A teaching contract (Lehrauftrag in German) gives doctoral candidates the opportunity to take over university teaching, e.g. by holding seminars or practice classes for students.
Advantages
- Acquisition of experience in teaching, which can be useful in a later appointment
- Can, under certain circumstances, be exercised in addition to a scholarship or a non-university professional activity. The exercise of a teaching contract parallel to a contract as an academic staff member is only possible if the contract as staff member is subject to a time limit for third-party funding in accordance with Section 2 (2) WissZeitVG (academic fixed-term contract). Binding information on personnel law issues can be obtained from the Human Resources Department (in German) Service PA 2.
Disadvantages
- Self-employment, i.e., no social security coverage provided by the university
- Payment is per teaching unit; preparation and follow-up work are not separately compensated
- Limited number of hours, therefore to be regarded as a secondary job and usually insufficient as the sole source of funding for a PhD
Teaching contracts are usually not advertised, but are awarded on a semester basis by the chair/institute/faculty to persons who appear suitable. If you are interested in a teaching contract, it is advisable to contact the supervisor or university teaching staff in related subjects.
More information on teaching contracts at JGU (in German)
