Why pursue an HEA Fellowship?

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HEA Fellowship benefits

In gaining an HEA Fellowship, you will be joining a community of more than 190,000 Fellows globally, including over 8,000 in Australasia, and engaging in authentic reflective practice. Once you achieve Fellowship, you have it for life; there is no end date or need to renew, but you do need to stay in active within the community of fellows. You can pursue a different level of accreditation when you feel the time is right and you have gained the appropriate experience.  Once you achieve Fellowship, you will be able to mentor others through the process. 

The advantages of HEA Fellowship include: 

  • International recognition of your expertise.
  • Enhanced career prospects.
  • Opportunities for reflective practice and professional growth through Global Member Projects.
  • Access to a global network (Advance HE Connect) of higher education professionals and a regular newsletter with news and collaborative activities.
  • Access to Global Impact research grants.
  • Mentoring and collegial support.
  • Promotes interdisciplinary research.
  • Recognition of your commitment to high-quality teaching and learning, with the entitlement to use post-nominal letters (AFHEA, FHEA, SFHEA or PFHEA)

Which Fellowship category is suitable for me? 

There are four distinct Fellowship categories that reflect the diverse professional practices of individuals engaged in teaching and/or supporting learning within higher education. Each category of Fellowship aligns with the Professional Standards Framework (PSF).

Your choice of Fellowship category is not determined by your role. Instead, you should assess whether you can demonstrate sufficient evidence of effective teaching and/or support for learning practice to submit a successful application in any of the four categories.

Dr Janet Schloss at the Centre for Naturopathic Medicine

4 Fellowship categories

Associate Fellow (AFHEA)

Staff applying for Associate Fellowship at SCU may be relatively new to teaching or supporting learning roles, or they may have a limited teaching portfolio. For example, early-career teaching staff or researchers with some teaching responsibilities who can provide evidence of effectiveness in some teaching and/or learning support responsibilities.

Fellow (FHEA)

Staff applying for Fellowship at SCU may be in significant teaching roles or they may be professional staff tasked with supporting learning across all dimensions of the PSF. For example, academics in the early- to mid-career stage who can provide evidence of effectiveness in more substantive teaching and supporting learning roles.

Senior Fellow (SFHEA)

Staff applying for Senior Fellowship at SCU may demonstrate a deep understanding and effective practice that enables them to lead or influence those who teach and/or support high-quality learning. For example, experienced members able to demonstrate impact and influence on other colleagues through responsibility for leading, managing or organising programs, subjects and/or disciplinary areas.

Principal Fellow (PFHEA)

Staff applying for Principal Fellowship at SCU may be highly experienced individuals whose practice involves a sustained record of effectiveness in strategic leadership of high-quality learning. For example, professionals who demonstrate a sustained record of effective strategic leadership in academic practice and their impact is extensive within or beyond an institution, or across a discipline or profession.

You can find further information on the different categories of Fellowship on the Advance HE site.

Not sure which category of fellowship you should apply for?
Use the Fellowship Category Tool to help you decide.

Fellowship Category Tool