It has been evident for a while now that Computer Science is an ever-growing field with new drastic changes and incremental improvements year after year. Human life has been affected phenomenally with immense developments in technology, the most significant technology being the computer that we use in almost every field. From personal use to massive space missions, computers have taken over society rapidly than any other invention.

It is almost impossible to imagine our lives without all these technological miracles. The recent inventions of computers that work on their own without human intervention have forced everyone to rethink the power that the human mind, in collaboration with machines possesses.

While most are focused on building better systems, machines, and computers, some profess themselves with the uses or applications of computers. The wide ranges of sectors where computers are used are business, education, banking, healthcare, insurance, and marketing, engineering design, military, government, and communication.

These sectors require computer applications specialists to create software for them like applications, system software, enterprise software, educational software, multimedia software, and information software. Therefore, we learn the importance of computer applications from the fact that it removes the communication gap between the users and various applications programs.

Similar to computer science but a more practical oriented course is the computer applications course. It is the best course to pursue beginners in the Computer & IT field. It's the same as computer science in a way, but there are many notable changes.

As the name itself suggests, computer applications mainly revolve around the applications of computer software like web development. In comparison, computer science focuses on the fundamentals of computer hardware and software up to some extent.

BCA and MCA Colleges in India: Eligibility Criteria & Specializations Available

Thousands of young aspirants are attracted towards computer applications every year. Students from different backgrounds can be eligible for admission to the colleges providing this course. The eligibility criteria for this course depends on the level, of course, students are opting for.

For Undergraduates:

BCA is an undergraduate course which is 3 years long. Students who have a minimum of 50-60% or above in class 10th and 12th are eligible to take admission in this course with English as a compulsory subject in these classes. Luckily, students from any of the streams- science, arts and commerce can take admission to this course.

For Postgraduates:

Candidates applying for admission in MCA, which is a postgraduate course of 2 years need to have an undergraduate degree in the relevant field. They should have acquired a minimum of 50-60% in their bachelor's degree with no pending backlogs.

Young aspirants can choose to pursue a master's degree after BCA, which improves their career prospects by providing more job opportunities. Some of the top specializations include:

Ø  Master's in Computer Management (MCM)

Ø  Post Graduate Program in Corporate Studies (PGPCS) 

Ø  Master of Computer Applications(MCA)

Ø  Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Ø  Master's Degree in Information Management (MIM)

Ø  Information Security Management (ISM) 

BCA and MCA Colleges in India: Admission Process

Students who check all of the eligibility criteria for the BCA course need to check the admission process for the same. Most of the colleges and universities provide admission on merit basis based on the 12th boards. However, some can also conduct a written exam and personal interview as a part of the admission process.

There is no entrance exam for BCA in general, but some institutions conduct their entrance exams for students to appear while seeking admissions. Therefore, it will be wise to check for updates on institutional websites for the latest information regarding admissions.

For MCA, however, there are state-level exams like MAH MCA CET in Maharashtra.

BCA and MCA Colleges in India: Zone-wise List

India is one of the largest countries in Asia. The triangular shape has privileged us to break the country in several zones to better understand the regions. Noting the colleges down in a list for every zone makes it easier to grasp the location of the institutions in the country. Every zone has its speciality.  Students can refer to the best colleges and check their ranking and ratings as per NIRF and Careers360, respectively.

NIRF stands for National Institutional Ranking Framework, which is a government initiative to rank a country's institutions based on numerous aspects like quality of education and placements among numerous other factors.

Careers360 is an online platform that incorporates all the institutional data of the country along with other information like entrance exams. Students can use filters to ease their searches on this website. It is an authenticated website trusted by people that updates the latest information regularly.

BCA and MCA Colleges in India: BCA and MCA Colleges in North Zone

Blessed with stunning natural beauty, the north zone is not just the home to the capital of India but also a tourist centre for tourists from all over the world. Pleasant weather is the best for studying, and therefore students opt to study in this region. Capital and other cities like Noida, Gurgaon, Phagwara have some of the best companies to build their centres. Institutions like LPU have great placement cells, some even being placed and funded by international companies.

BCA and MCA Colleges in India: BCA and MCA Colleges in South Zone

Second, on our list is the south zone. Known for its traditions and culture of Hinduism, this place holds significance in modern times. Having the highest literacy rate in states like Kerala, the south zone houses the highest number of top institutions in India. Students can also enjoy the scenic beauty in their break as the place has many historical and natural places. The placements and quality of education are really good in these institutions that not just help build a career for the graduates but also develop their innovative minds.

BCA and MCA Colleges in India: BCA and MCA Colleges in East Zone

Cut out from the rest of India; the east part is considerably small. This zone is mainly known for agriculture and farmlands. However, topmost institutions like IIT Kharagpur have made this place famous for young aspirants. Computer graduates are high in demand for emerging startups in the region. They can also help develop these states better as they lag compared to the other zones.

BCA and MCA Colleges in India: BCA- MCA Colleges in West Zone

Lastly, the west zone is the most prominent one. With the commercial capital of India, i.e. Mumbai at its best, the zone has one the most developed states of India-Maharashtra. With so many companies residing here, the colleges have opened up a line of placement cells. Thousands of students travel to cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Pune for pursuing higher education. This is home to some of the best IT hubs in the country.

This provides a plethora of job career opportunities for computer aspirants.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1. What are the estimated fees for a bachelor of computer applications course in India?

Ans: The fees for computer applications course in India can be anywhere between Rs. 0.60 Lakhs - Rs. 6 Lakhs depending on the type of institutions-government or private. 

Q2.Can a student with B. Com/B.Sc./ BA degree pursue masters in computer applications?

Ans: Yes, students holding degrees in any of these: B.Com/B.Sc./BA can pursue master's in computer applications provided they have Mathematics in either graduation or higher secondary education. 

Q3. What is the scope of BCA in India?

Ans: Since India is more fascinated with engineering degrees, graduates of B.Sc. and BCA are somewhere below the list of preferences. However, the best of companies does hire graduates from BCA with an average package salary of Rs. 1.5 Lakhs. Graduates have better career options if they also obtain a master's degree in a relevant field. 

Q4. How to pursue an MBA after BCA?

Ans: BCA graduates should prepare for CAT (Common Admission Test) to seek admission for MBA. CAT is the entrance exam for management courses in India. 

Q5. What are the future job prospects open for a BCA graduate?

Ans: A BCA graduate has many career options after completing specializations. Some of them are listed below:

Ø  Data Scientist

Ø  Production Manager

Ø  Blockchain Developer

Ø  Cyber Security Analyst

Ø  Ethical Hacking

Ø  Business Analyst

Ø  Project Manager / Program Manager

Ø  Hardware / Network / System Administration

Ø  Technical Content Writer

Ø  Marketing - SEO, Social Media Marketer

Ø  Graphic Designer - Graphics, Logo, Animation, Calligraphy, Comic Cover Designer,

Ø  User Interface Designer (Website & Mobile Phone)

Ø  Software Quality Assurance and Software Testing 

Q6. Is BCA of the same level as computer engineering?

Ans: Yes, both degrees are of undergraduate level. However, engineering is more valued in India than normal B. Sc and BCA. BCA is mainly focused on the applications of a computer by learning programming languages and designing.

Engineering is a broader degree which focuses mostly on the hardware part and then software. Engineering delves in the designing, building, and maintenance of computers. Therefore, students can pursue masters in a relevant field to obtain better jobs like that of engineering. 

Q7.  Which is the best college in Vellore to study BCA?

Ans: Vellore Institute of Technology in Vellore is best for BCA. The institution is ranked 28th by NIRF and given a rating of AAAA+ by Careers360. The institution also offers masters courses for students like MCA and MBA.

Q8. What are the fees of BCA at Indira Gandhi National Open University in Delhi?

Ans: As per the verified Careers360 online platform, the fees for BCA at Indira Gandhi National Open University in Delhi is approximately Rs 0.40 Lakhs. Students can also check their official website for more details. 

Q9. Which are the top recruiters of BCA graduates?

Ans: BCA graduates who have excellent academic record get hired in top reputed IT companies like Wipro, Cognizant, Accenture, Infosys, TCS, IBM, and Oracle. 

Q10. Can a student from Arts stream opt for BCA?

Ans: Yes, A student from any stream can opt for BCA provided they have mathematics as one of the core subjects learned in previous education.