The Information technology (IT) and Software industry has been booming for the past several years now. There has been a steady rise in demand for professionals with a background in IT or Software and is still growing.
However, one should keep in mind that a degree in IT and a degree in Software Engineering are not the same, although in a broader perspective they can be categorized under a similar domain. While Information Technology deals with the practical applications of the software systems as well as the hardware systems and the management of those systems, Software Engineering deals with the building of the software for the computer systems and the applications as well as developing them.
There are numerous colleges and universities in India providing a degree in Information Technology as well as Software Engineering. Admission to these institutes is based on entrance examinations conducted on a national, state or institute level. There are degree programs as well as diploma and certificate courses offered at the undergraduate level for IT and Software.
A huge number of candidates are employed each year by reputed IT companies both nationally and globally recognized and there is a vast scope for career growth and opportunities. As a matter of fact, the IT and business management process industry had employment of over 4 million personnel during the financial year 2021.
Courses Available
The courses available in India at the undergraduate level for IT and Software primarily include a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) or a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) degree. These are 4-year courses that act as stepping stones for the candidates into the professional world.
There are colleges offering a degree in Bachelor in Computer Applications (BCA) as well which is considered to be at par with a BE or BTech degree in Information Technology. The BCA degree is a 3-year course.
The Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Information Technology is yet another 3-year degree that the candidates can opt for at the undergraduate level.
Additionally, there are Diploma courses and Certificate courses available that aim to guide the candidates into the world of Information Technology and Software. These courses range from a span of 3 years for the Diploma degree and 6 months to 2 years for the Certificate courses.
Some of the major areas of focus or the more popular specializations in IT and Software include:
List of Colleges
There are plenty of colleges and universities in India offering a degree in IT and Software. Some of the most prestigious and sought after institutes are mentioned below.
The above-mentioned list is just a very few from a large number of well-acclaimed institutes offering a degree in IT and Software and there are multiple institutes coming up with a valid degree in IT and Software every year.
In general, the fees for pursuing a degree in BE or BTech in Information Technology range from INR 4 Lakhs to INR 6 Lakhs for the entire course. However, the fees can be as low as less than INR 1 lakhs to more than INR 8 Lakhs depending upon the institute.
The fees for pursuing a degree in B.Sc in IT and Software typically range between INR 70,000 to INR 2 Lakhs. The course fees for a Diploma in IT would range from INR 5,000 to INR 35,000 in government institutes while in private institutes the fees would range from INR 15,000 to INR 1.5 Lakhs.
Eligibility
Admission to a full-time degree course in IT and Software is quite challenging and the competition is quite high. There are entrance examinations being conducted at the national level, state level and institute level for students to secure a seat in their desired institutes.
The eligibility criteria for appearing for these entrance examinations are as follows.
The candidates need to opt for at least one of the below examinations to get enrolled in an institute offering a degree in BE/BTech.
There are some other entrance examinations as well which are conducted each year for the enrollment of the candidates. Aspiring students are encouraged to keep an eye out for the important dates for the registration procedure of the examinations.
There are multiple entrance examinations being conducted for admission to the BCA course as well. Some of the entrance examinations include:
For admission in the BSc in IT courses the students need to appear for (but not limited to):
Career and Scope:
The career path of an IT professional can be varied and vast. There is immense scope of upgrading and upscaling in this industry and the diverse areas of professional expertise makes a career in IT and Software makes it one of the most popular and rewarding careers.
The major roles that a IT and Software graduate can pursue are, but not limited to, the below mentioned:
The sectors actively recruiting It and Software graduates include:
The payscale of these jobs ranges from around INR 3.5 LPA to more than INR 10 LPA depending upon the recruiter and designation. However, an IT professional can constantly upgrade their skills and move up the ladder.
The candidates can also apply for Government jobs after they get a degree in IT and Software. The various Government sectors/companies who hire such candidates include:
The candidates can also apply for Bank IPO, IAS, IPS, SSC, etc. government jobs.
Additionally, the candidates can also pursue higher studies for degrees like Masters in Technology (M.Tech), Masters in Engineering (MA), Masters in Science (M.Sc) or Masters in Computer Applications (MCA). The candidates can also apply for management degrees like MBA or PGDM.
There is also scope for individuals to move into more diversified fields like Digital Marketing, Web Designing, Graphic Designer, etc. One can also pursue MS in IT or related fields by applying for examinations like IELTS or GRE and fulfilling the subsequent requirements.