The Oxford Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership Recognition Scheme has three pathways (Associate Fellow, Fellow and Senior Fellow) that align to different teaching and learning support roles, responsibilities, and educational leadership practice.
Each is a structured route through which to apply for recognition of your higher education teaching/learner support that is accredited by Advance HE.
Find out about the Fellowship Pathway below. Upon successful completion of this pathway, you will be awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
Who is it for?
The Fellowship Pathway is open to those who have had substantive teaching and/or learning support roles and responsibilities for at least one academic year.
Are there pre-requisites?
To be eligible to apply to this pathway you must:
- Be teaching/supporting learners registered at the University of Oxford.
- Have been teaching/supporting learners for at least one full year prior to joining the pathway.
- We recommend that you collect student feedback from your Hilary Term teaching or learning support activities. See Methods to evaluate your teaching for more suggestions.
Is Fellowship right for me?
To find out if your teaching and/or learner support experience, roles and responsibilities are aligned to the criteria for Fellowship you will need to complete the Advance HE Fellowship Category Tool 2023. You will be asked to share the results of your Fellowship Category Tool as part of the application process.
How can I find out more about the pathway and ask questions?
You are encouraged to register to attend one of the following online information session to find out more about the Fellowship Pathway and to ask any questions you may have about the pathway before applying:
Wednesday 21 January (Week 1 HT26) 12:00 to 12:30
Wednesday 28 January (Week 2 HT26) 12:00 to 12:30
Wednesday 4 February (Week 3 HT26) 14:00 to 14:30
Monday 9 February (Week 4 HT26) 11:30 to 12:00
Wednesday 18 February (Week 5 HT26) 9:30 to 10:00
Monday 23 February (Week 6 HT26) 11:00 to 11:30
Wednesday 4 March (Week 7 HT26) 12:00 to 12:30
Monday 9 March (Week 8 HT26) 15:30 to 16:00
How is it delivered?
The Fellowship Pathway adopts a ‘flipped classroom’ approach. Before each workshop you will be asked to work with a number of different resources provided to suit a range of teaching/learner support contexts. You will be able to engage with online materials in Canvas and they will be linked directly to each of the five in-person workshops. These workshops will provide opportunities for you to explore ideas and practices with others and to consider how these relate to your own teaching/learner support context.
When is each workshop taking place?
The dates for the five in-person workshops are:
-
Wednesday 15 April (Week -1) 13:30 to 15:30
-
Monday 20 April 2026 (Week 0) 10:00 to 12:00
-
Wednesday 22 April 2026 (Week 0) 10:00 to 12:00
-
Tuesday 23 June (Week 9) 10:00 to 12:00
-
Wednesday 24 June (Week 9) 13:30 to 15:30
You will be asked to complete 1 to 1.5 hours of work before the workshops in preparation for the session, and up to 1 hour of follow-up work after the workshop to help you prepare your claim.
How is it assessed?
The Fellowship Pathway is assessed through the submission of a 3,000 word written recognition claim in which you will demonstrate how your professional practice is aligned to the PSF2023 for Fellowship. Through a combination of online materials and activities in Canvas and the workshops you will be supported in reviewing your practice and writing your claim. You will also have opportunities to gain formative feedback on your draft claim through 1:1 sessions with scheme tutors from the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Alongside your recognition claim, you will also need to submit two supporting statements from experienced colleagues who can endorse your claim as a fair and accurate reflection of your teaching/learner support practice in higher education. Materials in Canvas will support colleagues in drafting their one to two page (A4) supporting statement.
Your recognition claim will be assessed internally by qualified staff from the Centre for Teaching and Learning, all of whom hold at least Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
What are the claim submission deadlines?
You will have three opportunities to submit your claim. The submission deadlines are:
First deadline: 12noon, Monday 7 September 2026 (Week -4 MT26)
Second deadline: 12noon, Monday 4 January 2027 (Week -1 HT27)
Third deadline: 12noon, Monday 8 March 2027 (Week 8 HT27)
What do I get on completion?
The Fellowship Pathway is accredited by Advance HE and on successful completion of the pathway, participants are awarded Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and are entitled to use the post-nominal letters, FHEA.
When do applications close?
12noon, Monday 30 March 2026.
How do I apply?
Step 1: Attend an online information session (see above)
Step 2: Complete the online Advance HE Fellowship Category Tool 2023
Step 3: Complete the online application form, including uploading the Fellowship Category Tool pdf output.
When will I know if I have a place on the Fellowship Pathway?
Please reserve the dates of the five in-person workshops in your calendar. You will be invited to attend the first workshop by the week commencing Monday 6 April 2026. This notification will include information about the pre-workshop tasks and the location of the workshops.
Please note
The Oxford Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership Recognition Scheme replaces the Advancing Teaching and Learning (ATL) Programme and the Teaching Recognition Scheme (TRS).
