Academic Ranks in the Netherlands

Academic ranks in the Netherlands are the titles, relative importance and power of professors, researchers, and administrative personnel held in academia. These ranks are mostly limited to scholars holding a position at the Dutch research universities with the position of Lector being the exception at the vocational universities.

Academic ranks

Dutch title Literal translation Pay grade US equivalent UK/commonwealth equivalent

Hoogleraar	High teacher	H1, H2, 14+extra	Full Professor	Full Professor
(only and unique academic rank for University of Applied Science) Lector	Reader	15	Full Professor	Full Professor/Reader
Universitair Hoofddocent	University head lecturer	13, 14	Associate professor	Senior lecturer / Reader
Universitair Docent	University lecturer	11, 12	Assistant professor	Lecturer
Docent	Lecturer	10-13	Lecturer	Lecturer
Onderzoeker / Postdoc	Researcher, Postdoc	10-13	Researcher	Research fellow
Assistent in Opleiding / Promovendus	Assistant in training	P	Ph.D. student	Ph.D. student
Onderzoeksassistent	Research assistant	6-9	Research assistant	Research assistant
Student Assistent	Student (enrolled in B.Sc. or M.Sc. program) assistant	SA	Student teaching/research assistant	Student teaching/research assistant

Administrative positions

Dutch title Description Length of term Requirements Executive board of the university Department or Division

Voorzitter raad van bestuur	CEO or president of a university	Appointed for fixed 4 year terms, which can be consecutive	Need not be a professor, can be appointed from outside the organisation
Rector Magnificus	Ceremonial head and head of research and education of a university	Appointed for fixed 4 year terms, which can be consecutive	Always a full professor, elected from within the sitting professors of the university.
Leden van de raad van bestuur	Additional members of the board of a university (e.g. CFO)	Appointed for fixed 4 year terms, which can be consecutive	Need not be a professor, can be appointed from outside the organisation
Decaan (Dean)	Head of research and education of a faculty	Appointed for fixed 4 year terms, which can be consecutive	Usually a full professor
Leerstoel houder	Leader of a research group or department (lit: teaching chair holder)	Appointed indefinitely (until mandatory retirement age)	The most common full professor. When retiring a replacement will be actively looked for in an open application procedure.