Skip to main content

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. The deadline for the September 2026 cohort has been extended to 5pm on Monday 15 June 2026. Details about the programme and how to apply can be found below.

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. 

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!

PGCAP participant from our February 2021 cohort

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. 

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.  All core elements of the course are online, but we do offer some optional in-person sessions during the programme.  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. 

Explore the structure of the programme in more detail in this MS 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. Please ensure you meet the full pre-requisite requirement in the 'application document'.

Briefing event: Find out more about the PGCAP

Watch a recording of our recent PGCAP briefing event on the Staff Intranet. The session explored 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 AdvanceHE Fellowship (FHEA).

Watch a recording of our recent PGCAP briefing event

Podcast: Insights into the PGCAP

Listen to a two-part podcast feature on the PGCAP, part of OD&PL’s Developing People series:

  • Part 1: Empowering Educators – Programme leads Victoria Taylor and Dr Jim Baxter share how the course fosters reflective practice, community building, collaborative learning, and innovative approaches.
  • Part 2: Teaching Transformed  – Alumni Dr Clare Tweedy and Carl Hartley reflect on how the PGCAP helped shape their teaching identities and practice. They discuss how they discovered confidence in their identities as teachers, and how the practical teaching methods taught on the programme fostered innovation, increased engagement, and earned them both wider recognition for their work.

Applications and Guidance

Applications

Applications are open to join our September 2026 cohort (start date Monday 7 September). The deadline for the September 2026 cohort has been extended to 5pm on Monday 15 June 2026. 

Applications are done via the Applicant Portal using the details below.

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. Please note you must use a personal email address when signing into the portal, please do not use your Leeds staff email. When searching for the PGCAP, please use the following information: Study type: Masters (Taught Postgraduate), Mode of study: Part Time, Course: PGC Academic Practice PT (start date 01.09.2026).

If you have any questions or need any support please contact [email protected]

Fees

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

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 to selecting the most appropriate route for you: Selecting an appropriate route (Word)

Support for Disabled Students

If you have a long term or ongoing condition that impacts your studies you can speak with Disability Services about the support that might be available for you. Disability Services are happy to have a chat with you about confidentiality before you register - just email them or attend a drop-in with Disability Services.

For more information you can visit the Support for Disabled Students webpage.