NEW DELHI: A recent statement by Ananth Sudarshan, associate professor at Warwick University’s Department of Economics, has fueled the debate about academic pay in the UK. Taking to social media platform X, Sudarshan criticized the UK’s salary structure, especially for contractual academic staff, claiming that they are so uncompetitive that universities in countries like India are now offering better compensation packages for top-tier talent.
Sudarshan’s statement exposes an uncomfortable truth: Britain, regarded as a high-income country with attractive salary potential, is struggling to retain and attract skilled academics due to falling pay scales in absolute terms.
He pointed out in particular how the UK’s High Potential Person (HPI) visa scheme is being undermined by unattractive salaries, making other countries such as India more attractive to certain candidates by comparison. While he acknowledged that, on average, UK salaries remain higher than those in India, he argued that the margin has become “surprisingly unattractive”, especially for top talent in the UK for academic roles.
Salary for academic positions in the UK
Data from Glassdoor UK reveals that academic salaries in the UK vary significantly depending on a person’s position and experience.
Professors: The total estimated salary for professors in the UK is £84,339 per annum, with an average base salary of £79,422 and additional salary components such as bonuses, commissions, and profit-sharing estimated at £4,917 per annum. Salaries typically range from £66,000 to £95,000, reflecting values within the 25th and 75th percentiles of reported data.
Assistant Professors: Entry-level academic roles, such as assistant professors, report an average salary of around £48,000 annually.
Associate Professors: Mid-level positions, such as associate professors, earn around £59,000 per year.
Faculty members and instructors: Faculty earn an average of £37,000, while instructors, typically the lowest-paid academic level, earn around £25,000 annually.
These figures illustrate a relatively broad spectrum of salaries based on position and additional responsibilities, but appear insufficient to offset the high cost of living in the UK even at the high end of this spectrum.
Salary for Academic Posts in India
Comparatively, academic salaries in India are historically lower than in developed countries. However, recent trends and competitive pay packages in some organizations are challenging this norm.
Professors: According to Glassdoor India, the average base salary for professors is ₹ 1,00,000 per month, with total estimated salary, including additional compensation, averaging ₹ 1,03,917 monthly. Basic salaries range between ₹ 59,000 and ₹ 2,00,000 depending on the institution and professor’s credentials.
Assistant and Associate Professors: The average salary for Assistant and Associate Professors is in line with broad industry norms, generally ranging from ₹48,000 to ₹1,00,000 monthly.
Additional Salary: As in the UK, additional compensation includes bonuses, commissions, and profit-sharing, which supplement base pay but are generally smaller in scale.
Although these figures reflect the general market, many top-tier Indian universities and government-aided institutions are offering packages that are competitive even on a global scale. This trend is part of what Sudarshan highlights—India is emerging as a viable destination for top academic talent because of its targeted approach to recruiting top academics.
Bridging the Pay Gap in Academia
Sudarshan’s critique highlights a significant challenge for UK academia: balancing costs with competitiveness in a global academic market. With UK professors earning higher salaries on average than their Indian counterparts, the disparity in purchasing power parity (PPP) and the growing appeal of some Indian institutions have changed the landscape. This comparison highlights the pressing need for UK universities to reassess pay scales, particularly for early career and contract staff, in order to maintain their position as global centers of academic excellence.