1. What is HEA Fellowship? What’s the UK PSF?
Background information to prepare you for your application for Fellowship
Swansea Application Route (SAR)

2. What is HEA Fellowship?
The formal recognition of staff adhering to the principles of the United Kingdom UK Professional Standards Framework (UK PSF)
Different categories of Fellowship according to your length of employment in HE AND also your role in leading change within your subject area, College, within the institution or nationally

3. The UK PSF Dimensions Areas of Activity Core Knowledge
Professional
Values
Core
Knowledge
Click each circle to find out more about the dimensions
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4. The UK PSF Dimensions Areas of Activity Back Next Continue
A1 - Design and plan learning activities and/or programmes of study
A2 - Teach and/or support learning
A3 - Assess and give feedback to learners
A4 - Develop effective learning environments and approaches to student support and guidance
A5 - Engage in continuing professional development in subjects/disciplines and their pedagogy, incorporating research, scholarship and the evaluation of professional practices
Areas of Activity
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5. The UK PSF Dimensions Core Knowledge Back Next Continue
K1 – The subject material
K2 – Appropriate methods for teaching, learning and assessing in the subject area and at the level of the academic programme
K3 – How students learn, both generally and within their subject disciplinary area(s)
K4 – The use and value of appropriate learning technologies
K5 – Methods of evaluating the effectiveness of teaching
K6 – The implications of quality assurance and quality enhancement for academic and professional practice with a particular focus on teaching
Core Knowledge
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6. The UK PSF Dimensions Back Next Continue Professional Values
V1 – Respect individual learners and diverse learning communities
V2 – Promote participation in higher education and equality of opportunity for learners
V3 – Use evidence-informed approaches and the outcomes from research, scholarship and continuing professional development
V4 – Acknowledge the wider context in which higher education operates, recognising the implications for professional practice
Professional
Values
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7. Why is Fellowship important?
National recognition of your commitment to professionalism in teaching and learning in higher education
Demonstration that your practice is aligned with the United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework (UK PSF)
Its portability with UK-wide relevance and is increasingly recognised across the sector
Facilitation of participation in professional networks, including discipline based networks
Indication of your professional identity for higher education practitioners, including the entitlement to use post-nominal letters:
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Descriptor 1)
AFHEA
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Descriptor 2)
FHEA
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Descriptor 3)
SFHEA
Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Descriptor 4)
PFHEA

8. Recognising your excellence at Swansea University
Fellowship is considered favourably within the promotions criteria
for those on teaching career pathways
The application process and the reflection it requires will provide
personal benefits to you as a teacher
Fellowship is embedded within the University’s strategic goals of
“Research Led Learning and Inspiring Teaching”

9. Fellowship Options Introduction Introduction Associate Fellow Fellow
The category of fellowship depends on the depth of understanding and practice of learning, teaching and assessment and scope of leadership you have demonstrated.
The SAR currently doesn’t support the Principal Fellowship option.
However the SALT team can advise and support you in your direct application to the HEA.
Introduction
Associate Fellow
Fellow
Senior Fellow
Principal Fellow
Click on the titles to the right to read about
the Fellowship categories

10. Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Fellowship Options
Associate Fellow
Associate Fellow
Understanding of Learning, Teaching & Assessment
At least 2 of the 5 areas of activity
A commitment to appropriate Professional Values
Appropriate Core Knowledge and understanding of at least K1 and K2
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
Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Associate Fellow
Fellow
Senior Fellow
Principal Fellow
Likely Staff Groups
Early career researchers with some teaching responsibilities (eg PhD students, GTAs, contract researchers/post doctoral students etc)
Staff new to teaching (including those with part-time academic responsibilities)
Staff who support academic provision (eg. Learning technologists, learning developers and learning resource/library staff)
Staff who undertake demonstrator/technician roles that incorporate some teaching related responsibilities
Experienced staff in relevant professional areas who may be new to teaching and/or supporting learning, or who have a limited teaching portfolio

11. Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Fellowship Options
Fellow
Fellow
Broader understanding of Learning, Teaching and Assessment Issues
Successful Engagement in all five Areas of Activity
Appropriate knowledge and understanding across all aspects of Core Knowledge
A commitment to all the Professional Values
Successful incorporation of subject and pedagogic research and/or scholarship
Successful engagement in CPD related to teaching, learning, assessment and, where appropriate, related professional Practices
Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Fellow
Associate Fellow
Senior Fellow
Principal Fellow
Likely Staff Groups
Early career academics
Academic-related and/or support staff holding substantive teaching and learning responsibilities
Experienced academics relatively new to UK higher education
Staff with (sometimes significant) teaching-only responsibilities including, for example, within work-based settings

12. Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Fellowship Options
Senior Fellow
Senior Fellow
Thorough understanding of LTA issues
Successful engagement in all five Areas of Activity; Appropriate knowledge and understanding across all aspects of Core Knowledge
A commitment to all the Professional Values
Successful incorporation of subject and pedagogic research and/or scholarship
Successful engagement in CPD related to teaching, learning, assessment and, where appropriate, related professional practices
Successful co-ordination, support, supervision, management and/or mentoring of others (whether individuals and/or teams) in relation to teaching and learning
Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Senior Fellow
Associate Fellow
Fellow
Principal Fellow
Likely Staff Groups
Experienced staff able to demonstrate, impact and influence through, for example, responsibility for leading, managing or organising programmes, subjects and/or disciplinary areas
Experienced subject mentors and staff who support those new to teaching
Experienced staff with departmental and/or wider teaching and learning support advisory responsibilities within an institution
Item in bold is the key descriptor differentiating this from Fellow.

13. Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Fellowship Options
Principal Fellow
Principal Fellow
Sustained record of effective strategic leadership
Active commitment to and championing of all Dimensions of the Framework
Successful, strategic leadership to enhance student learning and teaching quality in institutional, and/or (inter)national settings
Establishing effective organisational policies and/or strategies for supporting and promoting others
Championing, within institutional and/or wider settings, an integrated approach to academic practice
A sustained and successful commitment to, and engagement in, CPD
Paraphrased from the UK PSF
Principal Fellow
Associate Fellow
Fellow
Senior Fellow
Likely Staff Groups
Highly experienced and/or senior staff with wide ranging academic or academic-related strategic leadership responsibilities
Staff responsible for institutional strategic leadership and policymaking in the area of teaching and learning
Staff who have strategic impact and influence in relation to teaching and learning that extends beyond their own institution
Please note that this is not currently supported by the Swansea Application Route – requires direct application to the HEA
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14. Ready to Apply?
Review the “How to apply?” powerpoint and related web pages on our Website.
Want more information? Contact and/or come along to one of our HEA information sessions (details and booking on our website)

15. For more details See the SALT website for:
Links to the HEA Fellowship Descriptors and UK PSF
Information on how to apply
Assessment Criteria and
List of Indicative Activities
Guidance for Referees