Tenure track professor in Cultural Studies

You hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a humanities discipline focused on cultural studies, with relevant expertise for the profile sought. Experience in policy preparation, development, or implementation in the context of cultural policy is considered an asset. You possess excellent teaching skills and have an affinity for designing and delivering university-level education in its many dimensions.

You can present a strong and balanced, internationally oriented research portfolio, with highly regarded publications in your field. You have a clear vision of how your research can further develop in relation to existing expertise.

You enthusiastically contribute to the Master of Cultural Studies program of the future, in a spirit of open collaboration. Organizational skills, leadership qualities, and strong interpersonal skills are essential.

Experience with scientific outreach or collaboration with professional sectors is a plus.

A good command of English is required. The administrative language of KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or not sufficiently) at the time of appointment, KU Leuven offers language training to enable participation in administrative meetings. You will be given the opportunity to acquire the necessary Dutch proficiency before teaching in Dutch.

The Research Unit of Literary Studies and Cultural Studies within the Faculty of Arts at KU Leuven is seeking a full-time tenure-track professor in Cultural Studies. The professorship will commence on September 1, 2027. KU Leuven is the largest university in Belgium and is consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in Europe. The university is a member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and places great importance on attracting and appreciating talent. At the Faculty of Arts, research is conducted in the fields of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Archaeology, Art History, Chinese Studies, History, Japanese Studies, Literary Studies and Cultural Studies, Linguistics, Musicology, and Translation and Interpreting Studies. The Faculty employs over 800 junior and senior researchers and provides education to approximately 4,500 students across its campuses in Antwerp, Brussels, Kortrijk, and Leuven. The Faculty strives to be an open and inclusive environment, with attention to dialogue, social safety, sustainability, and a healthy work-life balance. We are looking for a motivated lecturer and researcher to strengthen the staff of the Cultural Studies Research Group within the Research Unit of Literary Studies and Cultural Studies. The Cultural Studies Research Group is renowned for its research on contemporary cultural practices, cultural policy, cultural theories, and digital humanities, and includes more than 30 senior and junior researchers. Members of the research group teach in various bachelor's and master's programs within and beyond the Faculty of Arts, particularly in the Master of Cultural Studies program.

We offer a full-time tenure-track professorship (ZAP) in a dynamic faculty that hosts a wide range of disciplines. You will join an intellectually stimulating and international environment, with ample space and opportunities to develop yourself further as a lecturer and researcher, thus making a significant contribution to society.

KU Leuven provides support and benefits for starting professors who have a partner and/or family, cf. www.kuleuven.be/english/life-at-ku-leuven/partner-and-family.

You will be appointed as tenure-track professor for a period of five years. After a positive assessment following the five-year term, you will receive a permanent professorship at the level of ‘hoofddocent’ (associate professor). Within this function promotions to higher academic degrees are possible. All academic degrees have the ius promovendi.

You will work in Leuven, a historic and vibrant city in the centre of Belgium, twenty minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.

The start date for this position is 1 September 2027.

To facilitate scientific integration and the start-up of research, KU Leuven provides start-up funding of 110,000 euros for new professors.

KU Leuven is well equipped to welcome international professors and their families and offers practical support with immigration and administration, housing, childcare and career coaching for partners.