Policy for staff participation in the CREATE Scheme (including the PGCAP and the CREATE Fellowship Scheme)

1.    Introduction

This Policy supports the University Strategy to provide a high-quality student learning experience, which is research-rich, innovative and inclusive. It underlines the University’s commitment to invest in and develop its staff, by enabling those appointed to a significant role in teaching (i.e., Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 staff) to gain professional recognition as Fellows through our institutional Advance HE accreditation.

The Policy concerns staff participation in CREATE (Cultivating Research-rich Education and Teaching Excellence), a scheme which comprises:

  • The Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) designed for staff new to teaching at Bristol, which recognises successful completers as Fellows. The programme consists of two 30 credit modules.
  • The CREATE Fellowship scheme – the University’s internal Fellowship scheme where participants are supported in reflecting on their teaching experience to gain recognition as Associate Fellow, Fellow or Senior Fellow.

2.    Who Needs to Engage with CREATE?

Recognised Alternative Qualifications

Staff are exempt from CREATE if they already hold:

  • A UK HE teaching qualification (e.g. a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in HE)
  • Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA or SFHEA)
  • Health Professions Education (HPE) certificate (previously known as the Teaching and Learning Programme for Health Professionals)

Newly Appointed Staff

From 2021, all newly appointed staff on Pathway 1 and 3 contracts at Grade J and above without a recognised teaching qualification in Higher Education (HE) must engage with and complete CREATE. This also applies to existing staff transferring from Pathway 2 to Pathway 1 or 3 (e.g. proleptic staff).

All Staff: Expectations by Role and Experience

Pathway 1 and 3 Lecturers with Less than 3 Years’ HE Teaching Experience in the last 5 Years*

  • Must complete the PGCAP to achieve Fellowship, unless agreed otherwise with their line manager.
  • Staff on 0.5 FTE contracts or less, or fixed-term contracts under two years, should consult their line manager to determine the most appropriate route.

* ‘Three years’ teaching experience in HE’ denotes that a period of teaching in a lecturing role in UK HE/HE environment comparable to the University of Bristol context will have been undertaken over the equivalent of three years.

Pathway 1 and 3 Lecturers with More than 3 Years’ HE Teaching Experience

May choose between completing the PGCAP or applying for Fellowship via the CREATE Fellowship Scheme.

Pathway 1 and 3 Senior Lecturers and Above

Must obtain Fellowship either through the PGCAP, or the CREATE Fellowship Scheme.

Dental School Lecturers

All Lecturers in the Dental School are expected to participate in CREATE. The requirements are as follows:

  • Clinical Lecturers at Grade XCLD (equivalent of Grade J) - may work towards and obtain Associate Fellowship (AFHEA) instead of full Fellowship, as this is considered sufficient for their role.
  • Senior Clinical Lecturers at Grade XCSL or above (equivalent of Grade K) - should work towards Fellowship (FHEA) in line with this policy.
  • Non-Clinical Lecturers at Grades J or above - should work towards Fellowship (FHEA) in line with this policy.

3.    Timelines and Completion

Staff are expected to begin engaging with CREATE within their first year of appointment. Completion of the PGCAP or Fellowship recognition is normally expected within two years. Time off for illness, parental leave, sabbatical, or other approved absences will be taken into account. Staff on 0.5 FTE contracts or less should agree a realistic completion timeline with the CREATE team.

4.    CREATE and Promotion

Staff applying for promotion should already hold Fellowship or have received a confirmed outcome via CREATE by the promotion application deadline.

The only exception is for promotion from Lecturer B to Lecturer C, where enrolment and active engagement in CREATE is sufficient.

5.    Time Allowance and Support

The following workload allocations are recommended to support participation in CREATE:

  • PGCAP - 100 hours per unit (2 units total) - spread across the duration of the programme.
  • CREATE Fellowship Scheme – approximately 30 hours.

Heads of School should take these time commitments into account when allocating staff workload.

Discussion with your line manager, for example through the Initial Service Review meetings and then the Staff Review and Development process are the normal mechanisms for support and agreement on training and developmental requirements.

 

Policy updated August 2025. Approved by Senate October 2025.