Academic Promotions
The University is committed to upholding freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law. Nothing contained herein should be read as undermining or conflicting with the free speech code of practice and that in case of any conflict the free speech code of practice will take precedence.
At Loughborough, we recognise that the success of our University is built on the talent, dedication and achievements of our staff. We are committed to creating an environment in which colleagues are supported to develop their careers and realise their full potential.
Promotion pathways are available for colleagues within the Research, Teaching and Enterprise (RTE) and Specialist and Supporting Academic (SSA) job families. These pathways provide opportunities for colleagues to demonstrate their contribution and impact, and to be recognised through advancement to higher grades or academic titles using agreed promotion criteria.
Supporting the University's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion aims, our promotion processes are designed to be:
- Inclusive and reflective of the Academy and wider society.
- Objective, fair and transparent.
- Aligned to the University's vision, purpose and values.
- Supportive of career development and the continued success of the University.
If you have any questions about applying for promotion, please contact your Dean of School in the first instance.
Meeting dates and submission deadlines
| Committee | Meeting date | HR submission date |
|---|---|---|
|
Academic Promotions Committee (Senior Lecturer and SSA8) |
Tuesday 13 April 2027 |
To be advised |
|
Personal Titles Committee (Reader, Professor and SSA9) |
Friday 19 March 2027 |
To be advised |
Your school will publish its own deadline for the School Promotions Committee, which is the first step in reviewing your application. If your application is endorsed at this level, it will then advance to the University committee and be submitted to HR by the stated deadline.
Committee composition and membership
Frequently asked questions
Q. Are Vice Chancellor Independent Research Fellows (VCIRFs) eligible to apply via this round?
Yes, anyone who is SSA-R or SSA-T staff are eligible to apply.
Q. Is it possible for a colleague who is a University Teacher to apply for promotion on the research pathway?
It is not possible to move diagonally between job families. If colleagues feel the focus of their work has significantly changed, they need to speak with their line manager to look at a change of job family. Then, they could apply for promotion within the correct pathway.
Q. Could someone who is currently at the bottom of a grade, for example, on point 27 of Grade 6 apply for promotion?
Yes, but their application would need to be robust and prove that they are ready to progress. This is where the School’s promotions committee would scrutinise the application and would only progress those promotions cases that stand a good chance of success and provide constructive feedback to those that are not ready at that point in time.
Q. Can someone who is on a fixed term contract apply?
Yes, they will be assessed against the criteria in the same way as permanent staff and be managed through the same process.