Kathmandu- Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) teaches students how to design computer applications. Having only computer hardware is not enough—simple and user-friendly applications are essential for operation. BCA trains students to develop such applications. It is a four-year, eight-semester program taught under Tribhuvan University (TU).
Although various national and international universities categorize BCA under Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University has placed it under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences despite being an IT-related course. According to Abhimanyu Yadav, Head of the IT Department at BernHardt College, which runs the BCA program under TU affiliation, the scope of BCA is strong and graduates are performing well in the job market.
He says, “BCA is an applied course. It is an excellent option for students who want to study IT at an affordable cost. Since students from all faculties can enroll, the curriculum has been designed in a multidimensional way.”
In recent times, Nepal’s demand for technical manpower has been rising, and IT graduates rarely remain unemployed. With technologies now being used in household tasks—like turning lights on/off through mobile apps or operating a TV remote—the demand for practical and everyday-use IT education has grown, making BCA increasingly relevant.
This program falls under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students from any stream in grades 11 and 12 can study BCA, provided they have at least a GPA of 2.0 (or second division) with a D+ in all subjects. Only candidates scoring at least 40% in the university entrance exam qualify for admission. BCA teaches students to develop applications and conduct IT-related research.
Completing this course costs roughly 4 to 8 lakh rupees over four years, depending on the college and the facilities provided.
Since BCA is an IT-related course, a minimum three-month internship in any IT company is mandatory, says Jivan Dhungel, BCA Program Director at Samriddhi College.
He adds, “Project work must be mandatory. After graduating, students get opportunities in IT industries, application development companies, mobile app development, e-commerce, IT research, web design, banks, telecom, and networking sectors. They do not have to remain unemployed.”
After completing the four-year program, graduates can work in computer languages, computer systems, applications, and software development. The course aims to produce skilled manpower capable of working theoretically and practically in computer systems and applications.
Similarly, Edmark Academy Chairman Purushottam Adhikari says the new generation is responsible for the country’s development, and IT knowledge is essential for them.
“To make the country economically prosperous, we need IT professionals, and the demand for IT manpower is increasing in the job market,” he said. “If we do not use technology, we fall behind—hence BCA is vital for producing skilled manpower.”
After completing BCA, students can pursue higher education such as MCA (Master in Computer Application) or MSc IT. TU began the BCA program through its six constituent campuses, and now 124 colleges across the country offer the course.
Graduates find employment in any institution requiring IT professionals. They can build careers as Computer & Information System Managers, Computer System Specialists, IT Officers, Network & Computer System Administrators, etc. Many students also opt for self-employment and can work remotely for companies worldwide from Nepal.
Additionally, graduates can work as ethical hackers, web developers, graphic designers, social media handlers, website developers, application developers, and researchers in government, non-government, and private IT companies.
Experts say BCA is an excellent choice for students seeking a future in software engineering, development, and research. However, due to limited seats and insufficient awareness, many colleges have not been able to fill their quotas. A shortage of qualified instructors has also limited the number of colleges capable of offering the program. Currently, campuses under Tribhuvan University, Purbanchal University, and Pokhara University run BCA programs.
Employment Opportunities
Government and non-government IT industries, application development centers, mobile application companies, e-commerce, IT research, web design, banks, telecom, and networking sectors offer job opportunities.
Subjects taught in BCA:
Computer Application, Mathematics, Web Technology, Computer Networking, Graphics & Animation, Cyber Law, C Programming, Mobile Programming.
