Teaching for Postgraduates at Aberystwyth University (TPAU)
This programme, aimed at Postgraduate Research Students, has been running since 2016, and 10 cohorts and over 150 people have completed the programme. The programme will develop the teaching skills of postgraduate students who are already teaching in their departments. This will give you a grounding in the good practice of teaching and expand your knowledge and expertise in a range of core teaching areas. The programme is accredited through the Higher Education Academy (HEA) at Associate Fellowship level (equivalent to module 1 of the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education - PGCTHE) Those who complete the programme will become an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
Entry Requirements and Registration
The programme is open to postgraduate research students who teach. We recommend that participants be engaged in 20 hours contact teaching time over the duration of the programme - to enable peer observation and reflection on teaching practice.
The compulsory induction for the programme will be held on the 17th, 18th and 19th September 2024.
The application process for the 2024-25 programme has now opened
If you are interested in registering, and are able to attend the compulsory induction, please complete the Application Form below, which includes a statement of support from your Head of Department (or equivalent).
Please e-mail your completed application to us at pgr-tpau@aber.ac.uk by 5:30pm on Friday 21st June 2024
TPAU 20 hour teaching requirement
The Teaching for Postgraduates at Aberystwyth University programme recommends that participants are engaged in 20 hours of teaching during the year they undertake the course. Participants need to be engaged in enough teaching hours to have three peer observations of their teaching and able to reflect on their practice, and integrate suggestions from these and from their CPD back into their teaching. This requirement is in line with other institutions in the sector which run comparable programmes leading to the award of an AFHEA. TPAU is designed to align with LTEU’s other teaching programmes – the PGCTHE Modules 1 and 2 and the direct route HEA applications through the ARCHE scheme. TPAU has been authorised by the Higher Education Academy, is aligned to the PSF and is at a level equivalent to Module 1 of the PGCTHE (which has a 40 hour teaching commitment) and leads to the AFHEA in the same way. TPAU is not designed to be a course for those completely new to teaching. The Graduate School run an introduction to teaching workshop. TPAU is a flexible and light touch professional teaching qualification aimed at PhDs who are already engaged in teaching.
TPAU Entry Competition
Entry to the TPAU programme is competitive – there is a finite number of places and usually a large number of applicants, so application doesn’t guarantee being given a place. The programme is aimed at PhD students, and in this form approved by the HEA, so priority is given to this cohort (though AU staff engaged in supporting academic provision are welcome to apply). Authorised by the HEA, TPAU is designed to be a professional teaching qualification aimed at PhD students who have, and will continue to be, actively engaged in teaching at HE level. Applicants need to detail the HE teaching they have undertaken in the past and the teaching they are expecting to deliver in the coming academic year. The Application Panel looks for evidence of previous experience of such teaching and for enthusiasm in applicants for developing their existing teaching skills, and awards places to those who demonstrate this the most in their applications.