Bachelor of Computer Applications

BCA course is a three-year UG course that focuses on computer applications and development of software and is an exciting field for those interested in making their careers in the Information Technology field. The BCA course full form is Bachelor of Computer Applications. The IT sector is experiencing quick growth in India leading to the demand for proficient IT professionals. Candidates after obtaining a BCA degree can enhance their employability in this industry. BCA course syllabus includes subjects such as operating systems, database management systems, web technologies, and software engineering, and languages like C++, C, HTML, and Java are all covered in the BCA course. 

Some of the best BCA courses are BCA in Cyber Security, BCA in Cloud Computing, BCA in Digital Marketing, and BCA in Full Stack Development. The BCA eligibility criteria state that candidates have to score at least 50% marks in class 10+2 with 50% marks in Mathematics/Computer Science from a recognized institute. BCA Admission 2024 can be done on a merit and entrance basis. Some of the top BCA entrance exams include CUET, SET, IPU CET, MET, etc. 

Some of the top BCA colleges in India include Christ University, Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research, Amity University, 
Parul University, etc. The average BCA course fee in India ranges from INR 70,000 to 2,00,000. Candidates who do not wish to work can also pursue higher education by doing an MCA or an MBA. After completing the course, students can BCA jobs as Technical analysts, programmers, Software developers, System Administrators, Tech Support, etc. with an average starting BCA salary of between INR 2,00,000 PA and INR 8,00,000 PA.

The table below highlights the BCA course fees, BCA course duration, BCA course eligibility, BCA course salary, BCA jobs, and many more.

One of the quickest routes to a global job in the IT industry is through enrolling for a BCA degree. The main reason to pursue BCA is its growing demand for IT professionals, lucrative career prospects, global career options, multiple specializations available, affordable education, and paid internships at top IT companies. 

Lucrative Career Prospects: With a BCA degree, you can rank among the highest-paid newcomers in the field. Therefore, BCA is the programme you ought to undertake if you wish to start your profession with a high base income. The starting BCA salary in India is INR 30,282 per month.

Paid Internships at Top IT Companies: Many IT organizations seek individuals to work with them since the BCA course is so malleable. Top IT firms even pay bright BCA students to intern with them as part of their efforts to develop them professionally and integrate them into the industry once they have finished their studies. The starting BCA internship salary in India is INR 1,54,166 p.a.

A Multi-Faceted Career: With a BCA course, you can work in the IT, trading, healthcare, finance, software, transportation, and educational sectors. Therefore, a BCA is the best option for you if you are seeking a degree that will give you a variety of career options.

Global Career Options: Undoubtedly, having a BCA degree can open up a variety of international professional options. After completing the course of study, you have the option of pursuing a Master of Computer Application (MCA) to improve your employment prospects internationally.

BCA can be pursued under several categories depending on the requirements and suitability of the candidate as discussed below.

• Offline BCA - The BCA course duration under offline mode is 3 years. It basically covers topics such as programming, database management, and software development.
• Online BCA - An online BCA course is pursued by candidates who have certain commitments. It has different benefits, such as flexibility where students learn at their own pace and schedule.
• BCA+Specialization - Offline or online BCA can be pursued with specializations such as Music and Video Processing, IT Technologies, Internet Technologies, Management Information Systems (MIS), Network Systems, and Database Management Systems (DBMS).
• Integrated BCA+MCA -  The duration of integrated BCA MCA is 5 years. This course is pursued by candidates who want to acquire the degree in a shorter period. It is offered by many institutes in India such as Amity University, Noida, CUIET Jhansla, and Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Mysore.

BCA eligibility states there is no mandatory requirement for subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics to enroll in the programme. Students who studied Arts or Commerce in class 12 can also enroll in the programme. However, the required qualifying percentage that is set for BCA course eligibility may vary from one college to another. The following are the minimum BCA course eligibility criteria that must be met by prospective applicants:

• Candidates must have obtained a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in their class 12.
• The applicant can be from any stream having 50% marks in Mathematics or Computer Applications as compulsory subjects.

BCA Lateral Entry Eligibility Criteria

Aspirants with BCA lateral entry get direct admission in the second year of the programme. However, they have slightly different BCA eligibility criteria for admission. Below is the discussion about the same:

• Lateral entry to BCA courses requires a three-year diploma in Computer Science or equivalent specialization with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognized institution.
• Students applying for BCA lateral entry must take an entrance test such as IPU-CET, SET, or CUCET or qualify for the interview.
• Candidates need to know that the BCA lateral entry admission procedure might be merit-based as well in most cases.

Required Skill Sets to Master BCA 

Considering BCA course heavily relies on computer programs, implementation, functioning, working, and so on, one must be knowledgeable about computer systems. Further, graduates need to possess a meld of both hard and soft skills that will help them succeed in their professional lives. Listed below are a few required skills for the BCA course:

Admission to the majority of BCA colleges in India is primarily done through an applicant’s 10+2 scores. For BCA lateral entry, admissions are offered based on the candidate’s diploma scores or a certification course equivalent to it. However, most popular private institutions also conduct their entrance test to decide on an applicant’s caliber. Further, there are several other national-level and state-level BCA entrance exams conducted for admission as listed below: 

CUET UG - Common University Entrance Test is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in Hybrid Mode (OMR Sheet or Computer Based Test). CUET offers admission to undergraduate courses across 250+ universities in India amongst which Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University (DU), Jamia Milia Islamia, and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), are the popular colleges.

AIMA UGAT: For admission to the BCA course, the AIMA UGAT is a paper-based undergraduate aptitude test. The test's objective nature makes it ideal for evaluating candidates' technical and general abilities. There are no deducting points for incorrect responses.

BUMAT: The Bharati Vidyapeeth Undergraduate Management Aptitude Test (BUMAT) is a nationwide admission examination offered by the prestigious university Bharati Vidyapeeth. Overall, 200 objective-type questions with one mark each make up the aptitude test. For erroneous answers, a negative marking scheme is not applied.

IPU CET: It is a university-level entrance examination for enrollment in IP University-affiliated colleges, administered by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. There are 150 questions on the online test and 400 possible points for the exam, with one point awarded for each correct response and one point subtracted for each incorrect one.

SUAT: Sharda University administers the Sharda University Aptitude Test (SUAT) to applicants seeking admission to the BCA course and other university-offered courses. Overall, 100 objective-type questions with one mark each make up the test format. Applicants who pass this BCA entrance exam are invited for a personal interview, which serves as the basis for making the final admissions decisions.

GSAT: This test is conducted by the GITAM Institute of Science, part of GITAM University. Each of the 60 objective-type questions on the test is worth one mark. Once a year, this pen-and-paper-based test is administered in 30 cities across the country.

Top BCA Entrance Exams Schedule

Candidates can check the BCA entrance exam schedule 2024 from the table below.

The BCA specializations include various types which include internet technologies, database management, word processing, Animation, Computer Graphics, Music & Video Processing, etc. Candidates can check the list of all the specializations before opting for the BCA course.

BCA Specializations

Also Read: Free Online IT Courses After 12th

Candidates for the BCA need to be mindful that every college has different admission prerequisites. While private BCA institutes have their own admissions processes, universities also require national or state-level entrance tests for admission. Government BCA colleges follow a different admissions process than private and deemed universities. 

Application Process for Admission to BCA Courses

In most universities, the application process for BCA admission is quite straightforward as almost everything is listed on each university’s official website. However, it may also vary from one university to another. Some commonly followed application process for admission to BCA courses is listed below:

Step 1: Choose the institute of your choice and check for the eligibility criteria before applying for the BCA course.

Step 2: Fill out the BCA course application form of the chosen institute in online or offline mode whichever is available within the stipulated time. Pay the application fee as prescribed by the authorities. 

Step 3: Admission to BCA is done based on the entrance exam as well as merit. Check for the option and sit for an entrance exam such as IPU CET, SET, etc. if required.

Step 4: Wait for the results to be declared. If the BCA cutoff 2024 is met, applicants will be called upon by the institute for further rounds of admission such as interviews and counselling. Or, if the applicant has chosen a merit-based admission, they need to wait for the merit list for seat allotment.

Step 5: For admission, students require a passport-size photo, their 12th-grade report, diploma results, and caste certificate for the applicable caste category along with their transfer and migration certificate.

Step 6: Pay the admission fees and report to the institution on the date fixed by the authorities. 

Also Check - NIT MCA Admission 2024

Admission to BCA without any entrance exam can be referred to as direct admission which is generally done on the merit of the candidate. The detailed direct BCA admission process has been listed below.

• BCA Admission without an entrance exam will be done based on class 12 scores where the college demands the candidates to score at least 40-50% marks.
• The BCA Colleges releases a merit list based on the class 12 scores of the candidates.
• After this, candidates must fill out the online or offline application form and pay the prescribed fee within the stipulated time.
• Some universities conduct interview sessions to offer BCA admission without an entrance exam.
• Candidates are required to pay the admission fee within the stipulated time to book their seats.

It is very crucial to know that the direct admission of the process of BCA depends from institution to intuition. Some of the colleges might accept students with an aggregate of 40% while some at 50%. Some BCA colleges will release merit lists while some colleges will directly call students for admission. Consequently, some institutions may reserve seats in the colleges at a certain percentage while some institutions may offer admission through entrance exams.

Top BCA Colleges Offering Direct Admission in India

The table below shows the top BCA colleges in India that offer direct admission to the candidates. 

The average BCA course fees is INR 70,000 to INR 2,00,000. The fee structure at a private college is higher compared to a fee structure at a government college. Also, if you are studying full-time courses in place of part-time or distance education the fees will be higher. However, if you are eligible for a scholarship offered by the college or any state organization, you can get a tuition fee concession. Given below is a list of colleges along with their average estimated BCA course fees:

BCA course syllabus covers topics related to software development, computer applications, and IT. The BCA course duration is 3 years which is further divided into six semesters. The Bachelor of Computer Application syllabus comprises topics that help students develop strong programming skills and gain an understanding of concepts of computer applications. The BCA course subjects include:

• Web Technologies
• Object-Oriented Programming in Java
• Introduction to Operating System
• Design and Implementation of Algorithms
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Object-Oriented Programming in C++
• Advance Web Scripting
• Laboratory Course – VB / C++
• Web Technology with PHP
• Theory of Computation
• Big Data Analytics
• Software Testing

An Online Bachelor of Computer Application Course is a distance learning course that offers intensive learning in computer science and its applications. It usually lasts three years and covers subjects such as programming, web development, database management, and software engineering. Candidates can access course materials, lectures, and activities online, allowing for flexible scheduling and distance learning. Online BCA programs are designed to accommodate working professionals or individuals who want to study from home, making it a flexible and relevant option for those looking to acquire a solid base in computer science and IT skills rather than traditional, private classes. Let us check the BCA Online Highlights- 

Online BCA Course Key Highlights

• Students opting for an online course are not required to sit for a BCA entrance exam.
• The course duration lasts the same length as that of an on-campus offline programme.
• Admission to an online BCA course can be made by visiting the official website of the college a student wants to enroll in.
• It is the most suitable option for individuals who wish to complete the course remotely from anywhere and anytime or for those who are engaged in a full-time job and cannot attend off-campus training.
• The duration of an online course is the same as an offline course i.e., three years or six semesters.
• In India, the best colleges for online BCA courses are Amity University, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Jain University, JECRC University, Chandigarh University, Manipal University, Sikkim Manipal University, and so on.

Online BCA Colleges in India

The list of colleges that offer BCA courses through online setup has been provided below.

The basic difference between BCA, BSc Computer Science, and BTech Information Technology is that they belong to the Computer Application, Computer Science, and Information Technology (IT) respectively. Candidates can check the basic differences between BCA, BSc Computer Science, and BTech Information Technology here.

Also Check - B.Tech IT vs BCA

Numerous best colleges for BCA in India are available for prospective students that provide high-quality education. Candidates can enroll in these colleges by following the respective admission process that their preferred college follows. Generally, private top BCA colleges are expensive compared to government colleges which are more pocket-friendly. 

Top BCA Private Colleges in India

Listed below are some best colleges for BCA in India along with their average estimated fee:

Top BCA Government Colleges in India

There are about more than 550 BCA government colleges in India. These include both Central Government and State Government-supported universities. It is less expensive to attend a BCA government-run college than a private one. The BCA course fees in government college is approximately  INR 10,000 to INR 50,000 per year. Candidates can check the list of the top BCA government colleges below along with their average estimated fee:

The table below highlights the Bachelor of Computer Application cutoff 2024 for some of the popular BCA colleges.

There are above 300 scholarships in India available to candidates offered not only by the government but also by NGOs, alumni networks, and MNCs. Here is the list of some BCA scholarships in the table below.

There is a rising need for BCA graduates in the constantly expanding IT sector, and so posts or after BCA job opportunities. Students with a BCA programme degree can find rewarding employment possibilities in both the public and private sectors. Several colleges provide their students with internships and a list of jobs after BCA placement opportunities, enabling them to begin their professional lives as soon as they graduate. Further, students have the option of continuing their education if they want to improve their prospects of finding work and professional growth. The following table highlights the popular BCA career options available along with the job description and estimated average annual salary:

BCA Salary

As discussed, the average starting BCA course salary in India ranges between INR 2 LPA and INR 8 LPA. One of the industries providing graduates with the highest salary after BCA packages is the IT sector. For BCA graduates, there are several job options in both the private and public sectors. Along with the field of employment, expertise gained from performing projects, internships, and training plays a significant role in determining jobs after BCA and salary. By taking part in internships and job placements, graduating students can enhance their wages while expanding their experience.

Top BCA Recruiters

Some of the top recruiters who hire BCA graduates have been listed below.

• TCS
• Apple
• Accenture
• Wipro
• Capgemini
• IBM
• Infosys
• NIIT
• Oracle
• HCL

After the completion of BCA, candidates are open to several options such as pursuing Masters in Computer Applications (MCA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Masters Degree in Information Management (MIM), Post Graduate Program in Corporate Studies (PGPCS), Masters in Computer Management (MCM), Information Security Management (ISM), etc.

Master of Computer Applications (MCA)

MCA is a computer applications course taught at a PG Level helping candidates to fight with the more complications of the IT Industry. MCA emphasizes designing, planning, and building, business management, complex commercial application software system software, and mathematics. Some of the career prospects after MCA are - Software Engineer, Quality Assurance Engineer, Test Engineer, Software Consultant, Database Administrator, System Analyst, Network Engineer, Programmer.

Also Check - MCA Admissions 2024

Masters in Computer Management (MCM)

Master in Computer Management or MCM is the combination of computer and managerial skills. MCM course imparts students, the basic skill set of management and computers. The candidates are trained in not only problem-solving and building complex computer applications but also provided training in financial management, marketing management, and operations management. Some of the career prospects after the conclusion of MCM courses are Information Security Analysts, Computer Systems Analysts, Computer and Information Systems Managers, and Database Administrators. 

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MBA can be an ideal option for those who are inclined to managerial posts after BCA. Some of the top institutes offering MBA are MDI, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIFT, and XLRI. Some of the career options available after MBA are Business/IT alignment, IT Governance, Chief Technology Officers, IT Financial Management, Chief Information Officers, and IT Configuration Management.