Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung - Positions as Lektor for German as a Foreign Language, Austrian Literature and Culture at Foreign Universities

What You Get

This programme places you as a lecturer (called a Lektor) at a university abroad, where you teach German as a foreign language and Austrian literature and culture. Each position is funded from two sources at the same time: the host university pays you a local salary, and the OeAD (Austria's national agency for international mobility) adds extra support on top.

• At non-EU locations: the OeAD pays you a gross monthly salary of EUR 1,625.20, paid 14 times per year (12 monthly payments plus two extra payments, common in Austria).
• At EU and UK locations: the OeAD adds a top-up grant of up to EUR 21,400 per year, depending on the country and site.
• Duration: positions run for up to 5 years in total. The academic year starts on 1 September.

Additional Benefits

• Travel cost contribution for one outbound and one return journey per academic year (up to EUR 1,500)
• A funded pre-visit to your future host institution (up to EUR 1,500 for travel and accommodation)
• Accommodation costs covered for regional Lektor meetings
• Teaching materials: a one-off book allowance (up to EUR 300), up to three journal subscriptions, and up to two newspaper subscriptions
• A Certificate Programme in Foreign Lecturing run by the University of Vienna (20 ECTS credits across three modules, taught each July in Vienna) — Module 1 is compulsory before you start

What You Do

You teach 12–14 hours per week at a university's German studies or modern languages department. Your work covers German language classes, Austrian cultural studies, and literature. You also advise students on study and research opportunities in Austria, help organise Austria-related events, and can pursue your own research alongside your teaching duties.

Positions exist at more than 80 universities across 30+ countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Who Can Apply

• Degree: You hold a Magister or Master's degree (or PhD) from an Austrian university in a humanities or cultural studies field.
• Recency: Your degree was awarded no more than 7 years before you would start the position.
• Residence: Your main registered address has been in Austria for the two years immediately before you leave for the position (exceptions apply if you participated in another state mobility programme during that time).
• German language level: You speak and write German at C2 level (the highest level on the European language scale) and can teach the specifically Austrian variety of German.
• Background in German as a Foreign Language: Additional training in teaching German as a foreign language is recommended, though not a hard requirement.

How to Apply

The process runs in several stages across the academic year:

• Step 1 — Written application (December–31 January): Submit an online application through the scholarships.at platform. The deadline is 31 January.
• Step 2 — Selection interview (February): If your application passes the formal check, you are invited to an in-person interview before a panel of 3–4 experts in Vienna.
• Step 3 — Position-specific application (early to mid-March): Successful candidates can apply for up to four specific open positions. You have about one week to complete this step.
• Step 4 — Selection by host universities (March–May): Each host university makes its own final hiring decision.
• Step 5 — Job offer and acceptance (April–May): If selected, you receive an offer by email and must respond within 48 hours.
• Step 6 — Pre-visit (May/June): You make a funded visit to your future host institution before the position begins.
• Step 7 — Introductory seminar and compulsory Certificate Module 1 (July, Vienna): All new Lektors attend a two-day OeAD seminar, followed immediately by the first module of the certificate programme.
• Programme start: 1 September

Contact

Email: lektoratsprogramm@oead.at