GOLD (Greenwich Opportunities in Learning and Development) awards professional recognition for those supporting, delivering, or leading in learning and teaching
About our GOLD scheme
Our GOLD scheme provides an opportunity to gain global recognition for your teaching and learning in higher education. Accredited by Advance HE - an organisation committed to enhancing teaching, learning and leadership in higher education - GOLD offers a flexible route to professional recognition for all our academic and professional services staff in higher education.
Our scheme awards different categories of Fellowship, based on your experience; Associate Fellow (AFHEA), Fellow (FHEA), and Senior Fellow (SFHEA). These are aligned with the Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023), which defines the benchmarks for effective and inclusive teaching and learning. Each category has different requirements, which are in the Descriptors of the PSF 2023 and are recognised by HESA as a teaching qualification.
To apply, you’ll prepare a reflective account of your experience and practice in higher education, demonstrating how your practice aligns with the PSF 2023. This could be through supporting, delivering or leading in learning and teaching.
Through our GOLD scheme we provide resources, workshops, and one-to-one mentoring to help you succeed in gaining professional recognition.
We have now fully transitioned over to using the new 2023 Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023) and are no longer accepting any applications using the old UKPSF2011.
Become a GOLD Mentor and Reviewer
Support others with their journey through our GOLD scheme by becoming a GOLD mentor and reviewer. Learn how you can get involved and join our wider GOLD community.
GOLD for partners
Our Advance HE accredited scheme awards internationally recognised teaching qualifications to those supporting, delivering, and leading in learning and teaching in Higher Education. Learn more about how to apply
Why apply through GOLD?
Gaining a category of fellowship offers many benefits:
- Internationally respected as a mark of quality and success in higher education, demonstrating your commitment to teaching and enhancing student learning.
- Grants professional recognition, allowing you to use post-nominal letters (AFHEA, FHEA, SFHEA)
- Recognises and affirms your professional approach, encouraging deeper reflection on the evidence base that informs your teaching and learning practice.
- Supports career progression, with many universities increasingly valuing Fellowship for recruitment, probation, progression and promotion.
Applying through GOLD, will give you:
- Expert support from our GOLD team.
- Personal guidance from a trained mentor.
- Unlimited access to helpful resources and workshops to help you develop your application.
Categories of fellowship
The category of fellowship you choose to apply for will depend on your professional experience and practice. Each category has different requirements, which are in the Descriptors of the PSF 2023.
Category of Fellowship | Abbreviation | Descriptor in PSF |
|---|---|---|
Associate Fellowship | AFHEA | D1 |
Fellowship | FHEA | D2 |
Senior Fellowship | SFHEA | D3 |
Use the free fellowship category tool help you identify which one is the closest match to your current practice.
Associate Fellow (AFHEA)
This is for those who have some experience in teaching and/or supporting learning in higher education. You need to show evidence for some of the PSF 2023 dimensions to meet Descriptor 1.
It is suitable for those who may be new to teaching and/or supporting learning or hold more specific responsibilities within higher education. This could include technicians, librarians, professional service staff, learning technologists, teaching assistants. It doesn’t depend on your job title. What matters is having enough evidence of your teaching or supporting practice to meet the PSF 2023 Descriptor 1.
Look at our AFHEA resources here for more information
Fellow (FHEA)
This level is for those with broad experience in teaching or supporting learning in higher education. You need to show evidence across all 15 areas of the PSF 2023 to meet Descriptor 2.
It is suitable for staff in many roles and settings, where your work covers the full range of teaching and learning practices.
Look at our FHEA resources here for more information
Senior Fellow (SFHEA)
Senior Fellowship is for those who lead or influence the teaching and learning practices of others, such as peers, colleagues or mentees. You must meet the criteria for Descriptor 3 of the PSF 2023.
It is suitable for those that guide, support, and drive change in teaching practices to help improve learning experiences for students. You must be able to show that your leadership or influence is effective, sustained, and impactful.
This level isn’t about your job title, but whether you can show evidence of leading or influencing the practice of others in higher education.
Look at our SFHEA resources here for more information
Attend our GOLD Future Senior Fellowship Application Briefing
Principle Fellow (PFHEA)
Principle Fellowship is suitable for those whose practice involves a sustained record of effectiveness in strategic leadership of high-quality learning. Your impact must be extensive and must be highly experienced to evidence that your practice meets the criteria for Descriptor 4 of the PSF 2023.
Principal Fellowship is not awarded by our GOLD scheme. However, we can support you in developing an application made directly to Advance HE. Contact our team to find out more.
Eligibility and requirements
Our GOLD scheme is free for all employees at the University of Greenwich
To be able to enrol and apply through our GOLD scheme you need to:
- Be supporting, teaching, or leading students and/or staff based at our university or on one of our programmes.
- Have previous experience of supporting, delivering, or leading teaching and learning in higher education;
- A minimum of 12 months experience is required for AFHEA and FHEA
- A minimum of 36 months experience is required for SFHEA
- Not already be undertaking any of our University of Greenwich PGCertHE or ALTHE programmes
- Have approval from your line manager
Please visit our webpage here if you are from one of our partner institutions.
Enrolment and application process
To enrol onto the GOLD scheme and submit your application, please follow the steps below. You should only begin working on your application once you are officially enrolled and have an approved GOLD mentor supporting you.
1. Complete the Advance HE Fellowship Category Tool
This self-assessment tool helps you identify the most suitable Fellowship category based on your current practice. It presents a series of statements aligned with the PSF 2023 Descriptors, highlighting areas where you may need further experience or evidence before applying. Discuss the results with your line manager to explore development opportunities.
Be sure to save your results, as your GOLD mentor will review them during your initial meeting.
Use Advance HE’s Fellowship Category Tool (PSF 2023) here.
2. Select an approved GOLD mentor to support you
An approved GOLD mentor is essential to your application journey. Mentors are trained in the PSF and provide:
- One-to-one support
- Feedback on drafts
- A teaching observation (if required)
- A supporting statement
Your mentor must know your work well and be listed on our approved GOLD mentor register. This could be a link tutor, programme leader, or teaching colleague. Contact a mentor directly to confirm their support. If you need help finding one, please reach out to the GOLD team.
View our full list of approved GOLD mentors across our institution here.
3. Attend our mandatory GOLD introductory mentee workshop
Once you have a mentor, you must attend our mandatory 2-hour online GOLD Introductory Mentee Workshop. This session introduces the scheme, outlines the application process, and explains the PSF 2023. It will help you determine the appropriate Fellowship level and identify areas for development.
Book onto our Introductory Mentee Workshop here or see all up coming dates of all our GOLD workshops in our "GOLD workshop" section below.
4. Complete a Registration of Intent (ROI) Form
You After attending the workshop, you’ll receive access to our online ROI form. This form confirms:
- Your approved mentor and line manager’s support
- Your funding arrangements
- Your intended submission date
Submitting the ROI officially enrols you onto the scheme. You have 12 months from the date of enrolment to submit your application.
5. Read our GOLD participant handbook and guidance resources
Our GOLD team has created helpful resources to guide you through your application. These will support you with, understanding the PSF 2023, writing reflectively, and developing a strong GOLD application.
There are separate handbooks and guidance resources for each category of fellowship.
Find all our Associate Fellow resources here
Find all our Fellowship resources here
Find all our Senior Fellowship resources here
We strongly recommend reading the all the guidance for your chosen category of fellowship.
6. Develop your application
Developing a strong application typically takes 6 to 12 months. We encourage you to take your time and make use of the support available.
Working with your GOLD mentor
You should arrange an initial meeting with your GOLD mentor to:
- Review your Fellowship category tool report
- Discuss your experience and evidence that aligns with the PSF 2023
- Plan a timeline and target date for submission.
Your GOLD mentor will also:
- Do your teaching observation (only required for AFHEA claiming A2, and all FHEA applications)
- Write a supporting statement once your final version of your application is ready
You are expected to proactively engage with your mentor. Please be mindful and allow sufficient time for them to provide guidance and support (i.e. providing feedback on a draft application, write a supporting statement).
Attend our additional GOLD workshops
We offer optional workshops to help you refine your application:
- GOLD writing retreat – Focus writing your application by attending our 3-hour retreat. A member of our GOLD team will be there to support you and answer any questions.
- GOLD 1-2-1 drop-in – Speak with a member of our GOLD team in this 15-minute appointment. We can answer any questions you may have, or provide feedback on a draft section of your application
We strongly recommend that you book onto one of our 1-2-1 drop ins before submitting your application.
See below in our Workshop section for all upcoming dates and times of our workshops and how to book onto them.
7. Submit your application
Once your application is ready, submit it with your supporting statement(s) to our GOLD team.
Submit your GOLD application here
Your application will be reviewed at the next submission review point by at least two GOLD reviewers. Some applications are also checked by an external examiner for quality.
We aim to give you a decision and feedback within 8 weeks from the submission review point via email.
If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll receive detailed feedback to help you resubmit.
GOLD Application Submission Review Points
| Date and Time of GOLD application submission review point |
|---|
| Monday 15 September 2025 (12pm GMT - Midday) |
| Monday 24 November 2025 (12pm GMT - Midday) |
| Monday 23 February 2026 (12pm GMT - Midday) |
| Monday 1 June 2026 (12pm GMT - Midday) |
We only review submitted applications at the review point dates stated above. Your application will be reviewed at the next closest review date after we receive it.
We only accept applications from those who have enrolled in the GOLD scheme, have been supported by an approved GOLD mentor and use the new PSF 2023.
GOLD resources
Find all our handbooks, guidance, and templates below. There are separate resources for each category of fellowship.
GOLD workshops
Our GOLD team offers a range of online workshops throughout the academic year (September–July) to support you at every stage of your journey. All sessions are bookable on Horizon and delivered via Microsoft Teams.
See our full catalogue of GOLD workshops on Horizon here.
Having trouble booking onto one of our workshops?
If you are able to access Horizon Learning but are unable to see the list of upcoming dates to book onto one of our workshops, then please follow the steps below:
- Access the course page of the workshop you wish to book onto using the link to horizon above
- When on the Horizon course page, click on the "Action" button in the top left banner under the name of the workshop
- A small drop-down menu will appear. Click on "Find Offering".
- This will take you to a new page with all the listing of upcoming dates for that workshop you can then book onto.