Students studying at BSSC in 2026 are invited to supply their own notebook/tablet device for use at BSSC as part of the college’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program.
The most significant details that student and families need to understand about the BYOD program are published and available in the BSSC BYOD Program 2026 
document. Additional details about the BYOD program and software provided to students at no cost are listed on this page below.
Reasons for a BYOD program?
The educational reason for the BYOD program are described in the college’s Digital Learning policy.
Where can I purchase a new device from?
There’s no requirement to purchase your BYOD device from any specific supplier. We provide the following suggestions to assist you, but feel free to shop around. The listed products and prices can be used for comparison with other retailers. When comparing prices, be aware that differences often reflect variations in included warranties and insurance.
Option 1: JB Hi-Fi Education (Supplies both Windows and Apple devices)
JB offer access to a dedicated purchasing portal with products specifically approved by the school, along with options for extended warranty, insurance, and Buy Now Pay Later.
To order from the JB Hi-Fi Education BYOD portal:
- Go to: https://byod.jbhifi.education
- Enter your school code: BSSC
- Once logged in, select a student program.
- Follow the prompts to choose your device and accessories, as well as optional extended warranty and insurance.
- Enter your personal details.
- Choose your preferred delivery method: at home or pick up in a JB Hi-Fi store.
- Select a payment method and complete your order.
If you have any questions, you can contact JB at https://byod.jbhifi.education or call 1300 746 752 (Option 6).
Option 2: Learning with Technologies (LWT) (Primarily Windows devices)
You can purchase devices from the LWT portal or use the portal to find devices and options (such as warranties) for comparison with other suppliers.
- Go to the LWT portal: https://bssc.orderportal.com.au/
- Follow the prompts to choose your device and accessories and payment options.
If you have any questions, use the “Contact Us” option for contact number of online enquiry.
The school has an arrangement with LWT that allows students to utilise the BSSC ICT Helpdesk as a drop-off point for devices purchased through their portal if in need of repair. This provides an additional support option for students and in no way limits the scope of the warranty/support obtained with any purchase from LWT.
Option 3: Purchasing a New Apple Device from Apple or Other Suppliers
Apple devices are available from various Apple dealers (including JB as listed above). Apple offers education discounts on certain devices, which you can access both online and in stores (including their retail locations at Chadstone, Doncaster, and Highpoint). Other dealers may offer similar or better deals than the official Apple stores.
To check current online educational pricing or complete a purchase, use the following link.
https://www.apple.com/au-hed/store
Subject specific BYOD recommendations (Updated 28/10/2025)
There is no requirement for students to have a more powerful BYOD than those detailed in the BSSC BYOD Program 2026 . However, there may be advantages as to why students enrolled in certain subjects would consider device with alternate/additional specifications. Students should check this list against the subjects they are enrolled in and discuss this or email their respective subject teacher if they require further details about any of these recommendations.
| Subject specific BYOD recommendations | ||
| Subject | Reason for recommendation | Additional specifications |
| Music composition(Units 3 & 4), Music inquiry (Units 3 & 4), VCE Music (Units 1 to 4), |
Sibelius Music notation software (256 GB SSD allows for Sibelius Professional Sound Sets if needed/wanted)
This software is provided by BSSC Garage Band and Logic Pro X, which only work on Apple computers with MacOS, can be used for some work tasks. Note: There may be free or lower cost alternatives that students can use such as MuseScore and Noteflight as alternatives to Sibelius, and FL Studio as an alternative to Garage Band or Logic Pro X, but none of these are supplied by the school. |
CPU – i5 or i7 RAM – 8GB or greater Storage – SSD 256GB or greater OS – MacOS or WindowsWhile Windows devices are adequate for most tasks, there is an advantage in considering anApple MacBook with Garage Band or preferably Logic Pro X N.B. neither of these software titles are provided for BYOD devices by BSSC |
| Systems Engineering, Product Design and Technology, VET Engineering, Visual Communication Design |
CAD (including AutoCAD and 3D design work) Adobe Creative CloudThis software is provided by BSSC |
CPU – i5 or greater RAM – 8GB or greater Storage – SSD 256GB or greater OS – MacOS or WindowsFor more details see link to Adobe below |
| VET Digital Media, VCE Art Making and Exhibiting (Photography), Media |
Adobe Creative Cloud This software is provided by BSSC |
Check https://helpx.adobe.com/au/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html for the full hardware requirements. Storage – SSD 512GB or greater |
Software for BYOD (Updated 28/10/2025)
The following software titles are available to students at no cost.
| Title | Availability |
| Microsoft 365 (Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher and Access) |
Advice and assistance about how to obtain and install Microsoft Office will be provided during Step‐Up and throughout 2026.
Software will only remain active while student is enrolled at BSSC |
| Adobe Creative Cloud (Includes Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Lightroom, Animate and Premiere Pro) |
Advice and assistance about how to obtain and install Adobe will be provided during Step‐Up and throughout 2026. |
| Sibelius (Music composition(Units 3 & 4), Music inquiry (Units 3 & 4), VCE Music (Units 1 to 4),Students only) |
Advice and assistance about how to obtain and install Sibelius will be provided throughout 2026. Software will only remain active while student is enrolled at BSSC. |
Other factors to consider in selecting a BYOD
When selecting a BYOD the following factors should also be considered.
- A suitable device should not be too large (generally this means a device with a screen size of less than 14”). For most students the optimum screen size will be between 11.6 to 14 inches.
- Having a warranty or insurance for the planned period of use can be an advantage.
- Utilising an appropriate padded and protective bag to transport the BYOD can assist in avoiding damage.
- Having a device which is reliable, portable with relatively up to date hardware will be of benefit to the user.
Financial Concerns of obtaining a BYOD
If purchasing a new BYOD (with a suitable warranty) you should plan to spend somewhere in the $500 to $1,500 range. Using an existing device or obtaining a second hand device may be a more cost effective and appropriate option for some students/situations. Where students/families cannot easily obtain a suitable device for financial reasons the college will endeavour to assist. Assistance should be sought from the Wellbeing team or Student Engagement Coordinators at the college. The Wellbeing team or Student Engagement Coordinators can provide financial advice and make a recommendation for a student to be provided with an extended loan of a College owned notebook.
If I still have questions
If you still have questions about the BYOD program after reading the details here, then please contact the ICT Helpdesk, the ICT Infrastructure Coordinator, teachers or other staff members at the college to enquire further.