SFELTE Experience Route

The SFELTE experience route is the main pathway through SFELTE and is the most direct route for applying for Fellowship. This route is for those who are not eligible for the taught route, or who already have the required experience to make an application for Fellowship.

How to Apply: The Applicant's Journey

The application process for SFELTE is comprised of gathering evidence of relevant CPD in learning and teaching activities and reflecting on this evidence. A step by step guide to the process for applying for Fellowship is outlined below.

Crucial to a successful application to SFELTE is engagement with the CPD opportunities offered by the Academic Development team as well as using the support offered by the Academic Development partners.

Steps marked with a '*' are relevant to Fellow and Senior Fellow applicants only.

1. Meet with an AD Partner

Discuss your fellowship journey with an Academic Development Partner to ensure you select the route and category that is right for you. This can be done via a Drop-in or Information session or alternatively email academicdevelopment@stir.ac.uk.

2. Submit your registration form

Please contact academicdevelopment@stir.ac.uk to enquire about registration.

3. *Mentor assigned and First Mentor meeting

If you are applying for Fellow or Senior Fellow you will be assigned a mentor no later than the beginning of the semester in which you intend to submit. You should arrange your first meeting as soon as possible after being assigned a mentor. The purpose of the first meeting is to discuss your previous CPD and plan any further CPD needs, as well as discussing areas of practice you might include in your application.

4. Gathering and reflecting on evidence for your application

Once you are registered for SFELTE you will be given access to the SFELTE area of Canvas, where you can download detailed application guidelines. The application requires you to gather a range of evidence and it is important you plan these in advance.

You can begin to do this as soon as you are registered with SFELTE, you do not have to wait until you have been assigned a mentor.

Actions you should take are:

  • Review the  for your category of fellowship and identify which dimensions of the UKPSF you need to demonstrate.
  • Using the UKPSF as a guide, plan your CPD using relevant opportunities (please see our OD pages, Research office and any other relevant sources) and complete the 'Engaging with CPD' template available on Canvas.
  • SFELTE Workshops: In order to prepare and support you to write your application, we run a number of workshops specifically for SFELTE applications. It is strongly recommended that you engage with as many of these as possible.
  • Identify and approach potential referees
  • Arrange a teaching observation
  • Relevant research/ reading

5. *Second mentor meeting and Draft Application

For those applying for Fellow and Senior Fellow, you should provide your mentor with a draft application and arrange to meet them to receive feedback. In general, we have found that those who have received feedback on their application are more likely to meet the required standards for fellowship.

6. Submit your application

Use the application guidelines in Canvas to ensure you have completed all the required elements of the application and that these fulfil the required criteria.

Submission dates are in July and December.

You can submit your application at any time, however, applications are only assessed after each deadline.

7. Result

You should expect to receive your result no more than 2 months after the submission deadline.

If your application is not successful, you will be provided with feedback and invited to submit for the next deadline.

Successful applicants will be invited to an award ceremony at our Annual Learning and Teaching Conference.

8. *Invite to Join SFELTE Associates Group

Those who achieve Fellow or Senior Fellow through SFELTE will be invited to become trained as a SFELTE Associate. SFELTE Associates act as mentors and assessors for SFELTE applicants.

SFELTE Workshops

In order to prepare and support you to write your application, we run a number of workshops specifically for SFELTE applications. It is strongly recommended that you engage with as many of these as possible. A series of workshops is offered on each of the following themes:

  • Writing your application: Reflective writing
  • Becoming a Scholarly Teacher: Using the Scholarship of learning and teaching (SoTL)
  • Shut up and Write

Further Information

For further SFELTE resources please visit the SFELTE area of Canvas.

For further information please contact academicdevelopment@stir.ac.uk.

What is SFELTE?

The Stirling Framework for Evidencing Learning and Teaching Enhancement is our continuing professional development framework through which colleagues can gain recognition for their teaching in 3 different categories: Associate Fellow, Fellow and Senior Fellow. The framework has been accredited by the Higher Education Academy.

Through SFELTE we offer a PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, the SFELTE experience route and accompanying Developing as a Teacher in Higher Education programme. You can find information on each of these throughout these webpages.

Associate Fellow (SFELTE AF)

This category is suitable for those colleagues with a limited teaching role or who support teaching eg. PhD students, Postdocs, Librarians, Technicians.

Those applying for Associate fellowship may want to consider applying through our Developing as a Teacher in Higher Education (DTHE) scheme. 

Colleagues undertaking LTHP 100 as part of their probation will automatically receive Associate Fellowship on successful completion of the module.

Fellow (SFELTE F)

To apply for this category it would be expected that you have a full range of academic teaching and assessment activities and at least two years’ experience in the role, for example lecturers and some colleagues who are supporting the student experience.

Fellowship can be achieved through the SFELTE Experience route of by completing all 3 modules of the PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. 

Senior Fellow (SFELTE SF)

This category is for those in roles which demonstrate academic leadership, mentoring, coaching or developing others.

Principal Fellow

We do not offer this category through our framework but can support you in an external application to the Higher Education Academy. Contact us if you want to explore this category further at academicdevelopment@stir.ac.uk.

All SFELTE fellowships are accredited by the Higher Education Academy (HEA), the national body for learning and teaching in higher education.

What does Fellowship mean?

It enables you to gain internal and external recognition for your teaching and support of student learning. HEA Fellowships are internationally-recognised and are increasingly in demand for academic posts. Fellowships are recognised as part of AAPC guidelines.

What is the difference between HEA and SFELTE Fellowship?

SFELTE gives you internal recognition. Those achieving Fellow or Senior Fellow through SFELTE will join a community of SFELTE Associates. All categories of fellowship are automatically externally accredited through our framework by the Higher Education Academy (as AFHEA, FHEA and SFHEA).

I want recognition for my teaching/I want to apply for fellowship, what should i do?

In the first instance you should attend one of our drop-ins to talk to us about your teaching experience to date. We can then advise you on the route to fellowship that is most relevant to your experience and the steps to take before application. If you cannot make any of our drop-ins, please contact us at academicdevelopment@stir.ac.uk

Why do i need recognition for my teaching?

Increasing numbers of higher education institutions in the sector are encouraging their staff to seek recognition for their teaching in order to enhance the student experience and to meet external quality requirements. With the arrival of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2016 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, many HEIs want all of their academic staff to have an externally accredited teaching award. It is expected that some form of the TEF will exist in Scotland in the near future, discussion is ongoing through a working group made up of senior higher education professionals and the Scottish government.

I have already completed CAPP10/11/12 - does that count?

For the initial cohorts of SFELTE we were able to support the CAPP cohort to convert their work into the SFELTE framework via the PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. However, it is no longer possible to convert CAPP credit into the PGCert. To discuss other ways you can gain recognition, please contact us at: academicdevelopment@stir.ac.uk

What sort of CPD do i need to undertake in order to be able to apply for fellowship?

In your SFELTE application, you need to demonstrate how you have engaged with CPD in learning and teaching either through attending our own events or through your own disciplinary learning and teaching events. We offer a broad and varied programme of events in our calendar, which include:

  • Teaching bites
  • Learning and teaching conference
  • Programme Leaders’ network
  • Pedagogical reading group
  • Becoming a scholarly teacher workshops
  • Reflective writing workshops
  • Personal Tutor and Advisor of Study Training
  • Digital Learning Fora

We are also keen to hear from you and welcome offers of dissemination for you to share your own practice in any area of learning and teaching. Please do get in touch. Colleagues often tell us that this is some of the most interesting and relevant CPD they can give and receive.

CPD can also take the form of providing learning and teaching workshops and events, engaging in online development activities and pedagogical literature.

You should capture these activities and their impact on your academic practice using the  template.

How much CPD do i need to do before I can apply?

We do not have a minimum requirement of number of events attended, as this will depend on your own experience and level of engagement with learning and teaching. However, your application requires you to demonstrate a breadth of activity and a depth of critical reflection that enables you to write a convincing application. There are descriptors for each category of fellowship in the , which should help you identify what areas in particular you need to develop. As part of your application you will be asked to complete a 'claims grid' which will help you refine your CPD evidence. Your mentor will also be able to give guidance, as can the Academic Development Team. There is a tailored programme of CPD available for those applying for Associate Fellow through DTHE.

What does the application look like and where can I get a copy?

The application template and all other associated documents are available on our VLE. You will have access to these once you have registered with SFELTE by completing a registration form (after having met with an Academic Development Partner).

When can I apply?

Our submission dates are in July and December.

How can I get started?

Check out the information on this page about how to apply. The first step is to speak to an Academic Development partner at one of our drop-ins.