About Master of Computer Applications [MCA]
Presidency College Chennai (PCC), ranked 15th under Colleges in NIRF 2025, offers MCA as a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme with 23 seats, affiliated to the University of Madras. Admission is through TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test) managed by DTE Tamil Nadu via the tn-mbamca.com portal. Total programme fees are INR 2,825 for two years under the Tamil Nadu government-regulated fee structure.
📋 Admission Status: Applications closed. Choice Filling begins 30 July 2026.
PCC MCA Fees 2026
| Year | Amount (INR) |
|---|---|
| Year 1 Fees | INR 1,415 |
| Year 2 Fees | INR 1,410 |
| Total Fees (2 years) | INR 2,825 |
- Year 1 fee includes a one-time INR 5 admission charge.
- Fees are regulated by the Tamil Nadu government and applicable to the 2026-27 academic session.
- Hostel charges are not included and are payable separately to the college accommodation office.
PCC MCA Admission 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| TANCET Registration Opened | March 16, 2026 |
| TANCET Registration Closed | April 15, 2026 |
| TANCET Admit Card Released | April 27, 2026 |
| TANCET Exam Conducted | May 9, 2026 |
| TANCET Result Declared | May 22, 2026 |
| DTE Rank List Published | July 16, 2026 |
| DTE Choice Filling | July 30 to August 2, 2026 |
| First Round Seat Allotment | August 10, 2026 |
| Class Commencement | August 2026 |
- MCA admissions at PCC are centralised through the DTE Tamil Nadu portal (tn-mbamca.com).
- Mathematics as a subject in the qualifying degree is mandatory for TANCET MCA eligibility.
The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
- A bachelor’s degree with Mathematics as a compulsory subject from a recognised university.
- Minimum 50% aggregate in the qualifying degree (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates).
- Must have appeared for TANCET 2026 MCA paper to be eligible for DTE counselling.
Admission Process
- Appear for TANCET conducted on May 9, 2026 and qualify in the MCA paper.
- Register on the DTE portal (tn-mbamca.com) during the counselling registration window.
- Participate in DTE Choice Filling from July 30 to August 2, 2026 and select Presidency College Chennai as preference.
- Receive Round 1 seat allotment (expected August 10, 2026) and accept the allotted seat online.
- Report to Presidency College Chennai with original documents for document verification.
- Pay the first-year fee of INR 1,415 at PCC to complete the MCA admission process.
✓ Opt for this if
- Hold a Mathematics-based bachelor’s degree and want an affordable MCA at a top government college.
- Prefer a University of Madras affiliated degree widely recognised for government and IT sector roles.
- Scored well in TANCET 2026 and looking for a merit-based seat at a Chennai government institution.
- Value the cost advantage of INR 2,825 total fee over private college MCA programmes.
✗ Skip if
- Did not appear for TANCET 2026 as it is mandatory for this admission process.
- Expect industry-partnered labs, coding bootcamps, or placement-first infrastructure.
- Need a residential campus with hostel and round-the-clock computing facilities.
- Prefer a private college offering specialised MCA tracks in cloud, data science, or AI.
PCC MCA Scholarships 2026
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu Post-Matric Scholarship | Tuition fee and maintenance | SC/ST students with family income below state prescribed limit |
| BC/MBC/EBC Government Scholarship | Tuition and living allowance | Backward Class and Economically Backward Class students |
| Tamil Nadu Kalviyaalar Scholarship | Up to INR 10,000 per year | Meritorious students from Tamil Nadu government school background |
| NSP Central Government Schemes | Up to INR 10,000 per year | As per central government eligibility for minority and merit categories |
- Post-Matric and BC/MBC scholarships are applied at tnscholarships.paatashaala.in.
- NSP scholarships are submitted at scholarships.gov.in during the annual scholarship window.
PCC MCA FAQs
Ques. What is the admission process for MCA at Presidency College Chennai?
Ans. MCA admission at Presidency College Chennai is through TANCET, conducted by Anna University on behalf of DTE Tamil Nadu. Candidates must appear for the TANCET MCA paper, register on the DTE portal at tn-mbamca.com during counselling, and participate in choice filling from July 30 to August 2, 2026. Seat allotment for Round 1 is expected on August 10, 2026. After allotment, candidates report to PCC with original documents and pay the first-year fee of INR 1,415.
Ques. What is the total fee for MCA at Presidency College Chennai?
Ans. The total fee for MCA at Presidency College Chennai is INR 2,825 for the 2-year programme. Year 1 costs INR 1,415 (including a one-time INR 5 admission charge) and Year 2 costs INR 1,410. Hostel charges, if needed, are payable separately. PCC’s government-regulated fee structure makes it among the most affordable MCA options in Chennai for TANCET-qualified candidates.
Ques. What is the eligibility for MCA at Presidency College Chennai?
Ans. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with Mathematics as a compulsory subject, with at least 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Appearing for TANCET 2026 MCA paper is mandatory. Eligible streams include B.Sc Computer Science, B.Sc Mathematics, BCA, B.Sc Statistics, or any bachelor’s degree with Mathematics. Eligibility is verified at the DTE counselling stage through the tn-mbamca.com portal.
Ques. Is MCA from Presidency College Chennai a good option?
Ans. MCA from Presidency College Chennai is awarded by the University of Madras and is recognised for IT sector employment, government technical roles, and further academic study including MPhil and PhD. PCC’s NIRF 2025 ranking of 15th under Colleges makes it a respected institution. The programme’s low fee of INR 2,825 total makes it an excellent value option for TANCET-qualified graduates seeking a government-college MCA degree in Chennai.
Ques. What was the TANCET cutoff for MCA at Presidency College Chennai in 2024?
Ans. In 2024, the TANCET MCA cutoff at Presidency College Chennai ranged from 81.509 percentile for SC category to 92.479 percentile for Open Category candidates. For 2026, the exact cutoff will be published by DTE Tamil Nadu after the counselling rounds. Candidates should monitor tn-mbamca.com for the published category-wise cutoff lists after seat allotment rounds are completed in August 2026.
Ques. What are career options after MCA from Presidency College Chennai?
Ans. After MCA from PCC, graduates can pursue careers in software development, systems analysis, database administration, and IT project management. Tamil Nadu government technical posts through TNPSC recruitment accept MCA as a qualifying degree. Opportunities exist in TCS, Wipro, Infosys, and other Chennai-based IT firms. Some graduates also pursue MPhil or PhD in Computer Science, or appear for GATE for admissions to research programmes at IITs and NITs.