What is PGDCA?
The PGDCA full form is a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application. The PGDCA course duration is 1-year, and it focuses on providing students with advanced theoretical and development expertise in computer science and computer applications in the field of IT.
Further Reading: Top Computer Courses in India
PGDCA course fees range between INR 7,000 - 1,10,000. PGDCA syllabus begins with the fundamentals of information technology and disciplines like programming, Java, Data structures, and more. Read more: PGDCA Syllabus
As per the PGDCA eligibility criteria, students must have completed a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 40% aggregate from a recognized university. Some universities and colleges may also require students to study mathematics as a compulsory subject at graduation based on graduation level. The top PGDCA colleges in India include Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi University, Punjab Technical University, Lovely Professional University, etc. PGDCA admissions are done through both the merit and entrance exams. After completing the PGDCA course, students can pursue career options like Software Engineer, Software Developer, Quality Assurance Analyst, and more, with an expected average salary ranging between INR 2-20 LPA.
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PGDCA Course Details
| PGDCA Full Form | Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application |
| Course Level | Post-Graduation |
| PGDCA Course Duration | 1 Year |
| PGDCA Course Fees | INR 7,000 - 1,10,000 |
| PGDCA Eligibility | Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 40% aggregate |
| PGDCA Admission 2023 | Merit and Entrance Based |
| PGDCA Entrance Exams | JMI EE, DUET |
| Top PGDCA Colleges | Jamia Millia Islamia, Madras Christian College, Lovely Professional University |
| Average Salary | INR 2-20 LPA |
| PGDCA Job Profiles | Software Engineer, Software Developer, IT Support Analyst |
| Top PGDCA Recruiters | Accenture, TCS, Infosys, Oracle, Tech Mahindra etc. |
Further Reading: Diploma Courses after 10th & 12th
PGDCA Course Syllabus
The PGDCA course curriculum has been created to help students understand even the most minute information about the subject. PGDCA syllabus includes subjects like programming, java, soft skills, etc. We have listed the subjects included in the PGDCA syllabus below:
PGDCA Syllabus- Semester I | PGDCA Syllabus- Semester II |
| Fundamentals of Information Technology | Visual Basics |
| Computer Programming | Java |
| Software Engineering | DBMS |
| Business Process | Data Structure & Algorithms |
| Oracle | PPM & OB |
| Web Programming | Project work |
| Practical Work | Practical Work |
Subjects & Syllabus of Computer Courses:
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PGDCA Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for PGDCA courses vary from one college to another, such as:
- Universities like Delhi University (DU), and Dilbrugarh University require students to have a minimum of 40% aggregate at the graduation level.
- IK Gujral Punjab Technical University does not have any cut-off marks for the qualifying exams.
- Vallabh Government College has mentioned the 26-year (28 years for girls) age limit for admission into the PGDCA course.
Thus, it is important to check the admission criteria of the college you are applying to for the PGDCA course.
PGDCA Entrance Exams
Most colleges grant direct admission based on marks acquired in qualifying, and a few colleges accept PGDCA entrance exam scores for admissions. The entrance exams for the PGDCA course are as follows:
| PGDCA Entrance Exam | Full Form | Conducting Board |
| JMIEE | Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam | Jamia Millia Islamia University |
| DUET | Delhi University Entrance Test | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
PGDCA Admission 2023
Admission to the PGDCA course is based on both merit and entrance exams. Admission criteria may vary from college to college. Below is detailed information on the admission process for the PGDCA course.
Entrance Exam-Based PGDCA Admission
Some colleges and universities, like Jamia Millia Islamia, and Delhi University grant PGDCA admissions based on the entrance exams such as JMIEEE, DUET, etc. Students must qualify for the entrance exam with a valid score to get admission into such colleges. Among others, institutes like Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Government College, and Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, conduct their own PGDCA entrance exams for admission into the course.
Merit-Based PGDCA Admission
Students are evaluated for merit-based PGDCA admissions based on their grades in undergraduate programs including BSc, BA, BCom, BCA, and BTech, etc. Some colleges call students for personal interview rounds after screening them for qualifying marks.
Further Reading: Software Engineering Courses after 12th
Top PGDCA Colleges in India
Here is a list of the top colleges that offer PGDCA courses in India.
PGDCA College | PGDA College Location | PGDCA Course Fees |
Delhi NCR | INR 7,800 | |
Delhi NCR | INR10,000 | |
Punjab | INR 7,400 | |
Assam | INR 23,380 | |
Punjab | INR 1,09,000 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 6,900 | |
Maharashtra | INR 75,000 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 15,300 | |
Maharashtra | INR 11,700 | |
Maharashtra | INR 30,017 | |
Karnataka | 50,000 | |
Delhi NCR | 75,000 |
PGDCA Distance Education
Apart from regular colleges, students have the option of doing PGDCA distance education. Students who find it challenging to study in a normal course owing to financial and time constraints can explore distance education. The main goal of PGDCA Distance Education is to give students a variety of professional expertise in computer science.
Students must complete their undergraduate coursework from an accredited university with a minimum of 50 percent of the total possible points, or an equivalent CGPA, to be eligible to enroll in a PGDCA distance education program.
Here is a list of some of the colleges that offer PGDCA distance education:
| Name of the College | PGDCA Course Fees |
| IGNOU, New Delhi | INR 21,600 |
| University of Delhi | INR 7,000 |
| Amity School of Distance Learning, Noida | - |
| Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai | INR 10,000 |
| Sambalpur University, Odisha | INR 12,000 |
| Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar | INR 6,000 |
PGDCA IGNOU
One of the most popular options for those who want to pursue distance education is IGNOU. PGDCA IGNOU courses are the most popular among the students. As per the eligibility criteria for PGDCA IGNOU, students must complete their undergraduate degree from an accredited university with mathematics as their major in the class 12 board exams.
Students who do not have mathematics as their major subject in the 12th board exams can enroll in BCS courses in addition to PGDCA courses.
The PGDCA course fee at IGNOU is INR 21,600.
PGDCA vs DCA: Course Comparison
For your information, a brief comparison of the PGDCA and DCA (Diploma in Computer Applications) programs is provided below:
Features | PGDCA | DCA |
| Full Form | Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications | Diploma in Computer Applications |
| Subjects | PPM & OB, Web Programming, Soft Skills, Java | Introduction to Computer and Internet, Computer Organizations and Operating Systems, MS Word, MS Excel |
| PGDCA Course Fees | INR 7,000 - 1,10,000 | INR 5,000 - 30,000 |
| PGDCA Course Duration | 1 year | 6 months - 1 year |
| Top Colleges | Jamia Millia Islamia, Madras Christian College, Indian Statistical Institute | Calcutta University, Lovely Professional University, Aligarh Muslim University |
| Average Salary | INR 2 - 20 LPA | INR 3 - 7 LPA |
PGDCA College Comparison
It is important to pick the right college to enroll in a particular course. In this section, we have given a detailed comparison of two of the best universities that offer PGDCA courses in India. The comparison is based on several considerable factors, such as eligibility criteria, course fees, admission, placements, etc.
Features | DAV College | Madras Christian College |
| Eligibility Criteria | 10+2+3 | Undergraduate Degree |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based | Merit-Based |
| PGDCA Course Fees | INR 24,5000 | INR 15,000 |
| Placement Offered | 2.85 LPA | 2.34 LPA |
| Top Recruiters | TCS, Oracle, Infosys | TCS, Capgemini, Wipro |
PGDCA Reference Books
Students get access to PGDCA books in both online and offline formats on every given topic. Students can also obtain the PGDCA book in PDF format from the internet to save money. The PGDCA syllabus is dynamic, with each subject specialization having a unique PGDCA book. Thus, students should download the PGDCA subject's PDF before making a purchase whenever possible. Some of the well-liked PGDCA reference books are listed below:
- Database management systems by Bipin Desai
- Computer Database Organization by James Martin
- C Programming by Balaguruswamy
- Object-oriented programming in C++ by Nabajyoti Barkakati
- Born to code in C by H. Schildt
- IT tools and applications by A Mansoor
PGDCA Scope
PGDCA is a relatively new degree. Students who have completed a PGDCA course may choose to continue their education beyond that level or begin a professional job. The two options that can be pursued after completing PGDCA courses in detail are shown below.
| Higher Studies | Begin Work |
| Post PGDCA course, students can pursue higher education such as MCA, MSc IT, MSc CS, etc. | Post PGDCA course, students can receive attractive job offers for positions such as web developer, java developer, IT professional, etc. |
PGDCA: Career Prospects and Salary
Students who complete the PGDCA course are given job opportunities with titles like Information Technology Manager, Business Development Manager, Senior Analyst, and others. They can work in different sectors like IT, banking, finance, health, hospitality, etc. After completing PGDCA courses, the initial salary packet ranges between INR 2 to 4 LPA on average.
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
| Software engineers create and test programs. Additionally, they are in charge of generating technical specializations and improving the current codes. | INR 5 LPA |
| Software Developer | Software developers create software solutions by creating websites, apps, and programs. | INR 3.9 LPA |
| IT Support Analyst | IT support analysts are in charge of providing technical setup, guidance, and assistance to users through phone, social media, and in-person. | INR 3 LPA |
| Quality Assurance Analyst | Quality assurance analysts test and examine games, programs, and software to ensure their reliability, functionality, and user-friendliness before they are released in the market. | INR 4 LPA |
| Systems Analyst | IT systems are examined by systems analysts, who also write requirements for new ones. They examine the hardware, software, and larger IT systems for clients and companies to determine the new requirements. | INR 6 LPA |
IT Consultant
| IT consultants offer both internal and external clients technical assistance when developing and implementing IT systems. | INR 11 LPA |
| Web Designer | Web designers create the look and layout of a website or web page while collaborating with clients or other designers to satisfy their needs. | INR 2.3 LPA |
Among others, students can also take up job roles like programmer, Network Administrator, Computer Animation Expert, Database Administrator, Corporate Customer Services, Graduate Software Developer, Applications Developer, Graphic Designer, and Techno Marketing, etc. in various sectors.
PGDCA Top Recruiters
Mentioned below is a list of the top recruiters who hire PGDCA candidates:
- TCS
- Tech Mahindra
- Accenture
- Infosys
- Deloitte
- Cognizant Technology Services
- Oracle
- Wipro
- Amazon