The Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), alternatively called the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP), is a British teaching qualification for

university lecturer Lecturer is an academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. They may also conduct re ...

s and similar professionals. The PGCHE is designed to equip holders with the skills needed to provide high-quality teaching and learning. PGCHE courses are usually closely aligned with the

Higher Education Academy Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy) is a British charity and professional membership scheme promoting excellence in higher education. It advocates evidence-based teaching methods and awards fellowships as professional recogniti ...

's Professional Standards Framework (

UKPSF The UKPSF (United Kingdom Paintball Sports Federation) is a United Kingdom voluntary body that exists to promote the sport of paintball, liaise with government bodies, local authorities and try to make the game of paintball safe and fun to play. ...

), with successful completion of an HEA-accredited postgraduate certificate leading to formal professional recognition as an HEA fellow (FHEA). The PGCHE, like most UK postgraduate certificates, is an advanced postgraduate qualification, taught and assessed at the level of a UK master's-degree. The certificate is typically made up of 60 credits (1/3 of a full academic year), compared to the 180 credits (full academic year) required for a full

MEd MED or med may refer to: Healthcare * Medical extrication device, a device for extricating an injured patient from an accident site, such as the Kendrick extrication device * Medication, often used in the plural "meds" * Medicine (or medical) * ...

or MA degree. The duration of the programme for new, full-time members of staff is generally up to two years. PGCHE courses do not in themselves equip holders with knowledge of their specialist subject areas, and a university teacher will also have an appropriate educational and experiential background, typically including a

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

. The PGCHE began to become widespread after the

Dearing Report The Dearing Report, formally known as the reports of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, is a series of major reports into the future of Higher Education in the United Kingdom, published in 1997. The report was commissioned b ...

recommended that all university teachers should achieve an appropriate level of professional recognition during the initial stages of their career. The names PGCHE and PGCAP are used by the

but there are variations: several UK universities offer the Postgraduate Certificates in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education or variations on the theme. Course content and learning outcomes can vary in detail, though alignment with UKPSF and accreditation by the Higher Education Academy are common themes.

See also

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Further reading