PGDCA Course - Full Form, Eligibility, Admission, Career, Top Colleges, Syllabus

PGDCA (Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications) is a one-year professional course in Computer Applications that teaches computer application and computer science.

The theoretical and practical aspects of computer software and their applications are extensively covered in the PGDCA. PGDCA courses are designed to teach students about a variety of topics such as database management systems, operating systems, and web programming.

The prerequisite for pursuing the PGDCA degree is a Bachelor’s degree from any of the accredited universities. Job opportunities for a computer professional have become inevitable due to the rapid growth of technology in various aspects of life.

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The PGDCA Course: An Overview

Degree Type	Bachelors
Also referred as	Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications
Duration of the Course	Course Duration of Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications [PGDCA] is 1 Years.
Age Limit	No Age Restrictions
Minimum Percentage Required	50%
Subjects of Study	Graduation in any stream
Average Annual Fees	10,000 – 2 lakh per annum
Similar Courses	MCA, BCA+MCA
Average Annual Salary	7 lakhs per annum
Roles of Employment	PHP Developer, Oracle PL/SQL Developer, Quality Analyst, IT Specialists, Technology Engineer, Technical Consultant, Programmers,Software Developer, Graphic Designer, and such.
Opportunities for Placement	Space Research Institutes, Hospitals, Health Care Providers, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Industry, Chemical Industry, Educational Institutes,Environmental Management and Conservation, Forensic

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Eligibility Criteria for PGDCA

The requirements for admission to PGDCA programs differ from one college to the next. While some universities, such as Delhi University and Dibrugarh University, require students to achieve a minimum of 40% aggregate in their undergraduate courses, colleges such as IK Gujral Punjab Technical University do not have any qualifying exam cutoff marks.

Institutes may set an age limit for admission to PGDCA programs in some cases. Vallabh Government College has made it mandatory for students to be under the age of 26 (28 for girls) to apply for admission to PGDCA programs.

• The candidate must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline (BA, B.Com, B.Sc, B.B.A, B.C.A, B.Tech, etc.).
• Minimum marks: With a few exceptions, such as Dibrugarh University, there are no minimum marks in most cases.
• While a simple graduation is usually sufficient, institutes such as IGNOU and the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata require that the candidate study mathematics as one of their graduate or post-graduate subjects.
• Again, most institutes have no upper or lower age restrictions. The Vallabh Government College in Mandi is an exception.

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Syllabus for PGDCA

The PGDCA course curriculum is designed to ensure that students are well-versed in all aspects of the subject. Programming, Java, Soft Skills, and other topics are covered in depth in the PGDCA syllabus.

The detailed syllabus for the PGDCA  is tabulated below.

First Semester	Second Semester
Fundamentals of Information Technology	Visual Basics
Programming	Java
Soft Skills	DBMS
Software Engineering	Data Structure & Algorithms
Business Process	PPM & OB
Oracle	Projects
Web Programming	Practical Work
Practical Work	–

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PGDCA Admission Procedure

• Admission to a PGDCA program is usually determined by the results of a graduate examination, but some institutions, such as the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, conduct a written test or examination to screen applicants. Candidates who pass the test are invited to an interview before being assigned a seat.
• IGNOU, Dibrugarh University in Assam, and the University of Delhi all offer admission to the PGDCA program based on qualifying exam results. The authorities compile a merit list based on qualifying exam results, which is used to assign seats.
• When there is an entrance exam, usually only the exam results are taken into account for admission, but there are some exceptions, such as Sardar Patel University, which considers both graduation and entrance exam results.

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PGDCA: Preparation Plan

• Prepare the basics and review them on a regular basis.
• Programming should be given special attention because it is the foundation of software development.
• Prepare a detailed schedule and stick to it religiously.
• Manage your time wisely by giving special attention to difficult sections like DBMS.
• Code Chef, Hacker Earth, and HackerRank are all good places to start.

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PGDCA: Top Institutes

A number of top PGDCA colleges can be found in India. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best colleges across the country.

Name of the Institute	Average Annual Fees
Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar	17,400
Dibrugarh University, Assam	23,380
Lovely Professional University	1,09,000
Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata	–
Annamalai University	6,900
Maharishi Markandeshwar University	–
Patna Women’s College, Patna	–
University of Delhi	10,000
Sardar Patel University	–
Vallabh Government College, Mandi	15,300
Madras Christian College, Chennai	15,000

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PGDCA: Top Distance Education Institutes

Name of the Institutes	Average Annual Fees
IGNOU, New Delhi	21,600
Amity School of Distance Learning, Noida
University of Delhi	7,000
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai	10,000
Sambalpur University, Odisha	12,000
Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar	6,000

• Jaipur National University
• Lovely Professional University
• Alagappa University
• Annamalai University
• Sikkim Manipal University
• Bharathidasan University
• Mahatma Gandhi University
• Suresh Gyan Vihar University
• Delhi University
• Osmania University

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PGDCA: Admission Procedure of Different Institutes

Name of the Institute	Admission Procedure
Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar	Merit of qualifying exam
Dibrugarh University, Assam	Based on merit of qualifying exam
Lovely Professional University (LPU)	Merit list for admission will be prepared using marks of qualifying exam.
Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata	Applicants will be required to take a written exam. Those who pass the test will be contacted for a personal interview (PI). The candidate’s academic record and performance in PI will be used to determine final admission. Multiple-choice and/or short-answer questions based on basic mathematics will be included in the test. A good conceptual understanding of the subject is required for the interview.
Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu	Admission is based on the merit of the qualifying exam; no entrance exam will be conducted.
Institute of Distance Education, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana	Based on the merit of the qualifying exam.
Patna Women’s College, Patna	On merit of qualifying exam
IGNOU	Based on marks of qualifying exam; there will be no entrance exam
University of Delhi	Merit of qualifying exam
Sardar Patel University	Admission is determined by a combination of the institute’s entrance exam and the student’s graduation grades. The weighting will be in the ratio of 40:60.
Career Point University, Kota	Admission shall be given on Merit based on past academic performance.
Vallabh Government College, Mandi	Admission will be determined by a competitive written entrance exam consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) each worth one mark and lasting one hour and thirty minutes. General Aptitude & Basic Math (60%) and General Awareness & English (40%) questions will be asked

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PGDCA: Top Job Profiles

Profiles of Job	Description of Job	Average Annual Salary
IT Support Analyst	IT Support Analysts are in charge of assisting users with technical set-up, advice, and assistance via email, phone, social media, and in person.	3 LPA
Software Engineer	A software engineer is a person who creates and tests software. Software engineers are also in charge of improving existing code and developing new technical specializations.	5 LPA
IT Consultant	IT Consultants provides technical assistance in the development and implementation of IT systems for both internal and external clients.	11 LPA
Web Designer	Working with colleagues or clients to meet their needs, web designers create the design and layout of a website or web pages.	2.3 LPA
Software Developer	Software developers build programs, applications, and websites to create software solutions.	3.9 LPA
Quality Assurance Analyst	Before releasing games, programs, and software to the public, Quality Assurance Analysts test them for reliability, functionality, and user friendliness.	4 LPA
Systems Analyst	Systems analysts examine existing IT systems and create specifications for new ones. They examine the client’s or employer’s hardware, software, and larger IT systems to determine new requirements.	6 LPA

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PGDCA: Benefits and Scope

There are numerous arguments in favor of pursuing a PGDCA as a career path. The following are a few of the most compelling reasons to enroll in PGDCA courses:

• PGDCA is a one-year postgraduate program, which makes it a viable career option when compared to two-year courses like M.Tech or MCA. PGDCA courses include a comprehensive curriculum that will not only save you time but also help you compete with students from other programs.
• Students generally prefer a Masters degree over a Diploma degree for professional courses, making PGDCA courses a great career choice in terms of competition, which is relatively low when compared to other professional courses.
• When it comes to hiring new graduates, companies would always prefer a PGDCA over a B.Tech graduate, simply because a B.Tech graduate would expect a higher salary package than a PGDCA scholar, which would help the company cut costs significantly.
• Because the PGDCA is a professional degree, the student may choose to work after completing the program. Given that the PGDCA is a relatively niche course, there are some promising job opportunities for the student, particularly if the degree is obtained from a prestigious institution.

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FAQs