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PGCAP

Enhance your practice with the PGCAP

Challenge your thinking, enhance your practice and connect with your peers by engaging in our Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP). We run two PGCAP cohorts each year, starting in February and September.

Applications are now open to join our September 2023 cohort. Details about the programme and how to apply can be found on this page.

What is the PGCAP?  

The PGCAP is a post-induction programme for staff who make a significant contribution to Student Education at Leeds. The programme is accredited by Advance HE, and successful completion will result in the award of Fellowship (FHEA).

The course is studied over 3 semesters (18 months) and it is heavily grounded in participants’ current academic practice and it is strongly ‘work-based’ in its philosophy and approach. Participants’ own experience of student education forms the basis of the learning. 

One of our previous PGCAP participants from our February 2021 cohort provided us with the following feedback on the programme:

This has been so completely relevant to the majority of my university roles , I would unreservedly (well, maybe warning they need to do lots of work to benefit from it) recommend it. It has been very thought provoking, interesting and well designed. It has and continues to significantly influence my practice. Very grateful for all the background work that has clearly gone in to set up and run the course. Thank you!

Find out more about PGCAP

Sign up for our  'Find out more about PGCAP' event which takes place via MS Teams on Friday 12 May 12-1pm. The session will explore why participants engage with the PGCAP and the impact it has on enhancing their student education practice, including how it’s one route to gain Fellowship (FHEA).

How will PGCAP support you? 

  • enhance your student education practice 
  • network with colleagues and learn from your peers 
  • apply practically the approaches you explore on the programme 
  • develop your confidence and skills for online teaching 
  • undertake an impactful research project to enhance ongoing practice 
  • gain Fellowship (FHEA)

Find out how the PGCAP has supported other colleagues to enhance their student education practice and read our applicant guidance document (Word) for more details. 

Programme Structure 

The programme is studied part-time over 3 semesters (18 months). Each semester involves completing a 20 M level credit module, this is a time commitment of approximately 6 hours per week engaging with PGCAP related activities. Successful completion will result in the award of Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA).

The PGCAP continues to be a fully online programme at present, but please be aware that we are exploring the possibility of having some face-to-face elements within the course for the September 2023 cohort and beyond. At the heart of the decisions behind the mode of delivery which is offered, is meeting the needs of the colleagues participating on the programme, whilst maintaining the effectiveness of the provision, modelling good practice and ensuring the creation of a learning community amongst cohorts, all of which have been achieved as part of our fully online delivery of the course. We would share details of any face-to-face elements in good time before the course commences.

Explore the structure of the programme in more detail in this MS Sway (Opens in Sway). The Sway also outlines the links between the PGCAP and Curriculum Redefined and how each of the PGCAP modules links to the pedagogical themes underpinning the vision of Curriculum Redefined.

Eligibility 

The programme is available for colleagues involved in student education at Leeds. The programme as a whole has been designed to allow participants to demonstrate they meet the requirements to achieve Fellowship (FHEA). The full requirements for participants of the PGCAP are detailed on our applicant guidance document (Word) and as a condition of our Advance HE accreditation cannot be deviated from. 

Applications and Guidance

Fees

There are no direct fees for undertaking the PGCAP programme nor for the Fellowship (FHEA).   

Applications

Applications are now open to join our September 2023 cohort. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 31 May 2023, 5pm.

Details of how to apply can be found in the following documents:

  1. Read the applicant guidance document (Word) and the PGCAP FAQs document (Word). 
  2. Complete the supporting statement document (Word). 
  3. Share the HoD DSE guidance document (Word) with your Heads of School or Service. 
  4. Once you have identified your workplace mentor, share with them the workplace mentor guidance document (Word). 
  5. Apply via the Applicant Portal. Complete the information as prompted and submit your application. Our guidance on submitting your online PGCAP application provides step-by-step instructions on this process. 

Please note that we are currently in the process of re-accreditation of the PGCAP with Advance HE. This includes evidencing how our programme aligns with the new Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023) launched in January 2023. Therefore, there may be slight amendments made to the documentation supplied above. These amendments should not affect participants but should there be any changes made that do impact upon applicants, this will be shared with the new September cohort well in advance of the programme commencing in September.

If you have any questions or need any support please contact pgcap@leeds.ac.uk. 

Other routes to obtaining Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA)

The PGCAP is one of the routes we offer to gaining Fellowship (FHEA). You may wish to consider this route if you’re looking to develop your student education practice. In contrast, if you have over two years student education practice the PRiSE (Professional Recognition in Student Education) scheme is also an available route to gaining Fellowship. We have produced a short guide (available below) to selecting the most appropriate route for you.