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University of Leeds Teaching Awards

University of Leeds Teaching Awards 2025

The University of Leeds Teaching Awards celebrate excellent practice in student education and recognises the importance of teaching and learning as a scholarly activity.

2025 applications

Applications for the 2025 awards are now closed, and winners will be announced in July. You can explore previous winners in the sections below. The following guidance for applications is available for information only to help you prepare for next year’s awards – please note this may be subject to change.

"Providing our students with the best learning experience, which prepares them for their future and empowers them to make the difference they want to make in the world, is a commitment we all share at Leeds. This commitment requires talented educators – both academic and professional services colleagues – to support students and work in partnership with them to provide an inspiring, challenging and supportive environment that enables them to achieve their goals and ambitions.

"The University of Leeds Teaching Awards celebrate excellent individual and collaborative practice in student education, and recognise the importance of teaching and learning, and giving our students the best possible experience. I look forward to seeing the applications for 2025!"

– Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education

Our Teaching Awards prize

If you are successful in winning one of our University of Leeds Teaching Awards, you will receive:

  • A monetary award which you can use to support your professional development and scholarship, e.g. to cover the cost of attending relevant conferences or events
  • A certificate
  • An invitation to a celebratory event hosted by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Education)

In addition, as a winner in the Sustained Excellence and Sustained Collaborative Categories, you will have access to guidance and support provided for the National Teaching Fellow (NTF) and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) schemes.

Award categories

There are four categories of award:

  1. Early Career University of Leeds Teaching Award: for staff with up to five years' experience of teaching or supporting learning in higher education. A maximum of three awards will be made in this category, with each winner receiving £2000.
  2. Sustained Excellence University of Leeds Teaching Award: for colleagues with more than five years’ experience. A maximum of three awards will be made in this category, with each winner receiving £2000.
  3. Early-Stage Collaborative Excellence University of Leeds Teaching Award: for teams of staff in newly established collaborations (up to 3 years). A maximum of two awards will be made in this category, with each team receiving £500 per contributor (up to a maximum of £4000).
  4. Sustained Collaborative Excellence University of Leeds Teaching Award: for teams of staff in more established collaborations (more than 3 years). A maximum of two awards will be made in this category, with each team receiving £500 per contributor (up to a maximum of £4000).

Eligibility

Applications are open to all colleagues who satisfy the following criteria:

  • You are an employee of the University of Leeds (academic, professional services and technical services colleagues can apply for the awards)
  • Your role involves teaching or supporting the student learning experience
  • You must be able to demonstrate exceptional impact in student education
  • You apply before the specified deadline

Our further guidance document and FAQs document provide more information about eligibility and are available in the following section.

Applying for the 2025 awards

Applications for the 2025 awards closed on Friday 14 March 2025. Winners will be announced in July.

The following guidance for applications is available for information only to help you prepare for next year’s awards – please note this may be subject to change.

Applications can be either via a written or recorded presentation route. Further guidance on applications and both routes can be found below. The following also applies, depending upon the category of award you are applying for:

  • Early Career and Sustained Excellence: your claim needs to address how you have enhanced student learning; supported colleagues and influenced support for student learning; and your commitment to maintaining the currency of your practice.
  • Early-Stage Collaborative Excellence: your collaborative excellence claim needs to address how you have enhanced student learning and your excellence in collaboration and team working.
  • Sustained Collaborative Excellence: your collaborative excellence claim needs to address how you have enhanced student learning; supported colleagues and influenced support for student learning; and your excellence in collaboration and team working.

Application forms, guidance on the recorded presentation route and details of how to submit your written or recorded application can be found in the following document:

For further information please see the following documents which includes FAQs, the award criteria and marking information (this includes details of the weighting for each section of an application), and details on applying for a mentor.

Additional support for your application

  • Get support with your application from a mentor: A mentor could provide support and advice and help you to develop and showcase teaching excellence and to present your experiences in an effective application. If you are interested in being paired with a mentor please complete the request form above. This support is subject to the availability of our mentors.
  • Briefing sessions: Watch a recording of the briefing event on 5 February 2025 for an introduction to the awards and to find out more about applying.

Selection of the Award Winners

Applications are reviewed by the University Panel. The panel includes Pro-deans for Student Education or their nominee, Student Union Education Officer, Professional Service representatives, chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or their nominee. If you are successful in one year, you can be nominated again, however, your application must be for a different category and based on distinctly different teaching and support activities.

Award winners (2021-2024)

Find out more

If you have any questions about our University of Leeds Teaching Awards, please email peopledev@leeds.ac.uk.