PGCAP - Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice - Education

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 in Semester 2 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. There is an alternative, modular approach to the PGCAP for those who may only wish to do individual modules: see Alternative methods of engaging with the PGCAP.

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

Teaching staff who expect to be at the university for the next two years, and who plan to complete the whole programme, should apply via the standard route using the link in this section.
The modular route is the most appropriate for the following cohorts: use the application link in the Alternative methods of engaging with the PGCAP section.
- Doctoral students who teach who wish to do either the whole PGCAP, or just some of the modules
- Staff who wish to enrol on individual modules, without committing to completing the whole PGCAP
- Staff who wish to do the whole PGCAP but start in semester 1

Please read the Initial Core Modules and Electives section before completing the application for either standard or modular routes, to ensure that you understand the minimum teaching requirements to enrol on specific modules. The PGCAP draws on your professional practice, so if you do not teach or support student learning in any way, the PGCAP will not be suited to you.

Read this guidance before completing the standard route application.

The deadline to apply for the standard route PGCAP (which starts with ID5106 in semester 2) is 16 December 2026. Use this link to .

Guidance on completing your application

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.

This module is led by Dr Heather McKiggan-Fee, Head of Educational Development in IELLI. This module includes topics such as: Your identity as a university teacher; Becoming a reflective practitioner; Higher education in context; Theories of learning; Creating supportive learning environments; Education for sustainable development; Technology enhanced learning. Module catalogue entry for ID5106.

Classes for AY26-27 run from 14:00-16:30 on the following dates (you are expected to attend all classes):
- Week 1: Welcome class, Wed 27-Jan-27
- Week 2: Seminar 1, Wed 3-Feb-27
- Week 4: S2, Wed 17-Feb-27
  Spring vacation
- Week 6: S3, Wed 10-Mar-27
- Week 8: S4, Wed 24-Mar-27
- Week 9: S5, Wed 31-Mar-27
- Week 10: ILW
- Week 12: S6, Wed 21-Apr-27
The Welcome class is in-person (and only 2 hours, from 14:00-16:00); all other classes are delivered online via Teams.
This module is led by Dr Eilidh Harris, Educational and Student Developer in IELLI. This module includes topics such as: Quality assurance and enhancement; Higher education in context; Effective intended learning outcomes; Assessment for and of learning. Module catalogue entry for ID5107.

Classes for AY26-27 run from 13:00-16:00 on the following dates (you are expected to attend all classes):
- Week 1: Welcome class – times TBC, Wed 16-Sep-26
- Week 2: S1 QAA & HE in Context, Wed 23-Sep-26
- Week 4: S2 Curriculum Design, Wed 7-Oct-26
- Week 6: ILW
- Week 7: S3 Assessment, Wed 28-Oct-26
- Week 9: S4 Presentations, Wed 11-Nov-26
- Week 10: S5 Presentations, Wed 18-Nov-26
The Welcome is in-person (and only 2 hours, from 13:00-15:00); all other classes are delivered online via Teams.
This is the final module of the PGCAP, led by Dr Heather McKiggan-Fee or Dr Eilidh Harris in alternating semesters. The structure of this module is different from all other PGCAP modules. Although there are 12 hours of seminars, the focus is on self-directed study as you design and pursue a teaching-related project of your choice that draws on and synthesises your learning from the PGCAP, involving both scholarship and some form of data collection and analysis. Module catalogue entry for ID5199.

Classes will run approximately once every two weeks each semester. The first class of the module is in-person to help develop a sense of community within the cohort; the remaining classes will be a mix of online (via Teams) and in-person in consultation with the cohort. If the module cohort is small, after the Welcome class we can investigate the possibility of an alternative set time (and day) for classes if we can find timings that suit all participants.

ID5199 semester 1 dates
- Week 1: Seminar 1, in-person, 16-Sep-26, time TBC
- Week 3: S2, Wed 30 Sept (TBC)
- Week 5: S3, Wed 14 Oct (TBC)
- Week 6: ILW
- Week 8: S4 artefact presentations, Wed 4 Nov (TBC)
- Week 10: S5 reflection presentations, Wed 16 Nov (TBC)
ID5199 semester 2 dates TBC

There are no set topics or assigned readings for the seminars; rather, the focus of the classes will be determined by the needs of the cohort in response to the projects that they choose. The regular seminars provide a space where you can ask questions and share ideas, resources and advice with your peers, and contributions by invited experts.

In the first two weeks of the module the focus will be on finalising the scope of your project. Participants should start thinking about what their project might focus on before they enrol on the Capstone Project module, especially if it will require getting ethical approval. You are welcome to get in touch with the module lead well before the semester in which you do the Capstone Project to discuss possibilities.

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.

This module is led by Margaret Adamson, Head of Learning Technology & IT Skills Development in IELLI. This module is structured around 5 key themes or "lenses". Module catalogue entry for ID5108.

Classes for AY26-27 will run online via Teams from 14:00-16:00 (2-4pm) on the following dates, unless otherwise noted (you are expected to attend all classes). The induction and field trip are in-person:
- Week 2: Induction class – Wed 23-Sep-26
- Week 3: W1 – Wed 30-Sep-26
- Week 5: W2 – Wed 14-Oct-26
- Week 6: ILW
- Week 7: W3 – Wed 28-Oct-26
- Week 9: W4 – Wed 11-Nov-26
- Week 11: W5 – Wed 25-Nov-26
This module is led by Dr Amritesh Singh, Associate Lecturer in Academic English & TESOL in IELLI. Module catalogue entry for ID5109.

Classes for AY25-26 will take place from 14.00-16.00 (2-4pm) on Wednesday afternoons on the following dates. Most classes are online via Teams but note that some are in-person (as indicated).
- 28th January (week 1): Welcome session, optional (in-person)
- 11th February (week 3): Lecture + Workshop 1
- 25th February (week 5): Action Learning Set 1
- week commencing 2nd March: Spring Vacation
- 11th March (week 6): Lecture + Workshop 2
- 25th March (week 8): Lecture + Workshop 3
- week commencing 6th April: Independent Learning Week (week 10)
- 15th April (week 11): Lecture + Workshop 4
- 22nd April (week 12): Action Learning Set 2
- 6th May (week 14): Module Debrief, optional (in-person)

Alternative method of engaging with the PGCAP (Modular route)

The modular route is appropriate for the following cohorts:

Doctoral students who teach who wish to do either the whole PGCAP, or just some of the modules
Staff who wish to do the whole PGCAP but start in semester 1
Staff who wish to enrol on individual modules, without committing to completing the whole PGCAP

Doctoral students who teach
Regardless of whether you wish to do the whole PGCAP or just selected modules, you will use the modular route. If you pass the 4 modules required to complete the PGCAP (ID5106, ID5107, one elective, ID5199) within 8 semesters of enrolling on your first module, then you will be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice.

Joining the PGCAP in semester 1
This means starting the PGCAP with an elective module, rather than ID5106 as expected. You may find progression through the modules a bit more challenging this way. Please email teachingdev@st-andrews.ac.uk to discuss the pros and cons of this route. The semester 1 modular route link is below.

Enrolling on individual modules
The modular route is used if you are interested in enrolling on a single module as stand-alone professional development. Note that you must meet the prerequisites of the module on which you wish to enrol – see the Initial Core Modules and Electives sections above.

If you wish, you will be able to request places on additional modules later. If you pass the 4 modules required to complete the PGCAP (ID5106, ID5107, one elective, ID5199) within 8 semesters of enrolling on your first module, then you will be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice.

Read this guidance before completing the modular route application

Modular route link for semester 1 (to start in September with ID5108) – closing date is 4 September 2026

Modular route link for semester 2 (to start in January with ID5106 or ID5109) – closing date is 15 January 2027

Note that Capstone Project module (ID5199) cannot be done as a stand-alone module, since it has ID5106, ID5107 and one elective as prerequisites.

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 精东传媒 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.

精东传媒

Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)

Programme structure

Modules run in specific semesters:

How to apply

Initial core modules: pre-requisites and class dates

ID5106 Supporting Student Learning (semester 2)

ID5107 Curriculum Design and Assessment (semester 1)

ID5199 Capstone project module (Semester 1 or 2)

Electives: pre-requisites and class dates

ID5108 Exploring Teaching and Learning Online (semester 1)

ID5109 Embedding Inclusive Practice in Teaching and Learning (semester 2)

Alternative method of engaging with the PGCAP (Modular route)

Read this guidance before completing the modular route application

AdvanceHE (HEA) Fellowship