TNOU BCA 2026: Eligibility, Fee, Duration and Syllabus
Tamil Nadu Open University offers a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) and BCA Lateral Entry (BCA-LE) through its School of Computer Science. For the Academic Year 2026–27 session, the extended last date for online admission is 13 October 2026. The programme carries a total evaluation of 3,600 marks across 110 credits for regular BCA and 71 credits for lateral entry.
Key facts
| Academic Session | AY 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Online Admission Last Date | 13 October 2026 |
| Offering School | School of Computer Science |
| Total Marks | 3,600 Marks |
| Total Credits (Regular BCA) | 110 Credits |
| Total Credits (BCA Lateral Entry) | 71 Credits |
| TEE Aug 2026 Project Deadline | 23 October 2026 |
Admission Deadlines for AY 2026–27
Online admissions for the Academic Year 2026–27 are currently open. TNOU has extended the deadline for fresh candidate registration and online fee payment.
TNOU Admission and Examination Deadlines
| Event | Session / Event Details | Deadline / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Online Admission Last Date | Academic Year 2026–27 | 13 October 2026 |
| Project Submission Deadline | Term End Examination August 2026 | 23 October 2026 |
| Practical Examination | M.L.I.Sc. August 2026 | 07 October 2026 |
Online Admission Application Process
Applicants registering for fresh admission or existing students completing fee payment must process their applications online.
- Access the TNOU online admission portal for Academic Year 2026–27.
- Select the fresh application registration option if applying as a new student.
- If already registered, choose the document upload and fee payment link.
- Fill in all required applicant details, select the BCA programme, upload prescribed documents, and make the fee payment online.
BCA Credit Structure and Award Scheme
The BCA programme is managed by the School of Computer Science under a structured curriculum developed by the TNOU Curriculum Development Cell. The curriculum encompasses Core Theory, Core Practicals (Skill Enhancement Courses), Ability Enhancement Compulsory Courses, Discipline Specific Electives, and Non-Major Electives.
BCA Credit and Evaluation Distribution
| Programme Stream | Total Credits | Total Marks Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) | 110 | 3,600 |
| BCA Lateral Entry (BCA-LE) | 71 | 3,600 |
BCA Non-Semester Curriculum Outline
The non-semester pattern structures the course requirements across three academic years:
Year-Wise Subject Structure for BCA (Non-Semester)
| Year | Course Code & Subject Title |
|---|---|
| First Year | BFTM 11 Tamil (or alternate language), BFEG 11 English Language, BCM-01 Mathematics, BCA-01 Computer Fundamentals & PC Software, BCA-02 C Programming and Data Structure |
| Second Year | BCA-05 Elements of System Analysis and Design, Introduction to Database Management Systems, BCA-07 Windows Programming, BCA-08 Multimedia, BCA-09 Relational Database |
| Third Year | BCA-10 Computer Network, BCA-12 Computer Oriented Numerical Methods, BCA-13 TCP/IP Programming, BCA-14 C++ and Object Oriented Programming, BCA-15 Theory of Computer Science, Introduction to Internet Programming, Intranet Administration, BCA-18 Management Principles and Technique, Practical (C++/Java/ActiveX), BCA-P4 Mini Project |
Key Syllabus Syllabus Contents
Major subjects in the core curriculum focus on computer fundamentals, programming languages, system software, and data structures:
- Computer Fundamentals & PC Software (BCA 01): Structure of computers, peripheral hardware, operating system evolution, data communication codes, transmission types, network security, MS Word, and PowerPoint.
- C Programming & Data Structure (BCA 02): C data types, operators, loops, pointers, structures, unions, memory representation of arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary search trees, graph traversals (DFS, BFS), and sorting techniques.
- System Software & Operating Systems (BCA 03): Language concepts, assemblers, macro processors, compilers, OS process management, deadlock handling, virtual memory, paging, UNIX OS commands, shell programming, and system administration.
Fee Structure and Eligibility Information Status
TNOU has not published the specific eligibility criteria or total fee structure for the BCA programme on its website pages provided as of 03 October 2026.
Students seeking general updates on academic rules and general fees may refer to the TNOU prospectus and fee structure page or contact the university via the TNOU help desk.
Important TNOU links
| What you can do | Official page |
|---|---|
| Register online for AY 2026-27 admission | tnouportal.in/OnlineadmissionHomeAY2026.aspx |
| View TNOU curriculum cell details | tnou.ac.in/Cell-CDC.php |
| Check prospectus and general fee pages | tnou.ac.in/ProspectusNew.php |
| View modes of admission details | tnou.ac.in/modeofadmission.php |
| Access student re-registration portal | tnouportal.in/ |
| Contact TNOU student help desk | tnou.ac.in/Help-Desk.php |
Official documents (PDF)
- BCA & BCA(LE) (Semester) (CY 2022 Batch Only) PDF — BCA and BCA Lateral Entry semester scheme syllabus PDF
- BCA & BCA(LE) Non-Semester PDF — BCA and BCA Lateral Entry non-semester syllabus PDF
- BCA & BCA(LE) (Semester) PPR & Syllabus AY 2021 batch onwards PDF — BCA Programme Project Report and syllabus batch details
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to register for TNOU BCA admission for AY 2026–27?
The last date for online admission for the Academic Year 2026–27 session is extended up to 13 October 2026.
How many credits are required to earn a BCA degree at TNOU?
The regular BCA programme requires 110 credits to complete, while the BCA Lateral Entry (BCA-LE) track requires 71 credits.
What is the total marks evaluation for the TNOU BCA degree?
The cumulative evaluation framework for both regular BCA and BCA Lateral Entry totals 3,600 marks.
Which school conducts the BCA programme at TNOU?
The BCA programme is managed and conducted under the School of Computer Science at Tamil Nadu Open University.
When is the project submission deadline for the August 2026 examinations?
Students appearing for the Term End Examination August 2026 must submit their projects on or before 23 October 2026.
Does TNOU offer a mini project in the BCA curriculum?
Yes, a mini project (course code BCA-P4) is included in the third-year curriculum under the non-semester BCA pattern.
Sources
Written from the official TNOU pages and documents below, as read on 3 October 2026.
- BCA_Syllabus-11.09.2020.pdf tnou.ac.in/…/BCA_Syllabus-11.09.2020.pdf
- Online Admission tnouportal.in/…/OnlineadmissionHomeAY2026.aspx
- Curriculum Development Cell tnou.ac.in/…/Cell-CDC.php
- School of Social Sciences tnou.ac.in/…/SchoolSocial.php
- School of Science tnou.ac.in/…/SchoolScience.php
- School of Library and Information Science tnou.ac.in/…/SchoolLibrary.php
- BCA & BCA(LE) (Semester) (CY 2022 Batch Only) tnou.ac.in/…/BCA.pdf
- BCA & BCA(LE) Non-Semester tnou.ac.in/…/BCA NS.pdf