India conducts numerous entrance exams for hotel management programs, categorised by national, state, university, and private/institute levels for both government and private institutes.
Table of contents
Career Pathways
Graduates can pursue professional opportunities in several key sectors, including:
- Hospitality & Lodging:Â Hotels, resorts, and luxury properties.
- Travel & Tourism:Â Travel agencies, tour operating companies, and airlines.
- Leisure & Lifestyle:Â Cruises, airports, and spa management.
- Events:Â Professional event management and convention services.
Common Job Profiles
Latest Notification
HP TET 2026 June application form opened
TISS Skill Education Admission 2026
With a Bachelor’s in Hotel Management, you can aim for various entry-level and managerial roles:
- Operations & Front Office:Â Front Desk Executive and Front Office Manager.
- Food & Beverage:Â Food and Beverage Executive and professional Chef.
- Housekeeping:Â Housekeeping Executive and Executive Housekeeper.
- Management:Â Sales Manager, Resident Manager, and Convention Service Manager.
National-Level Exams
These are widely accepted for top government IHMs and private colleges. NCHM JEE (NTA) leads for B.Sc. HHA in 21 IHMs; AIMA UGAT BHM for BHM in private universities; IIHM eCHAT for IIHM campuses nationwide.
State-Level Exams
Target state government and private colleges. MAH HM CET for Maharashtra institutes; UPSEE BHMCT for Uttar Pradesh; AIHMCT OAT for Odisha; Kerala PET HMCT for Kerala.
University-Level Exams
For specific universities’ government-affiliated or private programs. IPU CET BHMCT (Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi); PUTHAT (Dr. HSJ Institute of Hotel Management, Panjab University); CUET (some universities for BHM).
Private/Institute-Specific Exams
Conducted by private institutes or chains. GNIHM JET (Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management); Oberoi STEP (EHL Swiss Professional Diploma, no written exam); IHM AEE (select IHMs); ITM NEST (ITM Group).
| Exam | Conducting Body | Level | Key Programs |
| NCHM JEE | NTA | National | B.Sc. HHA (UG), M.Sc. (PG) |
| AIMA UGAT BHM | AIMA | National | BHM (UG) |
| IIHM eCHAT | IIHM | National/Private | B.Sc./B.A. HM (UG) |
| MAH HM CET | Maharashtra CET Cell | State | BHMCT (UG) |
| IPU CET BHMCT | IPU Delhi | University | BHMCT (UG) |
| PUTHAT | Panjab University | University | BHMCT (UG) |
| Oberoi STEP | Oberoi Hotels | Private | Hotel Operations |
| GNIHM JET | GNIHM | Private | BHM (UG) |
India provides diverse specializations in hotel management programs, typically offered at UG (BHM, B.Sc. HHA), PG (MHM, MBA HM), and diploma levels across government IHMs and private institutes.
Core Operational Specialisations
These focus on hands-on hotel functions. Front Office Management covers guest services and reservations; Housekeeping Operations handles room maintenance and linen; Food Production emphasises culinary skills like baking and regional cuisines.
Culinary and F&B Focus
Culinary Arts trains in international and Indian cooking, food safety, and beverage pairing. Food & Beverage Service includes restaurant management, bar operations, and catering; Nutrition & Dietetics integrates health-focused menu planning.
Management and Business Areas
Hospitality Management teaches overall operations and HR; Accommodation Operations deals with lodging standards. Sales & Marketing targets hospitality promotion; Event & Conference Management covers banquets and tourism events.
Emerging and Niche Options
Tourism & Travel Management combines hotel ops with travel planning. Airline & Aviation Hospitality specializes in cabin crew and airport services. Resort & Spa Management focuses on wellness and leisure properties.
Specialization Key Programs Typical Careers Front Office BHM, BHMCT Receptionist, Lobby Manager Culinary Arts BCT & CA, Diploma FP Executive Chef, Pastry Chef F&B Service B.Sc. HHA Restaurant Manager, Sommelier Housekeeping BVoc HM Floor Supervisor Hospitality Mgmt MBA HM, MHM General Manager Tourism Mgmt B.Sc. TTM Tour Operator
India offers numerous diploma courses in hotel management, spanning 6 months to 3 years, available at over 800 colleges including 150+ government IHMs and 400+ private institutes, with fees from INR 20,000 to 4 lakhs annually.
Government Diploma Courses
Central and state IHMs like IHM Mumbai, IHM Bangalore, and IHM Kolkata provide affordable diplomas (INR 20,000-50,000). Common ones include Diploma in Food Production, Food & Beverage Service, Bakery & Confectionery, Front Office Operations, and Housekeeping Operations. PG Diplomas like Accommodation Operations & Management and Dietetics & Hospital Food Service are also offered post-UG.
Private Diploma Courses
Private colleges such as GNIHM Kolkata (INR 2.6 lakhs for Diploma in Hotel Operations) and IIHM campuses emphasize industry training. Diplomas cover Hotel Management, Culinary Arts, and specialized areas like Travel & Tourism Management, often with 6-month industrial training.
Eligibility and Admission
Most require Class 10 or 12 pass (45-50% aggregate), merit-based on board scores; some accept after 10th for shorter crafts. Duration varies: 1-year full-time or via NIOS partnerships like Ashok Institute.
Specialization Duration Key Colleges (Govt/Private) Fees Range Food Production 1-2 years IHM Mumbai / GNIHM INR 20k-2L F&B Service 1 year IHM Bangalore / IIHM INR 25k-1.5L Front Office 1 year IHM Kolkata / Private INR 20k-1L Housekeeping 1 year Govt IHMs INR 20k-50k Bakery & Confectionery 1 year IHM Mumbai INR 25k-1L
India offers short-term certificate courses in hotel management, typically 3-7 months, focusing on practical skills with on-job training, available online/offline at private institutes and skill councils.
Key Certificate Programs
Popular options include 6-month certificates in Hotel Management (NCTA, INR 10k-12k, post-Class 10/12) covering operations and leadership; 7-month Certification at BCCM with 6 months paid internship (INR 5k-10k stipend). Munnar Catering College’s 6-month International HM & Tourism (post-10th) includes internship.
Online and Skill-Based Courses
NCTA provides online 6-month programs like CHTM (Hotel & Tourism, 270 hours) and CHBM (Business Mgmt); Skill Council of India’s Certified Hotel Management Associate focuses on industry intro via e-books and assessments. Platforms like AAFT Online and eLearning College offer flexible hospitality certifications without deadlines.
Admission and Career Focus
Eligibility is Class 10 pass; fees INR 10k-30k, often with job placement (INR 3-5 LPA start). These suit quick entry into roles like trainee supervisor or F&B assistant, with 100% assistance at many institutes.
Course Duration Provider Mode Certificate in HM 6 months NCTA Online/Offline Certification HM 7 months BCCM Onsite + OJT CHTM 6 months NCTA Online CHBM 6 months NCTA Online International HM & Tourism 6 months Munnar CC Onsite Certified HM Associate Short Skill Council Online
IHM Pusa (Delhi) offers short-term diploma courses like Diploma in Bakery & Confectionery (1 year 6 months, INR 99,700), Food Production, and Food & Beverage Service (INR 79,200), with direct merit-based admission post-Class 10/12.
IHM Noida (Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition, Greater Noida) provides NCHMCT-affiliated 1.5-year diplomas in Food Production, F&B Services, and Bakery & Confectionery, including 6 months industrial training.
These craft-level programs at both institutes focus on practical skills for quick industry entry; no ultra-short (3-6 month) certificates listed, unlike some other IHMs. Check ihmpusa.net and institute sites for 2026 admissions.
Leading hotels offering Hotel Management course
Taj hotel (IHCL) offers this course through TISS hotel management programme. TISS runs two programme on hotel management Bachelor in hotel management and Another is Bachelor in Hotel Management programme (golder threshold programme. In Golder Threshold programme it offers the training at the TAJ group of Hotels and deserving candidates get the offer after completion of course a job opportunity at Taj Hotel
Oberoi Hotel Programme
The Oberoi Group
The Oberoi Group is well-known for its Systematic Training and Education Programme (STEP), a three-year program designed for students who have completed Class XII.
- Program Structure: It combines comprehensive on-the-job training at select Oberoi and Trident hotels with a correspondence Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Studies from IGNOU.
- Benefits:Â Selected candidates do not pay any fees; instead, they receive a monthly allowance, accommodation, meals, and medical insurance.
Application form Timeline for Hotel Management courses
There are different timeline for hotel management courses in India. The major exam NCHM JEE opens in November of December every year it is conducted by NTA.
For Diploma and Certificate course the institutes level application form keeps coming out
TISS Hotel Management course application form starts May or June every year
Oberio hotel management programme (STEP) opens in January or February no entrance tests by OBERIO group
FAQs Hotel Management courses in India
This is a part of service industry that has flourished in the past and have good chances of advancement. Having diploma or bachelor degree in hotel management will place in good position
NCHM JEE is the largest and most popular exam for hotel management in India. There are institute-level exams too
The answer is yes, Oberio is the leading, and Taj hotel offers through TISS BVoc programme
Yes it has maintained the good placement record in the past
