Types of professorships
The professors of ETH Zurich are responsible for teaching and research at the highest international level. ETH Zurich distinguishes between temporary assistant professorships with and without tenure track as well as associate professorships and full professorships that are not limited in duration. The retirement usually takes place at the end of the semester during which the full professor turns 65.
Assistant professorships
Assistant professors may be reappointed after their first four-year term of office.
Successful applicants for one of the SNSF Professorships or a Starting Grant of the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant) may be appointed assistant professor without tenure track for the duration of their funding period, provided that certain requirements are met.
Further information can be found external page here. Information on the ETH-internal application procedure as well as support with the application is provided by the Grants Office ().
Full and associate professorships
Full and associate professorships have equal rights, apart from minor aspects not highly relevant within the academic practice. An appointment to associate professor is possible for very young scientists or in case of a positive decision regarding tenure.
The process for promotion to a full professorship can be initiated two years after (and usually not later than six years after) the appointment of an associate professorship. The Application for Promotion has to be handed in to the President of ETH Zurich.