Studying Computer Science after Class XII: Entrance exams, courses, job roles

Computer Science is all about problem-solving as it deals with the design of hardware and software used to provide solutions in scientific, business and social sectors. Combining theory and practical skills, this discipline will give you plenty of career choices in highly specialised areas like leadership and programming.

Studying Computer Science

You can choose any of the two following avenues to pursue Computer Science right after clearing your Class XII board exams:

1. Computer Science Engineering: You can go for 4-year BTech courses in Computer Science. Admission to these courses takes place through JEE Mains, JEE Advanced or JEE conducted by states. After completion of your BTech course, you can appear for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for admission to 2-year MTech courses in Computer Science, followed by centralised counselling.
2. Computer Science (Honours): You can do 3-year BSc courses in Computer Science. These courses are divided into six semesters. After completion of your graduation, you can opt for a 2-year MSc degree in Computer Science.

Engineering entrance exams:

JEE Mains

JEE Mains is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). By clearing it, you can take admission to NITs, CFTIs and other engineering institutes.

• Eligibility: You need to clear Class XII board exams or an equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as compulsory subjects. At least 75% aggregate is needed for admission to IITs, NITs and GFTIs through JEE Mains.
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JEE Advanced

This is the entrance exam you need to clear to get into IITs and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.

• Eligibility: You need to be among the top 2,50,000 successful candidates (across all categories) in the BE/BTech paper of JEE Mains. You can sit for JEE Advanced only twice in two consecutive years.
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West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE)
You need to clear WBJEE conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board for admission to private and government engineering institutions in the state.

• Eligibility: You need to pass your Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry and Maths as compulsory subjects. Or you need to clear your 10+3 diploma exams with Maths as a compulsory subject. You also need to score at least 50% in each of the compulsory subjects and maintain at least 50% aggregate.
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Other state-run Engineering entrance examinations:

• Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (Bihar CET)
• Chhattisgarh Pre Engineering Test (CG PET)
• Delhi University Engineering Admission (DU Engineering)
• Karnataka Common Entrance Test (Karnataka CET)
• Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (Odisha JEE)
• Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET)

Postgraduate Engineering entrance exam:

GATE

GATE is the entrance test for pursuing an MTech course conducted by IIT Kharagpur with six other IITs and IISc Bangalore.

• Eligibility: You can apply for GATE if you’ve already completed a government-approved degree programme in Engineering/Technology /Architecture /Science /Commerce /Arts and are currently studying in the third year or above in any undergraduate degree programme.
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Some institutes that offer BTech courses in Computer Science:

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), multiple locations
• National Institute of Technology, multiple locations
• International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), multiple locations
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
• Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur
• Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Some institutes that offer BSc and MSc courses in Computer Science:

St Xavier’s College, Kolkata

Course: BSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with at least 60% aggregate and should have Maths and Physics as compulsory subjects.
• Admission: On the basis of the index calculated with your marks in the Class XII board exams.
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Course: MSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need at least 60% aggregate in your BSc in Computer Science or its equivalent courses like BIT/ BCA. You also need a strong Maths background.
• Admission: Merit-based.
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University of Calcutta

Course: MSc in Computer & Information Science.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need at least 55% aggregate in your BSc course in Computer Science or its equivalent to appear for an entrance test.
• Admission: Depends on your performance in the entrance test.
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Loyola College, Chennai

Course: BSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with 60% aggregate. You also need to have Mathematics and Physics as compulsory subjects.
• Admission: Merit-based.
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Course: MSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need at least 50% marks in your BSc in Computer Science or its equivalent. You also need a strong Maths background.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Click here to know more.

Fergusson College, Pune

Course: BSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with 60% aggregate. You also need to have Maths and Physics as compulsory subjects.
• Admission: Merit-based.

Course: MSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need at least 50% aggregate in your BSc in Computer Science or its equivalent. You also need a strong Maths background.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Click here to know more.
  

Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh

Course: BSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with 60% aggregate and also need Maths and Physics as compulsory subjects to appear for an entrance test conducted by the university.
• Admission: Depends on your performance in the entrance exam.
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Course: MSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need at least 50% marks in your BSc in Computer Science or at least 60% marks in an equivalent exam to appear for an entrance exam conducted by the university.
• Admission: Based on your performance in the admission test.
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University of Delhi, Delhi

Course: BSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Three years.
• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class XII board exams with at least 60% marks in Mathematics and Physics.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Click here to know more.
  

Course: MSc in Computer Science.

• Duration: Two years.
• Eligibility: You need at least 60% aggregate in your BSc course in Computer Science or any equivalent exam like BIT/ BCA.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Click here to know more.

Job roles with a degree in Computer Science

• Software developer: They are the masterminds behind the creation of applications software and systems software. They develop software and monitor performance accordingly.
• Big data engineer: They are experts who acquire results from a vast ocean of data within a short span of time. They collect, store, process and analyse huge sets of data.
• Machine learning engineer: Machine learning experts create programmes and algorithms using artificial intelligence as a tool. They use test results to fine-tune models and perform statistical analysis.
• Information security analyst: They handle cyberattacks and carry out proper security measures to protect a company’s or organisation’s data. They are the gatekeepers of information systems.
• AI engineer: They use machine learning algorithms to build AI models. They identify and source data from a variety of places and transform machine learning models to API’s that other applications can interact with.
• Network architect: They work on communication networks and offer technical guidance on networking solutions. They also manage information security within network structures.
• Web developer: They build and design websites. These professionals also work on the technical aspects and functionality of websites.