BIT-Mesra vice chancellor addresses a news meet in Ranchi on Tuesday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, June 21: Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, has decided to introduce a five-year integrated course in master of computer application (MCA) and master of business administration (MBA) from this academic year.

Earlier, the institute offered a three-year bachelor degree in computer application (BCA) after which students had to spend another three years to procure a master degree. Thus, it took six years to complete MCA. Introduction of the five-year integrated course will help save a year for the students. For business administration, the institute had a three-year graduation course (BBA), followed by two-year postgraduate course.

The two integrated courses will be on offer at all extension centres of the institute across the country — Calcutta, Allahabad, Jaipur, Noida and Lalpur.

“We decided to begin the integrated courses to give students a consolidated training on the subjects,” said vice chancellor of the institute Ajay Chakraborty.

Chakraborty added that if a student was not interested in the five-year integrated course and wanted to take up only BCA and BBA, he would have to inform the authorities at the end of the second year. “The student will be awarded a BCA/BBA degree at the end of third year,” Chakraborty said.

Those wanting to take admission in the five-year integrated MCA will have to crack the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). But, those aspiring to study management will be admitted on the basis of marks attained by them in Class XII board examinations.

The institution is also mulling five-year integrated master degree courses in the science stream — physics, chemistry and mathematics. As of now, the institute offers a two-year master degree in these three subjects.