Associate professor (frequently capitalized as
Associate Professor) is an academic title that can have different meanings. In
North America and universities elsewhere using the North American system, it is a position between
assistant professor and a
full professorship. In a number of
Commonwealth countries, the title, associate professor, is often used in place of
reader, which is used in the
United Kingdom and a number of other Commonwealth universities. This usage is typical of universities in
Australia and New Zealand, as well as in
South Africa, Malaysia and other countries. The title associate professor in those countries, like the title reader, corresponds to a full professorship in North America.