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ch Fellowship is the right one for me?
There are four different ‘levels’ of fellowship, which the HEA calls ‘Descriptors’. These Descriptors relate to
your role and experience. Those relatively new to teaching or with a limited teaching role may be working
towards Descriptor level 1 (D1) and Associate Fellowship of the HEA (AFHEA) while those with more
experience and a more extensive teaching role would be interacting with the same ‘Dimensions of Practice’
but may be working towards Descriptor level 2 or 3. These descriptor levels relate to role and experience
and individual context and circumstance. The brief descriptions below may help you decide which descriptor
level you want to work towards.
D1 Associate Fellow (AFHEA)
This may be most appropriate for support staff, staff who are new to teaching, or staff who support teaching
and learning as a relatively minor part of their role. AFHEA is aligned to Descriptor I of the UKPSF and
applications only have to demonstrate appropriate engagement with any two areas of activity in the UKPSF.
D2 Fellow (FHEA)
In many ways this represents a benchmark of good practice for teaching in the HE sector. Fellows are
typically engaged in a wide range of teaching activities and have engaged in continuing professional
development to support a reflective approach to teaching. FHEA is aligned to Descriptor 2 of the UKPSF and
applications have to demonstrate professional engagement with all areas of the UKPSF.
D3 Senior Fellow (SFHEA)
Senior Fellow status is designed to recognise the achievements of staff who have an influence on
professional practice beyond their own teaching. Senior Fellows will be those who have leadership or
management roles in addition to any teaching role and can demonstrate a sustained record of effectiveness.
SFHEA is aligned to Descriptor 3 of the UKPSF and applications have to evidence sustained, effective
professional engagement with all areas of the UKPSF and an appropriate degree of management of teaching
beyond their own practice.
D4 Principal Fellow (PFHEA)
This top tier of accreditation is appropriate for staff who are able to demonstrate impact at a strategic level
(in an institutional, national or international context) and a wider commitment to academic practice and
leadership in teaching and learning. PFHEA is aligned to Descriptor 4 for the UKPSF and applications should
demonstrate a more substantial engagement with the UKPSF in a much broader context; it is generally
limited to senior individuals whose role involves teaching and learning at an institutional level and beyond.
Staff wanting to apply for PFHEA should contact the EDU directly as this descriptor level is supported outside
the STAR framework and requires individual submission directly to the HEA.
How do these ‘levels’ translate to job roles and responsibilities at Imperial?
The descriptions which follow are indicative examples of the sort of responsibilities and experiences that you
might need in order to write a successful application for the various levels of fellowship. It is worth noting
that it is your experience and degree of engagement with teaching and not your job title alone that will
decide the level at which you choose to apply.
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There are four different ‘levels’ of fellowship, which the HEA calls ‘Descriptors’. These Descriptors relate to
your role and experience. Those relatively new to teaching or with a limited teaching role may be working
towards Descriptor level 1 (D1) and Associate Fellowship of the HEA (AFHEA) while those with more
experience and a more extensive teaching role would be interacting with the same ‘Dimensions of Practice’
but may be working towards Descriptor level 2 or 3. These descriptor levels relate to role and experience
and individual context and circumstance. The brief descriptions below may help you decide which descriptor
level you want to work towards.
D1 Associate Fellow (AFHEA)
This may be most appropriate for support staff, staff who are new to teaching, or staff who support teaching
and learning as a relatively minor part of their role. AFHEA is aligned to Descriptor I of the UKPSF and
applications only have to demonstrate appropriate engagement with any two areas of activity in the UKPSF.
D2 Fellow (FHEA)
In many ways this represents a benchmark of good practice for teaching in the HE sector. Fellows are
typically engaged in a wide range of teaching activities and have engaged in continuing professional
development to support a reflective approach to teaching. FHEA is aligned to Descriptor 2 of the UKPSF and
applications have to demonstrate professional engagement with all areas of the UKPSF.
D3 Senior Fellow (SFHEA)
Senior Fellow status is designed to recognise the achievements of staff who have an influence on
professional practice beyond their own teaching. Senior Fellows will be those who have leadership or
management roles in addition to any teaching role and can demonstrate a sustained record of effectiveness.
SFHEA is aligned to Descriptor 3 of the UKPSF and applications have to evidence sustained, effective
professional engagement with all areas of the UKPSF and an appropriate degree of management of teaching
beyond their own practice.
D4 Principal Fellow (PFHEA)
This top tier of accreditation is appropriate for staff who are able to demonstrate impact at a strategic level
(in an institutional, national or international context) and a wider commitment to academic practice and
leadership in teaching and learning. PFHEA is aligned to Descriptor 4 for the UKPSF and applications should
demonstrate a more substantial engagement with the UKPSF in a much broader context; it is generally
limited to senior individuals whose role involves teaching and learning at an institutional level and beyond.
Staff wanting to apply for PFHEA should contact the EDU directly as this descriptor level is supported outside
the STAR framework and requires individual submission directly to the HEA.
How do these ‘levels’ translate to job roles and responsibilities at Imperial?
The descriptions which follow are indicative examples of the sort of responsibilities and experiences that you
might need in order to write a successful application for the various levels of fellowship. It is worth noting
that it is your experience and degree of engagement with teaching and not your job title alone that will
decide the level at which you choose to apply.
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