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Anadjunct professor is a type of academic appointment inhigher education who does not work at the establishment full-time. The terms of this appointment and thejob security of the tenure vary in different parts of the world, but the term is generally agreed to mean a bona-fide part-time faculty member in an adjunct position at an institution of higher education.
An adjunct professor may also be called anadjunct lecturer, anadjunct instructor, oradjunct faculty. Collectively, they may be referred to ascontingent academic labor. The rank ofsessional lecturer in Canadian universities is similar to the US concept.
In theUnited States, an adjunct is, in most cases, a non-tenure-track faculty member.[1][2] However, it can also be a scholar or teacher whose primary employer is not the school or department with which they have adjunct status.[3] Adjunct professors make up the majority of instructors in higher education (post-secondary) institutions in the US. In 2025, theAAUP reported that 70% of faculty members teaching in US colleges were in non-tenure track positions.[4] As with other part-time workers, they are paid less than full-time professors and do not receive employee benefits such as health insurance or an office.[5] In most cases, adjunct professors in the US need a master's degree but in some cases only require a bachelor's degree and relevant experience.[6] However, over a third have a doctoral degree.[7] In many universities, the title "adjunct professor" (or variations thereof, such as "adjunct associate professor") implies a PhD or otherterminal degree; those with a master's or bachelor's degree may receive the title of "adjunct lecturer".
In Canada, adjunct professors are often nominated in recognition of active involvement with the appointing institution. At the same time, they are employed by the government, industry, a profession, or another institution.[8] The term "course lecturer," rather than "adjunct," is used if the appointment is strictly to teach one or more courses. In contrast, the US uses this title for all instructors.
InArgentina andBrazil, the designationprofessor adjunto implies stable employment.
InPortugal, the designationprofessor adjunto implies stable full-time employment in a polytechnic university.
In parts ofSpain, the termprofessor adjunto refers to a non-tenured position.
InHungary, there exists a similar termadjunktus, as well asadiunkt inPoland, although only the term is similar, asadjunktus in Hungarian means full-time employed assistant professor, not a bona fide lecturer.
InFinland, the Docents' Union of Finland recommend the term adjunct professor or associate professor in English as a translation of the title ofdocent.[9] However, the official translation used by the universities granting the title is "Title of Docent". A docentship should be regarded as an educational title not connected with the employment rank as such, rather an assurance of the level of expertise, to enable the person to advance further in their academic career. The rank of a docent entitles scientists to be principal investigators, lead research groups, and act as the supervisors of doctoral students.
Some universities inThe Netherlands have adjunct professors, where the title applies to the highest ranking variant ofassociate professor, thus having quite a distinct interpretation from the American use of the term.
InItaly, the term adjunct professor is used to translate the title ofProfessore a contratto.
InFrance, the term adjunct professor refers to “Chargé de cours”.
InGermany, the term adjunct professor translates to the title ofaußerplanmäßiger Professor and is abbreviatedapl. Prof.
InBangladesh, private universities follow the title adjunct professor or adjunct associate professor to imply non-tenure faculty members.
InPakistan, adjunct (assistant/associate) professors are also considered as non-regular faculty members, and usually, posts are given to Pakistani overseas scientists under a faculty development program.
InAustralia, the termadjunct is reserved for academics and researchers from outside the university who have a close association with the university, e.g., through supervision ofPhD students, recognized by an honorary title reflective of their rank and standing (adjunct lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor or professor).[10][11][12][13]
InThailand, adjunct (assistant/associate) professors are considered "non-regular officers".