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Course Overview


First Steps to Teaching (FST) is an Advance HE accredited short course, aligned to the Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023) that is taught and assessed by the Learning Enhancement Directorate within Ulster University, and successful completion by participants leads to Associate HEA Fellowship (AFHEA).

FST provides an opportunity for post-graduate teaching assistants (PGTA) and other staff with more limited learning and teaching roles* to develop their understanding of and practice in effective learning, teaching, and assessment. It is offered as a stand-alone short course and will be of particular benefit to those carrying out tutoring and demonstrating.

* Hourly-paid teaching staff and those from partnership centres should undertake the induction course for Recognised University Teachers (RUT).

FST activities and assessments have been designed to:

  • support the University’s Code of Practice for Postgraduate Tutors and Demonstrators
  • support the development needs of contracted staff, for example Research Associates, who teach
  • satisfy the requirements of Descriptor 1 of the Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023) with particular  reference  to Areas of Activity 2 (teach and/or support learning through appropriate approaches and environments) and 3 (assess and give feedback for learning).
  • take account of Ulster's Principles and Qualities of Teaching, Learning and the Student Experience
  • enable participants to provide evidence of effective and inclusive practice in teaching and/or supporting learning through appropriate approaches and environments and in assessing and giving feedback for learning.

Course Format

The course is delivered over both Semesters 1 and 2 of 2025-26 (October to May).

FST is an fully online course, with both asynchronous activities to complete independently in your own time in Ulster’s virtual learning environment, BlackBoard, as well as live synchronous sessions to attend via MS Teams. Engagement with both the independent learning and live sessions is required.

There is also in-person support through your subject advisor who is an experienced HE educator in your field that you nominate to support and mentor you throughout the programme. Opportunities to meet peers and the FST team are also arranged in the form of on-campus coffee catchups.

In order to meet the requirements for FST, you need to complete a series of tasks and assignments and are also required to carry out a minimum of 25 hours of teaching and/or learning support within UIster over the course of the programme.

Indicative Dates for 2025-26*

Semester 1

  • Mon 25 Aug 2025 12:00 > Applications OPEN for FST 2025-2026
  • Fri 03 Oct 2025 12:00 > Applications CLOSE for FST 2025-2026 [This is a firm deadline]
  • Wed 15 Oct 2025 12:00 - 13:00 > FST Welcome and Induction event (live online)
  • Wed 15 Oct 2025 > Self-directed Learning Block 1 released
  • Wed 29 Oct 2025 12:00 - 13:30 > FST Group Seminar 1 (live online)
  • Wed 29 Oct 2025 > Self-directed Learning Block 2 released
  • Wed 19 Nov 2025 12:00 - 13:30 > FST Group Seminar 2 (live online)
  • Wed 19 Nov 2025 > Self-directed Learning Block 3 released
  • Wed 03 Dec 2025 12:00 - 13:30 > Task 1-4 / Assignment 1 Clinic (live online)
  • Wed 10 Dec 2025 12:00 > Task 1-4 and Assignment 1 submission deadline

Semester 2

  • Wed 21 Jan 2026 12:00 - 13:30 > FST Group Seminar 3 (live online)
  • Wed 21 Jan 2026 > Self-directed Learning Block 4 released
  • Wed 25 Feb 2026 12:00 - 13:30 > FST Group Seminar 4 (Task 5 and Assignment 2 Drop-in (live online)
  • Wed 04 Mar 2026 12:00 > Assignment 2 and Task 5 submission deadline
  • Wed 25 Mar 2026 12:00 - 13:30 > FST Group Seminar 5 (live online)
  • Wed 25 Mar 2026 > Self-directed Learning Block 5 released
  • Wed 15 Apr 2026 12:00 - 13:30 > Assignment 3 Clinic (live online)
  • Wed 22 Apr 2026 12:00 > Assignment 3 and Task 6 Submission deadline

*Please note that these dates are unlikely to change, so please bear your availability and commitments in mind when making an application.

Application Details

FST FAQs

  • How do I know I am eligible for applying to FST?

    If you are starting teaching at Ulster, as a PgTA (Postgraduate Teaching Assistant), P/T Part-time Tutor, GIR (Graduate Artist in Residence), or if you are a staff member teaching and/or supporting learning in a professional services role you can apply for FST.

    There are no formal entry requirements, but you must ensure that you complete the required induction (based on your role), before the start of the programme, 15th October 2025.


    You must also ensure that you can secure a minimum of 25 hours of teaching and/or supporting learning from October 2025 – May 2026, and you must also ensure that you nominate a Subject Advisor (a senior colleague within Ulster, who will act as a mentor and supervisor to support your teaching).

  • How do I apply for FST?

    Applications open on Monday 25th August at 12 noon.

    Please ensure you complete the required induction before you apply, and that you complete the correct application form (based on your role). See links above.

  • How do I nominate a Subject Advisor for FST?

    Having a Subject Advisor is a compulsory part of FST. You must nominate a senior colleague within Ulster to act as a mentor and supervisor for your teaching.

    Your Subject Advisor must have a minimum of Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), so please check this before making your nomination.

    We ask you to indicate your Subject Advisor at the time of application, but we give you until the end of October 2025 to confirm or change this if required.

  • How do I secure the required 25 hours of teaching at Ulster?

    Gaining 25 hours of teaching and/or supporting learning is a compulsory part of FST.

    You must ensure that you secure a minimum of 25 hours of teaching and/or supporting learning within Ulster from October 2025 – May 2026.

    This will vary depending on your role but can include delivering lectures or workshops, facilitating tutorials or seminars, providing 1:1 support for students, teaching online, or lab demonstrating etc. It is important to note that the 25 hours is made up of direct and active engagement with learners and does not include preparation time.

    PhD researchers and PgTAs often secure this within their Schools and Faculties, so please talk to your research supervisors who will help you to find out how to gain this teaching experience.

  • I taught at Ulster last year, can I carry over any previous hours?

    If you have taught within Ulster University (and not another Higher Education Institution), you can carry over a maximum of 9 hours.

    This means that you would have to secure at least another 16 hours of teaching and/or supporting learning from October 2025 – May 2026.

  • I have teaching experience at another university, can I carry over these hours?

    You cannot carry over any hours from teaching experience gained in other universities, or other education contexts (e.g., teaching at Post-Primary level, or teaching in the community).

    All of your 25 hours must be gained from teaching and/or supporting learning with Ulster University.

  • What is the time commitment for FST?

    FST requires approximately 200 hours’ time commitment, distributed in the following manner:

    ~ 25 hours contact time made up of:

    • 15 Hours live online group seminar and online workshop attendance
    • 5 Hours teaching observation (observation time and pre and post meetings)
    • 5 Hours assessment moderation activity and discussion

    ~ 25 hours work based experience made up of:

    • 25 hours of teaching, tutoring and/or demonstrating or supporting learning at Ulster

    ~ 150 hours private study made up of:

    • preparation and reflection on teaching
    • self- directed asynchronous online activities within BlackBoard
    • self-selected reading/research
    • preparation and completion of all assessed activities (tasks and assignments)

    It is expected that you will:

    • undertake 25 hours of teaching/learning support
    • attend all of the live online sessions required
    • participate in pre- and post- workshop tasks as required
    • authenticate your effective practice through being observed by a Subject Advisor at least once
    • develop your practice by observing a senior experienced colleague or your Subject Advisor
    • gathering evaluation feedback from students
    • complete an assessment moderation task with your Subject Advisor
    • complete ALL assessed activities, tasks and assignments to successfully complete the course