MCA: Full Form, Admission 2024, Eligibility, Duration, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Salary

What is MCA?

MCA is a postgraduate program with a course duration of 3 years. The full form of this course is Master of Computer Application. The MCA course aims to train students in different aspects of computer programs, computer architecture, application software, operating systems, and more. Students seeking to excel in the domain of computer and information technology can take up this master of computer applications course.

MCA fees are INR 60,000–3 lakhs. MCA colleges include Christ University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Presidency College, and the University of Hyderabad, among others. There are various entrance exams for MCA such as CUET PG, IPU CET, NIMCET, TANCET, TSICET, OJEE etc.

Over the years, the IT industry has seen evident growth and evolution. Due to this, more and more people are attracted and motivated to become a part of the giant IT industry. Students with a sincere inclination towards computers and technology can take up an MCA course to enhance their career and salary prospects.

Jobs after MCA include Software Developer or Engineer, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Web Developer, Mobile App developer, IT Consultant, and Project Manager among others. The average salary graduates earn after the completion of the course is INR 4 – 7 LPA. 

All about MCA:

What is the MCA Full Form? 

MCA full form is Master of Computer Application.

mca-master-of-computer-applications

More Computer Courses:

MCA Course Details

Master Of Computer Application

Course Name

MCA Course

 Full Form

Master of Computer Application

 Course Duration

3 years

Course Types

Full-time/Online/Distance-mode

Eligibility

A minimum of 50-50% in BCA or Bachelor’s degree in related disciplines

 Entrance Exams

CUET PG, IPU CET, NIMCET, TANCET and OJEE

Admission Process

Merit-based and Entrance Exam

 Scholarships

  • State government scholarships are available for reserved categories (SC/ST) and economically weaker sections (EWS)
  • Merit scholarships are offered by deemed or private universities ( based on entrance exam score or graduation marks)

 Course Fees

INR 30,000 – 2,00,000

Salary in India

INR 3-8 LPA

Job Profiles

Software Engineers, Frontend Developers, Backend Developers, Web Designing, Networking Professionals, Project Manager (IT)

Why Pursue Master of Computer Application? 

  • Aspirants who want to excel and grow in the field of computers and IT technology can take up a master of computer application program to acquire expertise in this field.

  • With 2,05,000 new job openings per year and a consistent growth rate of 7.7 percent, the MCA job market is flourishing.

  • Candidates for the MCA course have countless employment options in numerous job roles across different industries in both the private and government domains.

  • As soon as candidates complete the MCA course, they get placed with a minimum salary of INR 4 LPA.

  • Successful MCA course graduates can also expect to be hired by the best MNCs and IT firms in the world. Including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc., with a starting salary of 13 LPAs that will increase rapidly.

The eligibility criteria for the MCA degree course are as follows:

  • Aspirants must have graduated from a UG program in computer applications, computer science, or a closely related discipline with at least a 50% aggregate.

  • Aspirants must have mathematics as one of their subjects in Class 12 to be eligible for the Master of Computer Applications course. 

MCA-Eligibility

MCA Entrance Exams

Apart from some colleges that accept merit scores, many reputed colleges and universities grant admissions based on the MCA entrance exam score. In this section, learn about the top entrance exams for MCA and their important dates.

MCA Entrance Exam

Application Dates

Exam Dates

IPU CET 2024

March 2024 –  2024

May – June 2024

UPCET 2024

1st Week of December 2023 – 1st Week of January 2023

11th – 28th March 2024

NIMCET 2024

2nd Week of March – 2nd Week of April 2024 

3rd Week of June 2024

TANCET 2024

1st Week of January – 1st Week of February 2024

March 2024

VITEEE 2024

4th Week of January – 2nd Week of April 2024 

April 2024

MAH MCA CET 2024

1st Week of January – 4th Week of January 2024

30th March 2024

MCA Admission 2024

In India, entrance exams are mostly used to determine admission to MCA courses. But some institutions grant admission based on a merit list made from the grades received at graduation. The entrance exam approach is typically followed by the top MCA colleges in India.

There are two modes in which MCA course admission takes place. Typically, admission to the MCA degree program occurs through state-level entrance tests like the IPU CET, MAH CET, etc. or university-level entrance exams. However, some colleges may accept direct admissions based on merit scores.

Entrance Exams Based MCA Admission 

entrance-exam-based-mca-admission

Here is a step-by-step process to get admission through entrance exams into the Master of Computer Application course:

  • The applicants must register themselves on the college or institution’s website.

  • The candidates must next enter their application information and upload the various documents.

  • Candidates must pay the application fees and print out their receipts.

  • The candidates must then print their admit cards and appear for the entrance exam.

  • Qualified candidates are contacted for a counselling session after passing the entrance exam.

  • Counseling is done to allocate seats at the various colleges and universities. In the counselling procedure, seats are allocated, and students are granted admissions.

Direct MCA Admission

direct-mca-admission

Here is a step-by-step to be followed to get direct admission into Master of Computer Applications course:

  • Students are directly admitted to MCA course based on performance of prerequisite exams. Another method of direct admission offered by some institutions is management quota admission.
  • There are designated seats for management in every college. However, these management quota seats cost more than regular seats.
  • Private colleges like Amity University, LPU, Chandigarh University, and others provide direct MCA admissions. On the day of the interview, students must take a knowledge-based test.

Types of MCA Courses Available in India

The MCA course is available in three modes at several colleges and universities across India. These include MCA in regular mode, MCA in online mode, and MCA distance education.

Below, we have included the relevant information about all types of MCA courses in India.

Features

MCA Course Regular

MCA Course Online

MCA Course Distance Education

Duration

3 years

6 months-4 years

2-5 years

Fees

INR 30,000-2,00,000

INR 30,000- 1,50,000

INR 40,000-1,50,000

Mode

Full-time

Online

Distance Education

Eligibility

Bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Admission

Entrance Exam

Merit based

Entrance exam/merit based

Top Colleges

IIT Roorkee, VIT University, NIT Trichy, Loyola College

University of Mysore, Amity University,Tamil Nadu Open University

IGNOU, Annamalai University, University of Mumbai

MCA Syllabus

The 3-year MCA course is divided into six semesters. MCA Syllabus includes everything from lectures to practicals to project work. Among all the things, Master of Computer Applications (MCA) project work is the most crucial element. The last semester of the MCA curriculum is entirely devoted to project work. Moreover, students choose their specialization in this year only.

While the MCA syllabus may vary from college to college, the common syllabus of MCA is given below: 

MCA Syllabus: 1st Year

Semester – 1

Semester – 2

Computer Organization and Architecture

Data Communication and Computer Networks

Business Systems and Applications

Object-Oriented Programming in C++

Computer Programming with C

Information Systems Analysis and Design

Discrete Mathematical Structure

Data Structures with C

Business English and Communication

Object-Oriented Programming Lab (C++)

Programming in C

Database Management System I

Microprogramming and Architecture Lab

Data Structure Lab

Business Presentation and Language Lab

Database Lab

MCA Syllabus: 2nd Year

Semester – 3

Semester – 4

Unix and Shell Programming

Software Engineering and TQM

Business Management

Database Management System II

Operating Systems and Systems Software

Environment and Ecology

Intelligent Systems

Graphics and Multimedia

Management Accounting

Operation Research and Optimization Techniques

Statistics and Numerical Techniques

Advanced Database Lab

Unix Lab

Software Project Management Lab

Statistics and Numerical Analysis Lab

Graphics and Multimedia Lab

MCA Syllabus: 3rd Year

Semester – 5

Semester – 6

Values and Ethics of Profession

Major Project and Seminar

Elective 1 (System Administration and Linux or Windows Programming With VB)

Elective 2 (Advanced Unix programming or Object-Oriented Programming with Java)

Elective 3 (Distributed database management or Parallel Programming)

Elective 4 (Compiler Design or E-Commerce)

Minor project and Seminar

Elective Lab

MCA Course Specializations

As students enter the third or final year of the MCA course program, they have the option to choose a particular specialization as per their preference and area of interest.

These specializations give candidates the chance to develop a deeper level of expertise and skill set in a specific MCA degree to acquire better career prospects. Some of the specializations in master of computer applications offered by most colleges and universities are:

  • Systems Management

  • Management Information Systems (MIS)

  • Systems Development

  • Systems Engineering

  • Networking

  • Internet

  • Application Software

  • Software Development

  • Troubleshooting

  • Hardware Technology

Master of Computer Application: Course Comparison

The MCA Course is certainly an excellent option in the field of computers and information technology (IT). However, there are other popular courses as well that provide similar outcomes as those offered by the Master of Computer Applications.

These include an MTech in Computer Science and an MSc in Computer Science. To give you a fair idea, we have compared the Master of Computer Applications program with other similar programs.

MCA vs MTech in Computer Science: Difference 

The table below mentions the difference between MCA Course and MTech in Computer Science in terms of course duration, eligibility, concepts, fees, and salary prospects.

Course Name

MCA (Master of Computer Applications)

MTech (Master of Technology)

Duration

3 years

2 years

Eligibility

A minimum of 50% in BCA or a related field.

A minimum of 50-60% in BTech/BE course.

Focus on

Computer Languages, Programming, and Networking.

Advanced Engineering and Technological Expertise in Computer Software.

Concepts Covered

Fundamentals of Computer Organization, Operating Systems, Database Management Systems, Network Programming, A.I and Applications, etc.

Operating Systems and System Programming, Advanced Software Engineering, Cryptography and Network Security.

Average Course Fees

INR 30,000 – 2,00,000

INR 50,000 – 2,00,000

Average Salary

INR 3 – 8 LPA

INR 6 – 7 LPA

Must Read: Top MTech Colleges in India

MCA vs MSc in Computer Science: Difference

The table below mentions the difference between the MCA Course and the MSc in Computer Science in terms of course duration, eligibility, concepts, fees, and salary prospects.

Course Name

MCA (Master of Computer Applications)

MSc (Master of Science) in Computer Science

Duration

3 years

2 years

Eligibility

A minimum of 50% in BCA or related field.

A minimum of 60% in BSc Computer Science.

Focus on

Computer Languages, Programming, and Networking

Developing Software and Networking-based Skills.

Concepts Covered

Fundamentals of Computer Organization, Operating Systems, Database Management Systems, Network Programming, A.I and Applications, etc

Programming Languages, Theory of Computation, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Computer Systems Verification, etc

Average Course Fees

INR 30,000 – 2,00,000

INR 50,000 – 2,00,000

Average Salary

INR 3 – 8 LPA

INR 7 LPA

Must Read: Top MSc Colleges in India

Top MCA Colleges in India

MCA degree course is provided by several colleges throughout India. This section lists the top master of computer application colleges in India along with course fee, placements, and ratings based on student reviews.

Top MCA Colleges in India

Course Fees

Placements

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee

INR 1,39,650

INR 15 LPA

College of Engineering (Anna University) – Guindy (CEG), Chennai

INR 21, 480

INR 5 – 6 LPA

Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

INR 63,00,000

INR 7 – 8 LPA

National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy

INR 3,50,850

INR 6 LPA

Loyola College, Chennai

INR 58,515

INR 3 LPA

Harcourt Butler Technological University (HBTU), Kanpur

INR 2,09,760

INR 6 LPA

Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal

INR 2,60,262

INR 3 LPA

National institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal

INR  2,35,800

INR 3 LPA

MCA Course Fees: Bangalore

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Bangalore:

MCA Course Fees: Chennai

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Chennai:

MCA Course Fees: Delhi NCR

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Delhi NCR:

MCA Course Fees: Hyderabad

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Hyderabad:

MCA Colleges in Hyderabad

Course Fees

Placements

Nizam College

INR 1.9 LPA

INR 4 LPA

University of Hyderabad

INR 79,000

INR 6.75 LPA

Osmania University

INR 54,000

INR 6 LPA

Anurag University

INR 2 LPA

INR 4 LPA

Osmania University College for Women

INR 54,000

INR 6 LPA

Vasavi College of Engineering

INR 2.28 LPA

INR 4 LPA

Maulana Azad National Urdu University

INR 14,000

INR 3.71 LPA

Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology

INR 1.9 LPA

INR 4 LPA

MCA Course Fees: Pune

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Pune:

MCA Distance Education

Many aspirants cannot attend regular colleges due to health, work, or some other personal reasons. In such cases, MCA distance education becomes a good option to upgrade skills and knowledge in a particular domain.

Many colleges and universities provide online and distance education programs for MCA degrees, such as: 

IGNOU

The criteria to get admission into MCA course at IGNOU is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

BCA/BSc degree with minimum 50% marks.

Studied maths at intermediate or graduation level.

Admission 2024

Admission into MCA course at IGNOU is based on merit.

Mahabeer Institute Of Professional Studies, Amaravati

The criteria to get admission into MCA course at Mahabeer Institute Of Professional Studies is as follows: 

Eligibility Criteria

Passed graduation in computer-related discipline with at least 50% aggregate.

Admission 2024

Admission into the MCA course at the Mahabeer Institute of Professional Studies is based on both merit and entrance exams.

Entrance exam accepted: MAH MCA CET

IASE Deemed University, Rajasthan

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at IASE Deemed University is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Graduation in BCA or computer-related field from a recognized university.

Admission 2024

Admission into the MCA course is based on the merit scored in the qualifying exam.

Madhav University, Rajasthan

The criteria for admission into the MCA degree program at Madhav University are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum 45% aggregate in bachelor’s degree (any stream) with math’s as a subject from a recognized university.

Admission 2024

Admission into MCA course is based on merit.

Institute of Higher Studies & Management, Jharkhand

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at Institute of Higher Studies & Management is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Graduate degree in computer-related discipline. 

Admission 2024

Admission into the MCA course is based on merit.

Amity University, Haryana 

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at Amity University is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

BCA graduates with math as a subject at graduation or intermediate from a recognized university.

Admission 2024

Admission into the MCA course at Amity University is based on merit and interview.  

Universal College of Computer Applications, Bangalore

The criteria to get admission into the MCA course at Universal College of Computer Applications, Bangalore are as follows:    

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor’s degree in computer.  

Admission 2024

Admission into MCA course is based on direct admission. 

ICFAI

The criteria to get admission into MCA course at ICFAI is as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Passed a BCA/BSc degree in computer science or an equivalent degree.

BSc, BCom, or BA with math at graduation or 10+2 level.

Minimum of 45% marks in the qualifying exam. 

Admission 2024

Admission into the MCA course at ICFAI is based on scores in the qualifying exam.

Jaipur National University, Rajasthan

The criteria to get admission into the MCA degree program at Jaipur National University are as follows: 

Eligibility Criteria

Passed BCA/BSc degree in computer science or equivalent degree. 

BSc/BCom/BA/other UGC-approved degrees with math at graduation or 10+2 level.

Admission 2024

Admission into the MCA course is based on a merit score. 

Sikkim Manipal University

The criteria to get admission into the MCA degree program at Sikkim Manipal University are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized university.

Studies math and statistics at 10+2 or graduation level.

Admission 2024

A valid score in the SMIT entrance exam.

Admission into the MCA course is based on merit and entrance exam scores.

MCA Course: Study Abroad

Many aspirants choose to study MCA abroad because of the superior infrastructure, placement programmes, and research facilities. In comparison to MCA degree courses, there are several alternative international courses that grant comparable degrees.

Before applying for MCA at abroad colleges, aspirants must be aware of the eligibility requirements. The eligibility requirements for enrolment in MCA colleges abroad are listed below:

  • Candidates must have graduated from an accredited university or institution.
  • Candidates must successfully complete English language tests like the IELTS or TOEFL.
  • Students can explore scholarship options since MCA courses can be expensive overseas.
  • In countries like Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia, the Master of Computer Applications programme is well-liked.
  • The MCA course duration is typically between one and two years. In Australia, it occasionally lasts for 1.5 years.
  • Candidates must have completed their undergraduate studies in computer science or a related field.
  • Various colleges have different cutoffs that they request. These universities have minimum cutoff grades between 83 and 89%, or a 3.0 GPA.
  • Candidates must submit their GRE or GMAT exam results.
  • IELTS  requires a total score of 7, or the TOEFL requires a score of 80% to be admitted.
  • The average MCA course fee is between 25 and 50 lakhs in the USA, 10 to 23 lakhs in the UK, 20 to 35 lakhs in Australia, and 15 to 25 lakhs in Canada.
  • The top MCA colleges worldwide are included in the table below, along with their average MCA course fees.

USA

Here is a list of the top colleges offering Master of Computer Applications courses in the USA: 

Name of the College

Course Fees

Stanford University  

INR 45.5 Lakhs

New York University  

INR 38.5 Lakhs

University of Texas at Dallas  

INR 38.2 Lakhs

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

INR 55.2 Lakhs

California State University Los Angeles Campus

INR 16.3 Lakhs

UK

Here is a list of the top colleges offering Master of Computer Applications courses in the UK:

Name of the College

Course Fees

University of Sunderland 

INR 19.3 Lakhs

University of Greenwich 

INR 21.3 Lakhs

University of East London

INR 22.2 Lakhs

University of Oxford

INR 37.3 Lakhs

Teesside University 

INR 10.9 Lakhs

Canada

Here is a list of the top colleges offering Master of Computer Applications courses in the Canada:

Name of the College

Course Fees

University of Toronto 

INR 23.5 Lakhs

University of Alberta 

INR 15.7 Lakhs

University of Waterloo 

INR 28.2 Lakhs

University of British Columbia

INR 16.6 Lakhs

McGill University 

INR 17.4 Lakhs

Australia

Here is a list of the top colleges offering Master of Computer Applications courses in the Australia:

Name of the College

Course Fees

RMIT University 

INR 21.8 Lakhs

University of Queensland

INR 25.5 Lakhs

University of Melbourne 

INR 38 Lakhs

University of Adelaide 

INR 34.5 Lakhs

University of Sydney 

INR 49 Lakhs

MCA Skills Required  

Here is a list of the skills required for a successful career after a Master of Computer Application, or MCA, course:

  • Good communication skills.
  • Positive outlook.
  • Behavioural skills.
  • Sound knowledge of programming languages like C++, Java, and JavaScript.
  • Good understanding of data structures and databases.
  • Technical skills.
  • Know about the latest trends in technology.
  • Excellent programming skills.

Apart from the general skills, there are some specific skills required for MCA course as per your chosen field of work:

  • Programmers: They must have a good command over programming languages like C, C++, Java, .NET, etc.
  • Web Designers: They must have sound knowledge of languages like PHP, CSS, JavaScript, HTML, etc.
  • Networking: They must be skilled in SQL, LINUX. Also, they should obtain certification in CCNA, CCNP, CCIE.

What After MCA?

After completing the MCA course, one can look for jobs in various industries, both private and government. Due to the fast growth of the IT and software industries, the employment prospects for MCA course graduates have improved over the years. The demand for MCA graduates is expected to further grow in the coming years.

MCA graduates may be able to obtain employment with start-ups. Since start-up culture has become popular in India, it is highly beneficial for MCA freshmen in the industry. Not only do IT companies, but also start-up firms, pay substantial compensation to MCA course graduates.  

On average, MCA starting salaries range from 2.5 to 3.6 LPA, which is expected to increase as per expertise level and skills. It may be noted that while the IT sector is currently experiencing growth, there are several career options open to those who complete an MCA course.

MCA Salary in India

Find out the experience-wise breakdown of MCA salaries in India: 

Experience (in years)

MCA Salary per month

Fresher

INR 18,000 – INR 30,000

1 – 3 Years 

INR 25,000 – INR 50,000

5 Years and above 

INR 50,000 – INR 2,00,000

MCA Salary Company Wise

Given below is a list of the top companies and the MCA salary packages that they offer:

Top MCA Recruiters 

Average Salary 

HCL

INR 3 LPA

Accenture

INR 3.8 LPA

IBM

INR 4.50 LPA

Infosys

INR 3.60 LPA

Cognizant

INR 6.70 LPA

Tech Mahindra

INR 3.90 LPA

Wipro

INR 6 LPA

Hi-Tech Solutions

INR 5 LPA

TCS

INR 5.40 LPA

MCA Jobs 

mca-salary-in-india

Here are the top job profiles for MCA course graduates along with their job descriptions and average salary. Based on these things, you can mark your future scope after doing MCA course:

Job Profile

Job Description

Salary

Software Developer

The key responsibility of software developers is to design, install, test, maintain, and update software in a company.

INR 4,85,000 LPA

Web Developer

The role of web developers is to design and structure the look, layout, and other features of a website. These professionals must possess expertise in computer programming and graphic design.

INR 2,81,000 LPA

Mobile App Developer

Mobile developers are responsible for designing mobile apps as per the user’s needs and requirements.

INR 3,76,000 LPA

Systems Analyst

The job of a system analyst is to determine what hardware or software the company needs. They are entitled to the whole IT system instead of only software or hardware systems.

INR 6,54,000 LPA

Network Administrator

The work of network administrators is to take full charge of supporting, setting up, and managing internal servers.

INR 3,67,000 LPA

System Administrator

The roles of system administrators include installing, supporting, and maintaining servers and computer systems. Other responsibilities may include scripting, programming, project management, and more.

INR 3,04,000 LPA

Hardware Engineer

They look after the hardware configurations of a computer system.

INR 3,78,000 LPA

Technical Writer

They write fundamental technical content in easy-to-read text. These experts are highly sought after to write about technical topics for product descriptions and blogs.

INR 4,93,000 LPA

MCA Government Jobs

mca-government-jobs

While there are lot of career options in private domain, there are a few choices for government jobs for MCA course graduates. Students who have interests to work in government organizations after doing master of computer applications course can check out the organizations, jobs roles, and average salary available below:

Name of the Organization

Job Role

Average Salary

NIC Government of India

Programmer

INR 4 LPA

Public Sector Banks

IT Officer

INR 4 LPA

Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited

Consultant

INR 4-5 LPA

Government of Haryana

Senior System Analyst

INR 4 LPA

MCA Top Recruiters

Here is a list of the top recruiters that hire MCA course graduates:

  • TCS
  • Wipro
  • Infosys
  • Cognizant
  • IBM
  • Accenture
  • HCL
  • Tech Mahindra
  • Hi-tech Solutions

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