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National Teaching Fellowship Scheme

The Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTF) celebrates excellent practice and outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in higher education.

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About NTF

The Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) is a prestigious award that recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education. Achieving an NTF is widely acknowledged both nationally and internationally as a mark of excellence in teaching. For individuals, the award can significantly enhance career progression, often serving as a catalyst for promotion to senior academic roles. It also opens doors to new academic and professional opportunities, both within and beyond one's institution. Beyond personal advancement, NTFs contribute to the enhancement of student experiences by implementing innovative teaching practices and fostering supportive learning environments. Awardees become part of a national community of like-minded professionals dedicated to teaching excellence, facilitating collaboration and the sharing of best practices .  

Institutions benefit from the elevated profile of having NTFs among their staff, showcasing a commitment to high-quality teaching and positively influencing student outcomes .In summary, the NTF award not only recognises individual excellence but also serves as a catalyst for professional growth, improved student experiences, and the advancement of teaching practices within higher education. 

Newcastle University now has a total of 14 National Teaching Fellowships, which reflects our shared commitment to the importance of the educational experiences we enable.

Professor Ruth Valentine

2026 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme

The call for 2026 internal nominations is now open and the deadline for nominations is Friday 24th October 12.00 PM (GMT).

Eligibility

Nominees need to hold a category of Advance HE Fellowship recognition (any category), see Gaining Advance HE Fellowship (PSF) Recognition.

Application to be an institutional nominee

To apply to be an institutional nominee please complete an application form outlining how you meet the 3 NTF Criteria: Newcastle University Internal NTF application form. Email the completed form to apt.lts@newcastle.ac.uk by Friday 24th October 2025 12.00 PM (GMT). 

Nominations will be considered at a panel meeting in November, chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and consisting of current Newcastle NTFs and members of the Learning and Teaching Development Service. 

Following the panel meeting three successful nominees (each institution can nominate up to three colleagues a year with only 55 awards given nationally each year) will work with our NTF Mentors to develop their full claim to be submitted in March 2026. Further details to be found on the Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship webpage. 

The Advance HE Criteria

Eligibility: nominees need to be a Fellow of the HEA (any category)

1. Individual excellence

Evidence of enhancing and transforming the student learning experience commensurate with the individual’s context and the opportunities afforded by it.

This may, for example, be demonstrated by providing evidence of: 

  • stimulating students’ curiosity and interest in ways which inspire a commitment to learning;
  • organising and presenting high quality resources in accessible, coherent and imaginative ways which in turn clearly enhance students’ learning;
  • recognising and actively supporting the full diversity of student learning needs;
  • drawing upon the results of relevant research, scholarship and professional practice in ways which add value to teaching and students’ learning;
  • engaging with and contributing to the established literature or to the nominee’s own evidence base for teaching and learning.

2. Raising the profile of excellence

Evidence of supporting colleagues and influencing support for student learning; demonstrating impact and engagement beyond the nominee’s immediate academic or professional role.

This may, for example, be demonstrated by providing evidence of:

  • making outstanding contributions to colleagues’ professional development in relation to promoting and enhancing student learning;
  • contributing to departmental/faculty/institutional/national initiatives to facilitate student learning;
  • contributing to and/or supporting meaningful and positive change with respect to pedagogic practice, policy and/or procedure.

3. Developing excellence

Evidence of the nominee’s commitment to her/his ongoing professional development with regard to teaching and learning and/or learning support.

This may, for example, be demonstrated by providing evidence of:

  • ongoing review and enhancement of individual professional practice;
  • engaging in professional development activities which enhance the nominee’s expertise in teaching and learning support;
  • engaging in the review and enhancement of one’s own professional and/or academic practice;
  • specific contributions to significant improvements in the student learning experience. 

Thinking about applying

Find out what motivated some of our NTF winners to apply, what it meant to them to learn of their success, and what advice they would give colleagues thinking of applying.

Please contact us if you'd like to speak to the team (apt.lts@newcastle.ac.uk) and we'll be happy to help you get started.


2025 NTF Winners

Congratulations to Professor David Rose and Dr Patrick Rosenkranz , who have been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship. This award recognises exceptional colleagues who are committed to teaching, learning and student outcomes.

NTF Winners

Previous Winners

2023

Professor Jo Matthan - Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia
Professor Ruth Valentine - Faculty of Medical Sciences

2021

Professor Paul Fleet - School of Arts and Cultures

2020

Professor Clare Guilding - School of Medical Education
Professor Simon Tate - School of Geography, Politics & Sociology
Professor Iain Keenan - School of Medical Education

2019

Dr Lindsey Ferrie - School of Biomedical Sciences
Dr Lee Fawcett - School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
Dr Helen Webster - Writing Development Centre