Professor website template: a free, page-by-page outline you can copy
A free professor website template with every page and section laid out, fill-in-the-blank text for each one, and tips for academic personal websites that get found.
A professor website template needs five pages: Home (name, title, one-line summary of your research, photo, latest work), Research (themes and selected publications), Books (one page per book), Speaking and Media (talks, press kit, contact for bookings), and Contact. Fill each with plain-language text written for non-specialists, link to your faculty page, Google Scholar and ORCID, and keep a dated list of recent work.
Key takeaways
- Five pages cover most professors: Home, Research, Books, Speaking and Media, Contact.
- Write the one-sentence summary of your work first. Every page builds on it.
- Put key information on the page as text, not only in a PDF CV.
- Link your site to your faculty page, Google Scholar and ORCID, and back.
- A template gives you the structure; the writing is what makes it work.
A template saves you from staring at a blank page. Below is a complete professor website template: every page, every section, and fill-in-the-blank text you can adapt. It works with any website builder.
How to use this template
- Copy the outline for each page.
- Replace everything in [brackets] with your own details.
- Write for an intelligent non-specialist first; keep technical detail one click away.
- Delete any section that doesn’t apply to you yet. An empty “Books” page is worse than none.
Page 1: Home
The homepage tells a visitor who you are within a few seconds, and sends them to the right page.
[Full name] [Title], [Department], [University]
I study [your research topic in plain language], and [why it matters to people outside your field].
[Photo]
Latest: [new paper, book or talk, with date] · [another item, with date] · [another item, with date]
[Button: Research] [Button: Books] [Button: Speaking] [Button: Contact]
Tip: the one-line summary is the most important sentence on your website. Journalists, organisers and AI tools will quote it. See how to write an academic bio for help.
Page 2: Research
Research
My research asks [the big question]. [Two or three sentences on what you’ve found and why it matters.]
[Theme 1]
[Two sentences on this strand of your work.]
[Theme 2]
[Two sentences.]
Selected publications
- [Author(s)], “[Title],” [Journal] ([Year]). [One line on why it matters.] [Link]
- [Repeat for five to ten papers.]
Full list: [Google Scholar link] · [ORCID link] · [SSRN or preprint link]
[Download CV (PDF)]
Page 3: Books (one page per book)
[Book title]: [Subtitle]
[Publisher], [Year]
[Cover image]
[A 100–200 word summary written for readers, not reviewers.]
Praise “[Quote].” — [Name, title or publication]
Awards and translations: [list]
Buy: [Publisher] · [Amazon] · [Bookshop.org] · [Other editions]
In the media: [Interview, podcast, excerpt, with links]
There’s more on book pages in author website examples.
Page 4: Speaking and Media
Speaking
I speak to [types of audiences] about [your topics].
Talks
- [Talk title]: [Two sentences on what the audience takes away.]
- [Repeat for two to four talks.]
[Video of a recent talk]
Past events: [Event, organisation, year] · [Event, organisation, year]
[Speaking enquiry form, or bureau contact]
Media
Short bio (50 words): [text] Long bio (150–200 words): [text] Headshots: [Download links] · Free to use with credit to [Photographer] Topics I comment on: [topic] · [topic] · [topic] Recent coverage: [Outlet, date, link] · [Outlet, date, link]
For a full press kit, see how to create an author and speaker media kit.
Page 5: Contact
Contact
Email: [address] Speaking: [you or your bureau] Media: [you or your university press office] Academic enquiries: [address]
I usually reply within [time].
Settings to check before you publish
- Your own domain (yourname.com), not a free subdomain
- A page title and short description for every page
- Works well on a phone
- Images compressed so pages load fast
- Links to your faculty page, Google Scholar, ORCID and LinkedIn
- Dates on every news and media item
Template or designer?
A template gives you structure. What it doesn’t give you is the writing: turning years of research, books and talks into clear, confident text that a journalist or event organiser understands in seconds. That’s usually where professors get stuck.
If you’d rather not fill it in yourself, see academic website design, or I’ll design and write two sections of your site from your real work, free, within two working days. Request your free preview.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free professor website template?
Yes. The outline on this page is free to copy. It works with any website builder, including Wix, Squarespace, WordPress and GitHub-based tools.
What is the best template for an academic personal website?
Choose a clean, text-first template with room for a photo, a clear navigation of five or six pages, and good readability on phones. Avoid templates built for portfolios of images or online shops.
Can I use a GitHub academic template like Academic Pages?
Yes, if you're comfortable editing code and markdown. They are free and fast, but updates and design changes need technical work, which is why many professors prefer a visual builder or a designer.
How long does it take to fill in a professor website template?
Setting up the template takes an afternoon. Writing good text for each page usually takes much longer, because summarising years of work in plain language is the hard part.