Established in 1957, the British Computer Society (BCS) is the leading body for those working in IT.
With a world-wide membership now over 68,000 members in over 100 countries, BCS is the qualifying body for Chartered IT Professionals (CITP). BCS is also an international awarding body for a wide range of qualifications for both users of IT and IT specialists.
BCS was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1984. Its objects are to promote the study and practice of computing and to advance knowledge of and education in IT for the benefit of the public. BCS is also a registered charity.
BCS is licensed by the Engineering Council to award Chartered Engineer status (CEng) and Incorporated Engineer status (IEng); and more recently by the Science Council to award Chartered Scientist status (CSci).
Through our specific Professionalism in IT programme, BCS is leading and building IT professionalism.

Requirement for the course
No formal qualification is required for certificate in IT; applicant must demonstrate competence in English Language.

Course details
The BCS Professional Examinations are a degree equivalent qualification for any individual looking to develop or advance their career in IT. There is the opportunity to take three levels of examination which cover a wide range of IT topics acknowledging practical experience and academic ability.

The three levels of examination:

Certificate in IT

This is the foundation level of BCS Professional Examinations and is the academic equivalent to Year 1 of a UK university honours degree. It is recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as NQF Level 4. BCS recommends a minimum of 200 hours study per module.

The Certificate in IT focuses on the following core modules:

Information Systems
Software Development
Computer & Network Technology

BCS recommends a minimum of 200 hours study per module and the course culminates in a 2 hour written exam focusing on all three core modules. Completion of the Certificate in IT level means you are eligible to apply for BCS Associate Membership (AMBCS)

Diploma in IT

The Diploma in IT level (incorporating Diploma project) of BCS Professional Examinations is the academic equivalent to Year 2 of a UK university honours degree and is recognised by the QCA as Level 5. BCS recommends a minimum of 225 hours study per module. For candidates to qualify for the NQF Level 5, a professional project must be completed with a recommended minimum study time of 200 hours. If advancing to the Professional Graduate
Diploma in IT level, candidates are not required to complete a Professional Project at this level. 
By beginning the Diploma in IT level course BCS assumes knowledge of the Certificate in IT level modules (or exemption) and focuses on the following:

Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice (Core Module)
Computer Networks
Database Systems
IT Project Management
Object Oriented Programming
Systems Analysis
Principles of Internet Technologies (April only)
IT Service Management (April only)
Software Engineering 1 (April only)
Systems Design (April only)
Principles of User Interface Design (April only)

BCS recommends a minimum of 225 hours study per module. The course culminates in a 2 hour written exam focusing on the one core module and each of the three optional modules of your choice.

Completion of the Diploma Examinations level means you are eligible to apply for BCS Membership if you have 3 years' experience as an IT professional.
Professional Project:
In order to finish the Diploma in IT level candidates must complete a project. Recommended minimum study time of 200 hours.

Successful completion of the project and examination enables you to apply for selected degree courses with universities and means you are eligible to apply for BCS Membership (MBCS) if you have 2 years' experience as an IT professional.

Professional Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in IT

This level is the academic equivalent to Year 3 of a UK university honours degree. It is recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as Level 6.

By beginning the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level course BCS assumes knowledge of the Certificate in IT and appropriate Diploma in IT level modules (or exemption) and focuses on the following:

Advanced Database Management Systems
Management Information Systems
Software Engineering 2
Computer Services Management
Distributed and Parallel Systems (April only)
Knowledge Based Systems (April only)
Network Information Systems (April only)
Programming Paradigms (April only)
Realising the User Interface (April only)
System Design Methods (April only)
Web Engineering (April only)

BCS recommends a minimum of 250 hours study per module and the course culminates in a 3 hour written exam focusing on four of the above modules of your choice. Please be aware that practical experience is required to answer some parts of the exam.

Completion of the Professional Graduate Diploma Examinations level means you are eligible to apply for BCS membership if you have 3 years' experience as an IT professional.
Professional Project:
In order to finish the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level candidates must complete a project, which will be the academic equivalent of a UK university honours degree project and has a recommended minimum study time of 300 hours.

Successful completion of the project and examination enables you to apply for selected postgraduate courses at university and means you are eligible to apply for BCS professional membership (MBCS).

Assessments 
External written examination by BCS
  
Progression Route 
After completion of the Professional Graduate Diploma, students can apply for postgraduate courses at university .

Course commencement date

• Monday third week of Jan, March, July and September
• Application deadline

• January Session :Monday second week of January
• March Session: Monday second week of March
• July Session: Monday second week of July
• September Session: Monday second week of September

Awarding body
British Computer Society (BCS)
British Computer Society (BCS) is a professional membership body and an examination board. They have developed IT qualifications at Certificate, Diploma, and Professional Graduate Diploma level. BCS qualifications provide progression routes to degree and Masters programmes worldwide.

Registration with BCS
Registration with BCS is open to those following an approved course of study leading to a qualification recognized for admission to Associate or Professional membership of BCS.

Join Online

BCS Professional Examination Candidates Only

• Student Membership - Full Course*

The fee for this grade is £40.
To save time please ensure you have the following information before you begin the application: 

• Credit/Debit Card 
  We accept the following cards
   

- Apply online now for Student Membership (£40)
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 * Full or part time - to cover the duration of your current course, to a maximum of 4 years.

• Student Membership - Annual

Apply Online: Student (Annual)

The fee for this grade is £25.
- Apply online now for Student Membership (£25)
- I don't want to apply online - download forms

Download Forms

Student Application Form (MS-Word)
Student Application Form (PDF)