COVID-19 update
Along with the rest of the sector, Advance HE is adjusting to the challenging times in which we all find ourselves. We are determined to support our members by delivering as much as possible online and maintaining the best possible, flexible service. Our staff are well-versed and rehearsed in working remotely and our IT systems robust.
Associate Fellowship (AFHEA) 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
Download the Associate Fellowship pack
If you feel that you are working within this category, download your Associate Fellow guidance pack to find out more about how to apply.
Is Associate Fellowship for you?
We have identified the roles and experience for which people applying for Associate Fellowship typically have below:
- an early career researchers with some teaching responsibilities (e.g. PhD students, GTAs, contract researchers/post doctoral researchers etc.);
- new to teaching (including those with part-time academic responsibilities);
- a member of staff who supports academic provision (e.g. learning technologists, learning developers and learning resource/library staff);
- a member of staff who undertakes the role of demonstrator/ technician with some teaching-related responsibilities;
- an experienced staff member working in a relevant professional area who may be new to teaching and/or supporting learning.
If you feel that you are working withing this category, download your Associate Fellow guidance pack to find out more about how to apply.
Our new Fellowship Category Tool has been designed to help you to reflect on your practice.
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. You will be able to use this to understand which category of Fellowship most closely reflects your current practice and to reflect on your ongoing professional development and career aspirations.
The UKPSF and Associate Fellowship
Associate Fellowship is awarded to professionals who can demonstrate they meet the criteria of Descriptor 1 (D1) of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) for teaching and supporting learning in higher education. By applying to be an Associate Fellow individuals show an understanding of specific aspects of effective teaching, learning support methods and student learning and demonstrate:
- successful engagement with at least two of the five Areas of Activity;
- successful engagement in appropriate teaching and practices related to these Areas of Activity;
- appropriate Core Knowledge and understanding of at least K1 (the subject material) and K2 (Appropriate methods for teaching, learning and assessing in the subject area and at the level of the academic programme);
- a commitment to appropriate Professional Values in facilitating others’ learning;
- relevant professional practices, subject and pedagogic research and/or scholarship within the above activities;
- successful engagement, where appropriate, in professional development activity related to teaching, learning, and assessment responsibilities.
Download an Associate Fellow guidance pack to find out more and commence your application.
Applying and application fees to 31 March 2021
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 instutions benefiting from discounted fees.
Fees
Accredited Provision (individual from a member institution) - No cost
Accredited Provision (individual from a non-member institution) - £100
Direct application to Advance HE (individual from a member institution) - £100
Direct application to Advance HE (individual from non-member institution) - £200
Download the Associate Fellowship pack
If you feel that you are working within this category, download your Associate Fellow guidance pack to find out more about how to apply.
Applying and application fees from 1 April 2021
From 1 April 2021, there will be an increase to the fees of direct applications for Fellowship. This is the first Fellowship fee increase in over seven years and reflects the increased costs we have been able to absorb until now. Find out more in our Application fees FAQs.
The new Associate Fellowship application fees will be:
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
For me, it was about improving my confidence in teaching in higher education more than anything. But it has also helped in terms of theory and practice, enabling me to understand why I was doing specific things while I was teaching.
I guess like many others in similar support roles, I’ve always seen myself as more of a facilitator. It takes you a while to appreciate that we are all vital cogs in the system. We all want to learn!
Advance HE is gathering momentum in a big way in Australia. There is a good understanding of the challenge involved in reaching Associate Fellow. The bar is high and there’s a growing recognition amongst Australian academics of what is required to reach that bar. Lecturers really want an additional form of feedback and professional development, and Advance HE provides that.