BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT - Computer Science scholarship

General Description

The Computer Science scholarship is created by The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT to ensure students have an intellectually rigorous, inspiring and excellent Computing education that equips them for progression into further education and a professional career. It is aimed to see every secondary school to have outstanding Computing teachers. And to support these aims the institute has partnered with the Department for Education, together providing informal mentoring and development opportunities with excellent schools, universities and major employers. There will be around 100 scholarships, each one is worth £25,000 and paid in instalments over the year whilst engaged in an initial teacher training (ITT) course leading to initial qualified teacher status (QTS). The scheme is backed by major employers including Microsoft, Google, IBM, BT, HP, Metaswitch Networks, Toshiba, and Ocado, as well as Morgan Stanley and comparethemarket.com. Once qualified and in a teaching post, scholars are expected to become Master Teachers in a relatively short space of time. Master Teachers will take responsibility for championing their subject and assisting with the professional development of other teachers.

Requirements

Candidates will need to obtain a place on an ITT course leading to Computing/Computer Science initial QTS in England. They must fulfil the BCS criteria for subject knowledge to qualify as a specialist Computing teacher and have a good academic record at university, one of likely to achieve a 1st or a 2:1 (requiring a conditional award; already possess a 1st or a 2:1*; already possess an overseas degree with a grade that is equivalent to at least a 2:1 UK degree classification**. They should have an excellent understanding of Computing at school level, have an excellent ability to explain Computing ideas at school level, be interested in and committed to education/teaching, and have the personal attributes and leadership role that will make you a good classroom teacher and manager. They should have not previously applied for a scholarship in the same academic year.

In addition to the above, candidates will also need to meet the training bursary criteria.

The scholarships do not apply for those wishing to follow School Direct (salaried) or Teach First teacher training schemes. These ITT routes are employment-based schemes and are thus not eligible for scholarship or bursary funding. Candidates must also be eligible to draw down a tuition fee loan from the Student Loans Company and need to be qualified as a home student in order to pay tuition fees via your training provider.