About the programme

About the programme

This is a 60-credit postgraduate qualification which has been designed in accordance with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 11. On completion of the programme participants will gain a Postgraduate Certificate from the University of Edinburgh and will also be awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). This is a globally recognised framework for those teaching or supporting learning in Higher Education and is managed by Advance HE. Further information about the Professional Standards Framework.  

Aims of the PgCAP:

• To introduce course participants to significant issues in relation to academic practice at a research-intensive institution.
• To provide the opportunity for participants to develop their academic practice in line with the vision set out in the Professional Standards Framework. 

The programme combines reference to theory and educational literature with practical application and makes use of a wide variety of teaching and assessment strategies to demonstrate good practice. Drawing on the PSF, as well as current research within the field of academic practice in higher education, the programme will provide participants with the conceptual and theoretical frameworks needed to engage reflectively and critically with the question of how to promote high quality student learning within research-intensive settings.

Programme criteria

The PgCAP is a part-time academic programme open to both University of Edinburgh staff and external students. All those who participate must have current employment that involves a significant role in teaching, learning and assessment in higher education. You will be required to undertake peer observation of teaching and must have some teaching experience that you can have observed during your time on the programme.

To see if you have enough breadth and depth of teaching and/or supporting learning to be eligible for the PgCAP we suggest you fill out Advance HE’s Fellowship category tool. 

Complete the Advance HE Fellowship Category online tool

We are unable to accept doctoral students on the programme as stipulated by Advance HE who accredit the programme. 

We will use the following criteria to help us make decisions about acceptance on the programme:

• You must be in a Grade 7 or above role and priority is given to Lecturers or Teaching Fellows at the University of Edinburgh.
• You must be teaching in some capacity while you are on the programme and have a minimum of 5 hours teaching during Semester 1 to enable you to undertake a Peer Observation of Teaching. 

No fees are charged for University of Edinburgh employees participating on the programme. We also waive the fee for Honorary Fellows (e.g. NHS clinicians) and staff from Associated Institutes who make a substantive contribution to teaching University of Edinburgh students.

We do accept a small number of external applicants on the programme. Your application will be assessed based on your CV, academic profile and your current access to work-based learning reflective opportunities. 

The Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PgCAP) is now accepting applicants for Academic Year 2026-27.

Sharing course participation data: Academic Development team practice is to be transparent and to share participation data with University schools and departments.