out in the appointment contract and in the advertisement.
- Check the advertisement for the terms tenure track, interim evaluation and permanent appointment.
- Have the goals of the interim evaluation confirmed in writing before you sign the contract.
- Clarify what support the university offers for family life and research leave.
- Compare the route with other posts, for example a fixed-term postdoc position.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tenure-track professorship a guarantee of a permanent post?
No. The commitment depends on a positive evaluation. The report on the first evaluation shows a high filling rate, but it says nothing about the outcome of each individual decision on permanent status.
How does tenure track differ from habilitation?
Habilitation is a qualification that many disciplines require for a professorship. Tenure track, by contrast, is an appointment model with a defined route to a permanent post within one university. The two routes can complement each other, but they do not have to.
Does the programme apply to all disciplines?
The figures in the report refer to the programme as a whole. Whether and how individual disciplines or universities take part is decided by the university concerned and can be found in the specific advertisement.
How does a fixed-term post affect my health insurance?
The answer depends on your contract, your status and your income. An overview of health insurance during a doctorate is available in the guide on the health insurance during a doctorate (in German).
What to do now
- Find out the goals and deadlines of the programme from the university where you apply.
- Draw up a list of commitments on permanent status and compatibility.
- Compare tenure-track posts with fixed-term alternatives before you decide.
- Have the contract checked before you sign if anything is unclear.
Related guides
- Doctorate in Germany: routes, duration, funding and doctoral title (in German)
- Minimum contract term for doctoral candidates: what the reform plans
- Postdoc fixed terms: what the WissZeitVG reform plans after the doctorate (in German)
- Financing a doctorate: post, scholarship or own funds compared (in German)
- Academic careers: contracts, collective pay and fixed terms overview
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
