Becoming an emeritus professor

The basic principles of the retirement or emeritus status of professors at the University of Basel are detailed in the staff regulations (Personalordnung) and in the regulations for academic staff (Ordnung für das Wissenschaftliche Personal). The General Secretariat has also published further information on the university’s intranet concerning internal university processes and contacts in matters of retirement and gaining emeritus status.

Professors are entitled to continue using their titles after reaching retirement age (“Prof. emerita” / “Prof. emeritus” / “Prof. em.”) – this also includes adjunct professors who have been actively engaged in teaching right up until retirement age.
 

The standard retirement age at the University of Basel is 65. In order to ensure that teaching operations are not disrupted, the professors concerned generally leave at the end of the semester in which they reach retirement age. Early retirement is possible after turning 58, at the instigation of the professor in question. Any requests for early retirement must be made in compliance with the proper notice period. As university staff, professors can apply to postpone retirement for up to two years, i.e. until the age of 67. Such an application must be agreed upon with the department or faculty and submitted to the President’s Board at least two years before the standard age for retirement is reached.

Requests for early retirement or to postpone retirement from members of the university community who hold positions outside the university (e.g. at a university hospital or an associated institute) are subject to the provisions of the body responsible for employing that individual, and are therefore to be sent to that body.

Questions on the continuation of university positions once emeritus status has been granted as well as on access to any remaining funds from external funding sources are to be clarified with the management of the department or faculty at an early stage.

The archiving of research data is subject to the provisions of the university’s Research Data Management. Administrative documents are offered by the creator of records to the State Archives of Basel-Stadt once the legal retention period has elapsed; there are proven procedures for this, carried out via the faculties, Dean's Offices and departments. When checking the submission of further documents to the State Archive or to the Manuscripts and Bequests Collections at the university library, professors may call upon the university archivist for assistance if required.

Professors have the option of giving a farewell lecture upon being awarded emeritus status. This offers them the opportunity to gather together their friends and associates from both the university and their private sphere and to look back over their years at the university. To organize this lecture, the professor should generally speak to either the Dean’s Office or the management of the department, depending on the faculty.
 

Emeritus professors can continue to work at the university in teaching and research upon agreement with the departments and faculties responsible. The right to hold examinations and award doctorates remains, in the case of doctorates that have already begun, for up to three years after receiving emeritus status.

If required, emeritus professors can also retain both their university email account and UNIcard, which will have all the same functionalities as those of staff members. For the first three years after attaining emeritus status, professors will also have access to the university’s standard software licenses and to support from its IT services. Access can be extended at the end of this period upon request. Access to the Basel University Library services is also available to emeritus professors as needed, as well as to the corresponding licensed e-media, for which an active Unibas account must be held for the purposes of authentication.

All permanent staff members at the University of Basel are covered by the Basel-Stadt pension fund (PKBS). When a staff member is awarded emeritus status, they are, as a matter of principle, entitled to a lifelong old-age pension. A portion of the retirement assets can also be withdrawn as capital. The old-age pension is paid out in 12 monthly payments, near the end of each month. Questions on the pension, or on withdrawing any capital early, should be addressed directly to the PKBS.