Procedure

Tenure track professorships are advertised internationally upon a recommendation from the faculties. The tenure track procedure is divided into two phases. The first phase typically ends in the third year of the professorship. For junior professorships, this phase ends with an assessment of the probationary period. If this assessment is positive, then the junior professorship is extended to a total of six years, and the basic W1-level salary is increased in accordance with the remuneration system. For fixed-term W2 professorships, the first phase ends with an assessment of future potential. In contrast to the probationary period assessment, this assessment of potential does not affect the temporal limitations of the (fixed-term) W2 professorship.
The second phase of the tenure track procedure concludes with the tenure evaluation. This typically takes place in the sixth year of the junior professorship or in the fifth year of the fixed-term W2 professorship and corresponds to a regular, unadvertised appointment procedure. If this second evaluation is also successful, then the scholar will receive a lifetime professorship, typically at the W2 level with the salary and benefits customary for the field. Six years after accepting the professorship, at the latest, the professor can then submit a request for an additional evaluation. If this evaluation arrives at a positive result, then salary and benefits are increased once again.