NATIONAL TEACHING FELLOWSHIP SCHEME (NTFS)
Could you become a National Teaching Fellow?
- Do you get lots of positive feedback from your students and/or colleagues?
- Have you had notable successes in your teaching practice?
- Do you influence your colleagues or your profession/discipline beyond SHU?
If you can show evidence of these things you may have a claim to excellence. This is a very competitive scheme but if you can show that your practice is outstanding, having transformational effects on your learners, you may be a suitable candidate for the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme.
The NTFS celebrates outstanding achievement in learning and teaching in Higher Education. A National Teaching Fellowship award carries the entitlement to use the post nominals ‘NTF’ and has significant prestige in the HE sector. Successful candidates are expected to engage in a number of promotional events as an ambassador of the scheme by supporting the on-going enhancement of learning and teaching. You would also join an active community of passionate and enthusiastic professionals working to enhance learning and teaching in HE.
The scheme is open to members of staff from all providers of higher education across the UK. Please note that your context is taken into account regarding the range and scope of impact you can be expected to have, which means the award is open to those working in non-teaching academic and professional roles as well as those in academic roles.
As an eligible institution, Sheffield Hallam can nominate up to three individuals per year.
Applying to be an NTF:
A case is made for excellence focussed on three criteria:
- Individual excellence: How you are enhancing and transforming the student learning experience.
- Raising the profile of excellence: How you support colleagues and influence support for student learning and demonstrate impact and engagement beyond your immediate academic or professional role.
- Developing Excellence: The ways in which you engage in professional development activities and how these have impacted on how you teach and/or the students’ learning experience
Submission process for 2025
Although the expression of interest deadline for 2025 has now passed, we are always keen to hear at any time from staff who are interested in being considered for the NTF scheme. If you would like to have an initial conversation with our Teaching Excellence Accreditation Lead (TEAL) please contact us at talent@shu.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to arrange this.
Information for the 2026 submission round will be published here when available, and briefing sessions for interested staff will be held in Summer 2025.
In the meantime, we recommend that you complete our NTF self-assessment form which is designed to help you to decide if you have a reasonable chance of being selected as a nominee and what further development and support you may need.
Advance HE also have a series of online webinars in October, December and January which provide insights and guidance for aspiring NTFs.
Further information & resources
Sheffield Hallam University NTF self-assessment form
Advance HE website – National Teaching Fellowship Scheme
Advance HE – Insight into the award criteria (video series)
Advance HE – guidance for NTF applicants 2025
NTF (and CATE) Flashcards – a question sets resource from Edgehill University for use by individuals and teams
Advance HE Virtual NTFS Roadshows 2025 – online webinars giving insights and guidance on the NTF application process.
Sheffield Hallam University NTF Network for current and aspiring NTFs including links to bios for all our current National Teaching Fellows. (Note: these links take you to a different website – SHU Teaching Excellence).
NTFS Allyship Scheme – aimed at improving the representation, progression and achievement of aspiring NTFs belonging to underrepresented groups. Search for an NTF who has signed up to the allyship scheme.
Association of NTFs blog (UK network – subscribe for news, publications and events). A Jiscmail group has also been established in partnership with Advance HE for NTFs and aspiring NTFs. The group will have an EDI focus to support HE providers in overcoming the challenges and barriers that aspiring NTFs may be facing. Sign up to the Jiscmail group.
Need further inspiration? Take a look at this collection of National Teaching Fellowship stories.