Competence promotion for academic staff

Promotion to teaching- and research positions

Criteria for promotion 

Promotion to teaching- and research positions is regulated by regulations to the Universities and University Colleges Act.

• See the regulations for the different job categories and subject areas.
• In addition, there are subject-specific guidelines for the assessment within the framework of the regulations from national faculty meetings (UHR) etc., where the competence requirements are elaborated.

In order to be granted promotion, the qualification requirements for the relevant position category must be met, and the expert committee's conclusion must be unanimous.

Note: Employees who apply for promotion according to Section 3-13 of the Regulations no later than 31 July 2025, are entitled to have their application assessed in accordance with the Regulations relating to Appointment and Promotion to Teaching and Research Positions (lovdata.no).

For decisions on appointments and promotions to teaching- and research positions prior to 1 August 2025, the institutions may choose to use the qualification requirements stipulated in the Regulations on Appointment and Promotion to Teaching and Research Positions (lovdata.no).

Who can apply?

Applicants who have not had their competence assessed at their home institution for the last two years may apply for promotion. If a position has been advertised at UiO at the higher position category and within the same subject area during the last two years, one must not apply until two years after the application deadline in the relevant announcement.

Person who applies for promotion must have at least one year left of their employment period in order to be eligible to apply.

Fixed-term employees in adjunct positions and tenure track positions are not eligible to apply for promotion. 

Employees on leave of absence may apply for promotion.  

• Employees to assistant professor positions may apply for promotion to associate professor
• Employees to associate professor may apply for promotion to associate professor
• Employees to associate professor may apply for promotion to professor

Note: Employees in the position category of university lecturer and college lecturer, have the right to apply for promotion to associate professor according to Section 2-4, first paragraph, (lovdata.no) of the Regulations relating to Appointment and Promotion to Teaching and Research Positions, until 31 December 2027. Please note that this transition period only applies to university lecturers who have commenced their positions prior to the implementation of the regulations to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1 August 2024.

Expert assessment

Applicants who have been declared competent by an unanimous declaration of competence for a higher position level at UiO during the last six years prior to the time of application, may be awarded promotion without a new assessment.

UiO practices as a general rule that promotion is only given on the basis of competence assessment by expert committees appointed by UiO. The relevant faculty board, or other delegated decision-making body, has the authority to decide whether assessments carried out by other institutions can be used as a basis for assessment of promotion. There is no opportunity to accept individual applications from other institutions.

Other applications will be assessed by an expert committee.

Application deadline and date of effect

*On the first day of the month after the thesis is submitted for assessment, or from the date of commencing the position.

Application form and local routines for promotion to professor

• For promotions to professor, special application forms are to be used: