Poornima University MCA Artificial Intelligence & Data Science: Fees 2026, Course Duration, Dates, Eligibility

Ans. No. Unlike the general MCA programme at Poornima University, the MCA (Artificial Intelligence & Data Science) specifically requires a BCA or Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science/IT Engineering as the minimum qualification. Students from B.Sc., B.Com., or B.A. backgrounds are not eligible for this specialised programme. If you have a non-CS background but want to pursue MCA, you should consider the general MCA programme at Poornima University, which has broader eligibility criteria.

Ans. NIMCET score is accepted by Poornima University but is not mandatory for admission to this programme. Poornima University conducts its own merit-based selection process, and students can apply directly through the university portal without a NIMCET score. However, students who have appeared for NIMCET 2026 can use their score to strengthen their application. NIMCET 2026 is scheduled for June 6, 2026, with results on June 29, 2026.

Ans. Both programmes are 2-year full-time MCA specialisations at Poornima University. The MCA (AI & Data Science) focuses on data analytics, big data tools, deep learning, and data-driven decision-making, while the MCA (AI & Machine Learning with SAS) is offered in partnership with SAS India and focuses specifically on machine learning algorithms and SAS-certified tools. The AI & ML with SAS programme carries an industry certification from SAS, which can be an added advantage for analytics-specific roles. The fee for MCA (AI & DS) is Rs. 1,60,000 per year, while MCA (AI & ML with SAS) has a different fee structure. Students should choose based on their career goals.

Ans. The programme at Poornima University is designed with a strong practical component. Students have access to the Centre of Excellence in Machine Learning Applications for Society (COE-MLAS), which offers workshops, training sessions, and research opportunities in AI and ML. The curriculum includes project-based learning on real-world datasets, internships with industry partners, and access to GPU labs for intensive AI research. The university has active collaborations with Google, Microsoft, AWS, SAS India, and NASSCOM, which provide students with exposure to industry-standard tools and platforms.

Ans. Graduates of MCA (AI & Data Science) can target roles such as Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Business Intelligence Analyst, Deep Learning Specialist, and AI Consultant. The AI and data science domain is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, with strong demand from tech companies, financial institutions, healthcare organisations, and e-commerce platforms. Poornima University's placement cell has facilitated placements with companies like Morgan Stanley, Amazon, Groww, and various tech firms. While specific placement data exclusive to this MCA specialisation is not publicly available, the broader MCA programme at Poornima has seen packages ranging from Rs. 3 LPA to Rs. 18 LPA depending on the company and role.

Ans. The primary scholarship for this programme is the Shanti Education Society (SES) Scholarship, which is based on the aggregate percentage in the qualifying graduation degree. Students with 85% or above in graduation can avail up to 40% scholarship on tuition fees (Category 1), which translates to a saving of approximately Rs. 42,750 per year on the tuition fee of Rs. 1,06,875. Additionally, eligible girl candidates enrolling in 2026-27 receive an extra 5% scholarship in the first year. NCC 'C' Certificate holders can avail 50% scholarship on tuition fees. Scholarships are applied only on tuition fees and not on development or administrative fees. Continuation of the scholarship in the second year depends on the student's CGPA in the first year with no backlogs.