MCA: Syllabus, Courses, Scope, Fees, Online, Salary, Distance

The MCA (Master of Computer Applications) programme is a two-year programme that covers topics such as computer programming, computer architecture, application software, operating systems, and related topics. Choosing MCA is always a wise decision because after completing the course, candidates will be hired in the IT industry, which is expected to grow by 3% by the end of 2022. Master of Computer Applications programmes are available in both online and offline formats, depending on the candidate’s preferences.

Admission to MCA programmes is based on both merit and entrance exams. The minimum eligibility criteria for admission to MCA are that the candidate has a degree in BCA or an equivalent stream with an aggregate of 50 percent or higher. When an MCA degree is approved by AICTE or UGC, it is demanding and influential. As a result, students interested in pursuing an MCA should enrol in an AICTE or UGC-approved institution.

Overview of MCA

Here is the quick overview given for MCA course details:

Full Form	Master of Computer Application
Duration of course	3 Years
Course Types	Full Time, Online and Distance
Entrance Exams	TANCET, WBJEE JECA, UPSEE, TSICET
Eligibility Criteria	Graduate with 50% and must have Mathematics as a subject of study
Top Colleges	Christ University, NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, JNU, Delhi University
Fees	INR 30,000 – INR 2,00,000
Job Profiles	Frontend Developers, Backend Developers, Web Designing, Networking Professionals

Eligibility Criteria for MCA

• Candidates must have a graduate degree in computer science or computer applications with a 50 percent or higher aggregate mark from a well-recognized university that is AICTE or UGC approved or equivalent.
• Candidates must have mathematics as one of their class 12 subjects.

Admission Process for MCA

Admissions to the MCA programme are handled in two ways: through entrance exams or on a merit basis, and through management quotas. State-level entrance exams include IPU CET, MHT CET, and others. Let us go over the procedures for these two admission methods.

• MCA entrance examination: In order to gain admission through entrance examinations, candidates must obtain the required number of points from the institute. After passing the institutes’ cut-off scores, candidates are invited to participate in counselling, where they are given the opportunity to select the college of their choice and merit. Following seat allocation, candidates must visit the college’s campus and complete the other admission procedures. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Greater Noida Institute of Technology, MDU, and other institutions offer admission through entrance exams.
• MCA direct admission: The direct exam process entails admission based on the marks obtained in the graduation exam. On the other hand, there are universities that admit candidates based on management quotas. Candidates who are admitted on the basis of management must pay a higher fee than the other candidates. Chandigarh University, Amity University, and Lovely Professional University are among the institutions that offer management quota admissions (LPU).

Skills Required for MCA

To be a successful and efficient MCA, one must have excellent communication and behavioural skills. A positive attitude toward oneself, confidence, and technical skills are also important. The skills listed below are required to become an MCA.

• Good communication skills
• Efficiency in programming languages like Java, C, C++, net, etc.
• Technical skills
• Awareness of the latest technology trends
• Positive attitude
• Knowledge of data structures and data base
• Behavioural skills
• Good programming skills with a healthy experience in the field
• Confidence

Benefits of Pursuing MCA

MCA is a two-year postgraduate degree programme designed for students who want to excel in the world of technology. Master of Computer Applications programmes are thriving, with numerous opportunities available in both the public and private sectors.

• The MCA job sector is thriving, with 2,05,000 new job opportunities added each year and a 7.7 percent annual growth rate.
• MCA candidates have an abundance of job opportunities in a wide range of industries/sectors and job roles.
• Candidates who complete MCA will be placed quickly with a minimum salary of INR 4 LPA.
• Promising MCA candidates can also expect to be hired by world-class MNCs and IT firms such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and others, with a starting salary of INR 13 LPA that will grow rapidly over time.

Entrance Exams for MCA

Throughout India, there are various entrance exams that aid in MCA admissions. IPU CET, UPSEE, NIMCET, TANCET, VIT MEE, and MAH MCA CET are among the MCA entrance exams. These MCA entrance exams are administered both offline and online.

Entrance Exam	University	Mode
IPU CET	Indraprastha University	Online
UPSEE	Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU)	Online & Offline
NIMCET	National Institute Of Technology, Raipur	Pen & Paper
TANCET	Anna University	Pen & Paper
VIT MEE	VIT University	Online
MAH MCA CET	State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra	Computer based test

Top Colleges for MCA in India

MCA is popular in India because of the increasing demand in the IT industry. JNU, New Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Anna University, Chennai, NIT Trichy, Tiruchirapalli, and many other institutes provide quality education to candidates. These colleges’ average MCA fee ranges from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 5 lakhs per year.

The table below lists the colleges in India, as well as the average MCA university fees:

MCA  College Names	Average MCA Fee
JNU, New Delhi course fee	Rs. 1,357
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi course fee	Rs. 8,500
Anna University, Chennai course fee	Rs. 41,000
VIT, Indore course fee	Rs. 4,14,000
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore course fee	Rs. 25,600
University Of Hyderabad, Hyderabad course fee	Rs. 51,955
NIT Trichy, Tiruchirapalli course fee	Rs. 2,75,000
Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune course fee	Rs. 26,000
Calcutta University, Kolkata course fee	Rs. 19,100
Manipal Academy Of Higher Education, Manipal course fee	Rs. 1,89,000

MCA Course in Abroad

Because of the better infrastructure, placement drives, and research facilities, aspirants frequently choose to study MCA abroad. There are numerous other courses available abroad that provide comparable degrees to the MCA. Before applying for MCA in foreign colleges, candidates must understand the eligibility requirements.

The eligibility criteria for admission to foreign MCA colleges are listed below.

• Candidates must have graduated from a recognised university or equivalent.
• Candidates must pass English proficiency exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
• Because MCA in foreign countries is very expensive, funding must be obtained through various scholarship programmes.

Top Colleges for MCA in Abroad

The Master of Computer Applications programme is popular in countries such as Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The University of Toronto, University of Alberta, University of Waterloo, University of British Columbia, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California State University Los Angeles Campus, University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, and many others are among the MCA colleges that provide quality education to candidates.

A few things to consider when applying to MCA colleges abroad:

• MCA courses last 1 to 2 years, with some courses lasting 1.5 years in Australia.
• Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.
• Various colleges request different cut off dates. These colleges’ minimum cut off marks range from 83 to 89 percent, or a GPA of 3.0.
• Candidates must submit their GRE or GMAT exam scores.
• The overall score required for admission is 7 in IELTS or 80% in TOEFL.
• The average MCA fee ranges from Rs. 25 Lakh to Rs. 50 Lakh in the United States, Rs. 10 Lakh to Rs. 23 Lakh in the United Kingdom, Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 35 Lakh in Australia, and Rs. 15 to Rs. 25 Lakh in Canada.

The table below lists the top MCA colleges in various countries, as well as their average MCA fees:

Name of the College	Country	Average Fee for MCA
University of Toronto course fee	Canada	Rs 23.5 Lakhs
University of Alberta course fee		Rs 15.7 Lakhs
University of Waterloo course fee		Rs 28.2 Lakhs
University of British Columbia course fee		Rs 16.6 Lakhs
McGill University course fee		Rs 17.4 Lakhs
Stanford University course fee	USA	Rs 45.5 Lakhs
New York University course fee		Rs 38.5 Lakhs
University of Texas at Dallas course fee		Rs 38.2 Lakhs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology course fee		Rs 55.2 Lakhs
California State University Los Angeles Campus course fee		Rs 16.3 Lakhs
University of Sunderland course fee	UK	Rs 19.3 Lakhs
University of Greenwich course fee		Rs 21.3 Lakhs
University of East London course fee		Rs 22.2 Lakhs
University of Oxford course fee		Rs 37.3 Lakhs
Teesside University course fee		Rs 10.9 Lakhs
RMIT University course fee	Australia	Rs 21.8 Lakhs
University of Queensland course fee		Rs 25.5 Lakhs
University of Melbourne course fee		Rs 38 Lakhs
University of Adelaide course fee		Rs 34.5 Lakhs
University of Sydney course fee		Rs 49 Lakhs

Top Colleges for MCA in different Cities

There are numerous cities throughout the country that offer MCA. Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad are among the top cities that offer the best courses. Narula Institute Of Technology, BP Poddar Institute Of Management & Technology, Jadavpur University, AIMS Institutes, Administrative Management College, Global Institute Of Management Sciences, Presidency University, Dr. DY Patil Institute Of Management & Research, MIT School Of Management, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Presidency School Of Management and Computer Science, Aurora’s Technological and Research Institute, and Aurora’s Technological and Research Institute are among the top colleges in Kolkata.

The following tables list the best MCA colleges in Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.

In Kolkata:

MCA  College Names	Average MCA Fee
Narula Institute Of Technology course fee	Rs. 2,06,000
University Of Calcutta course fee	Rs. 19,094
Techno India University course fee	Rs. 1,77,000
BP Poddar Institute Of Management & Technology course fee	Rs. 3,10,000
Future Institute Of Engineering and Management course fee	Rs. 1,41,950
Heritage Institute Of Technology course fee	Rs. 1,24,650
Pailan College Of Management and Technology course fee	Rs. 99,150
Jadavpur University course fee	NA
Annex College course fee	Rs. 1,20,000

In Bangalore:

MCA College Names	Average MCA Fee
Jain University course fee	Rs. 1,37,000
Presidency University course fee	Rs. 1,00,000
Global Institute Of Management Sciences course fee	NA
AJ Aviation Academy course fee	NA
Kristu Jayanti College course fee	Rs. 1,17,000
AIMS Institutes course fee	Rs. 4,02,000
Christ University course fee	Rs. 1,40,000
Administrative Management College course fee	Rs. 60,000
Sambhram Academy Of Management Studies course fee	Rs. 75,000
Mount Carmel College course fee	NA

In Pune:

MCA College Names	Average MCA Fee
Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapith course fee	Rs. 45,000
Dr. DY Patil Institute Of Management & Research course fee	Rs. 98,000
Progressive Education Society’s Modern College Of Engineering course fee	Rs. 84,500
Jayawant Institute Of Management Studies course fee	Rs. 1,13,000
ASM Group Of Institutes course fee	Rs. 81,000
Allana Institute Of Management and Sciences course fee	Rs. 67,000
Dr. DY Patil Arts, Science, and Commerce Pimpri course fee	Rs. 55,000
Singhabad Business School course fee	Rs. 84,537
Ness Wadia College Of Commerce course fee	NA
MIT School Of Management course fee	Rs. 1,50,000

In Hyderabad:

MCA College Names	Average MCA Fee
Osmania University course fee	NA
Chaitanya Bharathi Institute Of Technology course fee	Rs. 82,000
A.V. College Of Arts Science and Commerce course fee	Rs. 40,000
Aurora’s Technological and Research Institute course fee	Rs. 36,200
Nizam College course fee	NA
St. Ann’s College for Women course fee	Rs. 27,000
Deccan College Of Engineering and Technology course fee	Rs. 37,500
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University course fee	Rs. 16,500
University Of Hyderabad course fee	Rs. 42,610
Presidency School Of Management and Computer Science course fee	NA

Syllabus for MCA

The Master of Computer Application programme lasts three years and is divided into six semesters. Classroom lectures, practicals, and project work are all part of the MCA syllabus. The most important aspect of the MCA course programme is the project work.

The final semester of the Master of Computer Application curriculum is entirely devoted to project work, and specialisation is also determined during this semester.

The following is a list of MCA course subjects taught in most Indian universities; both practical and theoretical subjects are included.

For First Year

Semester 1	Semester 2
Computer Organisation & Architecture	Data Communication & Computer Networks
Business Systems and Application	Object-Oriented Programming in C++
Computer Programming with C	Information Systems Analysis & Design
Discrete Mathematical Structure	Database Management System I
Business English and Communication	Data Structures with C
Programming in C	Object-Oriented Programming lab (C++)
Micro Programming & Architecture Lab	Data structure lab
Business presentation and language lab	Database lab

For Second Year

Semester 3	Semester 4
Unix and Shell Programming	Software Engineering & 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 Optimisation Techniques
Statistics and Numerical Techniques	Advanced Database lab
Unix lab	Software Project Management lab
Statistics and Numerical Analysis lab	Graphics & Multimedia Lab

For Third 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	–

Specialisations in MCA Course

Students can choose from a variety of MCA specialisations in their final year of study. Some of the MCA specialisations available at Indian universities include:

• Application Software
• Troubleshooting
• Hardware Technology
• Internet
• Systems Development
• Management Information Systems (MIS)
• Software Development
• Systems Engineering
• Networking
• Systems Management

Job Profiles and Career Opportunities in MCA

Career opportunities for an MCA Graduate are expected to improve in the coming years due to the rapid growth in the IT and software sectors. Master of Computer Applications positions are available in top-tier IT and consulting firms.

MCA graduates may find employment in startups. The startup culture that has taken off in India is a boon for MCA freshers. Aside from top-tier IT firms, smaller firms or startups also pay well for tech professionals.

In a typical IT company, the starting Master of Computer Applications salary ranges from 2.5 to 3.6 LPA. The point is that there is currently a boom in the IT industries, so after obtaining an MCA course degree, there are many career opportunities available in the current scenario, and industry experts believe that there are very few chances of regression in the coming years.
Some Master of Computer Applications jobs, along with their job descriptions and average salaries:

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Salary (INR)
Software Developer	A software developer’s primary responsibilities are to design, install, test, and maintain software in a company.	4,85,000
Web Developer	A web developer creates a website’s look, layout, and various features. Such professionals must be well-versed in both graphic design and computer programming.	2,81,000
Systems Analyst	A system analyst’s job is to determine what software or hardware the company requires. Their responsibilities extend beyond software and hardware to the larger IT system.	6,54,000
Network Administrator	The Network Administrator is in charge of fully supporting, configuring, and maintaining networks and in-house servers.	3,67,000
Mobile App Developer	They are primarily in charge of developing mobile apps based on the needs of the customer.	4,41,000
System Administrator	System Administrators are typically in charge of setting up, supporting, and maintaining servers or other computer systems. Other responsibilities include scripting or light programming, project management, etc.	3,04,000
Hardware Engineer	A hardware engineer is responsible for overseeing a computer’s hardware configuration.	3,78,000
Technical Writer	A technical writer, like a content writer, writes about core technical topics. Such professionals are in high demand for writing technical blogs and product descriptions.	4,93,000

Top Recruiters: MCA

There are numerous career and job opportunities available after completing an MCA. Candidates can find work in fields such as application development, business analysis, system analyst, ethical hacking, technical writers, and many more through top companies such as Naukri.com, IBM, SAP, 99acres.com, cognizant, Jeevansathi.com, Texas Instruments, and many more.

Naukri.com	NTPC
SAP	Cognizant
IBM	Jeevansathi.com
99acres.com	Accenture
Wipro Systems	Polaris
HCL Technologies	Microsoft
D.E Shaw	GAIL
Infosys	Texas Instruments
TCS	ORACLE
MAHINDRA	BHEL

Salary Trends: MCA

After completing the course, candidates can expect to earn more than Rs. 3 lakhs per year on average. Robotics and Scalability Technology, HCL, Accenture, Ericson, IBM, Hi-Tech Solutions, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, and others are among the top recruiters of MCA graduates.

The table below highlights the top MCA recruiters as well as the average salary offered.

Top Recruiters	Average Salary Package Offered
TCS	INR 5.40 LPA
Wipro	INR 6 LPA
Infosys	INR 3.60 LPA
Cognizant	INR 6.70 LPA
IBM	INR 4.50 LPA
Tech Mahindra	INR 3.90 LPA
HCL	INR 3 LPA
Accenture	INR 3.8 LPA
Hi-Tech Solutions	INR 5 LPA
Ericson	INR3.4 LPA
Robotics and Scalability Technology	INR 6 LPA

Scope of MCA Course

After completing the Master of Computer Applications programme, graduates will have numerous opportunities. Top firms such as Accenture, Cap Gemini, Cognizant, Amazon, Robotics and Scalability Technology, HCL, and others. The course’s diversity results in candidates earning between Rs. 2 lakhs and Rs. 10 lakhs per year after completing the MCA course in India. Technical Writer is one of the job profiles. A technical writer is similar to a content writer in that they write about core technical topics. Such professionals are in high demand for writing technical blogs and product descriptions.

Web Developers, Mobile App Developers, Hardware Engineers, Network Administrators, Systems Analysts, Software Developers, System Administrators, and others are in high demand. The table below shows the most sought-after job profiles, as well as the type of work performed and the average MCA salary earned by candidates in the respective fields.

Students in India have a variety of options after completing an MCA course degree. Because the MCA course is a terminal degree, most students prefer to pursue employment after completing it. However, students can pursue courses such as MBA to work in management or Ph.D. to work as a researcher and professor. You can qualify for the UGC NET or GATE and work as a lecturer in various government and private colleges on a government-set salary scale.

Another viable option is to pursue a Master of Computer Management (MCM) or Master of Information Management (MIM) degree (MIM).

• MBA: A two-year postgraduate professional course designed to train candidates in various aspects of business administration and organisational behaviour. Candidates pursuing the MBA programme can specialise in areas such as finance, marketing, operations, human resources, and so on. To gain admission to top BSchools in India, candidates must pass entrance exams such as XAT, CAT, or MAT. An MBA in Information Technology from a reputable B-School in India is a good option for MCA students.
• PhD: This is a research-level degree programme in which candidates must publish papers in a specific field of study. Following the completion of their PG course, candidates must sit for various entrance exams. Candidates must submit a proposal for their research paper as part of the admissions process. Only if approved can they proceed with the admission.

Frequently Asked Questions