Principal Fellowship is suitable for highly experienced individuals whose practice involves a sustained record of effectiveness in strategic leadership of high-quality learning. Principal Fellows can demonstrate how they provided vision and direction and transformed practice and outcomes. They are able to show evidence that their strategic leadership has had a sustained record of effectiveness and positive impact over a period of five to seven years. Their practice will have made a positive and lasting change at a strategic level on high-quality learning.
Their impact is extensive. Individuals are able to evidence that their practice meets the following three PSF 2023 Descriptor 4 criteria statements:
- D4.1: Sustained and effective strategic leadership of higher education practice, with extensive impact on high-quality learning: within or beyond an institution, or across a discipline or profession
- D4.2: Development and implementation of effective and inclusive: strategies, or policies, or procedures, or initiatives, to enhance practice and outcomes for learners
- D4.3: Active commitment to, and integration of, all Dimensions in the strategic leadership of academic or professional practices
Is Principal Fellowship appropriate for you?
Principal Fellowship is not role dependent. Within your context, you will need to explore whether you have the extensive evidence of impact on high quality learning, at a strategic level, that is the basis for a successful application.
Principal Fellows are a diverse community representing the full range of strategic leadership in higher education. For example, you may work in academic departments, professional or service departments, on senior or executive leadership teams, for a professional body, as independent consultants, or in other roles with impact on learning and teaching in Higher Education. If you have not yet completed our free online Fellowship Category Tool, please do this first to ensure that Principal Fellowship is the correct category for you.
How will you apply?
There are two ways of applying:
Completion of an accredited programme or scheme: Advance HE accredits institutional provision (e.g. programmes and continuing professional development schemes) against each of the four categories of fellowship.
The Individual Direct Route to Advance HE: Through submission of an evidenced-based account of practice supported by a referee, which is peer-reviewed. This will incur a fee, paid by yourself or your institution.
Please contact your institution to find out if an accredited route to Senior Fellowship is available to you and whether a fee will apply.
- Read the PSF 2023
- Complete the Fellowship Category Tool
- Download the application guidance pack for Principal Fellowship
- Use the Guide to PSF 2023 Dimensions for Principal Fellowship to identify appropriate practice
- Follow the Principal Fellowship applicant guidance to write your application, using the application template provided in the pack
- Share final draft application template with your three Advocates
- Send the Supporting Statement template and guidance to your Advocates
- Use My Advance HE portal to submit your written application and three Advocate Statements
