I always read Post Doc. Is it possible to become a lecturer without these intermediate step or is this rather uncommon. Does it happen at all and if yes, is it subject to a long publication list?

Anybody knows anybody who did this or who knows the usual procedure?

its not uncommon in certain fields. engineers and management lecturers who have worked for many years in industry and move into academia dont start at the bottom.

Lectureships are not easy to get. Generally, a university will want evidence of your ability to produce research output (publications and grants) and evidence of teaching proficiency (teaching experience, teaching qualifications).

Thanks for the replies. Not planning to become a lecturer, just interested. I know some post docs but interestingly enough they don't want to stay in academia.

becoming a Lecture in the top unversities without postdoc is mission impossible. But in some 'teaching-orientated', less research active universities is more than possible. I know one who is still doing a PhD and already working as a seniour lecturer.

The funny and at the same time bizarre thing is, the teaching-orientated universities pay the same salary like Oxford etc.

So theoretically someone could be a senior lecturer in one of those universities with a publication record of ZERO and maybe not even a PhD.

At the same time, his colleague is a lecturer at Oxford, earns much less, has 20 high quality publications.

Stupid system isn't it.

The only explanation is that those academics who work in high-profile institutions value this little fact more than a higher pay.

Which ones again shows that in academia, title and respect from peers is more important than a healthy salary.

the more I think about it the more I feel sorry for those poor academics who work for 10 years to become a senior lecturer at a first-class university.

well, I heard that some people who have been Professors in teaching universities have accepted positions of Lectures and Seniour Lecturers in Oxbridge(with a salary of Lecturer, of course)just to be there. So, it supports your hypothesis. And it means, as an academic you have to choose between fame and money:)

Forgive my ignorance but what is a teaching university? Don't they all teach?

orian, in a "teaching university" the academic staff do very little research, and spend most of their time lecturing.

Thanks Phil. Would these sorts of institutions be university colleges and the former polytechnics?