BCS computer teacher scholarships

You can do this at any stage of your teacher training application, there’s no need for you to have a confirmed teacher training place or have even started your UCAS application yet. However, you will need to have confirmed a place prior to September 2024 in order to be eligible to receive the scholarship.

To start your scholarship application, you’ll need to complete an online form which enables us to check you:

1. Meet the education requirements

2. Are classed as a home student

3. Meet the criteria required to become a BCS Scholar

The personal statement section of the application gives you a chance to get across your passion for Computing and teaching, this part is important as it is the first impression we get of your application. Ensure you make full use of the word count.

Once you’ve submitted your application you’ll get a confirmation email and we’ll be in touch with you within 7 working days.

A key part of the BCS Scholarship is seeking to grow the number of specialist Computing teachers in England, and your application will need to show that you meet BCS’s subject-knowledge criteria. This means that you should possess either:

• A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (UCAS code G400)
• Another degree, and be engaged in a Computer Science Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course
• A STEM degree (i.e. in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) with significant Computing content (e.g. Electronic Engineering)
• A non-STEM degree, and have extensive professional experience in a Computing industry

Start your application today

Should your initial application be successful, you’ll be invited to attend an online BCS Scholarship assessment, which will involve:

• A pre-prepared 15 minute presentation - on a topic and for an age group specified by us in advance of the assessment. You’ll be presenting this as part of your online assessment to two BCS assessors
• A 35 minute interview by two BCS assessors

Both the interview and presentation will take place at the same time online using Teams.

We will assess:

• Your understanding of school educational environments and current teaching practices
• Your Computing subject knowledge and familiarity with the Computing resources available to teachers
• Your understanding of the technology sector and how it could relate to an educational environment
• Your potential for leadership and management and for professionally-developing your colleagues
• Your autonomy, influence and business skills

The BCS scholarship is not available to those wishing to follow salaried School Direct or Teach First teacher-training schemes.

BCS Scholarships are currently unavailable in the UK’s devolved nations.

The BCS Scholarship is not available for trainees who want to train to become a post-16 (Further Education) teacher with QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) status.

If you have made a previous, unsuccessful application to receive the BCS Scholarship, your new application should not be in the same academic year.

The BCS Scholarship does not cover tuition fees, so you may need to check your eligibility for a tuition-fee loan.

Should you be unsuccessful in applying for the BCS Scholarship, you can still apply for a government bursary  but you will not be able to receive both. Get into Teaching Bursaries and scholarships