The appointment of an associate professor is the first permanent link as public employee of the teaching bodies.

Pompeu Fabra University has chosen to prioritize employment contracts and does not hold calls for associate professor  places. The first permanent connection to UPF is via access to a senior lecturer contract.

The University may hold competitions for the mobility of public employees of other universities. Participation is reserved for associate professor of other universities.

Associate professors are public employees of the State educational bodies.

Public employees who earned their position before 1 January 2011 contribute to the Mutualidad General de Funcionarios Civiles del Estado (MUFACE) civil servant mutual society to receive health care and to the civil service pension fund for retirement.

Those civil servants who took possession as of 1 January 2011, contribute to MUFACE to receive the health care and the general regime of the Social Security for retirement.

The full time job does not allow any other activity.