BCA Lateral Entry 2026: Eligibility, Exams, Top Colleges, Career Scope

The BCA Lateral Entry program is designed for those who have previously earned a Diploma in Computer Science or a comparable field of study. Candidates will thus be given direct admission to the second year of the BCA program through an entrance-based/merit-based admissions procedure. 

BCA Lateral Entry allows students to begin their studies in the third semester by bypassing the first two semesters of the BCA curriculum. With an emphasis on software development and computer applications, this curriculum saves students a year of study time.

What is Lateral Entry in BCA?

BCA lateral entry is admitting students who have finished a diploma course in computer science or a related topic directly into the second year of the regular Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) program rather than beginning from the first year.

BCA lateral entry admission is based on either an entrance test or a merit list issued by the respective institutions. Various exams may be taken for BCA lateral entry admission, including the IPU-CET, the SET, and others.

Also Read: BCA Course Fees

BCA Lateral Entry Eligibility & Admission Process

The BCA lateral entry admission approach allows students to bypass the first year of the BCA degree and continue their studies in computer applications and software development. Students applying for lateral entry into BCA must meet the following requirements. 

• Only those students who satisfy the criteria for BCA lateral entrance may apply.
• BCA lateral entry eligibility requires a three-year diploma in CS or an equivalent discipline from a recognized institution with a least 50% aggregate.
• Students applying for BCA lateral entry must take an entrance test or qualify for the interview.
• The admissions procedure might be merit-based as well.

Read More: BCA Admission 2026

BCA Lateral Entry Entrance Exams

The entrance examinations for BCA Lateral Entry programs differ per university. Institutions can conduct their exams or accept those at the state or national levels. The following entrance exams are often required for admission to BCA Lateral Entry programs in India:

• IPU-CET
• SET
• CUCET

BCA Lateral Entry Syllabus

The BCA Lateral Entry program covers the same material as the four-year BCA degree in just two years. Students in the BCA Lateral Entry program skip the first year of the regular BCA program. The BCA Lateral Entry syllabus is given below.

Read More: BCA Entrance Exam

Top Colleges Offering BCA Lateral Entry

For those with a Diploma in Computer Science or a similar discipline, several Indian institutions offer a BCA Lateral Entry program. The following table lists the best institutions in India that provide BCA lateral entry programs.

Read More: Top BCA Colleges in India

BCA Lateral Entry Career Options

The BCA Lateral Entry and Regular BCA degrees provide comparable IT sector job options, including software development, database management, network administration, web development, and mobile application development. Top job professions after completing the BCA Lateral Entry program are:

Read More: BCA Jobs and Salary in India

BCA Lateral Entry vs Regular BCA 

Although the BCA Lateral Entry and Regular BCA programs vary in terms of eligibility criteria, course duration, and content, they aim to prepare students for successful careers in the information technology sector. The table below shows key differences between BCA Lateral Entry and Traditional BCA courses.