About the opportunity
The Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna seeks to fill a Full Professor of Arabic Studies position focusing on linguistics in research and teaching. The successful candidate will cover the broad field of Arabic studies, maintaining an internationally outstanding profile. Responsibilities include teaching classical and modern Arabic, topics related to the Arab world, dialectology, and general linguistic approaches. The appointee will contribute to study programs including the Bachelor in Oriental Studies, the Master in Arab World: Language and Society, and the Master in Arabic Linguistics. Knowledge of an Arabic dialect, ideally from the eastern Arab world, is required. The position also involves contributing to the faculty’s doctoral program and collaborative research initiatives such as the Vienna Corpus of Arabic Varieties (VICAV).
Salary and benefits
- A dynamic research environment
- A broad range of support services for research and teaching
- Attractive working conditions in a city with a high quality of life
- An attractive salary under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for University Employees (Grade A1, individually negotiated)
- Company pension scheme
- A start-up package, particularly for initiating research projects
- Comprehensive and personal support for newly appointed professors and their families relocating to Vienna
Who can apply?
- Holding a doctorate or PhD degree
- Outstanding research achievements, excellent publications, success in third-party funded projects, and international reputation
- Experience in designing and leading large research projects
- Excellent teaching and supervision skills across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels
- Demonstrated leadership qualities
- Gender and diversity competencies
- Readiness to take on organizational and administrative duties within the faculty, center, and/or university
- Willingness to acquire German language proficiency within three years to enable teaching in bachelor programs and participation in university committees
- Proficiency in an Arabic dialect, ideally from the eastern Arab world
Required documents
- A single PDF file named Surname_Firstname.pdf in English containing a cover letter
- Academic curriculum vitae including education, previous positions, career interruptions, awards, memberships in scientific bodies, collaborators, major third-party funding projects, invited lectures, courses taught, and supervision activities
- List of publications and link to ORCID profile
- Research statement covering main research results (max. 2 pages) and planned future research (max. 4 pages), plus a summary of five relevant publications
- Teaching and supervision statement detailing methods, target groups, group sizes, and course types (max. 2 pages)
- Full texts of five key publications (in an annex PDF)
- Teaching evaluations if available (summarized in a single PDF)
- Copies of academic degree certificates (mandatory, summarized in a single PDF)
When to apply
- Application deadline: December 15, 2026
How to apply
- Prepare all required application documents combined into a single English PDF file named Surname_Firstname.pdf
- Submit the application via email to the Dean of the Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies, Stephan Müller, at dekanat.philkult@univie.ac.at
Additional information
- Reference number: 6278
- The University of Vienna pursues a non-discriminatory employment policy and places equal value on equal opportunities, women's promotion, and diversity.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Established researchers with a strong publication record in Arabic linguistics and philology seeking a prominent academic chair position.
- Scholars experienced in securing external funding, managing large projects, and supervising students at all higher education levels.
- Academics proficient in Arabic dialects looking to shape curricula in Oriental Studies and Arabic linguistics within a major European university.
What should you think carefully about?
- The position requires relocating to Vienna and acquiring professional German language proficiency within three years.
- Extensive application documentation is required, including detailed research and teaching statements alongside key publication texts.
- Administrative and committee responsibilities form an integral part of the workload alongside research and teaching.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This professorship is ideal for an accomplished mid-to-senior scholar aiming to lead an established department, expand international research networks, and direct specialized linguistics initiatives in an academically vibrant European institution.
Our take
Senior researchers and professors specializing in Arabic linguistics with a robust publication and leadership track record should apply before the December 2026 deadline.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
Official-source verified
