Scope of BCA: Everything You Need to Know

With the IT industry spreading its wings over every sector from business to medicine, there is a never-ending need for proficient tech enthusiasts in the market. For those inclined towards making a career in this field or those who don’t want to go for a traditional BTech, universities have brought a feasible alternative in the form of BCA. A Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) is ideal for those who love computers and want to delve deeper into how they operate, software, hardware and related tools and technologies. So, let’s explore more about this course, and the career scope of BCA and see what it has to offer.

BCA Full-Form	Bachelor of Computer Application
Course Level	Undergraduate
Duration	3 years
Average Fees	INR 15,000 – 2 Lakhs p.a
Entrance Requirements	45%
Average Salary	INR 3.7 Lakhs p.a.

BCA Scope

Bachelor in Computer Application (BCA) is generally offered as a 3 or 4-year degree course that aims to impart to students knowledge of software development and programming, Java, C++, computer networking and Database Management. Any individual with high school qualifications can apply for this course. There is an extensive scope of BCA in contemporary times as graduates can choose from a varied range of opportunities like web designing, computer programming, and database administration, amongst others.

Further, as the global tech industry paces towards newer heights, the demand for software developers and programmers is only rising. The immense BCA scope opens up a lot of opportunities for the students. One of the perks it offers is stream versatility. Even those students who opted for the Arts or Commerce stream in high school can opt for a BCA degree and steer towards a career in website or app development and software designing which was a field only reserved for science students earlier. 

Career Scope of BCA

For those who choose to directly explore job opportunities after completing their undergraduate degree, BCA is a skill-oriented course and thus getting a job is comparatively easier for graduates as compared to purely academic courses like BSc or BCom. There are lucrative career opportunities in the private and public sectors for BCA graduates. So, if you are wondering what to after BCA, here are some of the jobs that come under the scope of BCA:

1. Web Developer
2. Database Administrator
3. Software Developer
4. Software Developer
5. Computer Programmer
6. System Engineer
7. Computer Systems Analyst
8. System Administrator/ IT Administrator
9. Computer Scientist

Web Developer

A web developer handles builds and maintains websites for companies. Amongst the different careers which you can opt to avail the scope of BCA, a Web Developer can either take up full-time opportunities or may choose to freelance for multiple short-term projects. To become a web developer, you must be well-familiarized with JavaScript, XHTML, PHP etc. as well as programming languages and coding.

Average Annual Salary of Web Developer in India

INR 3.2 lakh

Recommended Read: How to Become a Freelance Web Designer?

Database Administrator

A database administrator has to set up and maintain databases or systems for a company. These administrators work in organizations like schools, colleges, banks etc. They must be skilled in Database Management Systems to perform their job correctly.

Average Annual Salary of Database Administrator in India

INR 5 lakh

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Software Developer 

A software developer has to write code for software using computer languages like C++, Python, Java etc. They develop software applications to provide services to consumers and enable convenience in different computing tasks.

Average Annual Salary of Software Developer in India

INR 4.5 lakh

Must Read: Software Engineering: Eligibility, Courses & Universities

Computer Programmer

Coming under the vast scope of BCA, the job profile of Computer programmers is to formulate and write code for computer software and they are given the responsibility of ensuring a smoother workflow of a computer program, testing its functionality as well as working on the documentation of the program. 

Average Annual Salary of Computer Programmer in India

INR 3.5 lakh

System Engineer

As a system engineer, you will be needed to manage and monitor the installed operating systems and software in an organization. Further, you will be configuring and testing the software applications and system management tools and ensuring the best tech infrastructure availability for employees in the organization.

Average Annual Salary of System Engineer in India

INR 4.3 lakh

Computer Systems Analyst

The role of computer systems analysts involves using a variety of techniques like data modelling. Data modelling enables analysts to view processes and data flows. The role of analysts involves conducting in-depth tests to analyze information and trends in the data. This is done to increase a system’s performance and efficiency.

Average Annual Salary of Computer Systems Analyst

INR 7 lakh

System Administrator/ IT Administrator

The System Administrator’s main role involves fixing computer server problems. They are involved in organizing, installing, and supporting an organization’s computer systems. These computer systems include – local area networks (LANs), ), network segments, intranets, wide area networks (WANs), and other data communication systems.

Average Annual Salary of IT Administrator in India

INR 3.5 lakh

Computer Scientist

The role of computer scientists involves using technology to solve problems of the present while also preparing for the future. They develop software programs to create applications. Their main focus is to validate and develop models for interaction between people and devices.

Average Annual Salary of Computer Scientist in India

INR 27 lakh

Scope of BCA in the Government Sector

Apart from the private sector, completing a BCA degree opens up numerous opportunities in various Government sectors. They can get job offers like Probationary officer, Army and Navy, IAS, IPS, CBI, RRB and UPSC. Several graduate-level entrance exams are conducted where only BCA degree holders can apply which grants entry into these Government sectors like UPSC, CDSE, SSC CGL, etc.

BCA Scope in India and Abroad

The IT sector is among the highest-paying fields for BCA graduates in India and abroad. BCA’s scope is immense with a lot of job opportunities. You will be eligible for entry-level jobs or go for further studies such as MCA or MBA. It is easy to find a job from banks to game designing firms if you have relevant knowledge and skills. Students can also work freelance or in big MNCs all over the world.

Major Employment Areas

Owing to the extensive BCA scope, graduates can choose from a plethora of sectors offering lucrative job opportunities. Here are the popular employment sectors for BCA graduates:

• Financial Institutions
• Banks
• Consultancies
• IT Companies
• Multimedia & Animation
• Graphic Design
• Actuaries
• Security & Surveillance
• Game Designing
• Software Development Companies

Salary

When it comes to an understanding of how financially rewarding BCA scope can be, it would mainly depend on the enterprise or organisation as well as the job profile. Under the diverse scope of BCA, MNCs can offer a starting package of INR 25,000-INR 40,000 while global finance and tech giants like Microsoft, Oracle, Google, HCL, Wipro, Infosys etc. can offer a six-figure package.

BCA Scope after Master’s Degrees

For those aiming to gain a specialised postgraduate degree, there are various master’s degree courses after BCA that one can choose from. Most students prefer going for a master’s degree after doing a BCA as it helps them acquire specialised knowledge, polishes their skills and adds to their CV. Here are some courses you can pursue to avail the immense scope of BCA combined with a postgraduate qualification: 

Master of Computer Application (MCA): MCA is in direct succession to the BCA course. It further develops the basic skills and fundamental knowledge of computer applications, coding and programming that a BCA student has, making them more apt for higher-level jobs that involve software and app development, database management and consultancy firms.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): An MBA is another postgraduate degree that can be completed after doing a BCA. It further develops the scope of BCA, providing management and business skills to the students to complement their technical skills. This skill set can translate into middle management jobs at software companies, banking jobs and IT supervisor jobs.

There are many short-term diploma courses and professional courses after graduation which can complement your BCA qualifications. These courses are purely skill-based and mostly focus on programming and coding languages in detail. Some of these courses are PGDCA (Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications) Oracle, .Net, SAP, and CISCO. These courses span for 3-6 months and provide a certificate upon completion.

Top 10 Universities for BCA Abroad

The scope of BCA largely depends on the college or university from which you complete the course. This is because the kind of exposure you receive while studying the course at a university as well as the faculty teaching the program plays an imperative role in helping you make the most of a degree. Thus, pursuing a course like BCA abroad can provide you with immense exposure and a global degree to embark on your career journey in the IT sector. The following are the top universities for BCA Abroad:

Universities Location
Southern New Hampshire University United States
Stenden University of Applied Sciences Netherlands
Bilkent University Turkey
IE University Spain
University of South Florida United States
University of Information Technology & Management Poland
University of Tasmania Australia
Savonia University of Applied Sciences Finland
KTH Royal Institute of Technology Sweden
Vytautas Magnus University Lithuania

Top 10 Colleges for BCA in India

BCA is a relatively emerging course offered extensively by popular colleges and universities in India. The following table enlists the top BCA colleges in India:

Universities Location
University of Mumbai Mumbai
SRM Institute of Technology Chennai
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Dwarka
Jaipur National University Jaipur
Jamia Hamdard University Delhi
Lucknow University Lucknow
Mahatma Gandhi University Delhi
Chandigarh University Chandigarh
Amity University Noida
Chitkara University Chandigarh

Eligibility Criteria

While the actual course requirements will vary as per the course and university, there are some general prerequisites you must know about. Before moving towards the scope of BCA, let’s take a look at the general eligibility criteria you must keep in mind:

• Students must have completed 10+2 in any stream from a recognized board with minimum marks required by their university.
• In India, colleges and universities have their entrance exams which you need to clear such as IPU CET BCA, AIMA UGAT, KIITEE BCA, LUCSAT BCA, etc. To apply for this degree abroad, there is no standardised entrance exam but language proficiency scores like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. along with admission essays like an SOP and LORs will be required.

BCA Subjects and Syllabus

Covering multiple subjects, the syllabus of BCA is made flexible with many electives for students to choose from. The following is a semester-wise syllabus for BCA. 

Semester 1	Modern Operating Environment Financial Accounting Principles of Management Business Communication Laboratory Course – Tally / MS Office
Semester 2	C Programming Database Management System Organisational Behavior E-Commerce Digital Electronics
Semester 3	Data Structure using C Relational Database Management System Business Mathematics Software Engineering
Semester 4	Object-Oriented Programming in C++ Computer Organization and Architect Enterprise Resource Planning Computer Networking
Semester 5	Web Technology with PHP Python Scripting Laboratory Course – VB / C++ Advanced Web Technologies
Semester 6	Advanced Java Recent Trends in IT Software Testing Laboratory Course – Advanced Web Technologies / Advanced Java

Top Recruiters

BCA scope is not just restricted to one field or industry. You can work in banks to MNCs. Here are the top recruiters of BCA:

• Aricent
• Infosys
• Cognizant
• Snapdeal
• Accenture
• WNS
• HP

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FAQs

Hence, the scope of BCA is immense and opens up diverse doorways for tech-savvy individuals aiming to pursue a career in Information Technology. Are you looking to pursue the BCA abroad? Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.