Summary
Leading hospitality colleges in India have admissions through entrance tests such as NCHMCT JEE, CUET, and merit-based processes. Students can pursue a variety of programs from diploma to doctoral levels, and specialize in Areas such as Operations, Food & Beverage Management, Housekeeping, Sales, and other related subjects. Entry level typically requires a 10+2 qualification with English, and some colleges have age and score requirements. Competitive colleges include IHM Pusa, TLSHS, and Symbiosis.
The process typically requires filing a form, uploading documents, entrance exam or counseling process, and confirmation of admission. Government colleges will usually have cheaper programs whereas private colleges will have modern training facilities and some international exposure. Your chance of success depends on your examination prep, available documentation, and following all the admission application procedures in a timely manner.
In 2025, admissions into Hotel Management will be either conducted through merit process, or entrance exams, or both; with the introduction of more Hotel Management/Hospitality courses in colleges, programmes are offered in various levels such as Diploma, Certification, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PhD.
Students will have the option to choose different specializations under the Hotel Management courses, such as Operations, Housekeeping, Food and Beverage Management, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources and Financial Management.
Candidates can expect common entrance exams for Hotel Management after 12th or other levels, they can mainly prepare for like NCHMCT JEE, CUET, CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, MAH CET, etc., candidates can also get admission in popular Hotel Management Colleges like as: Symbiosis International, The Lalit Suri Hospitality School (TLSHS), Amity University, Chandigarh University, Jamia Millia Islamia.
Based on Hotel Management eligibility criteria, candidates can apply to the hotel's Management course through the various course levels if they have satisfied the following criteria. Some universities require knowledge of the English language as an additional criterion for the Hotel Management course.
There are various top hotel management institutes in India, that offer undergraduate programs suited to students who finished their 10+2. IHM Pusa (New Delhi), IHM Mumbai, and IHM Bangalore offer the B.Sc. in Hospitality and Hotel Administration, which requires candidates to pass 10+2 with English as a subject.
Age limit is less than 25 for general candidates with limited conditions for reserved categories. ITM Institute of Hotel Management, Navi Mumbai offers a B.Sc. in Hospitality Studies, which is open to 10+2 qualifications from approved boards. IHM Aurangabad offers an BA (Hons) in Hotel Management, passing 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks with English as the subject.
The process of getting admission to a good Hotel Management college begins with the preparation of an entrance exam conducted by the colleges offering the program. Here is a step-by-step process to the knowledge at any applicant's disposal, about the admission process of the Hotel Management program.
For Hotel Management courses of all levels eligibility is based on the level of the course.
Various entrance exams are held for admission to Hotel Management courses at all levels, including UG courses, PG courses, and diploma and certificate course levels.
Attending the exams on the scheduled date and venue, while adhering to the guidelines and instructions of the exam.
Waiting to see the results of the exams when they are announced, checking on the official sites to see the results and downloading the scorecards or rank letters.
Depending on the score or rank, the candidate would be eligible for counseling or admission rounds. Filling out choice forms with the preferred colleges and courses, and attending the counselling session.
After getting the allotment of seat, the next step is to complete the admission processes which can include payment of fees, document verification process, etc.
For admissions in top hotel management colleges in India, students will need to appear for the specific entrance exam. The main exams are NCHMCT JEE 2026 (held in on or around April 2026), MAH HM CET 2026 (tentatively held in March 2026) and XAT 2026 (tentatively held in January 2026). Candidates will need to check official websites for the exact dates and more information respectively.
The syllabus for hotel management entrance exams varies from exam to exam, but at a general level, it typically incorporates aptitude, reasoning, language, and subjects relating to the industry in question.
For example, NCHMCT JEE exam is usually divided into-
MAH HM CET reflects hospitality industry subjects including food production, rooms division, and English. The institute will usually provide a subject-wise syllabus so students should check the relevant one (or ones) when preparing.
There are more than (1,500+) Hotel Management Colleges in India but approximately (240) are Government Colleges. A few of the best Government Colleges in India are offering the Hotel Management program at very low fee's.
Top private colleges for Hotel Management in India have varying fees.
Start your hospitality career today apply to the top Hotel Management college of India and seize the opportunities across the globe! Start preparing today for entrance exams like NCHMCT JEE, so you can take a seat at a renowned institute!
Q1. What entrance exams are required for Hotel Management admission in India?
A: The commonly required exams include NCHMCT JEE, CUET, MAH HM CET, XAT, MAT and CMAT, depending on course level and institute.
Q2. What eligibility criteria apply for under-graduate Hotel Management courses?
A: Candidates must have passed 10+2 with English as a subject. The age limit (25 years for a general category) applies, and some colleges have a requisite percentage (generally around 50%).
Q3. What is the difference between merit-based and entrance-based admission?
A: Admission on merit depends on marks obtained in 12th grade, while admission on an entrance basis has the qualifying criteria in a competitive exam and then counselling and interview rounds.
Q4. Are government Hotel Management colleges cheaper than private colleges?
A: Yes. Government universities like AIHM Chandigarh, BHU, and Jamia Millia Islamia charges can begin at ₹9,000 while private universities can charge anywhere between ₹2–8 lakh.
Q5. Which are the best private Hotel Management colleges in India?
A: The best colleges are The Lalit Suri Hospitality School (TLSHS), Amity University, Chandigarh University, Christ University which are also known for their industrial exposure and placements.
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