Support for Postgraduate Researchers who Teach

The purpose of these essential courses is to ensure all postgraduate and other part-time teachers have a basic understanding of the Scottish higher education environment, awareness of relevant St Andrews policies and processes and the range of support available for students, and grounding in the basic skills you will need to teach groups of students and to mark student work effectively.

The full programme is a 7-hour commitment consisting of four components (three synchronous/live workshops and one self-study/online course). These should be completed just before the start of the semester you will begin teaching. Schools must check to ensure you have fully completed the essential training before a teaching contract can be issued.

Your first step is to register for the Essential courses for postgraduates who teach programme. Doing this will also automatically give your School access to your completion status. Next, complete the online self-study course and register your place on, then attend, the three live workshops (one from each component). The full training programme only needs to be completed once during your time at St Andrews.

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How should these essential courses be referenced in job applications?

These workshops do not count towards "Successfully completed an institutional provision in teaching in the higher education sector accredited against the UK Professional Standards Framework", as they are not accredited against the PSF 2023.

However, it is possible to apply directly to Advance HE for an appropriate category of Fellowship based on the Descriptors of the PSF. Usually, that would be another option in the same section of the application form, along the lines of “Recognised by Advance HE as an Associate/Fellow/Senior Fellow”. See Applying for HEA/Advance HE Fellowship for more information on the support available.

Support within your School

As noted in the policy on Doctoral students who teach, your School must provide you with an induction outlining key contacts, marking scales, deadlines, etc (see the checklist in the policy document) as well as "appropriate training and support throughout their time teaching". In addition to any subject-specific training (eg on use of lab equipment or procedures), all tutors and demonstrators are entitled guidance on marking before assessing student work for the first time.

Note that "every postgraduate teacher must be assigned a mentor to support them in their teaching role"; this is a named person who you can consult if you have any questions about any aspect of your teaching role. You should be observed by an experienced staff member at least once during your first semester of teaching, in order to get constructive feedback on your teaching.

Optional workshops

In addition to the essential IELLI courses which must be completed before teaching for the first time, various optional workshops may be available.  You can search for these workshops using PDMS, the online course booking system.

Student Mental Health Toolkit for Teaching & Research Staff

• Open to research postgraduate students and academic/research staff.

• Practical information for all teaching staff (including PGR teachers) and researchers on how to deal with student situations involving mental ill-health.

Specific learning difficulties: their impact in a higher education setting

• Open to research postgraduate students, academic/research and professional staff.

• Provides an overview of the different specific learning difficulties (SpLDs), such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD, and the typical characteristics associated with each condition.

Theories of Learning

• Open to research postgraduate students and academic/research staff.

• Provides a brief introduction to various theories of how people learn (eg cognitive science, threshold concepts), with a focus on what this means for our teaching.

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)

IELLI's Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, or PGCAP is aimed at staff at St Andrews who are engaged in university teaching or supporting student learning in a direct student-facing role, regardless of contract type or level of experience. 

While it is not currently possible for doctoral students who teach to enrol directly onto the PGCAP, it is possible to enrol onto individual modules if you have the necessary pre-requisites and there are places available.

These 15-credit, Masters-level modules will allow you to consider issues in more breadth and depth than is possible in the compulsory workshops, to further enhance your learning and teaching skills and strengthen your CV if you plan to remain in academia. Completing one or more modules will give you a strong case for submitting an individual route application for a category of HEA Fellowship. Individual module credits may also be recognised by other institutions towards their own Postgraduate Certificate requirements.

For more information see the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice page.

Applying for HEA Fellowship (STARS)

Getting a category of AdvanceHE (HEA) Fellowship allows you to evidence your professional practice in higher education and demonstrate your commitment to teaching, learning and the student experience. It is increasingly listed as a desirable or essential criterion by employers across the higher education sector in the UK.

IELLI can provide guidance on writing applications for HEA Fellowship, and runs its own Advance HE accredited scheme - STARS. For more information, visit our HEA Fellowship / STARS webpage.