NTF and CATE
The National Teaching Fellowship and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence, coordinated by Advance HE, recognise and reward excellence in teaching in Higher Education in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The NTF scheme has been established for 25 years whilst CATE was introduced in 2016.
The University has had continued success for many years in the NTF and CATE schemes and in 2024, an unprecedented number of colleagues were successful. Dr Sue Bolt, from the Academy, and Dr Ewan Russel, from Mathematics, were both awarded NTF for their outstanding Impact on the teaching profession and student outcomes respectively. Sue Bolt was also a member of the winning CATE team Liverpool Online led by Dr Lisa Day.
Lisa reflects on the experience of applying for the award and the success of Liverpool Online.
The scheme aims to:
- raise the profile of learning and teaching
- recognise and celebrate individuals and teams who make an outstanding impact on the student learning experience
- provide a national focus for institutional teaching and learning excellence schemes.
Call for expressions of interest in submitting an application for an award in 2026
The deadline for internal expressions of interest is 12noon on Friday, 12 September 2025.
Individual award (NTF)
Applications for an Individual National Teaching Fellowship are to complete the following form:
This is based around the NTFS criteria institutional guidance for institutions produced by Advance HE:
- Context Statement of up to 150 words
- Criterion 1: Individual excellence (max. 250 words)
- Criterion 2: Raising the profile of excellence (max. 250 words)
- Criterion 3: Developing excellence (max. 250 words)
Once your expression of interest has been submitted, your Head of Department/Line Manager is asked to complete the following supporting statement:
Collaborative award (CATE)
Teams interested in submitting an application for a Collaborative Award are to complete the following form:
This is based on the CATE criteria and institutional guidance for institutions produced by Advance HE:
- Criterion 1: Excellence in the team's collaborative approach (max. 375 words)
- Criterion 2: Excellence in the impact of collaborative working (max. 375 words)
Once your application has been submitted, your Head of Department/Line Manager is asked to complete the following supporting statement:
Learn more about applying for NTF and CATE
NTF/CATE Pipeline Programme
University of Liverpool colleagues who are interested in submitting an expression of interest to apply for either a National Teaching Fellow award or Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence in the future can apply to join the Pipeline Programme (dates will be provided early 2026).
The Pipeline Programme is jointly run with and for colleagues from the University of Liverpool, Northumbria University, Manchester Metropolitan University, and BPP. The programme consists of 4-5 online workshops between March-June, supplemented by online resources. It brings in sector experts, and provides lots of opportunities for networking and hearing from NTFs and CATE winners from other universities.
Details of the Programme currently operating (which is full) but will follow a similar format in 2026 can be found here:
Next steps
In the first instance, and prior to submitting an expression of interest, please contact Dr Charles Buckley who is the institutional contact for the awards: charles.buckley@liverpool.ac.uk.
Following this initial contact expressions of interest should completed using the online forms.
Decisions on which candidates are to be asked to prepare a full application are made by a panel that works with the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education, with senior representation included from each Faculty. The group usually expects to select up to three individual members of staff to prepare the full application for NTF and up to one CATE team. Those chosen are allocated mentors.
The process within the University for applications under the scheme is coordinated by The Leadership, Organisational, Professional & Academic Development Academy.
Explore our offer
The Academic Development team has created an interactive guide to support you in navigating the breadth of opportunities on offer.
Back to: Academic Development