Guide to PGDCA Courses – Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Application

Guide to PGDCA Courses – Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Application

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Syed Aquib Ur
Syed Aquib Ur Rahman
Assistant Manager
Updated on Dec 23, 2024 15:20 IST

This article will guide you through the PGDCA syllabus, types of PGDCA courses, and offline courses available in different universities.

PGDCA COURSES

Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Application (PGDCA) is a computer-related course for undergraduate passouts. Also known as a PG degree in India, it's a globally accepted curriculum that provides advanced, job-ready skills. Universities (online and offline) primarily offer PGDCA courses but accredited independent colleges and training organisations also offer them. Explore more about PGDCA below.  

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What is PGDCA?

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PGDCA's full form is a postgraduate diploma in computer applications. A PGDCA course lasts one year and focuses on advanced theoretical and developmental knowledge of computer science and computer applications in information technology for students of all backgrounds.

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Why Opt for the PGDCA Course?

PGDCA is the perfect course for students who want to become professionals in computer-aided drafting. The PGDCA provides a comprehensive foundation in word processing, graphics and design, database management systems, spreadsheets, internetworking, and business applications. Apart from this, it also covers the latest trends, such as cloud computing and big data, which are essential for tomorrow’s professionals. 

Here are some good reasons to join a PGDCA course. 

  1. Save Time: PGDCA is a one-year graduate program, making it a viable career option compared to other similar courses such as two-year MTech and MCA. The PGDCA course consists of a comprehensive curriculum that not only saves time but also helps provide fierce competition to students in other courses. 
  2. Learn More in Shorter Span: In all specialized courses, students usually choose a master’s degree over a graduate degree. This makes the PGDCA course an excellent career choice as it is relatively less competitive than other specialized courses. 
  3. Improve Career Opportunities: Companies hiring new graduates always choose PGDCA over BTech graduates simply because BTech graduates expect higher salary packages than PGDCA students. This allows companies to significantly reduce costs.

Types of PGDCA Courses

PGDCA course is divided into two delivery formats. One is Full-time PGDCA and the other, Part-time PGDCA.

The full-time PGDCA program offers courses for 12 weeks a year and the Part-time PGDCA program offers courses for 8 weeks in a year.

Learn more about the PGDCA courses. 

1. Remote PGDCA

Distance/remote learning can be more relaxing. Remote PGDCA courses are cheaper and students can enroll in their home country or near the center. 

Some of the top distance PGDCA colleges offering distance education in India are:

2. Regular PGDCA

This is usually done weekly in a normal classroom environment. Enrolled students can exchange ideas more often with their teachers and colleagues. The quality of teachers is also better in regular classes, and there is more energy behind them. 

3. Entrance exam-based entrance exam 

There are several universities in India that enroll students in PGDCA courses based on entrance exams. Some marks are set to pass that entrance test. The minimum pass marks and syllabus of the entrance test will depend upon the university conducting that test.

4. Merit-based admission 

For merit-based PGDCA enrollment, students are evaluated based on their undergraduate grades, such as BSc, BA, BCom, BCA and BTech. Some universities and research institutes require students to have a PI round or personal interview after screening students based on their grades. 

5. PGDCA distance learning 

Distance learning is primarily used by students who find it difficult to study in regular courses due to financial and time reasons. PGDCA distance learning focuses on providing students with a variety of specialized skills related to computer science. 

The qualification criteria for participating in PGD CA distance learning are that students must complete an undergraduate course at an accredited university with a minimum of 50% total credits or equivalent CGPA.

PGDCA Entrance Exam

JMIEEE-Jamia Millia Islamia
IISER-Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research 
NEST – National Entrance Screening Test
DUET-Delhi University

PGDCA Distance Education

Many colleges and universities offer online courses that are also referred to as distance education (DE). Distance education is a type of learning that occurs when students learn through correspondence or when students learn in a setting other than their institution’s physical location.

While many aspects of a PGDCA can be implemented via distance learning, this approach does have limitations. Many institutions use a hybrid model that combines both on-site and distance education approaches. Students attending an institution on-site can complete some aspects of the course via correspondence, while others are taught face-to-face in class locations at the institution.

College/University Fee
University of Delhi 7,000
IGNOU, New Delhi 21,600
Osmania University 5250
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 10,000
Lovely Professional University 59000 
Sambalpur University, Odisha 12,000
Annamalai University 6900
Jaipur National University 21800
Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar 6,000

PGDCA Top Recruiters in India

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) Unisys
HCL TCS
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) ASUS
Cisco Systems Boeing BEL
Robert Bosch Dell
Siemens Lenovo
Qualcomm Sasken Communications

PGDCA Course Syllabus 2025

Object-Oriented Programming Foundations of Computer Programming Computer Organization and Architecture
Software Engineering Advanced Communication Skills Introduction to Linux
Computer Networks Basic Financial Management Introduction to Internet Technologies
Data Structure Database Management Systems System Analysis and Design
Web Programming Operating System Visual Basic

Top Institutions for PGDCA Course (offline)

University  Description Duration
Punjabi University Guru Kashi College Punjabi University Gurukashi Campus, Damdamasahib and Tarwandisabo are the largest suburban campuses of Punjabi University Patiala. It is a major institution dedicated to advances in Punjabi, literature, culture, engineering and science, helping students achieve excellence in higher education. 1 YEAR
Dibrugarh University Dibrugarh University offers a variety of UG, PG, Diploma, and PhD courses. At the UG level, universities have various disciplines of B.Ed, B.Pharm, BCA, B.Li.Sc, B.P.Ed, BBA, BA (Performing Arts), B.Tech programs, and integrated B.Sc—Offers M.Sc and BA-LL.B courses.  1 YEAR
Lovely Professional University In addition to the core curriculum, the course offers subjects such as communication, analysis and soft skills to improve personality and employability.  Encourage students to have maximum industrial exposure through  problem identification and visits to new technologies 1 YEAR
Dr. A.P.J. Abdulkalam University Dr. A.P.J. Abdulkalam University is located in the green area of ​​the new Indore-Dewas Bypass. It is about 10 km  from Indole Station. All  department heads and faculty  are experienced, enthusiastic and educated, and have achieved their goals of providing students with excellent careers and values ​​to become responsible citizens. 1 YEAR
The University of Delhi The University of Delhi, is recognized by the UGC as the “Institute of Excellence”. The University of Delhi  is ranked 13th among the best universities in India according to the NIRF 2022 ranking. DU has grown to be one of the largest universities in India with a total  of over 7,000 students. DU has two campuses, the North Campus and the South Campus. There are 90 affiliated universities, 86 faculties, 23 centers, 16 faculties and 5 other research institutes. 1 YEAR

Naukri Jobs after completing PGDCA course(with salary)

Role Description Avg Salary(According to AmbitionBox) No. of Jobs
Software Support Executive Responsible for Technical Troubleshooting and Training Users.Should be well versed with Troubleshooting and Diagnostic Skills in Software ₹ 2.6 LPA 1418
Software Engineer Develop applications, build enhancements and fix issues in applications.Prepare and conduct code reviews. Code – documentation / implementation documentation creation. Bug fixing for application/application maintenance ₹ 5.3 LPA 104195
Php software developer Good knowledge of Javascript/ JSON/AJAXBasic knowledge of any JS framework.Good understanding of DBMS and relational databases. ₹ 3.6 LPA 90613
Quality Assurance Analyst Ensuring product complaints into our quality tracking system accurately and on time to ensure that our quality system is reviewed and maintained. Report definition, development, and maintenance to support decision-making. Work closely with business users to understand your data analytics needs/requirements. ₹ 5.3 LPA 3828
Business Analyst Understanding of how to interpret customer business needs and translate them into an application and operational requirements.Develop requirements specifications, proposals, and project document Collaborate with developers and subject matter experts to establish the technical vision  ₹ 7.0 LPA 496
Web Designer Familiar with HTML5 and CSS3 hand-coding Familiar with bootstraps for responsive web design Familiar with web standards, cross-platform and cross-browser issues Development and testing experience across multiple browsers and devices. Experience in photo editing for website layouts.  ₹ 2.7 LPA 5219

Conclusion

The range of professions that can be reached through a PGDCA degree depends on how well your training has prepared you for those qualifications.Students who have already completed their undergraduate education can gain absolute benefits from studying this type of course since they are already familiar with all required areas of study. After successfully completing Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Application course, most graduates go on to secure highly-paying jobs in any field where computer proficiency is needed. And, if you want to learn the latest trends around computer science, explore Your Guide to Start a Career in Machine Learning.

 

About the Author
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Syed Aquib Ur Rahman
Assistant Manager

Aquib is a seasoned wordsmith, having penned countless blogs for Indian and international brands. These days, he's all about digital marketing and core management subjects - not to mention his unwavering commitment ... Read Full Bio