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

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)

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.

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.

• WB JECA Result
• WB JECA Application Form

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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: