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MCA: Full Form, Course, Admission 2024, Fees, Entrance Exam, Syllabus, Scope

MCA: Full Form, Course, Admission 2024, Fees, Entrance Exam, Syllabus, Scope

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jan 17, 2024 11:25 AM IST | #M.C.A.

MCA course or Master of Computer Application is a postgraduate degree programme of two years which provides comprehensive knowledge on the development of computer applications with the support of contemporary programming languages. The students pursuing the Computer Application course are given a chance to develop modern software through the help of sophisticated tools and techniques. MCA course is stretched in a time span of four semesters where the students learn skill development in computers, the conceptual study of the framework, and also work necessary project work.

There are ample qualified professionals in the field of information technology which are produced by many colleges that offer Master of Computer Application all over the country. A Master of Computer Application becomes a useful weapon when it is pursued full-time by a college or institution which is recognised by AICTE and UGC. Here, in this article, we have discussed MCA course details, such as MCA full form, MCA subjects, MCA course duration, MCA eligibility, and MCA qualification.

What is the Full Form of MCA?

The MCA full form is Master of Computer Application, is a postgraduate degree programme which focuses on computer applications and computer science and programming languages. The objective of the MCA course is to develop information and technology professionals. The MCA degree provides both theoretical as well as practical knowledge.

Highlights - MCA (Master of Computer Applications)

Particulars

Value

Course Name

MCA (Master of Computer Applications)

Course Level

Postgraduate

Duration

Two years

Eligibility

Bachelor's Degree

Admission Process

Entrance Examination/Direct Admission

Semester Wise/ Year Wise

Semester Wise

Entrance Examination

TANCET, UPCET, WB JECA, KMAT

Average Fee

Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 10,00,000

Career Opportunities

System analyst, Software Engineer, Programme Manager, Internet Scholar, Web Designer, Internet expert, Database Manager

Average Annual Salary

Rs. 8 LPA

Recruiting Companies

Infosys, Microsoft, Mahindra, ORACLE, GAIL, BHEL, Cognizant, Accenture, IBM, Wipro, TCS, HCL Technologies, HP, Capgemini, Deloitte, Zoho, Fargo, ITC

MCA Course Fees Structure

Master of Computer Application or MCA course fees varies based on institution to another. Private universities may charge high MCA course fees for MCA admissions, however, government colleges may charge less MCA course fees. The Master of Computer Application or MCA course fees will range from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 5,00,000.

Why Choose a Master of Computer Application or MCA course?

The MCA degree programme is comprehensive and structured in a way that best suits the industry. The syllabus is designed in a way that provides in-depth information on subjects such as computer architecture, computer networks and programming languages. The study provides an opportunity to focus on a variety of areas. Students can specialise in programme management, application software, MIS Management Information System, Internet and communications.

Depending on the expertise after the completion of the MCA, a student can apply to various industries such as network, hardware and software development. Industrial training incorporated into the course prepares students for practical field reasons. The courses are designed to revolve around computer software development.

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MCA Eligibility Criteria

In order to pursue an MCA degree, aspirants have to meet the common eligibility criteria to qualify for admission in any university. However, the MCA eligibility criteria vary from college to college depending upon their requirement for student’s academic qualifications:

  • Candidates should have completed their undergraduate degree programmes, such as BCA, B.Sc, B.Com or a similar stream and should have scored at least 50 per cent marks at the undergraduate level.
  • Mathematics should be a compulsory subject in the 10+2 grade in order to be eligible.

Skills Required for MCA Degree

Students should have a strong understanding of the technical skills in computer applications. In the table below, we have mentioned some of the skills that are required for the MCA degree programme.

Technical Skills

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Problem-solving Ability

Programming Skills

Coding

MCA Degree Application Process

For admission to the Master of Computer Applications programme in any university, candidates have to undergo a university-level entrance exam such as IPU CET. In some cases, aspirants need to attend the state-level entrance test such as MAH CET to get admission. Further, there are two modes of admission procedures that candidates have to go through in order to pursue MCA from a well-recognised university.

Entrance Examination: Candidates need to go through an entrance examination. Those eligible candidates who clear the result are called upon by the university to attend the counselling. In this process, students need to submit their documents and are then offered a seat in the affiliated college of their choice to pursue the MCA programme. Colleges that offer MCA through an entrance test are Greater Noida Institute of Technology, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Jamia Milia Islamia, MDU.

Direct Admission: When it comes to direct admission, candidates are judged upon the merit that they have scored in the last qualifying examination on the basis on which they are offered a seat in the affiliated college. On the contrary, there are some colleges/universities that offer admissions to the MCA programme on a management quota basis. Candidates who take admission via management quota pay a relatively higher fee than the other candidates. Some of the universities which offer management quota to students are Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University, and Amity University.

Top MCA Entrance Exams

In order to enrol for admission in a college which offers Master of Computer Application, candidates should take note of some popular entrance exams which they should attempt. Here are some of the following entrance tests which every candidate should attend to pursue a degree in the MCA degree programme at a well-reputed university:

TANCET: TANCET or Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test is a state-level entrance examination conducted by Anna University. TANCET is conducted once in a year for admission to MCA and MBA degree programmes. Students who are eligible for the TANCET entrance examination, are required to fill out the TANCET Application Form.

UPCET: UPCET or Uttar Pradesh Combined Entrance Examination is a state-level entrance examination conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). UPCET is conducted once a year for admission in for various undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, in 220 colleges in Uttar Pradesh.

WB JECA: WB JECA or West Bengal Joint Examination for Masters in Computer Applications is a state-level entrance examination conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board. WB JECA is conducted once a year for admission to the computer application programme at the postgraduate degree level.

KMAT: KMAT or Karnataka Management Aptitude Test is a state-level entrance examination conducted by Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges Association. KMAT entrance examination is conducted for offering MBA and MCA courses in 189 institutes of Karnataka.

MCA Degree Cut-Off

Master of Computer Application or MCA cut-off is used for determining the candidates’ merit for admission in the MCA degree programme. For admission to the MCA degree programme, the cut-off of various entrance examinations is accepted in various colleges. The MCA cut-off is based on the number of students appearing for the entrance examinations, and the difficulty level of the question paper.

MCA Course Syllabus

Master of Computer Application subjects are some of the commonly studied subjects all over the country which entail JAVA programming, cloud computing, network and database management, and statistics. In the table below, we have mentioned the MCA subjects of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology.

Semester 1
Theory
Computer Organisation & Architecture

Computer Programming with C

Business Systems and Applications

Discrete Mathematical Structure

Business English and Communication-
Practical
Micro Programming & Architecture Lab
Programming lab (C)
Business presentation and language lab-
Semester 2
Theory
Data Communication & Computer Networks

Information Systems Analysis & Design

Data Structures with C

Data Base Management System I

Object-Oriented Programming With C++-
Practical
Data structure labDatabase lab
Object-Oriented Programming lab (C++)-
Semester 3
Theory
Operating Systems and Systems SoftwareUnix and Shell Programming
Intelligent Systems

Statistics and Numerical Techniques

Business ManagementManagement Accounting
Practical
Unix lab

Statistics and Numerical Analysis lab

Accounting Systems lab-
Semester 4
Theory
Software Engineering & TQMGraphics & Multimedia
Data Base Management System II

Operation Research & Optimisation Techniques

Environment and Ecology-
Practical
Software Project Management labGraphics & Multimedia Lab
Advanced Database lab-

MCA Specializations

Aspirants who are seeking admission in the Master of Computer Application programme from a well-reputed university of their choice must know the further specialisations that they can choose in this field. Candidates are offered these specialisations once they reach the third year of MCA tenure. The specialisation offers candidates a chance to build deeper expertise and skill sets into a particular subdomain of the MCA programme for better future prospects. In the table below, we have mentioned some of the specialisations of the MCA course.

Application SoftwareHardware Technology
Systems ManagementNetworking
Systems EngineeringManagement Information Systems (MIS)

What after MCA Course?

Before deciding to take admission in Master of Computer Application, candidates must know in detail about the future scope of this postgraduate programme. There are a wide variety of job opportunities for MCA graduates in the employment sectors such as information technology, desktop publishing, banking, cloud networking, cloud computing, digital marketing, logistics, web designing and development, e-commerce, data communication, consultancies, simulation, security and surveillance companies.

These professionals get well-versed in the field of software/application development and have the prerequisite knowledge of working on a variety of programming languages. Students can also pursue higher studies after completing their MCA degree programme, such as a PhD.

Also Read: Online Software Engineering Courses

Careers Opportunities after MCA

After completing MCA, aspirants can get employed in different corporations at various job roles across all industries for a better future. Some of the job roles after completing the Master of Computer Application have been enlisted here for better reference.

App Developer – App developer or application developer are professional software engineers who design, develop and implement the mobile application and software for various operating systems, such as Windows, Android, and IOS. He or she is responsible for routine check up of the apps and also updates the aaps if any new features come.

Business Analyst – A Business Analyst is a professional who plays an important role in assessing and understanding the business processes, systems, and requirements to help organisations make informed decisions and improve their performance. He or she works with the business stakeholders and technical teams, ensuring that projects are aligned with their business goals and objectives.

Ethical Hacker – An Ethical Hacker is a professional cybersecurity analyst, who works with computer systems, networks, applications, and other digital entities to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses of any company. He or she uses technical expertise to avoid cyberattacks while improving the network security of the company's digital infrastructure.

Top Recruiters

NIIT LtdDeutsche Bank
CognizantAccenture
IBMGoogle
OracleMicrosoft
Indian NavyFacebook

MCA Salary

Students who pursue a Master of Computer Application not only create ample opportunities for themselves in the information technology arena but also reap huge paychecks from their organisation in return for the services rendered. There are plenty of employment opportunities in the private and government sector for MCA graduates. Students who pursue a degree in MCA often land a job in big multinational corporations such as Google, Amazon, Infosys, Deloitte, Sapient, Microsoft, and IBM. In the table below we have mentioned the master of computer application salary for the graduates.

Job Profiles

Average Salary

App Developer

Rs. 6.0 LPA

Business Analyst

Rs. 6.6 LPA

Ethical Hacker

Rs. 5.6 LPA

Employment Areas

MCA degree graduates can work in both private and government organisations. Graduates can also join academics, for the career as a teacher or lecturer. Students who have pursued Master of Computer Application or MCA courses, can also work as freelancers. Some of the employment areas for MCA graduates are:

  • Information Technology

  • Healthcare facilities

  • Academics

  • Freelancing

Top Private MCA Colleges with Fees in India

In India, there are a number of private colleges that offer MCA degrees. Private colleges are significantly more expensive than public universities. Some of the top private MCA colleges and also MCA fees are discussed below:

Top Government MCA Colleges with Fees in India

Attending a government-run college is less expensive than attending a private MCA college. These MCA colleges are well-known for their high academic standards throughout India. The following are some of the best government MCA colleges and also MCA fees:

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What career opportunities are associated with MCA?

MCA graduate candidates attain their preferred job roles on the basis of their technical expertise. They can get employed in various sectors such as Information Technology, networking, banking, NBFC (non banking finance corporation), desktop publishing. After pursuing a degree in MCA, students can also become a lecturer/professor.

2. What is the syllabus of MCA?

MCA Syllabus includes Programming & Data Structure, Oral and Wireless Communications, Unix & Windows Lab, Database Management Systems, Optimisation Techniques,  Network Lab, A.I and Applications and much more.

3. What are the job profiles after completing MCA?

The job profiles after completing Masters in Computer Application are Web Designer/Web Developer, Computer System Analyst, Software Developer, Database Administrator, Software Engineer or Programmer, Software Application Architect, Project Manager, Hardware Engineer, Software Consultant, and Senior Technical Consultant.

4. What is the average salary of an MCA graduate in India?

The average salary of an MCA graduate ranges between Rs 4 lakhs to Rs 7 Lacs per annum in India.

5. Do I have to pursue an MCA to have a good career in software development?

Yes, to build a great career in the field of software development, it is a right choice to pursue a degree in Masters in Computer Application as the student harnesses a good amount of skills and expertise in the web development through the use of software programming languages such as JAVA, Asp.net, linux.

6. What is the MCA full form?

MCA full form is Master of Computer Application. The objective of MCA is to develop information and technology professionals. The MCA degree provides both theoretical as well as practical knowledge.

7. What are the Master of Computer Application subjects?

Some of the Master of Computer Application subjects are Computer Organisation & Architecture, Mathematical foundations, Programming & Data Structure, Unix & Windows Lab, Accounting and Management Control, Computer Communication Networks, Database Management Systems.

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Questions related to M.C.A.

Have a question related to M.C.A. ?

Hello,

Yes, you can pursue a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) after completing a BSc in Agriculture. Most MCA programs in India require a bachelor's degree in any discipline with Mathematics as a subject at the 10+2 level or during graduation. Since you studied Mathematics in 12th grade, you meet this requirement.

Hope this helps you,

Thank you

https://www.careers360.com/courses/mca-master-of-computer-applications


Hello!

Since you haven't mentioned any particular college, I assume you are asking about colleges/universities that offer MCA course. Below is a list of some colleges/universities which offer this course:

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
  2. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
  3. Jadavpur University, Kolkata
  4. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
  5. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
  6. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
  7. Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
  8. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
  9. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
  10. University of Delhi, Delhi

Please visit the website by clicking on the link given below for more information:

https://university.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-mca-universities-in-india?sort_by=3&degree=101&entity_type=1

Hope this information will help you. Best wishes ahead!

Hello!

Your question is incomplete. You haven't mentioned the name of the college. I think suggesting you a few colleges that offers MCA course will be helpful to you. So, here's a list:

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
  2. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
  3. Jadavpur University, Kolkata
  4. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
  5. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
  6. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
  7. Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
  8. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
  9. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
  10. University of Delhi, Delhi

Hope this answers your query. Thank you.

Hello!

The eligibility criteria for is BCA, B.Sc, B.Com or a similar stream with at least 50% marks. In addition to this, mathematics is a compulsory subject in class 12.

Here's a list of colleges that offers MCA course with reasonable course fees:

  1. JNU Delhi - Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
  2. Periyar University - Periyar University, Salem
  3. Madras University - University of Madras, Chennai
  4. HPU Shimla - Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
  5. Bharathiar University - Bharathiar University, Coimbatore

Hope this information will help you. Thank you.

The Medhavi Chhatra Yojana scheme, typically offered by the Madhya Pradesh government, is most likely intended to support students financially during their undergraduate studies. Medhavi scheme suggests it focuses on graduation completion, particularly for students from economically weaker sections. There is no mention of extending financial aid to postgraduate studies.The scheme's name itself translates to "Meritorious Student Scheme" and its primary objective seems to be ensuring students complete their undergraduate degrees without financial constraints.

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