Discontinued (Aug 2022)- Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA) at TNOU

TNOU, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, offers Discontinued (Aug 2022)- Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA) as a 1-year postgraduate degree. Fees for the full course come to ₹6,720 (roughly ₹6,000 a year).

Expect to spend most of your time on programming, data structures and algorithms, databases, operating systems, computer networks and software engineering, with a steady diet of lab work and projects.

TNOU is a other institute, founded in 2004. This page brings together what is on record for this course at TNOU — fees, seats, eligibility, the admission route and placements — so you can judge it before you apply.

Most PGDCA programmes follow a similar pattern: the first year builds the foundations, the middle years go deep into the subject, and the final year is given over to electives, a major project and usually an internship.

Here that means programming, data structures and algorithms, databases, operating systems, computer networks and software engineering, with a steady diet of lab work and projects. Typical first jobs: software developer, full-stack engineer, QA engineer or systems analyst.

The exact syllabus is set by the college or its affiliating university and changes from year to year, so ask TNOU for the current semester-wise plan.

The fee figures on record for this course are below. Fees are for the whole course unless marked otherwise, and apply to PGDCA programmes at TNOU as a group.

Colleges revise fees most years, and hostel, transport and exam charges are often billed separately. Confirm the current figure with TNOU before you pay anything.

To get into Discontinued (Aug 2022)- Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications (PGDCA), you usually need a bachelor's degree in a related subject.

Admission to this kind of course is usually on merit in the qualifying exam. Reserved-category candidates generally get a relaxation in the minimum marks. Check TNOU's prospectus for the exact cut-off this year.

In most years, admission follows these steps:

1. Check that you meet the eligibility above.
2. Keep your qualifying-exam marksheet ready; seats are filled on merit.
3. Apply to TNOU on its website (www.tnou.ac.in) or through the enquiry form on this page, and take part in counselling if a state or central body runs it.
4. Once you are offered a seat, verify your documents (marksheets, ID, category certificate if any) and pay the admission fee to confirm it.

The most recent placement data we hold (2023) show an average package of ₹2.5 lakh at TNOU. 5,235 students were placed that year. These are college-wide figures, not only for this specialisation.

Placement numbers vary a lot by year and by branch. Ask the placement cell for the branch-wise report of the last two batches.

Ask yourself — and the college — these questions first:

• Are you genuinely interested in programming? You will spend 1 year on it.
• Can you manage ₹6,720 over the course, plus hostel and living costs? Ask about scholarships and education loans.
• Are the placement figures above good enough for your goals? Ask for the branch-wise numbers.
• How does TNOU compare with other colleges offering PGDCA in and around Chennai?