What is BCA?
BCA stands for “Bachelor of Computer Application” and is a three-year undergraduate degree awarded to students pursuing computer studies/applications and software development.
BCA degrees are chosen by students wishing to pursue a career in the Information Technology (IT) sector and cover various aspects of computer applications and IT sciences such as operating systems, database management, software engineering, and programming languages.
Specialisations in BCA
Specialisations in Bachelor of Computer Application degrees include the following-
- Animation
- Accounting Applications
- Computer Graphics
- Cyber Law
- Computer Maintenance and Repair
- Database Administration and Management
- Internet and IT Technology
- Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Music and Video Processing
- Network Systems
- Personal Information Management
- Programming Languages
- Software Development
- Systems Analysis
- Web Designing and Development
Eligibility and Requirements for BCA
Students can enrol in Bachelor of Computer Application programmes and courses after appearing for entrance exams across the country. The eligibility criteria are as follows-
- Candidates enrolling on BCA programmes and entrances must have passed their 10+2 (or equivalent) examinations from a recognised Indian board with a minimum aggregate of 50-55% marks.
- Candidates from any stream (Science/Commerce/Humanities) can apply for MCA Candidates must have studied Mathematics at the 10+2 level (some colleges also require Computer Science as a compulsory subject).
BCA Admission Procedure
The admission procedure for Bachelor of Computer Application programmes and colleges in India is as follows-
- Candidates applying for BCA must qualify for the minimum eligibility to appear for the respective entrance exams. Candidates can apply for the entrance examinations by registering in the online portal and submitting the required documents.
- After appearing for the entrance exams, candidates will be shortlisted based on scores, ranks, and merit lists in the counselling session for the respective colleges/entrances. Some colleges also conduct group discussions and private interviews (GD/PI) for further screening of candidates.
- In the case of merit-based admissions, candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of their 10+2 examination scores.
- Shortlisted candidates may finalise their admission at the concerned college by paying the fees and submitting the required documents for verification.
BCA Entrance Tests
Some of the important entrance tests offering admission into Bachelor of Computer Application programmes include the following-
- Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUET)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Under Graduate Aptitude Test (UGAT)- conducted by the All Indian Management Association (AIMA)
- Bharati Vidyapeeth Undergraduate Management Aptitude Test (BUMAT)- conducted by Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University (BVDU)
- Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU-CET)- conducted by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)- conducted by Symbiosis International University
- North Maharashtra University Undergraduate Common Entrance Test (NMU UG CET)- conducted by North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon
- Uttar Pradesh Combined Entrance Examination (UP CET)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Admissions Test (SSSIHLAT)- conducted by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
- Gitam Science Admissions Test (GSAT)- conducted by Gitam University
- RAMA University Entrance Test (RUET)- conducted by RAMA University
- Peoples Education Society Scholastic Aptitude Test (PES-SAT)- conducted PES University Bangalore
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Entrance Exam (KIITEE)- conducted by Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT)
Aptitude for BCA
Students with an interest in computers and programming will find a Bachelor of Computer Application the ideal degree to pursue. Students may gauge their aptitude for BCA with the following criteria:
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Strong mathematics and science foundation
- Numeracy
- Technical knowledge of hardware and software systems
- Problem-solving and resolution skills
- Organisational skills
- Knowledge of programming languages
- Logical reasoning
- Teamwork
BCA Subjects
A Bachelor of Computer Application degree comprises the following subjects spread over six semesters and three years-
- Foundational Mathematics
- Fundamentals of Computers and IT
- Data Structures
- Programming Languages
- Multimedia Systems
- Graphics and Animation
- Cloud Computing
- Computer Architecture
- Operating Systems
- Computer Networks
- Database Management Systems
- Software Engineering
- Object-Oriented Programming
- Web Designing and Development
- Business Intelligence
- E-Commerce and Marketing
- Financial Accounting
- Information Security
- Artificial Intelligence
- Open-Source Technology
Top BCA Specialisations for the Future
A Bachelor of Computer Application degree has immense future prospects in a rapidly-digitalised world. Top BCA specialisations for the future include-
- Artificial Intelligence
- Systems Security/Cyber-Security
- Software Developing
- Web Designing
- Multimedia Processing
- Cloud Computing
- Information Systems
- Software Engineering
Post-graduate Study/Research Opportunities after BCA
After successfully completing a Bachelor of Computer Application degree, candidates can further their computer applications study through postgraduate and research degrees. Candidates who have completed their BCA degrees with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks are eligible to apply for and pursue postgraduate courses in computer applications.
Popular postgraduate degrees to pursue after a Bachelor of Computer Application include-
- Master of Computer Applications (MCA)- 2 years
- Master of Technology (M Tech)- 2 years
- Master of Engineering (ME)- 2 years
- Master of Science (M Sc)- 2 years
- Post-graduate Diploma- 9 months to 2 years
- Master of Philosophy (M Phil)- 2 years
- Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Important entrance exams for admission into postgraduate computer application programmes include-
- National Institute of Technology Master of Computer Applications Common Entrance Test (NIMCET)- conducted by the National Insitute of Technology (NIT), Jamshedpur
- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)- conducted by the Indian Institutes of Science (IISc) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
- Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Admission test for Masters (IIT-JAM)- conducted by IIT Guwahati
- Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET-PG)- conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test (BHU PET)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE)- conducted by JNU
- Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test (BHU PET)- conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
Career prospects/Placements after BCA
A Bachelor of Computer Application is a high-in-demand undergraduate degree in science and technology studies. After completing a BCA degree, candidates can opt for a variety of career avenues and job prospects in both, the public and private sectors. BCA graduates receive placement offers from prominent and reputed companies visiting their college during campus placement programmes organised by the training and placement cell.
Popular and coveted career prospects for BCA graduates include the following-
- IT Specialist
- Computer Programmer
- Systems Engineer
- Web Developer
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Software Engineer
- Software Architect
- Software Developer
- Software Tester
- Systems Security Officer
BCA Starting Salaries
Starting salaries for professionals with a Bachelor of Computer Application degree range between INR 3 to 6 LPA, and can go as high as INR 1 Crore LPA for experienced professionals and technicians.
Subjects Similar to BCA
Candidates wishing to pursue a Bachelor of Computer Application degree might be interested in similar subjects like-
- Computer Science
- Data Analysis
- Robotics
- Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering
- Information Technology (IT) Engineering
- Bioinformatics
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning (ML)
- Data Science
- Data Analytics
- Robotics