Computer application courses in India fall into four levels: a one-year diploma (DCA), a three-year degree (BCA, or B.Com with computer applications), a one-year postgraduate diploma (PGDCA) and a two-year master's (MCA). Your level of education decides where you enter. After Class 12 you start with the BCA or the diploma, and after graduation you choose between the PGDCA and the MCA.
The names sound alike, but the entry rules, running time and job outcomes differ a lot. This guide compares the main computer application courses side by side, and uses IGNOU's published programme pages (read in October 2026) for eligibility, duration and fees, because they are the one set of official figures every reader can check.
Computer application courses at a glance
| Course | Level | Who can join | Usual duration | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA (Diploma in Computer Applications) | Diploma | Class 12 pass (rule differs by institute) | 1 year | Office, data-entry and support roles; a bridge into a degree |
| BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) | Undergraduate degree | Class 12; some universities ask for Maths | 3 years, 6 semesters | Software, web, testing and support roles; MCA |
| B.Com Computer Applications | Undergraduate degree | Class 12, usually commerce | 3 years | Accounting and finance roles with IT skills |
| PGDCA (PG Diploma in Computer Applications) | Postgraduate diploma | A bachelor's degree | 1 year | Junior programming and IT roles |
| MCA (Master of Computer Applications) | Postgraduate degree | BCA or a bachelor's with Maths | 2 years, 4 semesters | Software engineering, development and IT management roles |
Computer application courses after 12th
There are three realistic doors after Class 12. The first is the BCA, which is the standard computing degree for students who want programming careers without taking engineering. The second is the DCA, a shorter and cheaper skill course. The third is a commerce degree with computer papers, covered below.
IGNOU's BCA programme page asks for 10+2 or equivalent, or a pass in the Diploma in Commercial Practice. It allows 36 to 72 months to finish and lists a fee of Rs 8,300 per semester, Rs 49,800 for all six semesters, with exam fees extra and set by the university. Other universities set their own entry rules, and many private ones ask for Mathematics or Computer Science in Class 12, so read each admission notice before you apply.
If you want the subject list, the semester-wise syllabus is in our BCA course subjects guide. If you are torn between this and management, BBA vs BCA sets out the difference in careers.
Computer application courses after 12th commerce and arts
A commerce student has an extra option. The B.Com Computer Applications degree keeps accounting, taxation and finance as the core and adds programming, databases and web papers. It suits a student who wants to stay in accounts or finance roles but wants IT skills on the side. A BCA is the better choice if the aim is to write software.
Arts students can also enter computing. IGNOU's BCA does not ask for a particular Class 12 stream, but a university that insists on Maths will close that door, so the stream you studied matters less than the admission rule of the college you choose. Our guides on what to do after 12th commerce and after 12th arts list the other routes if computing turns out to be wrong for you.
DCA: the one-year diploma
A Diploma in Computer Applications covers computer basics, office software, a programming language or two, and a little web and database work. There is no single national syllabus or fee, because each institute and awarding body sets its own. That makes the awarding body the thing to check before you pay: a diploma from a recognised university or a government training body carries weight, and one from an unrecognised centre may not.
Choose the DCA if you need job-ready office and data skills quickly, or if you want to test your interest in computing before committing to three years. It is not a substitute for a degree when a job advertisement asks for graduation.
Computer application courses after graduation
After a bachelor's degree you can choose a PGDCA, which is faster, or an MCA, which is the full postgraduate qualification. The right pick depends on whether your degree was in computing.
PGDCA
The PGDCA is a one-year programme for graduates from any stream who want to move into IT. IGNOU's PGDCA page asks for any three-year bachelor's degree with Mathematics at 10+2 or graduation level. Graduates without Maths can still join, but must complete the bridge course BCS-012 (graduate-level mathematics). The programme takes 12 to 36 months, runs in English, and costs Rs 11,000 per semester across two semesters, so Rs 22,000, plus Rs 1,000 extra in the first semester for non-Maths students. Exam fees are separate.
What you study on that page is the core of computing in two semesters: programming in C and Python, computer organisation, operating systems, and Windows and Linux lab in semester one, then database management systems, data structures and algorithms, and object-oriented programming in Java in semester two, with lab courses alongside. It is a compact way to become employable as a junior programmer, though employers who want a master's degree for a role will not treat it as equal to an MCA.
MCA
The MCA is a two-year master's that leads to software development and IT management roles. IGNOU's MCA page accepts a BCA, a computer science engineering degree or an equivalent. It also accepts a B.Sc., B.Com. or B.A. with Mathematics at 10+2 or graduation level, if the student completes two bridge courses, MCS-201 and MCS-208, at Rs 1,000 each. Students with no Mathematics at either level are not eligible.
The fee is Rs 13,000 per semester for national students, so four semesters come to Rs 52,000 before exam fees. The duration is a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 48 months. Our MCA eligibility guide explains the no-Maths question and NIMCET in detail.
IGNOU computer application courses: fees side by side
| Programme | Eligibility (summary) | Duration allowed | Fee per semester | Total programme fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCA | 10+2 or equivalent, or Diploma in Commercial Practice | 36 to 72 months | Rs 8,300 | Rs 49,800 (6 semesters) |
| PGDCA | 3-year bachelor's degree with Maths, or bridge course BCS-012 | 12 to 36 months | Rs 11,000 | Rs 22,000 (2 semesters), Rs 1,000 extra without Maths |
| MCA | BCA, B.Tech CSE or equivalent; or other bachelor's with Maths plus 2 bridge courses | 24 to 48 months | Rs 13,000 | Rs 52,000 (4 semesters), bridge courses Rs 1,000 each |
Fees change each session, so confirm the figure on the programme page before you pay. If you plan to borrow for a private university, run the numbers in our education loan EMI calculator first.
Which computer application course should you choose?
Class 12 pass, want a software career: BCA, then MCA if you want a master's.
Class 12 commerce, want to stay in accounts: B.Com Computer Applications.
Need skills quickly or want to test the field: DCA, with a recognised awarding body.
Graduate in another subject, want an IT job in a year: PGDCA, after checking the Maths rule.
Graduate with Maths or a BCA, want senior roles: MCA, on campus or online if you work.
One honest note on pay: salaries after these courses depend on your skills, projects and the employer more than on the course title. Ask any college for placement data from its last two batches in writing, and do not accept a promise of a job.
If you study online or by distance, confirm that the university and the exact programme appear in the UGC-DEB approved list for your admission session.
Frequently asked questions
Which computer application course is best after 12th?
The BCA is the usual choice for a software career, because it is a full three-year degree. A DCA is faster and cheaper but it is a diploma, and B.Com Computer Applications suits students who want accounts roles with IT skills.
What are the computer application courses after graduation?
The main two are the PGDCA, a one-year postgraduate diploma, and the MCA, a two-year master's degree. Check the Maths rule first: IGNOU's PGDCA needs a bridge course without Maths, and its MCA does not admit students with no Maths at all.
Can I do a computer application course after 12th commerce?
Yes. You can take a BCA where the college allows commerce students, a B.Com with computer applications, or a diploma. Read the college's admission notice, because some universities ask for Mathematics in Class 12.
How long are computer application courses?
A DCA is usually one year, the PGDCA is one year at a regular college (IGNOU allows 12 to 36 months), the BCA is three years (IGNOU allows 36 to 72 months) and the MCA is two years (IGNOU allows 24 to 48 months).
What is the IGNOU BCA fee?
IGNOU's BCA page lists Rs 8,300 per semester and Rs 49,800 for all six semesters as of October 2026. Exam fees are not included.
What is the syllabus of computer application courses?
Most courses cover programming (C, Python or Java), databases, operating systems, data structures and web basics, with lab work. A degree adds mathematics, networks, software engineering and a project. See our BCA subjects guide for a semester-wise list.
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