HAW Professorships: A Practice-Oriented Career Path – with HTW Berlin
What does it take to become a professor at a University of Applied Sciences (HAW) in Germany? Our recent webinar on April 1, 2025, hosted by Anne Schreiter, explored this career path with insights from Prof. Dr. Helena Mihaljevic, Prof. Dr. Tine Lehmann, and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Molthagen-Schnöring from Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin, who bring diverse experiences from both academia and industry.
Our experts
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Molthagen-Schnöring
Dr. Anne Schreiter
What Makes a HAW Professorship Different?
Unlike traditional university positions, professorships at HAWs emphasize practice-oriented teaching and applied research. Teaching load is high, direct contact with students is central, and collaboration with industry is encouraged.
But how do you get there – and what do you need to bring? It’s a mix of teaching, research, and service – and all three matter.
Teaching
The standard teaching load at Universities of Applied Sciences is typically 16 to 18 SWS (Semesterwochenstunden). At some institutions, such as HTW Berlin, this can be reduced to 14 to 16 SWS if one is actively involved in research, committee work (“Gremienarbeit”), or other university-related activities.
It is important to have a clear teaching philosophy. Make sure to document your teaching experience thoroughly – include course evaluations and any relevant qualifications.
Professional experience outside academia
Applicants must have at least five years of professional experience after completing their university degree, with a minimum of three years outside academia, for example, in industry. This can include applied research in companies, consultancy work, or leadership roles in research and development. What matters is that this experience is clearly related to one’s field and well documented.
Research
Maintaining a research profile, even while working in industry, can make a significant difference. Publications, conference presentations, third-party funding applications, and research collaborations all matter. The social sciences are particularly well represented in this setting, and although opportunities in the humanities are more limited, interdisciplinary work can create new paths.
Administrative work
The importance of “Gremienarbeit” should not be underestimated. Involvement in committees, university governance, or organisational development is a key part of academic life at Universities of Applied Sciences. If you have this type of experience, be sure to include it in your CV.
Language
German is not always mandatory, especially in programmes taught in English. However, it is often considered a valuable asset. Administrative responsibilities in particular usually require at least a solid working knowledge of German.
Career tips for future HAW Professors
Even if a professorship is still a few years away, you can set yourself up strategically:
1. Build teaching experience early (e.g., guest lectures, adjunct roles).
2. Stay active in research beyond academia.
3. Highlight governance experience.
4. Explore the Association of Professors at HAWs (HLB). It is a useful resource for networking, community, and advocacy.
5. Use platforms like academics and monitor HLB listings.
6. Reach out to departments, send initiative applications, and network within study programs.
7. Consider demographics: a generational shift is coming – there will be many openings.
The message of our experts was clear:
A HAW professorship is not an “easier” or fallback academic career – it’s a highly engaged, hands-on path that calls for motivation, autonomy, and a passion for applied education.
