The Professional Standards Framework (PSF) 2023 and Associate Fellowship
Associate Fellowship is the appropriate category of fellowship to professionally recognise individuals from a wide variety of different contexts whose higher education (HE) teaching and/or support for learning practice enables them to evidence some of the PSF 2023 Dimensions to meet the requirements of PSF 2023 Descriptor 1.
Associate Fellowship (Descriptor 1) is awarded to recognise an individual’s effectiveness of practice in teaching and/or support of learning as demonstrated through evidence of meeting the following three Descriptor 1 criteria statements:
- D1.1 use of appropriate Professional Values, including at least V1 and V3
- D1.2 application of appropriate Core Knowledge, including at least K1, K2 and K3
- D1.3 effective and inclusive practice in at least two of the five Areas of Activity
Professional Standards Framework 2023
Find out more about the revised framework that emphasises effectiveness and impact, inclusion and context, as fundamental aspects of practice.
Are you considering applying for Associate Fellowship?
We opened the applications for fellowship for each of the four categories supported by the PSF 2023 on 12 April 2023, new guidance documents and templates are available in the information pack you can request below. If you would like to apply under UKPSF 2011 please visit UKPSF 2011 fellowship application resources.
Please be aware that applications under UKPSF 2011 must be submitted by 31 December 2023.
Associate Fellowship brings you a range of benefits:
- consolidates your personal development and emphasises your professional practice in HE
- entitlement to use post-nominal letters - AFHEA
- provides a valuable measure of success and is increasingly sought by employers across the education sector as a condition of appointment and promotion
- recognised and valued by a growing number of international institutions.
Is Associate Fellowship for you?
Individuals applying for Associate Fellowship may be fairly new to a role in teaching and/or support for learning or may have a limited teaching portfolio; for example, some sessional/ part time staff or early career researchers with some teaching responsibilities. They may be new or experienced staff with specific roles in supporting HE learning such as technicians, librarians, professional staff, learning technologists, careers advisors, etc. It is not role dependent; you will need to explore whether you have sufficient evidence of appropriate teaching and or/support for learning practice to make a successful application.
We recommend that prior to starting your application you use our free online Fellowship Category Tool.
If you feel that you are working within this category, download your Associate Fellow guidance pack for information about applying.
Fellowship Category Tool
Our Fellowship Category Tool has been designed to help you understand which category of Fellowship most closely reflects your current practice and to reflect on your ongoing professional development and career aspirations.
After you have answered a series of choice questions, which will take around 10-20 minutes, you will be shown your results and a PDF report summarising your responses will be sent to you.
Applying for a fellowship against the UKPSF 2011?
If you are preparing an application against the UKPSF 2011, you MUST submit this by 31 December 2023. You must ensure that your application only references UKPSF 2011 Dimensions and Descriptors.
You can find relevant guidance documents and templates on this web page.
From 1 January 2024, only applications made against PSF 2023, using the correct PSF 2023 templates will be accepted. Your application MUST NOT reference aspects of UKPSF 2011 such as Core Knowledge K6. Any such references will result in your application being returned.
If you are uncertain which PSF you are applying against, please use the following links to check which application documents you have used to build your application: UKPSF 2011 or PSF 2023.
Introducing the Professional Standards Framework 2023 (PSF 2023)
Launched in 2006 and last revised in 2011, the Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education (PSF) has global recognition for raising the profile of teaching and learning in higher education. The PSF’s contribution to reward and recognition is unsurpassed, being used by individuals, institutions and national bodies.
Following a sector and evidence led review, the PSF 2023 is a more inclusive Framework that recognises the critical role of the context in which practice takes place and is more accessible to all professionals with a role in teaching and supporting learning.
Its focus on effectiveness and impact of practice drives attention to improved outcomes for learners across the global community. The concise, streamlined approach offers clarity and ease of use in professional development, leadership of teaching and learning, strategic enhancement and in fellowship and accreditation settings.
We opened the applications for fellowship for each of the four categories supported by the PSF 2023 on 12 April 2023, new guidance documents and templates are available are also available.
We will continue to welcome applications made against PSF 2011 until 31 December 2023 for individuals already in the process of developing their applications.
Applying and application fees
There are various application routes for Fellowship, they are made in writing and need to be supported by written references. Find out more about the available application routes.
Application fees vary depending on the route you take to Fellowship, with individuals from subscribing institutions benefiting from discounted fees.
| Routes to Fellowship | Fees |
|---|---|
| Accredited Provision (individual from a member institution) | No cost |
| Accredited Provision (individual from a non-member institution) | £150 |
| Direct application to Advance HE (individual from a member institution) | £150 |
| Direct application to Advance HE (individual from non-member institution) | £300 |
Do you want to support your staff to achieve Fellowship?
Advance HE offers Fellowship support to institutions through a structured process:
- Fellowship workshops - sessions helping your staff understand Fellowship and the application process
- Fellowship Writing Retreats - expert support providing a structured and guided environment in which to construct an application for Fellowship
- draft Fellowship applications reviews - a consultant will review applications and provide annotated feedback, including points for further development.
All of these services can be delivered online.
Meet some of our Associate Fellows
