Suitable for:
Inspirational technology leaders, innovators and academics.
Why become a BCS Fellow
You want to be seen as the Leader you are
Technology extends its reach across society every day. As a leader in your field, you’re facing increasingly complex challenges and your influence and responsibility has never been more significant. With FBCS after your name you can show the world your leadership credentials.
You want to connect with brilliant big thinkers
BCS Fellowship provides you with a welcome forum to discuss issues, ideas and approaches with people who understand the pressures of tech accountability. It’s where CIOs, CTOs, IT directors, academics and other IT leaders, in the tech industry and beyond, can come together in an impartial setting for non-commercial networking, problem solving and conversation.
You want to give back to the industry
As a BCS Fellow, you’ll receive the recognition you’ve earned as a pioneer of the modern profession. You’ll have a platform for extending your influence as a thought leader and for giving back to the industry with opportunities for policy formation, education, public engagement and more.
You want to put professionalism at the heart of business
You could also choose to become a mentor and play a key role in nurturing next gen professionals, or help raise standards and shape the profession from within as a BCS assessor.
Even more benefits...
Get high recognition
Enjoy industrywide recognition, with the letters FBCS after your name and your place on the public BCS Fellowship register.
Shape tech policy
Share your views and wisdom at our policy forums and in our government lobbying to help steer the ethical direction of the industry.
Share your expertise
Impart your knowledge and inspire others as a speaker or panellist at a BCS event or webinar, and by contributing written content to bcs.org.
Nurture tomorrow's talent
Pass on the priceless experience you’ve gained along your digital journey – and gain fresh perspectives yourself – as a BCS mentor.
Become an assessor
Support your peers’ professional development and help to increase and promote standards of competence throughout our industry.
How to become a BCS Fellow
Step 1 - Complete an application form
Download the Fellowship application form and include written statements showing how you meet the FBCS criteria. You’ll also need to provide your CV or LinkedIn profile, demonstrating at least five years experience within the scope of the IT profession.
Organisational member? If you're a member of an organisational membership scheme you'll need to complete the Organisational Membership (OM) Fellowship application form.
Step 2- Evidence
To become a BCS Fellow, you need to evidence your achievements and impact in the industry against a selection of criteria. Read the full criteria in our Fellowship application guidance or Fellowship application guidance for Organisational Membership (OM) – which also explains how to set out your written evidence statements effectively.
Step 3 - Supporter
You’ll require a supporter who’s either an existing BCS Fellow, Fellow of another professional membership body, or somebody you work with. They need to verify you’re ready for Fellowship and confirm the accuracy of the experience you’ve noted in your application. Please speak to them in advance to check they’re happy to support your application. We recommend sharing this Fellow supporter guidance with them to help them understand what’s required of them as a Supporter.
Step 4 - Apply online
Once you're ready, its time to apply for FBCS via our online application portal.
Need support to get application ready?
We can help set you up with a mentor - email us at processing@bcs.uk for more information.
Important downloads
If you are a BCS member through your employer and they pay for your membership, please use the below guidance and form to apply for BCS Fellowship. Submit your application via processing@bcs.uk.
Download Fellowship OM application form
Download Fellowship OM application guidance
Meet our FBCS members
Read our FAQs
How do I know if Fellowship is right for me?
Wherever you are in your career, if you can show that you’ve made or are making a significant contribution in the field of IT and digital, then it’s likely you’re ready for Fellowship.
The application criteria provide broad scope for demonstrating your impact, in categories ranging from invention and innovation to skills development, sustainability to inspiring others. Explore all the sub-criteria in this application guidance which also walks you through the best way to present your evidence.
Still unsure if you’re FBCS material? Why not match up with a Fellowship mentor with whom you can discuss your career experience and how to approach your application.
What's the difference between FBCS and CITP status?
FBCS is a level of membership, while Chartered IT Professional (CITP) is an industry registration.
You can become a BCS Fellow member if you can demonstrate that you’ve made a significant impact in the digital sector during your career.
To become CITP registered, you’ll need to evidence the technical expertise, professional competence and knowledge that you apply in your role every day. You’ll also need to be a BCS member at Professional or Fellow grade.
Many Fellows are also CITP registered.
If my application is unsuccessful, do I get a refund?
Following assessment, if your application to Fellowship is unsuccessful or if you withdraw your application, you’ll be refunded your subscription fee but you won’t receive a refund for the one-off application fee.
In the event that we have to close your application because we don’t receive a response from your supporter(s), you’ll be refunded for both your subscription and application fee as we’ll have been unable to progress your application to assessment stage.
Not ready to join just yet?
Connect with BCS and gain access to free CPD content, ways to get involved with our global tech community and info on BCS as your career partner. You'll receive a series of four emails jampacked with all this and more.
