Graduate Teaching Assistants (trained PhD students or postdoc researchers who assist teaching), can obtain formal recognition of their university teacher status. Although a PhD degree confers ‘researcher’ status, it does not highlight your valuable experience of teaching at university. Obtaining Associate Fellowship of the HEA (AFHEA) (Advance HE) via the Imperial STAR Framework formally recognises your university teaching role. An AFHEA application involves your writing, reflectively, about your teaching activities: we will help you ‘reflect on your own teaching practice’ and write in the appropriate style. Although it is less than three pages in length, your application must be written in an education style instead of scientific style. You need to show fulfilment of some basic (but important) criteria. The Imperial STAR Framework teaches you the style and guides you through the application process. Imperial is enthusiastic about supporting its GTAs and we have supported many more than the national average to become AFHEAs in our first year of the STAR Framework.
GTA STAR FAQs
PhD students, researchers and postdocs who have completed the basic training required by their department/faculty.
Visit the Graduate School website, or contact them by email.
Specialist advice for postdocs
- The Educational Development Unit provides workshops for postdocs interested in teaching and learning
- General help and advice for postdocs is provided by the Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre
Basic training is normally compulsory for GTAs, especially for those that assess undergraduate work.