Reader (academic rank)

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In the academic hierarchy in the United Kingdom and some universities in Australia and New Zealand, Reader is the rank between senior lecturer (or principal lecturer in the New Universities) and professor. The title of Reader is given in recognition of research and scholarship.

In some systems Readers are parallel to senior lecturers (old universities) or principal lecturers (new universities): in these systems promotions to reader are made on the basis primarily of research merit while promotions to senior/principal lecturer are made on the basis of teaching ability.

As of 2006, the University of Warwick has substituted the title "Associate Professor" instead of Reader. Whether this will become a trend is uncertain as yet.

In some systems, Readers are a primarily or totally research positions, with limited or no teaching responsibility.

In the University of Nottingham, both senior lectureship and readership have been prefixed with associate professorship (e.g., Associate Professor (Reader) and Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer)). It is expected that this arrangement is temporary and in the end, it will follow the Warwick style.

In the UK, the salary range for a reader is the same as with a senior lecturer. This is not the case in Australia where a reader's salary is in a higher category.