Application process

Stage 1

Application is via submission of a form that should include an applicant statement on your approach to teaching and learning. All applicants who meet the essential criteria are eligible for a place on the course.

The deadline for applications for 2020/21 entry is 30 April 2020.

Stage 2

Successful applicants will initially receive a conditional offer subject to confirmation that you will be teaching while undertaking the course. The deadline for confirmation of teaching is 7 September 2020.

If this deadline is not feasible due to your department’s hiring schedule than you should request an extension to academic-practice@york.ac.uk. Please be aware that the latest extension we can offer is to 16 October 2020, which may require you to attend the first workshop prior to receiving a confirmed offer of a place on the course.

Guidance on Writing your Applicant Statement

Your application statement should be 500 words or under and reflect on one or more of the following questions:
• What has motivated you to develop your teaching through undertaking YLTA?
• What are your beliefs and/or values about teaching and learning?
• How has your experiences as a learner informed your understanding (and/or experience as a GTA if applicable) of effective or ineffective teaching?

Limited Places on YLTA

We aim to accept all eligible applicants who meet the essential criteria onto the course. However, YLTA is funded by the University and there is a cap on the number of places we can offer. If the volume of applications exceed available spaces then desirable criteria may be applied.

Candidates who meet the essential criteria but not the desirable criteria will be offered a place on a waiting list in the event that those holding conditional offers withdraw their application.

Application Criteria

Essential Criteria

In order to be eligible for YLTA, you need to meet all of the following criteria. If you have any questions about your eligibility to apply then you can either attend the application workshop on the 15th April 2020, discuss your application with your departmental GTA Coordinator, or email academic-practice@york.ac.uk. 

Applicants must:

1. be expecting to work as a tutor, demonstrator, or in an eqivalent paid or voluntary role supporting student learning at York for the duration of YLTA that involves at least two of the following areas of practice:
   • Direct involvement in the teaching of students (face-to-face or online)
   • Designing or adapting teaching sessions or modules
   • Marking assessments, either formally or informally, and giving feedback to students
   • Contributing to wider support for student learning in a department, College, or across the University, including through mentoring or supervising others. 
2. be registered on your PhD programme at York for the duration of YLTA
3. be able to complete YLTA before the end of your main period of registration (excluding your continuation/ “write-up” year).
4. have your supervisor’s confirmed support to take time away from your PhD to do the course (200 hours)
5. have completed Introduction to Learning and Teaching prior to the start of YLTA (or can confirm authorised exemption)
6. be able to reflect on your teaching in writing with a view to enhancing your students’ learning experience and your own professional practice
7. have good written and oral communication skills (including to IELTS 7 or equivalent for applicants for whom English is a second language)

Desirable Criteria

Should applications exceed the number of funded places on the course then the following criteria may be applied.

Preference may be given to candidates who:

1. have prior experience supporting student learning in Higher Education (2 points).
2. have prior experience teaching, mentoring, supervising, and/or supporting learners at any educational stage or in any sector (1 point).
3. can demonstrate a capacity to evaluate and address students’ needs and concerns (1 point).
4. are outward-looking and interested in developing a collaborative and scholarly approach to teaching (1 point).

Criterion 3 and 4 will be evaluated using your applicant statement. 

Key Dates

Owing to COVID-19 planning, delivery of YLTA has been modified as of Aug 2020. All sessions will run in small groups of around 10 participants four times on the same day.