MCA Lateral Entry 2023: Eligibility, Admission Process, Colleges, Fees

The MCA lateral entry program allows students to enter the regular MCA program in the second year, making it a popular choice among those interested in IT. MCA is a two-year post graduate course for students with bachelor's degrees in computer applications or computer science/information technology or any comparable degree. 

Students who satisfy the AICTE's qualifying standards can apply to enter the second year of the normal MCA curriculum through MCA lateral entry. Students need to remember that lateral entry in MCA is not permitted at NITs.

Table of Contents

• What is Lateral Entry in MCA?
• MCA Lateral Entry Eligibility
• MCA Lateral Entry Application Form Highlights
• MCA Lateral Entry Entrance Exams
• MCA Lateral Entry Admission Process
• MCA Lateral Entry Syllabus
• MCA Lateral Entry Specializations
• Top MCA Lateral Entry Colleges in India
• MCA Lateral Entry vs Regular MCA

What is Lateral Entry in MCA?

MCA lateral entry is a post graduate-level programme in computer applications. Students can skip the first year of the MCA programme and go straight into the second year. As a result, the typical three-year time frame for earning an MCA degree can be reduced to just two.

MCA lateral entry is only intended for students with a three-year college degree in computer application (BCA) or a similar subject, such as electronics, computer science, or information technology. An MCA degree prepares graduates to use the resources to develop better, quicker software and applications to achieve greater technical objectives. 

MCA Lateral Entry Eligibility

Students with a bachelor's in computer science or an equivalent degree can pursue an MCA through direct entrance in two years. Students must know the general eligibility criteria before applying for MCA lateral entry. 

• For MCA lateral entry eligibility, applicants must have earned a BCA, BSc IT, or BSc CS degree with a minimum of 50%.
• Candidates who earned a BSc in computer science or information technology must have taken math as one of their subjects in 12th-grade. 
• Applicants who completed their BSc in IT or BSc in CS via distance education are not considered eligible for the course.

MCA Lateral Entry Application Form Highlights

The MCA lateral entry is a two-year postgraduate degree into which candidates may join in the second year and learn about computer applications and implementation in business, banking, and government sectors. Important dates for the MCA lateral entry course are listed below. 

MCA Lateral Entry Admission Process

MCA lateral entry admission can be completed by direct admission, while few institutes require students to qualify for entrance examinations at the university or state level. 

• Direct Admission Process - MCA lateral entry programmes accept students directly based on their performance in the bachelor's degree. Direct entry is also possible through the institution's management quota. Each college has a set number of special quota seats at a significantly higher price than regular entry.
• Admission via Entrance Exam - Candidates who pass the MCA lateral entry exam will be selected and called for the counselling round. Students must also complete the document verification process to get a seat. After the counselling session, students are allotted seats as per the score.

MCA Lateral Entry Entrance Exams

Candidates interested in enrolling in MCA via lateral entry must take and qualify for the entrance test conducted by the state government or a recognised institution. The most sought-after MCA lateral entry entrance exam is listed below: 

• MAH MCA CET
• OJEE
• HPCET
• TANCET
• AP ICET
• NIMCET
• BHU PET
• UPSEE
• TS ICET
• IPU CET
• Karnataka PGCET

MCA Lateral Entry Syllabus

Students develop advanced computer science knowledge and expertise in the MCA lateral entry program, helping them get started in the IT business. The following list includes important topics studied in all 4 semesters (2 years).

MCA Lateral Entry Specializations

Master of Computer Applications (MCA) is a postgraduate program that teaches computer application theories and their practical use. Candidates may pick from several different specializations that MCA lateral entry course offers. The list below includes some of the top specializations.

• Software Development
• Systems Development
• Application Software
• Troubleshooting
• Hardware Technology
• Networking
• Systems Management
• Management Information Systems
• Systems Engineering

Top MCA Lateral Entry Colleges in India

The lateral entry in MCA after BCA or any other bachelor's degree in computer science offers a balance between theory and applied skills. The table below lists the leading MCA lateral entry colleges with an average fee structure. 

MCA Lateral Entry vs Regular MCA

The main difference between MCA lateral entry and MCA regular courses lies in the duration of the program. The table below provides the major difference between MCA lateral entry and MCA regular courses in India.