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Northumbria University’s Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship (APHA) programme offers an evidence-based, nationally recognised and highly structured pathway to support and help develop academic professionals across the Higher Education sector in all aspects of teaching, learning, assessment and pedagogic practice. 

The Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship is an 18-month work-based learning programme plus End Point Assessments within 3 months of Gateway, offering rich opportunity to reflect upon and develop evidence-based practice as an Academic Professional delivering high quality Higher Education. In a climate where student- centred and inclusive teaching, learning and assessment strategies are key to student success and engagement; this programme will use current pedagogic research and evidence to underpin innovative personal and professional development of the academic professional to support the reflection on current practice, but also to inform a career-long interest in higher education pedagogy.

The programme is aimed at those who are new to teaching in the Higher Education Sector in the UK, without Fellowship of the HEA (FHEA) professional status and wanting to develop new and contemporary knowledge, skills, behaviours and practices for higher education teaching, learning and assessment to maximise the student experience in a specific field, subject or discipline.

Participation in the programme will develop the ability to critically analyse personal academic practice in relation to current policy, practices and higher education pedagogic research. There will be the opportunity, both through formative and summative assessment, to communicate with a range of stakeholders allowing for the development of partnerships, access to networks and opportunities to take part in peer support and developing the skills for ongoing reflective practice that is crucial to academic practice.

Apprentices also have the opportunity to achieve a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) by completing module assessments successfully. The programme is also accredited by Advance HE (Higher Education Academy) to award Associate Fellow of the HEA (AFHEA) after module 1 and then Fellowship of the HEA (FHEA) after module 3. This professional status is optional, and for those who are attending the programme from an AHE Member organisation (including clinical educators) will have the fee covered, however, if participants who are joining are none members then the status, should participants choose to opt for it, attracts a fee of £400 at the start of the programme.

Apprenticeship programmes at Northumbria University are designed to support apprentices in acquiring the appropriate knowledge, skills and behaviour and retain the integrity of the apprenticeship standard as defined by IFATE. For further details please consult the IFATE Apprenticeship standards / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education webpage here.

Course Information

Level of Study
Postgraduate

Mode of Study
18 Months Part-Time

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Fee Information

Module Information

Register your interest

Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject. Other subject qualifications, equivalent professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are currently teaching or supporting learning on Higher Education level provision for at least 50 hours per academic year.

An Initial Needs Analysis Meeting will be undertaken after application, to ascertain any Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and ensure eligibility for the apprenticeship.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

GCSE requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or Functional Skills English and Maths at level 2 and be able to provide evidence of these qualifications. It is recommended that applicants have this qualification prior to entry, however if applicants are working towards this qualification, it is a condition that it is completed in advance of End Point Assessment.  The University will facilitate provision of Maths and English qualifications where this is needed.

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* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

HA7009 -

Introduction to Learning, Teaching and the Student Experience (Core,20 Credits)

The module is designed to meet the needs of higher education professionals in their early career and, as such, it will equip you to become effective, active, reflective and independent learners throughout the rest of your career. It will enable you to recognise, apply and critically analyse appropriate approaches to creating excellence in the student learning journey through enhancing the student experience, innovative teaching and meaningful assessment in the context of higher education.

The UKPSF is fully aligned to the Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship Standard and as such, the related Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that will be explored in this module are set out in appendix 2 of the Module Handbooks. This module therefore will facilitate meeting Advance HE’s UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Associate Fellowship (Descriptor I).

You will be supported to increase your capabilities in learning, teaching and the support of learning by offering a combination of activities, which draw upon reflections on your own practical experiences. This will enable you to develop pedagogical practice supported by the established field of learning and teaching scholarship.

More information

HA7010 -

Developing Academic Scholarship for Learning and Teaching (Core,20 Credits)

The UKPSF is fully aligned to the Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship Standard and as such, the related Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that will be explored in this module are set out in appendix 2 of the Module Handbooks.

Undertaking this module will support you to extend your academic practice and enrich your OneDrive Professional Development Portfolio. This will assist you to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and the key competencies involved in working towards meeting the UKPSF requirements for Higher Education Academy Fellowship Descriptor 2 (D2) whilst evaluating your own practice.

You will have the opportunity to build on your learning that occurred in Module 1 ‘Introduction to the Student Experience, Learning & Teaching’, contextualising this within your own discipline and your own practice as an academic professional. The content of this module is focussed around the evaluation and enhancement of your own teaching and learning activities. You will be introduced to a range of methods for the evaluation of practice and consider their implications for assuring quality and enhancement within your own teaching practice. You will develop a critical understanding of pedagogical research scholarship which informs the evaluation of teaching, learning and assessment and how this contributes to high quality student learning and enhancement.

In this module, you will be supported to develop an enquiry based enhancement Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project which will be assessed via a presentation of 25 minutes to your peers and assessors (Programme Team) to confidently support current and future scholarship activities both in your specific discipline and in a wider higher education context. This Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project will also provide evidence / case study to refer to in Module 3 Reflective Essay.

More information

HA7011 -

Enhancing Academic Practice through Pedagogic Research (Core,20 Credits)

The UKPSF is fully aligned to the Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship Standard and as such, the related Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that will be explored in this module are set out in appendix 2 of the Module Handbooks. This module therefore will facilitate meeting Advance HE’s UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Fellowship (Descriptor 2).

You will explore research in the context of a range of different paradigms and methods of inquiry to develop your understanding of practitioner or pedagogic research in a rigorous and ethical manner. In order to achieve this, you will be provided with opportunities to engage with a range of different approaches to research through the media of discussions, seminars, practical research activities and more independent analysis of contemporary research outputs which are pertinent to your area of professional practice. In reflecting on the success of your own enquiry-based research project for module 2, you will have the chance to explore improvement techniques and quality assurance procedures in the wider context of pedagogical research in Higher Education. You will also reflect on your position as an academic in through engagement with an existing research community of experienced colleagues who will facilitate sessions covering research impact, grant applications, getting published and disseminating research, ethical protocols and other strategic factors. Also, the role of supervisor will be explored and developed.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

HA7009 -

Introduction to Learning, Teaching and the Student Experience (Core,20 Credits)

The module is designed to meet the needs of higher education professionals in their early career and, as such, it will equip you to become effective, active, reflective and independent learners throughout the rest of your career. It will enable you to recognise, apply and critically analyse appropriate approaches to creating excellence in the student learning journey through enhancing the student experience, innovative teaching and meaningful assessment in the context of higher education.

The UKPSF is fully aligned to the Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship Standard and as such, the related Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that will be explored in this module are set out in appendix 2 of the Module Handbooks. This module therefore will facilitate meeting Advance HE’s UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Associate Fellowship (Descriptor I).

You will be supported to increase your capabilities in learning, teaching and the support of learning by offering a combination of activities, which draw upon reflections on your own practical experiences. This will enable you to develop pedagogical practice supported by the established field of learning and teaching scholarship.

More information

HA7010 -

Developing Academic Scholarship for Learning and Teaching (Core,20 Credits)

The UKPSF is fully aligned to the Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship Standard and as such, the related Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that will be explored in this module are set out in appendix 2 of the Module Handbooks.

Undertaking this module will support you to extend your academic practice and enrich your OneDrive Professional Development Portfolio. This will assist you to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and the key competencies involved in working towards meeting the UKPSF requirements for Higher Education Academy Fellowship Descriptor 2 (D2) whilst evaluating your own practice.

You will have the opportunity to build on your learning that occurred in Module 1 ‘Introduction to the Student Experience, Learning & Teaching’, contextualising this within your own discipline and your own practice as an academic professional. The content of this module is focussed around the evaluation and enhancement of your own teaching and learning activities. You will be introduced to a range of methods for the evaluation of practice and consider their implications for assuring quality and enhancement within your own teaching practice. You will develop a critical understanding of pedagogical research scholarship which informs the evaluation of teaching, learning and assessment and how this contributes to high quality student learning and enhancement.

In this module, you will be supported to develop an enquiry based enhancement Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project which will be assessed via a presentation of 25 minutes to your peers and assessors (Programme Team) to confidently support current and future scholarship activities both in your specific discipline and in a wider higher education context. This Practitioner Enquiry Based Research Project will also provide evidence / case study to refer to in Module 3 Reflective Essay.

More information

HA7011 -

Enhancing Academic Practice through Pedagogic Research (Core,20 Credits)

The UKPSF is fully aligned to the Academic Professional Higher Apprenticeship Standard and as such, the related Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) that will be explored in this module are set out in appendix 2 of the Module Handbooks. This module therefore will facilitate meeting Advance HE’s UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) Fellowship (Descriptor 2).

You will explore research in the context of a range of different paradigms and methods of inquiry to develop your understanding of practitioner or pedagogic research in a rigorous and ethical manner. In order to achieve this, you will be provided with opportunities to engage with a range of different approaches to research through the media of discussions, seminars, practical research activities and more independent analysis of contemporary research outputs which are pertinent to your area of professional practice. In reflecting on the success of your own enquiry-based research project for module 2, you will have the chance to explore improvement techniques and quality assurance procedures in the wider context of pedagogical research in Higher Education. You will also reflect on your position as an academic in through engagement with an existing research community of experienced colleagues who will facilitate sessions covering research impact, grant applications, getting published and disseminating research, ethical protocols and other strategic factors. Also, the role of supervisor will be explored and developed.

More information

Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.


All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

Full time Courses starting in 2023 are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but may include elements of online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future. Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.

 

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We continuously review and improve course content in consultation with our students and employers. To make sure we can inform you of any changes to your course register for updates on the course page.


Your Learning Experience

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

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northumbria.ac.uk/terms

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northumbria.ac.uk/fees

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northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

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If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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