About our GOLD scheme
Our GOLD scheme provides an opportunity to gain global recognition for your teaching and learning in higher education. It is accredited by Advance HE, a respected UK-based organisation that supports improving and enhancing teaching, learning and leadership 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 sets the standard for good teaching and learning practices. Each category has different requirements, which are in the Descriptors of the PSF 2023.
To apply, you’ll write 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.
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.
- Free 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.
Eligibility and requirements
To be able to enrol and apply through our GOLD scheme you need to:
- Be supporting, teaching, or leading on a University of Greenwich Programme
- 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
Speak to our GOLD team if you are unsure about your eligibility to apply through our scheme
Fees
There are two sets of charges that you are required to pay when applying through our scheme; GOLD scheme fee, Advance HE accredited provision fee.
Our GOLD scheme fee is to be paid at the point of enrolment. This fee provides you with:
- Expert support from our GOLD team.
- Personal guidance from a trained mentor.
- Free unlimited access to helpful resources and workshops, such as our drop-in appointments and writing retreats, to help you develop your application.
- Access to our University of Greenwich Learning & Teaching Resource Centre (LTRC)
- 1 application submission and 1 resubmission if unsuccessful. Detailed feedback is provided to unsuccessful applications.
If you are successfully awarded through our scheme, you may be required to pay an Advance HE accredited provision fee to access your certificate. This payment is made to Advance HE. If your work place holds institutional membership with Advance HE then you do not need to pay anything. If your workplace does not hold institutional membership, then you will be required to pay a fee – this is a discounted price of 50% if you were to make a direct application to Advance HE.
Speak to our team to find out more about our fees
Enrolment and application process
Follow the steps below on how to enrol onto our GOLD scheme and submit an application to us. You should only begin working on your GOLD application once you have officially enrolled onto our scheme and have an approved GOLD mentor supporting you.
Please contact our GOLD team if you have any questions about our enrolment and application process.
1. Complete the Advance HE Fellowship Category Tool
The Fellowship Category Tool can help you choose the category of Fellowship that best matches your current work.
This self-analysis tool will ask you a series of statements about your practice and will show you how and where it aligns with the different Descriptors of the PSF 2023. This may identify some areas that you may require more experience and evidence before applying. You should speak with your line manager on how they can support you with this.
Please make sure you complete this and save the results, as your GOLD mentor will ask to review this in your initial meeting.
Use Advance HE’s Fellowship Category Tool (PSF 2023) here.
2. Select an approved GOLD mentor to support you
Having an approved GOLD mentor is a key part of the supported scheme. Our mentors are trained to have a deeper understanding of the PSF and to support you in developing your application. Your mentor will:
- Give you one-to-one support
- Provide feedback on your drafts
- Do a teaching observation (if required for your application)
- Write a supporting statement
Your GOLD mentor must know your work well and be able to confirm your experience mentioned in your application. This could be the link tutor, programme leader, or a teaching colleague on your programme. They must be someone that is on our approved GOLD mentor list.
You must contact one of the approved GOLD mentors and get their agreement to support you. Please speak to our GOLD team if you are having difficulty finding a GOLD mentor to support you.
View our full list of approved GOLD mentors across our institution here.
3. Attend our mandatory online GOLD introductory mentee workshop
Once you have an approved GOLD mentor to support you, you are required to attend our mandatory 2-hour online GOLD Introductory Mentee Workshop. This workshop outlines our GOLD scheme, the application process and the PSF 2023. It will help you to establish which level of fellowship is most suitable and identify areas for professional development.
See all the dates and times of our upcoming workshops here.
4. Complete a Registration of Intent (ROI) Form
You will be given access to our online ROI form after having attended our mandatory GOLD Introductory Mentee Workshop. This form:
- Confirms who your approved GOLD mentor is and your line manager’s approval.
- Confirms how you will be funding your enrolment and application
- Tells us when you plan to submit your application
You must complete and submit the ROI to join the GOLD scheme. You will be contacted by a member of our team to arrange for the payment of our GOLD scheme fees. Once processed, you’ll get confirmation that you’re officially enrolled.
You have 12 months from the point of enrolling to submit your application from the date of your ROI.
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. We strongly recommend reading the full handbook and guidance for your Fellowship category that you are applying for.
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
Writing a GOLD application can take between 6 to 12 months to complete. We do not recommend rushing it. We offer plenty of support to guide you through the process and help you develop a successful application.
Working with your GOLD mentor
Your GOLD mentor is there to help guide you in developing your application. You should arrange an initial meeting with them 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.
In addition to the support, your GOLD mentor will:
- 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 applicati on 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 via email
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 submission review point dates
| Date and Time of GOLD application submission review point |
|---|
| Monday 15 September 2025 (12pm BST - Midday) |
| Monday 24 November 2025 (12pm GMT - Midday) |
| Monday 23 February 2026 (12pm GMT - Midday) |
| Monday 1 June 2026 (12pm BST - 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 and paid our GOLD fees
- been supported by an approved GOLD mentor
- is using 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.
If you wish to attend any of our workshops then please contact our GOLD team, informing us of the:
- Name of workshop
- Date and time