Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)
The Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP for short) is a free 60-credit professional practice programme open to all staff at St Andrews who are engaged in teaching or supporting student learning in a student-facing role, regardless of contract type or level of experience.
The aim of the programme is to give colleagues a supportive space in which they can develop as reflective practitioners in a collegiate, interdisciplinary community, exploring and developing different aspects of their practice in dialogue with peers.
Find out more about how to enrol at one of the online PGCAP information sessions.
Programme structure
To achieve the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice you must successfully complete four 15-credit modules over a period of two to four years, completing a maximum of one module per semester, though modules do not need to be completed in consecutive semesters. This delivery mode of four semesters of study over a maximum of four years recognises that programme participants will often be working full-time and engaging with the modules on top of existing commitments. It allows you to 'pause' your engagement with the programme for one or more semesters according to your circumstances, while still remaining registered. The aim is to provide flexibility to support the needs of a diverse cohort while still ensuring a clearly structured developmental pathway.
Participants will normally start the programme with the first core module University Teaching: Supporting Student Learning, which must be passed before participants can progress to University Teaching: Curriculum Design and Assessment. One elective module must be completed, and the University Teaching: Capstone Project core module must be done last. There are sections below providing more information about every module.
Each module is 15-credits, so you should expect to put in approximately 150 hours of study per semester. Not all modules are available in every academic year and/or semester.
Modules run in specific semesters:
- ID5106 Supporting Student Learning (core) – semester 2
- ID5107 Curriculum Design and Assessment (core) – semester 1
- ID5108 Exploring Teaching and Learning Online (elective) – semester 1
- ID5109 Embedding Inclusive Practice in Teaching and Learning (elective) – semester 2
- ID5199 Capstone Project (core) – semesters 1 and 2
The typical sequences in which modules are taken are:
ID5106 > ID5107 > Elective > ID5199 or ID5106 > Elective > ID5107 > ID5199
How to apply
Please read the Initial Core Modules section before filling out the application, to ensure that you understand the minimum teaching requirements.
Enrolment for the PGCAP takes place before the start of Semester 2 each academic year. If you would like to take the course, please request a place on the PGCAP for AY25-26 before the December deadline.
Doctoral students who teach, applicants who wish to enrol in Semester 1, and those looking to enrol in individual modules – please see Alternative methods of engaging with the PGCAP.
Initial core modules: pre-requisites and class dates
It is a pre-requisite of the first two core modules that you be teaching (or supporting learning) in the same semester that you take the module, since both modules include teaching observations and the assessment for each module requires reflection on your teaching (or supporting learning) practice.
To ensure that you can engage effectively with the module intended learning outcomes, you need to have regular contact with students (or other learners according to your context); at least 10 contact hours in a minimum of four sessions, spread out over the semester. This may include:
- Lecturing
- Facilitating tutorials, seminars or honours project classes
- Supporting lab or practical classes
- Project or thesis supervision
- Delivering workshops on topics such as academic skills, digital literacy, careers guidance.
Your students/learners may also be other staff members. If you are unsure whether your professional practice meets these requirements, please contact teachingdev@st-andrews.ac.uk for advice.
You must also be available to attend all the live classes, which always take place on Wednesday afternoons. Most classes are delivered online via Teams, but every module will have at least one in-person class. Class dates for all core modules are listed in the module sections below.
Electives: pre-requisites and class dates
PGCAP participants can advise onto an elective after passing the first core module (ID5106). It is also possible to enrol onto the elective modules as "stand alone" professional development, i.e. you do not need to be enrolled on the PGCAP, but priority for places will be given to PGCAP participants. See 'Alternative methods for engaging with the PGCAP' for more details.
To enrol on either of the elective modules - Exploring Teaching and Learning Online or Embedding Inclusive Practice in Teaching and Learning - you must either be teaching in the same semester that you take the module or have taught in the preceding semester.
Frequency and length of classes varies between electives, and some classes may run in person (which will be noted). In some cases the specific weeks in which classes run may only be finalised after the start of semester. Class dates for each elective module are listed in the sections below.
Alternative methods of engaging with the PGCAP
Those who wish to begin the PGCAP in semester 1, or enrol on individual modules, have different application methods. Doctoral students who wish to complete the PGCAP will enrol onto individual modules; please email teachingdev@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information.
Joining the PGCAP in semester 1
You would only be able to join the PGCAP in semester 1 if you are able to make a claim for recognition of prior credited learning towards module ID5106.
Please email teachingdev@st-andrews.ac.uk for more information; we will provide the 1st semester PGCAP application link to those who are able to make a recognition claim. The deadline for semester 1 applications is early August.
Another option is to do the semester 1 elective module as a stand-alone, and then join the PGCAP in semester 2 (see below).
Enrolling on individual modules
It is possible to enrol on single modules as stand-alone professional development, so long as you can demonstrate that you have the necessary background knowledge and skills to engage effectively with the module intended learning outcomes. However, priority for module places will be given to those already enrolled on the PGCAP.
To enrol on either core module (ID5106/07) you must:
- be teaching in the semester you take the module
- be available to attend all of the synchronous classes
- have the permission of your line manager (for staff) or supervisor (for PGRs)
Use this link to apply for ID5106 Supporting Student Learning as a "stand alone" module (runs in semester 2)
To enrol on ID5107 you must additionally: have either successfully completed ID5106, or have completed a comparable module elsewhere.
To enrol on either elective module (ID5108/09) you must:
- be teaching in the semester you take the module, or have taught in the preceding semester
- be available to attend all the synchronous classes
- have the permission of your line manager (for staff) or supervisor (for PGRs)
Use this link to apply for ID5109 Embedding Inclusive Practice as a "stand alone" (runs in semester 2).
The Capstone Project module cannot be done as a stand-alone module.
We take a phased approach to enrolment for the PGCAP modules, with the first phase for participants who are enrolled on the full PGCAP, and the second phase for anyone who wants to enrol on individual modules.
Please read the section for the relevant module before completing the application form:
- Use this link to apply for Supporting Student Learning as a "stand alone" module. [applications open in November]
- Use this link to apply for Curriculum Design and Assessment as a "stand alone" module. [applications open in July]
- Use this link to apply for Exploring Teaching and Learning Online as a "stand alone" module. [applications open in July]
- Use this link to apply for Embedding Inclusive Practice as a "stand alone" module. [applications open in November]
AdvanceHE (HEA) Fellowship
The PGCAP is not accredited by Advance HE, so does not automatically confer Fellowship. However, in September 2023 the University launched a new Advance HE-accredited scheme to support colleagues interested in achieving a category of Fellowship: the St Andrews Recognition Scheme (STARS). PGCAP participants have priority for the limited places on STARS. It is also possible to apply directly to Advance HE to evidence that you have met the criteria for a category of Fellowship; you do not need to complete a taught programme to do a direct application, as explained on the STARS webpage.