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Jagpreet
30 September, 2024
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“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” – Alan D. Wolfelt.
How many of you love to watch cooking shows on television? Well, many of us have little chefs inside, eager to cook those mouth-watering dishes we see on screen. Millions of undergraduates in our country aspire to become Chef Joel-Robuchon, Gordon Ramsay, Pierre Gagnaire, Ranveer Brar, Sanjeev Kapoor, and Vikas Khanna. And the best way to have a culinary-inspired career stream is to pursue a BHM course in India.
This course is a 3-year undergraduate degree program that includes hotel operations, food and beverage management, event management, marketing for hospitality and tourism, and more. If you are interested in learning more about tourism, culinary arts, and the other aspects of hospitality management, then BHM will be the right career choice for you after you have passed 12th grade.
Do you want to know what the BHM full form is its course eligibility, and the top BHM colleges in India?
Let’s together explore all the details about the BHM course. Get to know in depth about the course with Learning Routes, your educational companion.
The full form of “BHM” is a Bachelor of Hotel Management. This is a 3-year undergraduate program in India that offers advanced learning in hospitality and restaurant operations.
With years passing by, the BHM course in India is becoming one of the hottest picks among students because of the global prospects and lucrative career opportunities in the same field.
As India keeps expanding its reach and embracing broader cultures and cuisines, the demand for skilled professionals in the field of hospitality is on the rise. The scope of BHM courses is becoming wider and more students are taking up BHM courses for a successful career.
Do You Know?
On October 20th of every year, we celebrate International Chef’s Day . This day pays tribute to the art and science of cooking and encourages the youth of our nation to learn the art of culinary and know more about healthy eating.
The Hotel Management Course is one of the popular undergraduate courses that students opt to gain expertise in hotel operations such as front office and housekeeping, hospitality finance management, food and beverage management, event management, marketing and sales techniques etc.
To become a BHM graduate, you need to have strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, logical reasoning skills, time management skills and quantitative ability skills since a BHM graduate has involvement with services related to clients.
During the course, to understand different facets of the hospitality industry, the students undergo:
Professional training
Industrial exposure to internships
Practical workshops
Seminars
The BHM Course duration is usually 3 years; however, it can be 4 years depending on the curriculum of the program of the colleges. Each academic year consists of 2 semesters and each semester typically spans over 14-16 weeks of professional training/study.
The BHM course also includes industrial training in the curriculum for students to have better exposure to real-world hospitality operations and allow students to apply their knowledge in practical settings. The industrial training generally takes place in the 5th or 6th semester of the BHM programme.
Earlier, the BHM course was not treated as valuable as it has become today, given the amount of professional growth it offers to learners in their careers. Indian cuisine and its hospitality traits have always been well-known around the world due to its broad spectrum of choices and rich cultural diversity. In the digital age, where India is on the frontline of expanding its cultural and culinary horizons, the scope of the BHM course has also gone beyond the traditional hospitality and leadership roles.
As a BHM graduate, a professional is hired by a diverse range of industries including hotels and resorts, restaurants and cafes, event management companies, cruise lines, tourism organisations, hospitality consultancies, airlines and retail and entertainment.
Wish to go for an MBA after BHM? What after completing the BHM course? Learn about Best MBA Specialisations for Hospitality & Tourism Graduates
If a candidate wants to get enrolled in the Bachelor of Hotel Management program, then he must fulfil the following BHM course eligibility criteria.
All candidates applying to the BHM programme must be 12th passed (on all subjects) by a recognised board.
The BHM course eligibility also includes that the candidates must score a minimum of 50% in the class 12th boards.
Besides this, for some colleges, students must have studied English in their 12th grade.
Also, read the World’s Top Chefs who are bestowed with the “Michelin Star,” the highest honour in the international culinary industry.
Choose the university: Select the institution you wish to pursue BHM from and check if it is recognised and accredited.
Fill up the form: Fill up the admission form, and submit all the required details and documents.
Pay the fees: After the document verification, pay the fee for the BHM course.
Wait for confirmation: Once the fee is approved, wait for admission confirmation. You shall receive the confirmation letter from the university.
As the hospitality sector continues to expand in India, securing admission to BHM programs requires students to pass BHM course eligibility criteria and successfully clear the BHM entrance exams.
There are many standardised exams and university-specific tests to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude, communication skills, general knowledge and reasoning skills. Some of the popular BHM entrance exams in 2024 and the exam details are shared below:
CUCET: Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test (CUCET) – The exam is conducted by Chandigarh University for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including the BHM course.
NCHMCT JEE: National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology(NCHMCT) Joint Entrance Exam – The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to different hotel management programmes.
UGAT: Under Graduate Aptitude Test (UGAT)– It is a standardised test administered by AIMA (All India Management Association) to screen candidates for various undergraduate programs such as MBA, BBA, BCA, BHM, B.Com, etc.
AIHMCT WAT: The Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology Written Admission Test (AIHMCT WAT)– The entrance exam is conducted and administered by AIHMCT for admission to its BHM programme.
IPU CET: Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET) – The entrance exam is conducted by Guru Gobind Indraprastha University for admission to its BHMCT program (Bachelor of Hotel Management and Catering Technology).
IHM Entrance Exam: Each college under the “Institute of Hotel Management” conducts its entrance test for admission to its BHM programme.
Here you get a list of the top-ranking hotel Management Colleges in India.
| Name of the College | India Today Ranking 2024 | The Week Ranking 2023 | Programme Fees |
| Institute of Hotel Management, Catering & Nutrition, Pusa | 1 | 1 | INR 4,92,515/- |
| Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration | 2 | 3 | INR 16,50,000 |
| Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai | 3 | 2 | INR 4,86,515 |
| Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Hyderabad | 5 | 6 | INR 8,07,125/- |
| Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai | 6 | 5 | INR 2,36,216/- * |
| Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Lucknow | 7 | 11 | INR 3,84,400/- |
At times, learners do not have the time to pursue a degree full-time. Therefore, they can go for different modes of degrees available today depending on what suits them the most.
Below are the different modes of degree a person can go for if they wish to pursue a BHM course and choose the most suitable mode for them.
| Full-time | This is a three or four-year regular BHM degree course taught in the classroom. The students have to physically attend the classes today. |
| Distance | This course is similar to a full-time BHM degree course. The students do not need to go to the university and attend classes, rather just submit the assignments and appear for examinations. |
| Online | The classes are held virtually by live sessions and students can access previously recorded lectures. They do not need to at times appear for examination physically, they give them in online proctored mode. |
| Part-time or Blended | These courses have a curriculum similar to a distance BHM degree; however, candidates need to study in physical classes. Students typically need to attend the college on the weekends or specified days of the week in the evening. |
The BHM course subjects give students a complete understanding of the hospitality industry. The scope of BHM is vast, allowing students to choose a wide array of career opportunities. And that’s why the BHM course subjects are explicitly designed, including all the aspects of the industry.
From food production and housekeeping to front-office and marketing, one can find everything in the BHM course syllabus. The complete BHM syllabus overview is shared below:
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
| Fundamentals of Food & Beverage Service [Employability & Skill Enhancement Courses] | Basics of Front Office -II [Core Courses] |
| Basics of Front Office – I [Core Courses] | Food & Beverage Service Operations [Core Courses] |
| Environmental Studies [Core Courses] | Food Production and Culinary Art – II [Core Courses] |
| Food Production and Culinary Art – I [Core Courses] | Housekeeping Operations [Core Courses] |
| Fundamentals of Housekeeping [Core Courses] | Applied Nutrition [Allied Courses] |
| Communication Skills – I [Communication Skills] | Communication Skills – II [Communication Skills] |
| Foreign Business Language | Foreign Business Language |
| Open Elective Courses | Open Elective Courses |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses | Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
| Term Paper – I [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] | Seminar – I [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] |
| Advanced Housekeeping Operations [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Housekeeping Management – I [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Front Office Operation & Management [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Patisserie Operation [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Guest Retaining Strategy [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Property Management System in Hotels [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Hospitality Leadership [Industry Specific Courses] | Eco-friendly Concepts in Housekeeping [Industry Specific Courses] |
| Basics of Bar Operations [Core Courses] | Bar Operations & Management [Core Courses] |
| Quantity Food Production [Core Courses] | Regional Cuisines of India [Core Courses] |
| Individual Excellence & Social Dynamics [Behavioural Science] | Country Report [SAP Courses (Optional)] |
| Foreign Business Language | Managing Tourism Resources [SAP Courses (Optional)] |
| Open Elective Courses | Restaurant Operations [SAP Courses (Optional)] |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses | Creativity for Team Excellence [Behavioural Science] |
| Foreign Business Language | |
| Open Elective Courses | |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
| Internship [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] | Fundamentals of Human Resource Management [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Foreign Business Language | Housekeeping Management – II [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Open Elective Courses | Managing Front Office in hotels [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses | Applied Interior Management [Industry Specific Courses] |
| Food & Beverage Service Management – I [Core Courses] | |
| International Gastronomy [Core Courses] | |
| Country Report [SAP Courses (Optional)] | |
| Managing Tourism Resources [SAP Courses (Optional)] | |
| Restaurant Operations [SAP Courses (Optional)] | |
| Foreign Business Language | |
| Open Elective Courses | |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
| Company Report [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] | Minor Project [Supervised Independent Learning/ Non-Teaching Credit Courses] |
| Basics of Confectionery [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Advanced Food & Beverage Operations [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Global Hospitality Management [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Basics of Baking [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Legality of Food Safety [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Hospitality Consumer Behaviour [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Practices in Accommodation Operations [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Indian Heritage and Culture [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Room Division Management [Specialisation Elective Courses] | Resort Management [Specialisation Elective Courses] |
| Charcuterie Operations [Core Courses] | Advanced Kitchen Management [Core Courses] |
| Food & Beverage Service Management – II [Core Courses] | Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility [Professional Ethics] |
| Foreign Business Language | Foreign Business Language |
| Open Elective Courses | Open Elective Courses |
| Outdoor Activity-Based Courses | Outdoor Activity-Based Courses |
The graduates of the BHM programs are often presented with diverse career opportunities. The professionals get the flexibility to dabble in a variety of job roles that suit their interests and align with their career goals.
Many top recruiters in the hospitality industry offer high-paying job roles to BHM graduates, including hotel operations, food and beverage management, cruise lines, airport lounge management, and so on.
The following are the top recruiters for BHM graduates that offer diverse job profiles and help them have extensive career growth in the hospitality industry:
| Top Recruiters For BHM Graduates | |
| Air India | Hotel Regency Square |
| IRCTC | Hotel Le Meridien |
| Hyatt | Hotel JIVA |
| Ashok Group of Hotels(ITDC) | Chancery Hotels |
| Cruise Lines | ITC Fortune |
| Gulf Gourmet Dubai | Doubletree By Hilton |
| Fortis | Fern Hotels, Mumbai |
| Four Fountain SPA | Godrej Natures Basket |
Some of the prominent BHM job profiles and their respective salaries are shared below:
| BHM Job Profiles | Average Salary |
| Hotel Manager | INR 0.2L/yr – 10L/yr |
| Front Office Manager | INR 1.4L/yr – 10L/yr |
| Event Manager | INR 1.2L/yr – 9.3L/yr |
| Executive Chef | INR 4.2L/yr – 12.4L/yr |
| Travel and Tourism Manager | INR 1.9L/yr – 21.1L/yr |
| Pastry Chef | INR 3.2L/yr – 5.1L/yr |
| Tour Guide | INR 1.8-4.5L/yr |
| Catering Manager | INR 2.3-6.2L/yr |
Do you know an MBA degree widens professional opportunities and increases the chances of higher annual pay scales?
Read here: MBA after Hotel Management: Scope and Career Path.
A BHM course is way more than a degree to become a cook as it was presupposed. Many of us think that culinary fields are not those typical roles where we fit in and make out a successful career. However, courses like Bachelor in Hospitality Management have been a getaway to a vibrant career for all those who are passionate about service, and management, and want to learn more about culinary arts.
A graduation course in hospitality management helps you attract diverse BHM job roles and high-paying positions in renowned organisations. These industrial sectors include hotels, resorts, cruise lines, airlines, healthcare and wellness centres, restaurants and more. Now that we know the details of the BHM program, let’s not waste time. Hop right in and enrol for the BHM program!
Interested in exploring more courses besides a BHM degree? Check here.
Yes, If you have a knack for culinary arts and want to study further in that field then, the Bachelor in Hospitality Management program is a rewarding career option.
A BHM graduate can take up various job roles like hotel manager, food and beverage manager, front office manager, event manager, pastry chef, travel and tourism manager, executive chef and more. If you want further studies, you can also pursue a Masters in Hotel Management.
Yes, of course, you can do an MBA after the BHM course. Pursuing an MBA in post-graduation after hospitality management is a good career move. It will hone your strategic thinking abilities and improve your leadership skills.
According to Glassdoor Reports, the average salary of a Hotel Management graduate in India is around INR 5,40,000/annum. Similarly, according to Talent , the average salary of a Hotel Management graduate in the USA is around $60,656/ annum.
For people who like to interact with other folks and wish to cater to their services, a BHM degree is perfect for them. Good communication skills, negotiation skills, decision-making, leadership roles, team management, etc. are some of the primary skills that a learner will require to learn to be a successful professional after the BHM course.
Higher degrees like an MBA do broaden the professional opportunities for a student and often upgrade the average pay skills, however, a BHM graduate degree is sufficient in itself as it offers a surfeit of professional opportunities to the learners and gives them industrial exposure that paves a professional path for them.
