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MCA (Master of Computer Application): Course, Entrance Exam, Eligibility, Duration, Fees, Syllabus, Salary 2023

MCA Full Form is Master of Computer Application. MCA is a postgraduate course that trains the students in the various aspects of computer programs, application software, computer architecture, operating systems and many more. The MCA Course duration is 2 years.

The MCA admission will be done on the basis of merit or entrance examination. The minimum MCA course eligibility criteria is a Bachelor's degree in computer application- BCA, or in any related field with mathematics as a compulsory subject in Class 12. The top MCA colleges in India prefer to admit students on the basis of scores from entrance exams.

Check:

MCA course fees from a private college range between INR 30,000 to INR 2,00,000, whereas for government colleges, the course fee can be anywhere between INR 1,500 to INR 30,000. See Also: MCA vs MBA

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Apart from full-time MCA programs, there are other types of MCA in India. Different types of MCA include MCA Online and Distance MCA. Colleges like Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham or Lovely Professional University provide MCA courses in an Online format. Chandigarh University or IGNOU are some of the colleges that provide MCA courses in distance format. 

The salary package for MCA Jobs ranges from INR 2 LPA to INR 6 LPA and can go up to INR 13 LPA depending on the candidate's knowledge, skills, and academic record. 

MCA Course Details

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

MCA course is a two-years PG course designed for aspirants who want to excel in the world of technology. Master of Computer Applications is thriving with endless opportunities in both the public and private sectors.

  • The MCA job sector is booming with 2,05,000 new job opportunities every year, and it has a steady growth of 7.7% every year.
  • MCA course candidates have unlimited job opportunities in a variety of industries/sectors as well as job roles.
  • After completing MCA course, candidates will get a quick placement with a minimum salary of a minimum INR 4 LPA.
  • Promising MCA  course candidates can also expect to get hired by the world-best MNCs and IT companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc., where they can expect a minimum salary of INR 13 LPA which will grow rapidly over time.

Who Should Study MCA Course?

  • The Master of Computer Applications should be taken up by candidates who are interested in pursuing a career as a software developer. Most of the MCA graduates are involved in application and software development programs.
  • The MCA course should be taken up by candidates who want to work in the IT industry.
  • Master of Computer Applications can be pursued by working professionals in distance mode who wish to enhance their job prospects and career growth.
  • Master of Computer Applications are also taken up by candidates who wish to pursue a career as an UI Developer
  • Candidates who have completed their BCA program can take up the MCA course for better job roles
  • Similarly, candidates from other relevant streams who want to change their career can take up the Master of Computer Applications.

When to Study MCA Course?

  • Candidates can immediately start with the MCA course after completion of the BCA program. However, it is advisable to gather relevant experience after the completion of the BCA course before opting for post-graduation
  • The MCA syllabus is quite vast and it consists of coursework that includes both theoretical and practical classes. Thus the candidates should only take up the course if they have ample time to study properly.
  • The candidates should look to score well in the entrance exam because a degree from the top colleges such as NITs holds more value than the private institutions.

MCA Admission Process

Admission to the MCA courses in India is done mainly on the basis of entrance examination. However, some of the colleges offer admission on the basis of merit list created from the marks obtained at the graduation. Top MCA Colleges in India mainly follow the the entrance exam route. 

The following are some of the details of the admission process

MCA Eligibility

MCA Course Eligibility criteria is mentioned below:

  • Students must have graduation in computer applications, computer science, or related field with a minimum of 50% marks obtained at the UG level to be eligible for MCA course.
  • Student must have mathematics as one of the subjects in Class 12 is compulsory.

This is just a basic overview of the eligibility criteria, it may be different in different colleges. In Delhi University, the minimum percentage required is 60% in the Bachelor of Computer Application

MCA Admission 2023

The admission to MCA courses usually takes place through university level entrance exams or state level entrance exams like IPU CET, MAH CET, etc.

Let us discuss the admission through entrance exam

  • The candidates are required to visit the website of the college, university or the entrance exam board and register themselves  
  • The candidates are then required to put in their application details and upload the different documents as per the required size and format.
  • After uploading the candidates are required to pay the application fees and take out a receipt of the application form.
  • After that the candidates are required to take out the admit card and appear for the entrance examination.
  • After taking the entrance test, qualified students are called for a counseling session for Master of Computer Application. 
  • Counseling is conducted for seat allotment in various colleges affiliated with that university. Students are admitted after an allotment of seats in counseling.

Direct Admission

  • Direct admissions for Master of Computer Application are done on the basis of merit in qualifying exams. Some institutes also provide admission on management quota, which is also one way of direct admission. 
  • Management quota seats in every college are reserved. The fee is generally higher for these seats than for general seats.
  • Direct Admission is offered by private colleges such as Amity University, LPU, Chandigarh University, etc. Students are just required to give a knowledge-based test on the day of their interview.

MCA Entrance Exam

Apart from direct admission, the following entrance exams should be given by MCA course aspirants to get admission to a reputed university.

Entrance Exam Application Period Exam Date
IPU CET March 2023 – April 2023

April 2023

UPCET To be Announced To be Announced
NIMCET March 05 – April 10, 2023 June 11, 2023
TANCET December 2022 – January 2023 February 25, 2023 (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM)
VIT MEE November 11 - March 31, 2023 April 17 – 23, 2023
MAH MCA CET Feb 27, 2023 –  March 11, 2023 March 27, 2023

Read More:

MCA Course Specializations

In the final year of the MCA course, students can opt for numerous MCA specializations as required. Some of the MCA specializations that are available across the Indian universities are:

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

Types of MCA Courses Available in India

Apart from a regular MCA course. Students can go for MCA course Online as well as MCA course distance education.

Tabulated below are some of the important information related to the types of MCA course

Parameter MCA Course Distance Education MCA Course Online
Mode Distance Education Online through web facility
Duration 2-5 Years 6 Months-4 Years
Eligibility Bachelor's degree Bachelor's Degree
Admission Merit/Entrance-Based Merit-Based
Average Fees INR 40,000-1,50,000 INR 30,000-1,50,000
Top Colleges IGNOU, Annamalai University, University Of Mumbai, Institute Of Distance & Open Learning - [Idol], Mumbai University of Mysore, Amity University, Tamil Nadu Open University
Average Fees

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Syllabus of Master of Computer Application 

The Master of Computer Application course duration is of three-year, which is divided into six semesters. MCA Syllabus includes classroom lectures, practical and project work. The project work is the most important part of the MCA course program.

The last semester of the Master of Computer Application's syllabus is completely dedicated to project work and specialization is also decided in this semester.

Following is the list of MCA course subjects taught in most of the universities in India, practical subjects and theory subjects both are included here

MCA Syllabus 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

Learn About MCA Subjects:

MCA Syllabus 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

Learn About MCA Subjects:

Shell Scripting Courses Business Management Courses
Management Accounting Courses Animation and Multimedia Courses
MCA Syllabus 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 -

Master of Computer Application: Course Comparison

MCA course is one of the most popular postgraduate courses offered in India. However, there are some courses, like MSc Computer Science, MTech in Computer Science, which has similar learning outcomes as that of the Master of Computer Applications. The course comparison between the Master of Computer Applications and the other program has been discussed below.

MCA vs MSc Computer Science: What is the Difference?

The differences between MCA and MSc Computer Science are set on the basis of qualification, duration, eligibility, course overview, average fees, and the average salary is mentioned below.

Parameters MCA course MSc Computer Science
Course Overview MCA course provides in-depth and extensive knowledge about various aspects of computer applications. Students are taught everything related to software, hardware, and networking with the studies of IT, Data structures & Mathematics. MSc Computer Science provides core competence in various aspects of Computer Science. Students are taught software engineering, mathematics, artificial intelligence, data science, and much more.
Qualification MCA course stands for Master of Computer Applications This course offers a Master of Science degree in the field of Computer Science
Duration 3 years 2 years
Eligibility BCA or related field BSc Computer science or related field
Average Fees (INR) 1,00,000 - 5,00,000 1,00,000 - 3,00,000
Average Starting Salary (INR) 2,50,000 - 5,00,000 3,50,000 - 6,00,000
Fees and Salary

MCA vs MTech in Computer Science: What is the Difference?

Both MCA and MTech in Computer Science are very different in terms of their course structure and qualification, but the career options are more or less the same after pursuing any of these master's degree courses.

The table below lists some of the major differences between them:

Parameters MCA course MTech Computer Science
Course Overview MCA course provides basic theoretical and practical knowledge in all aspects of computer applications like software engineering, networking, hardware studies, and much more. M.Tech. in Computer Science is a specialized technical degree that provides in-depth knowledge and skills required to be successful in the computer science and IT field.
Qualification Master of Computer Applications Master of Technology in Computer Science
Eligibility BCA or related field BTech in Computer Science
Subjects Discrete Mathematics, Digital Electronics and Microprocessor, C programming, Computer Applications, Web Technologies, Operating Systems, etc. Design & Analysis of Algorithms, Advanced Database Systems, Soft Computing, Computer Graphics, Embedded Systems, etc.
Average Fees (INR) 1,00,000- 5,00,000 2,00,000- 8,00,000
Average Starting Salary (INR) 2,50,000 - 5,00,000 3,50,000 - 8,00,000
Comparison

Top MCA Colleges in India

Top MCA Colleges are listed below along with their admission process, course fees, and placement salary. The colleges that are listed below are scattered Pan-India. 

Also, check the top MCA Colleges List

MCA Course Fees: Kolkata

MCA Course Fees: Bangalore

Colleges MCA Course Fees
Christ University INR 1,40,000
Presidency University INR 1,00,000
Administrative Management College INR 60,000
Jain University INR 1,37,000
Global Institute of Management Sciences -
AJ Aviation Academy -
Sambhram Academy of Management Studies INR 75,000
Kristu Jayanti College INR 1,17,000
Mount Carmel College -
AIMS Institutes INR 4,02,000

MCA Course Fees: Pune

MCA Course Fees: Hyderabad

Find out more about:

MCA Course: Top Colleges Comparison

A comparison between the top 3 universities that provide MCA course (Master of Computer Application) along with their course fees, average salary, and top recruiters are mentioned below:

Parameters Delhi University University of Hyderabad Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
Overview Delhi University is considered one of the best universities in India. Situated in New Delhi, it provides degree and non-degree courses in Science, Humanities, Arts, Commerce, Journalism, Fine Arts, etc. The University of Hyderabad is a public research university set up in 1974. The 2300 acres campus was set up along the lines of the six-point formula.It is recognized as an Institute of Eminence and houses more than 5000 students from 400 faculty from several disciplines. JNU is a central university, located in New Delhi. It is a world-renowned university, offering courses in various disciplines like Science, Medical Science, Arts, Language, and much more.
MCA course fees (INR) 5,000-8,000 51,955 1,357
Average Salary (INR) 6,00,000 - 7,00,000 2,50,000 - 4,00,000 4,00,000 - 11,00,000
Top Recruiters Accolite, Amazon, Chegg, Cvent, Deutsche Bank, Microsoft, GrapeCity, Sapient, Snapdeal, etc. Infosys, TCS, Genpact, Wipro, Amazon, Microsoft, Deloitte, HCL technologies, etc. NIIT, Samsung, Sapient, Naggaro, Google, Infosys, Europa, IBM, Infogain, etc.

Study MCA Abroad

Candidates often prefer to study in the abroad colleges as it allows them access to better infrastructure, research facilities as well as better placement opportunities.

There are various courses available in the foreign colleges that have similar learning outcomes as that of the Master of Computer Applications. 

The  candidates generally needs to keep the following things in mind before applying to the courses in the abroad colleges

  • The candidates are required to pass the graduation or equivalent examination from a recognized university. The overall duration of the course is between 1-2 years.
  • The candidates need to sun,it the proof of English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL.
  • The courses in the abroad countries are expensive and thus the candidates need to take up various scholarship programs. Check out: Scholarship Program for Studying Abroad

MCA in USA

Candidates who want to study in USA should keep the following things in mind before applying for the PG Computer course

  • The Duration of the programs is for a period of 1-2 years.
  • The candidate should have passed their graduation in computer or other relevant stream. 
  • The cut off scores are declared by individual universities. The top colleges require the candidate to maintain a GPA of 3.0 (83-86%).
  • The candidates need to submit the scores of the GRE or GMAT exam.
  • The overall score of the english proficiency should be 7 for IELTS and above 80 for TOEFL.
  • The average fees range between INR 25,00,000 -INR 40,00,000.
College Names Average Fees
Stanford University INR 45.5 Lakhs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology INR 55.2 Lakhs
California State University Los Angeles Campus INR 16.3 Lakhs
New York University INR 38.5 Lakhs
University of Texas at Dallas INR 38.2 Lakhs

MCA in UK

Candidates who wish to study in UK should keep the following thing in mind

  • The overall duration of the course is between 1-2 years.
  • The candidates should have completed their graduation from a recognized university. The cut off scores are often not declared in the beginning. However a minimum score of 50-55% is required.
  • The candidates should have passed the english proficiency test. A minimum score of 6 is required for IELTS and 70 is required for TOEFL
  • The average course fee ranges between INR 10,00,000-INR 23,00,000.
College Names Average Fees
University of Sunderland INR 19.3 Lakhs
University of Greenwich INR 21.3 Lakhs
University of Oxford INR 37.3 Lakhs
Teesside University INR 10.9 Lakhs
University of East London INR 22.2 Lakhs

MCA in Australia

Candidates who wish to study in Australia should keep the following thing in mind

  • The overall duration of the course is generally for a period of 2 years. Some of the courses are also for a period of 1 to 1.5 years.
  • The candidates should have completed their graduation from a recognized university. The cut off scores are often not declared in the beginning. However a minimum score of 60%  is required.
  • The candidates should have passed the english proficiency test. A minimum score of 6 to 6.5 is required for IELTS and 70 is required for TOEFL
  • In some cases proof of work experience is required. 
  • The average course fee ranges between INR 20,00,000-INR 35,00,000
College Names Average Fees
University of Melbourne INR 38 Lakhs
University of Sydney INR 49.0 Lakhs
RMIT University INR 21.8 Lakhs
The University of Queensland INR 25.5 Lakhs
University of Adelaide INR 34.5 Lakhs

MCA in Canada

Candidates who want to study in Canada should keep the following things in mind while applying for admission.

  • The overall duration of the course generally ranges between a period of 1-2 years. There are 3 types of courses offered,  MEng, .MS and MACS.
  • The candidates should have completed their graduation from a recognized university. Minimum average score is around 65%.
  • The candidates should have passed the english proficiency test. A minimum score of 6 to 6.5 is required for IELTS and 00 is required for TOEFL
  • The candidates needs to have strong programing skills
  • The average course fee ranges between INR 15,00,000-INR 25,00,000
College Names Average Fees
University of Toronto INR 23.5 Lakhs
University of British Columbia INR 16.6 Lakhs
University of Alberta INR 15.7 Lakhs
McGill University INR 17.4 Lakhs
University of Waterloo INR 28.2 Lakhs

MCA Jobs

With the rapid growth in the IT and software sector, career opportunities for an MCA Graduate are expected to improve in the coming years. There are various Master of Computer Applications jobs available in top-level IT and consultancy firms.

MCA graduates can find opportunities in startups. The startup culture that has been trending in India, is like a boon to MCA Freshers. Apart from top-notch IT firms, smaller  firms or startups also offer a handsome salary to tech people.

The average starting Master of Computer Applications salary is 2.5 to 3.6 LPA in an average level IT Company. The point is that nowadays there is a boom in IT industries, so after getting an MCA course degree there are lots of career opportunities available in the current scenario,and Industry experts feel that there are very little chances of regression in the coming years .

Experience

Some of the Master of Computer Applications jobs, with their job description along with the average salary offered:

Job Profile Job Description Average Salary (INR)
Software Developer The responsibilities of a software developer are primarily to design, install, test, and maintain the software in a firm. 4,85,000
Web Developer A web developer designs the look, layout, and various features of a website. Such professionals need to have a good understanding of graphic design as well as computer programming. 2,81,000
Systems Analyst The work of a system analyst is to analyze what software or hardware is needed by the firm. Their job role exceeds beyond just software or hardware to the wider IT system 6,54,000
Network Administrator Network Admin is responsible for Fully supporting, configuring, maintaining networks and in house servers. 3,67,000
Mobile App Developer They are mainly responsible for developing mobile apps as per the customer's needs. 4,41,000
System Administrator System Administrators are usually responsible for installing, supporting, and maintaining servers or other computer systems. Other duties include scripting or light programming, project management, etc. 3,04,000
Hardware Engineer The responsibility of a hardware engineer is to look after the hardware configuration of a computer. 3,78,000
Technical Writer A technical writer is similar to a content writer that writes about core technical stuff. Such professionals are in high demand for the technical blogs and product descriptions to be written about. 4,93,000

Salary Trend Graph:

Job Profiles

Click on Salary and jobs for more information about salary and jobs.

MCA course opens a path to a variety of job options like both the private and government sector in sectors such as the IT industry, cybersecurity, security companies, etc.

MCA Job Opportunities

Job Profile Top Recruiters
Software Developer TCS
Wipro
Infosys
Cognizant
Tech Mahindra
IBM
HCL
Accenture
Hardware Engineer Hi-Tech Solutions
Ericson
Robotics and Scalability Technology
Software Consultant TCS
Wipro
Infosys
Cognizant
Tech Mahindra
IBM
HCL
Accenture
IT Support Wipro
Infosys
Cognizant
Tech Mahindra
IBM
HP
Web Designer Wipro
Infotech
Deloitte

MCA Salary

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 INR 3.4 LPA
Robotics and Scalability Technology INR 6 LPA

Jobs after MCA

  • After completion of an MCA course degree, there are several options available for students in India.
  • In terms of higher education, most of the students like to go for jobs as the MCA course is a terminal degree.
  • But still, students can pursue courses such as MBA to get a job in the management field, or Ph.D. to become a researcher and a professor.
  • You can qualify UGC NET or GATE and get into lecturership, and get employed in various government and private colleges.
  • Another good option is pursuing a degree of Master in Computer Management (MCM) or a Master's Degree in Information Management (MIM).

MCA FAQs

Ques. What is the full form of MCA course?

Ans. MCA full form is Master of Computer Applications.

Ques. Is MCA a 2-years course?

Ans. MCA course duration is of 3-year but as of February 12 2022, a notification has been released from the government stating that MCA will be a 2-year course from the next year. The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) worked with the University Grants Commission to reduce the tenure of MCA course.

Ques. What is best MCA or MBA?

Ans. Both have their merits and it is on the student what he wants to do in the future. If he wants a job and is good at administrative skills then he must go forward with an MBA but if he wants to learn more about MCA course as a subject then MCA course is the way forward. There are way more opportunities for MCA course that will enable the person to work and help to give something back to the subject.

Ques. Is MCA course equal to BTech?

Ans. MCA course is generally equivalent to BTech but Mtech has more scope than MCA course. It would be better if the student studying MCA course remains in the academic field where his knowledge will be given more importance.

Ques. What is the average salary of MCA graduates?

Ans. The average salary of MCA graduates is around INR 4,00,000 to INR 6,50,000 per year.

Ques. Can I do MCA course from DU?

Ans. Delhi University is one of the leading colleges that provide education on Masters of Computer Application. DU is ranked 20th in NIRF Overall Rankings 2019.

Ques. What are the MCA course subjects?

Ans. The common subjects included in the MCA syllabus are Computer Organisation & Architecture, Operating Systems, and Systems Software, Data Structures using Computer Programming with Cooperation Research & Optimisation Techniques, Object Oriented Programming With Java, and more.

Ques. Is MCA a 2 year Course or a 3 Year Course?

Ans. In the 545th Meeting of University Grant Commission (UGC) held in December 2019, the duration of MCA course has been reduced to 2-years from 3-years which is effective from the 2022-23 session

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