Academic promotion

The annual round of academic promotion applications has closed.

Applications are under consideration and notification of promotion decisions will reach applicants by email by Thursday, 10 October 2024. Please note that some applicants for Associate Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, Research Associate Professor, Professor, Clinical Professor or Research Professor will receive progress reports if a decision has not been made. Final decisions of these applications will be advised as soon as possible.

What is academic promotion?

In an application for academic promotion, you make a special case that describes how you meet the specific criteria for promotion to a higher grade. The promotion process is separate from the regular annual and biennial academic performance reviews.

Academic promotion usually means a change in job title, but may also be used to progress beyond a salary bar or to apply for additional increments within some salary scales.

Guidance on applying for promotion

• Academic Staff Promotions Policy booklet (PDF)
• Applying for Academic Promotion (videos)
• Changes to the Promotions Policy effective 1 March 2024 (PDF)
• Timeline of dates for Academic Promotion

To find out which promotion(s) you are able to apply for, check the Academic Titles guidelines for your position. The specific criteria for each level of promotion are listed as Schedules in the Promotions Policy, along with all the other information you need to know before you apply.

• Academic Titles guidelines

Applications for promotion open in March each year when the updated policy is released, and applications normally close at the beginning of May. This year, in 2023, the deadline is 5pm on Thursday 4 May. In March we hold information sessions for staff who are thinking of applying.

Applicants must consult with their Head of Department well in advance of the due date, because applications need to be submitted to HoDs (and Deans in Health Sciences) for comment before being delivered to Human Resources by the due date.

Your promotion application is a significant piece of work – it will require a lot of planning to gather the evidence you need to support your application. Even though the policy is updated in March each year, you should have a look through the current policy as you plan your application. When we release the updated policy we will also provide a list of the changes.

Guidance for clinicians

Are you a clinical teacher working at a hospital or other health provider? You may apply for promotion to either of the following titles:

• Clinical Associate Professor
• Clinical Professor

To be promoted, you will need to show that your academic and professional reputation is such that you would likely be appointed at, or promoted to associate professorial or professorial level.

• Find out about applying for promotion to Clinical Associate Professor or Clinical Professor

Promotion information sessions are provided by HEDC and HR via Zoom. A member of the relevant promotions committee will be there to answer your questions. Please register to attend.

• Information sessions on Academic Promotion

Application for promotion: checklist

To make sure the process goes smoothly, make sure you include the correct documents.  This list is to be read in conjunction with the full promotions policy.

• Academic promotion application form (DOCX)
• A personal statement, addressing how your performance meets the criteria for the promotion you are seeking
• Otago Teaching Profile (unless you are Research Only Staff)
• Copies of reviews of books or artistic performances if available
• Current CV using the standard University format (DOCX)
• Evidence of acceptance of any unpublished manuscripts
• Head of Department Assessment Statement (DOCX)
• Referees Form (DOCX)*

* Required for applications for promotion to Associate Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, Research Associate Professor, Professor, Clinical Professor, Research Professor

Applying for academic promotion

In these short videos, experienced academic staff members discuss aspects of a promotion application.

What the committees are looking for in your application