Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai

What courses does Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai offer?

The Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai offers around ten NCHMCT-approved programmes across four levels in 2026: one undergraduate degree, one postgraduate degree, a cluster of full-time diplomas, three postgraduate diplomas and a short certificate. The two flagship degree programmes are the 3-year Bachelor degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration (BHM/B.Sc), with an intake of 347 seats, and the 2-year M.Sc in Hospitality Administration, with 30 seats. Both degree programmes admit students only through the NCHM JEE national entrance.

This is a government institute, established in 1963 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, located at Taramani, Chennai 600113, and affiliated to NCHMCT, Noida and IGNOU, New Delhi. Unlike many private hotel schools, every degree, diploma and certificate at IHM Chennai is awarded under the NCHMCT/IGNOU framework, which is why the institute does not run any self-styled BBA or generic management courses. The streams covered are squarely hospitality: food production and culinary arts, food and beverage service, accommodation operation and housekeeping, bakery and confectionery, applied nutrition and dietetics, and hospitality administration.

Course-Wise Fees, Duration & Eligibility (2026)

The table below is the single most useful comparison sheet for an applicant choosing between programmes at IHM Chennai. It answers the core question "what will each course cost me, how long will it take, and am I eligible?" by listing every major programme with its level, duration, total or annual fee, seats and accepted entrance exam. Read the two degree rows first, since the BHM and M.Sc carry the institute's verified total-programme fees of Rs 442,000 and Rs 227,000 respectively; the diploma and certificate fees below them are official per-year figures, payable in two terms and subject to revision. Note that the Bachelor degree fee of Rs 442,000 spans the full 3 years (roughly Rs 1.47 lakh a year), while the M.Sc fee of Rs 227,000 covers 2 years.

The takeaway for 2026 applicants is that the two NCHM JEE-gated degrees are the high-value, high-competition routes: the BHM at Rs 442,000 over 3 years is the most subscribed programme with 347 seats, while the M.Sc at Rs 227,000 is a small, selective 30-seat cohort built for graduates who already hold a hospitality degree. The diplomas and certificate sit far lower on cost (Rs 35,000 to Rs 85,000 a year) and admit on 10th or 12th pass, making them the affordable, faster entry points for students who do not clear or do not sit the NCHM JEE. Hostel charges of roughly Rs 80,000 per year are additional across all programmes.

Flagship & Most Popular Programmes at Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai

The undisputed flagship at IHM Chennai is the 3-year Bachelor degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration (BHM/B.Sc), and its 347-seat intake, the largest at the institute, tells you why it is the most sought-after course. As an NCHMCT/IGNOU degree taught at a 1963-established government institute, it carries the brand recognition that hotel chains recruit on, and it is the programme around which the institute's training kitchens, bakery, front-office labs and industrial training tie-ups are built. Demand is reflected in the entrance cutoff: the General All-India NCHM JEE closing rank for IHM Chennai's BHM tightened to about 3063 in 2025, from roughly 3609 in 2024 and 3258 in 2023, meaning a place here gets harder to win each year.

The second pillar is the 2-year M.Sc in Hospitality Administration. With only 30 seats and a fee of Rs 227,000, it is deliberately small and aimed at students who have already completed the B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration or an equivalent AICTE-approved hotel management bachelor's. It is the natural progression route for IHM Chennai's own graduates who want to move into teaching, training, research or senior operations roles. Among the non-degree options, the Diploma and Craftsmanship courses in Food Production are the most popular, drawing applicants who want a focused, kitchen-heavy qualification and the largest diploma intakes (80 and 90 seats). These programmes feed the same recruiter pool: in 2024-2025 IHM Chennai students were hired by Taj, ITC, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, OCLD and Club Mahindra, with a 2025 highest package near Rs 4.80 LPA and a median around Rs 1.88 LPA, and a 2024 batch range of about Rs 2.4 LPA to Rs 5.4 LPA.

How to Choose the Right Course at Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai

Choose your course at IHM Chennai by matching your qualification and career horizon to the programme structure, because the institute is purpose-built for hospitality and every track leads into hotel operations rather than generic management. If you have just finished 10+2 with English and want the full degree credential that Taj, ITC, Marriott and Hyatt recruit on, the 3-year BHM/B.Sc (Rs 442,000, 347 seats, NCHM JEE) is the default first choice; it gives the broadest exposure across food production, food and beverage service, front office and housekeeping, plus structured industrial training that drives the institute's strong placement participation.

If you already hold a hospitality bachelor's degree and aim for supervisory, training or academic roles, the 2-year M.Sc in Hospitality Administration (Rs 227,000, 30 seats) is the specialist step up, though its eligibility deliberately filters out non-hospitality graduates. Candidates who cannot sit the NCHM JEE, or who want a quicker, cheaper, skill-specific qualification, should weigh the 1.5-year Food Production, Bakery and Confectionery or Housekeeping diplomas (Rs 41,000 to Rs 85,000 per year), which admit on 10th or 12th pass and lead into kitchen, bakery and accommodation careers. Graduates from nutrition or home science backgrounds have a tailored option in the PG Diploma in Dietetics and Hospital Food Service. In short: degree-plus-placement-brand points to the BHM, post-graduate specialisation points to the M.Sc, and fast, affordable trade skills point to the diplomas.

Frequently Asked Questions: Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai Courses 2026

What courses are offered at IHM Chennai in 2026?

IHM Chennai offers about ten NCHMCT-approved programmes in 2026 across UG, PG, diploma, PG diploma and certificate levels. The headline courses are the 3-year Bachelor degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration (347 seats) and the 2-year M.Sc in Hospitality Administration (30 seats). These are supported by 1.5-year diplomas in Food Production, Bakery and Confectionery and Housekeeping Operation, PG diplomas in Dietetics and Accommodation Management, and a 6-month Certificate in Professional Bartending, all under the Ministry of Tourism framework.

What is the fee for the BHM course at IHM Chennai?

The Bachelor degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration (BHM/B.Sc) at IHM Chennai costs Rs 442,000 in total for the full 3-year programme in 2026, or roughly Rs 1.47 lakh per year. This is the institute's flagship and most subscribed course, with 347 seats filled through the NCHM JEE entrance. Hostel and mess charges of approximately Rs 80,000 per year are additional, and fees are payable in two terms and subject to periodic revision by the institute.

How long is the M.Sc course at IHM Chennai and what does it cost?

The M.Sc in Hospitality Administration at IHM Chennai is a 2-year full-time postgraduate programme costing Rs 227,000 in total for 2026. It is a selective course with just 30 seats and is intended for students who already hold a hospitality bachelor's degree. Admission is through the NCHM JEE entrance, after which qualified candidates join the cohort. It is the standard progression path for B.Sc Hospitality and Hotel Administration graduates aiming at training, research or senior operational roles.

What is the eligibility for IHM Chennai BHM admission?

To join the 3-year BHM/B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration at IHM Chennai, you must have passed 10+2 from a recognised board with English as a subject in the qualifying examination. Selection is entirely through the NCHM JEE national entrance, followed by NCHMCT centralised counselling. For 2026, the NCHM JEE is scheduled for 25 April 2026, with online applications open from 26 December 2025 to 25 March 2026, so candidates should register well before the deadline.

Which course is best at IHM Chennai?

The 3-year Bachelor degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration is the best course at IHM Chennai for most aspirants, because it is the institute's flagship, has the largest intake of 347 seats, and is the qualification recruiters like Taj, ITC, Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton hire on. For students who already hold a hospitality degree, the 2-year M.Sc in Hospitality Administration is the stronger choice for specialisation. Budget-conscious applicants who cannot sit the NCHM JEE often find the Food Production diploma the best practical alternative.

How many seats does IHM Chennai have for its courses?

IHM Chennai offers 347 seats in its flagship Bachelor degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration and 30 seats in the 2-year M.Sc in Hospitality Administration for 2026. The diploma programmes add further capacity: 80 seats in Food Production, 90 in Craftsmanship in Food Production, 40 each in Bakery and Confectionery and in Housekeeping Operation, plus 20 to 30 seats across the PG diplomas and the bartending certificate. The degree intakes fill through NCHM JEE ranks, while diplomas admit on merit.

Does IHM Chennai accept NCHM JEE for admission?

Yes, IHM Chennai admits students to both its degree programmes through the NCHM JEE national entrance in 2026. The 3-year BHM/B.Sc and the 2-year M.Sc are filled via NCHM JEE scores and centralised NCHMCT counselling. The General All-India closing rank for the Bachelor degree tightened to roughly 3063 in 2025, from about 3609 in 2024 and 3258 in 2023, showing rising competition. The diploma, PG diploma and certificate courses, by contrast, are admitted on merit rather than through NCHM JEE.