What is Food Technology?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Food Technology is a branch of Engineering that deals with the techniques involved in the production, processing, preservation, packaging, labelling, quality management, and distribution of food products. It deals with the creation of new food products, their packaging and methods of preservation. Food Technology also deals with areas of specialised food products such as Alcohol, Beverages and Oil Products. 

Some of the key advantages of pursuing courses in Food Technology are mentioned below:
• Rising Demand: India's growing population, consumer awareness, and increasing income are driving demand for processed, convenient, and high-quality food products. In order to feed people, India needs people who are skilled in handling, processing, and producing safe and hygienic food items with good nutritional value.
• Diverse Career Opportunities: Students can look forward to a variety of earning opportunities in various work sectors after completing a BTech or BSc in Food Technology. They can work in food processing companies that play a crucial role in product development (creating new food items), quality control (ensuring food safety and quality standards), and production processes. Also, they can contribute to detailed research in areas like functional foods, food production practices, and reducing food waste by working with research institutions, or bring innovative food concepts to life, by working on product development, marketing, and operations through food startups.
• Job Stability and Decent Salary: With the changes in time, big data analytics and AI have brought digital food management to the industry. Lab-grown food and other advancements in Food Technology are expected to transform the sector with private and government recruiters actively hiring for graduates in Food Technology courses. Students can expect decent salary packages and other excellent benefits in the near future.
• Food Processing Focus: Government initiatives promote food processing to minimize food wastage and create jobs. Food technologists play a crucial role in this case.
• Diversification: Growing demand for organic, functional, and ready-to-eat food creates opportunities for innovation in food technology. Everybody needs ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food packets these days because of their busy schedules.
• Export Potential: India has a strong potential to export processed food items. Food technologists can ensure quality and international standards.

The BTech Food Technology course duration in India is 4 years in general. Almost all of the BTech courses in India are 4 years long. BTech in Food Technology is a UG-level course meant for providing students with advanced knowledge about the use of food Science and technology to come up with innovative food and beverage solutions that ensure individual safety and well-being by providing them with nutritious food. BTech Food Technology course leads to exciting career options in the work field where students can work in food processing industry, manufacturing industry, research and development, food retail industry, etc.

BTech in Food Technology course is a professional undergraduate course of 4 years duration whereas B.Sc in Food Technology is an undergraduate course of 3 years duration.

BTech in Food Technology deals with the study of food science in various activities happening in the food industry and also new possibilities and developments which can be developed to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the food processing technology whereas BSc in Food Technology deals with the study of scientific principles involved in the food production as well as preservation and it does not lead to any innovation. Only the specific methods of production and preservation are taught. B.Tech in food processing deals with the research and development in technology also for Food Processing Industry and B.Sc is basically mere study if the processs.

Both of them have bright future in different fields. 

You don't really study how to cook or prepare food in the BTech in Food Technology course; rather, you learn about the engineering and scientific fundamentals involved behind food production, packaging, and distribution to make sure the food has nutritional value, is safe for consumption, and meets the desired quality standards. You get to the root of the entire lifecycle of food, from raw materials and processing to production and packaging.

If you wish to opt for the BTech Food Technology course, you should have passed Class 12 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology/Biotechnology subjects, with at least 50 to 60% marks. Further, you must appear for and clear relevant BTech Food Technology entrance exams conducted at the national/state/university levels every year for admission to BTech courses in various specializations including Food Technology.
In addition, you should always visit the official websites of the universities you're targeting to crosscheck if they have any other specific requirements.

You can start by going through the eligibility criteria of the college you want to pursue the BTech Food Technology course at. The minimum marks requirement is usually 50 to 60% in PCM/PCB/PCMB subjects in Class 12. After that, you should give relevant entrance tests and make sure to get very good marks in the same because the competition is high and hence the cutoff list of the popular Food Technology colleges.

Next step for you to follow is to fill out the application forms of your desired Food Technology colleges in due time. After the exam results are out, you should visit the college portal and apply for the counselling session which is meant for seat allotment purposes. After you're given a seat, you need to go the college and pay the Food Technology course fee.

Several colleges also provide admission on the basis of Class 12 merit and take an extra round like PI or GD to test your suitability for the BTech Food Technology course. You can check if your preferred college offers merit-based admission or not.

Relevant Link: Food Technology Admission 2025

The time involved in the BTech Food Technology admission process can vary from one college to another because every institution follows a certain set of guidelines when it comes to providing admission to the course. It can easily take up to a few months for you to get the final seat at a college.

There are a lot of formalities that need to be completed like appearing for the entrance exam, filling out the college applications, exam result announcement, college counseling, seat allotment, course fee payment, and seat confirmation from your end. So, you need to be calm and patient during this entire period.

Read more: Food Technology Admission Process 2025

See, you will find a lot of popular BTech in Food Technology colleges in India that provide admission on the basis of marks secured in Class 12 board exams. The minimum eligibility criteria is normally 50 to 60% marks in the Science background.

Further, most of the top-ranked BTech Food Technology colleges consider valid entrance exam scores for giving admission to students. Also, a few colleges may give 50-50 weightage to both the factors, that is Class 12^th merit and entrance test scores. It is better if you give the entrance exam as you will have a backup option with you and you can apply to more number of colleges.

Rest, you should always go and check the official website of the college to see what admission guidelines does that college offers.

Apart from the tuition fee and other additional charges applicable for Food Technology courses, a majority of the colleges also charge you an extra admission application fee that you have to submit while filling out the college application form. The application fee is approximately between INR 500 and INR 3,000.

For getting admission to BTech Food Technology course, a list of some basic documents is given here for your reference:

• Class 12 Mark Sheet with at least 50 to 60% marks in the Science stream
• Class 10 Mark Sheet
• Entrance Exam Scorecard and Admit Card (if applicable)
• A Valid Identity Proof like Aadhar, PAN card, Passport, etc.
• Reserved Category Certificate (if applicable)
• Migration and Character Certificates (may be needed)
• Recent Passport-Size Photos

Read more: Food Technology Admission 2025

Of course, there is a marks relaxation policy followed across almost all the BTech Food Technology colleges in India, where students belonging to any of the reserved categories like the SC/ST/OBC/PwD are usually given a relaxation of 5% marks for admission to the course.
For example, if the general category student needs a minimum of 60% marks to be eligible for admission, you need 55%, and a similar approach is followed for the entrance exam cutoffs as well. Rest, you can go to the official college websites that you're targeting to have better clarity about their individual admission policies.

When it comes to pursuing Food Technology courses in India, several entrance exams can act as a doorway to some of the best colleges in the country offering courses in Food Technology at the diploma, UG, PG, and PhD levels.

Students can check the number of colleges that accept particular exam scores and then decide the exam they would like to appear for afterwards:

Note: Some colleges accept multiple entrance exam scores.

When it comes to pursuing BTech Food Technology in India, several entrance exams can act as a gateway to some of the best colleges in the country offering the course. Students can check the number of colleges that accept specific exam scores and then decide the exam they would like to appear for afterwards:

Note: Some colleges accept multiple entrance exam scores.

Yes, CUET PG is conducted for postgraduate course in the field of Food Technology. To pursue MTech in Food Technology course, candidates must have completed BTech in Food Technology/ Dairy Technology/ Food Processing Technology/ Food Engineering/ Chemical Engineering/ Agri Engineering with minimum of 55% marks. Candidates who are in their final semester can also apply for CUET PG entrance test.

There are more than 200 full-time colleges in India that offer the BTech Food Technology course, out of which around 78 colleges consider the JEE Main exam scores for admission. JEE Main is one of the most prominent and competitive national-level entrance exams for admission to various engineering programs at the UG level.

You do have various college and exam options to consider and grab a seat for the course at a decent college, given you are well prepared for the exam and perform well.

You should try and start as early as possible, that is at least 6 months before the exam date so that you have enough time for a thorough revision of the exam syllabus, which will increase your chances of getting excellent marks in the entrance test and getting a seat at a popular Food Technology college in India.

The exam syllabus in usually available on the official exam websites or the website of the exam conducting body at least 8 to 10 months before the exam actually takes place so that all the students can start their preparation as early as possible.

The BTech in Food Technology entrance tests are usually moderately challenging. The level of difficulty varies on the basis of the particular exam you're appearing for, whether it is at the national/state/college level. You need to have a strong hold on the PCM subjects, general aptitude, and logical reasoning sections to get excellent marks.
Further, the difficulty level also depends on previous year results, student feedback, and the number of student applications received. You just need to focus on putting your best foot forward and getting good marks to secure a seat at some good college.

You can surely get admission to the B Tech Food Technology course without giving the entrance exam. While top colleges require valid entrance exam scores, there are more than 50 colleges that give admission on the basis of Class 12 board exam marks. These colleges often take extra rounds like the GD or PI following the merit cutoff release. 

For example, in Tamil Nadu, students appear for the TNEA Counselling after 12th to get admission to various engineering programs at top government-funded colleges.

Higher Education in Food Technology

To dive in deeper, students can pursue MTech or M.Sc in Food Technology on the basis of their interest and eligibility. Both are 2-year courses. Pursuing higher education can help secure better salary packages and also acquire more knowledge about the subject. If you have the mind of a scientist, after pursuing Masters in Food Technology, you can also go for PhD in Food Technology and carry your research.

This completely depends on what interests you have and the kind of future you've imagined for yourself. If you are somebody who loves the idea of being a food technologist, working with R&D labs and food companies, and getting to know about the advanced nuances of the field, you can surely opt for an M.Tech degree in Food Technology.

Looking at the other side of the coin, a BTech in Food Technology also presents excellent earning opportunities coupled with handsome salaries in food manufacturing and processing, quality control, hospitality, and research and development. So, it all comes down to your interests and passions. Think and analyze carefully to come to a wise conclusion.

Helpful Link: Food Technology Jobs & Career Scope

If you are interested in the broader aspects of food Science and technology beyond engineering and looking for an comparitive analyses then you can refer out the table below:

To pursue PhD in Food Technology, candidates must have completed post-graduation in Food Technology or allied fields. They must either clear the Research Entrance Test conducted by the university or clear UGC NET-JRF in order to be directly eligible for the interview. The following colleges offer PhD in Food Technology:

• Lovely Professional University
• Amity University
• Shoolini University
• Punjab Agricultural University

The important subjects might vary slightly depending on the university as every university follow a certain set of guidelines when it comes to their coursework, but common topics covered in the course usually remain almost the same that include:
• Principles of Food Processing
• Food Biochemistry
• Food Microbiology
• Food Packaging Technology
• Food Quality and Analysis
• Food Industry Waste Management
You also get to choose from a variety of elective subjects in the third and fourth year as per your interests and career goals.

The BTech Food Technology course offers a pool of electives for you to opt in the 5^th and 6^th semesters where you have the perfect opportunity to pick a subject that interests you more and is easy to understand and enjoyable for you.
You can choose electives according to the career pathway and industry that you would like to enter into in the future, where you see yourself as an established food technologist. There are a variety of choices like Techniques in Food Analysis, Food Storage and Plant Layout, Non-Thermal Food Processing, Beverage Technology, Engineered, Textured and Fabricated Foods, etc.

The answer to this question will differ from one individual to another. If you have a passion and deep inclination towards the food processing sector and love to play with technology to innovate new and health food and beverage items, you will really enjoy the entire BTech Food Technology syllabus.

On the other hand, if you're just taking up this course under pear pressure or other reasons, you may find it difficult. So, you should think twice before opting for the course whether it aligns well with your interests and career plans or not.

Look, the Food Technology course syllabus is designed according to the course level at which you're pursuing the course. Having said that, there are some core subjects that are compulsory for you to study during the Food Technology course duration, be it BTech/BE or MTech/ME degree course.

Other than the core subjects, you will be given elective subject choices from 2nd year onwards where you can select your preferred subject that you think will be easy to study, interesting to learn, and also aligns with your interests.

The Food Technology syllabus taught in the BTech classes is not same across all the colleges but the common concepts covered in the course curriculum are more or less similar as they provide the basic foundation of the fast evolving field.

Every college follows their own syllabus pattern that is a mix of core and elective subjects along with practical lab work, workshops, and a final research project in the final year.

The syllabus taught in B Tech Food Technology classes is the perfect combination of core subjects, electives, practical lab work, and workshops. There is a strong emphasis on both theoretical and practical aspects of the field so that you get a thorough understanding of the domain to excel in the professional world in the future. You can enhance your skills during the coursework duration to look forward to promising opportunities ahead.

Top colleges and universities offering the BTech Food Technology course make sure to keep their syllabus up-to-date with the evolving market demands in terms of technological advancements and innovation of new techniques for food production and packaging. The Food Technology syllabus for BTech courses is generally updated at regular intervals after consultation with professionals from the food industry and research at an individual level as to what would best serve the students and lead to their skill development.

There are about 300+ best Food Technology colleges in India. Among these, 172 colleges are privately owned, 143 colleges are owned by public/government organisations, and public-private entities own 10 Food Technology colleges. JEE Main, GATE, TNEA, etc. are some of the most accepting entrance exams in top BTech Food Technology colleges in India. Some of the popular colleges include IIT Kharagpur, Jadavpur University, IIT Guwahati, NIT Rourkela, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chandigarh University, Anna University, ICT Mumbai, LPU, Amity University Noida, and many others.

There are 78 BTech Food Technology government colleges in India. Some of the best colleges along with their BTech in Food Technology course fee are given below:

There are 116 BTech Food Technology private colleges in India. Some of the best private colleges along with their BTech in Food Technology course fee are given below:

It is estimated that joining the top Food Technology colleges in India can be affordable as most of the colleges have tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:

Listed below are a few IITs which offer Food Technology courses in India along with their total tuition fee:

The total cost of studying Food Technology courses in India usually vary on the basis of the course level, the college where you're pursuing the course, whether it is a private college or come under government jurisdiction, the college location, and it's overall ranking in India.

The average tuition fee for Food Technology courses in India is between INR 2 lakh and INR 8 lakh. Other than the tuition fee, you need to look for the admission application fee, hostel accommodation fee (if applicable), lab work fee, semester exam form fee, etc.

The college ranking serves as one of the most important factors when it comes to selecting the right college for studying BTech Food Technology. The college with a high All India ranking acts as a testimony to the fulfilling learning environment, infrastructure, excellent teaching faculty, and good placement opportunities. However, you should also check for the course fee before choosing the college to see if it aligns with your financial budget.

Choosing the best college is very important, as it plays an important role in your character development and equips you with the right set of skills and knowledge to excel at the workplace in the future.

Food Technology courses act as the prefect entry point for a fulfilling career with a good earning potential and high job satisfaction score. Some of the popular Food Technology jobs in India are given below:

• Food Technologist
• Food Quality Check Manager
• Nutritional Therapist
• Food Policy Analyst
• Consumer Safety Officer
• Product Development Scientist

There are some important skills that you must have to enjoy a fulfilling career after Food Technology course completion. These skills are not necessarily learned within the four walls of a classroom, rather they come with experience and exploring new opportunities via internships and workshops.

You can find some important skills given here for reference:

• Analytical aptitude
• Creative acumen and explorative mind set
• Technical proficiency
• Attention to Detail and Problem-solving
• Team Collaboration
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Working knowledge of computers and technological tools
• Interest and passion for the food industry

After you have completed your BTech Food Technology course at a decent college in India, you can get some amazing earning opportunities in the business world. The average starting salary for fresh graduates like you is usually around INR 4 LPA.
As you move forward in the work sector and gain some years of experience, you will start to earn more as recruiters will be ready to offer you a higher salary package because of your technical expertise. For mid-senior level positions, the salary package is mostly between INR 5 LPA and INR 8 LPA. For senior level positions, the salary package is above INR 8 LPA.

Some of the top recruiters for Food Technology graduates in India are given below:

• Amul
• Britannia Industries Limited
• Dabur India Limited
• MTR Foods Limited
• Nestle Private India Limited
• Agro Tech Products
• Parle Products Private Limited

Yes, the employment of food technology graduates is increasing based on the growth of the food industry in India. With the Government of India boosting skills and labour in the food industry, more trained professionals are required for safety, quality and compliance procedure. Therefore, BTech and M.Tech courses are a popular choice amongst students who wish to make a career in the field of Food Production and Research and Development.

There is no age restriction as such to pursue a BTech Food Technology course at popular colleges and universities in India offering courses in Food Technology. But, looking at a few previous admission trends, students who apply for the UG level Food Tech courses are usually between 17 years and 25 years at the time of admission. Rest, you can confirm by visiting the official websites of the institutions you're targeting to get a clear picture of the specific requirements (if any).

For admission to BTech Food Technology course, most of the popular colleges prefer valid entrance exam scores. You should work very hard and get outstanding marks in the entrance test to grab a seat for the course at top colleges in India as the competition is quite high.
Further, there are some colleges that give admission on the basis of Class 12 merit and usually take extra rounds like the GD or PI after the exam results are out. Having said that, a few colleges may also give 50-50 weightage to both Class 12 marks and entrance test scores.
So, it is always better to read the detailed admission guidelines on the official websites of the colleges you're targeting to get a clear picture.

The BTech Food Technology course application forms are mostly released by a majority of the colleges in the online mode well in advance so that a large number of students across the country can fill out the forms by comfortably sitting at their homes.

You simply need to stay updated about all the admission-related notifications of the colleges and fill out the forms before the last date by uploading the scanned copies of all the important documents and paying the admission application fee.

A few colleges may still follow the old approach of offline application forms; it is less likely to happen though. Still, to be on the safer side, it is better to check the college websites for precise information.

You can definitely get lateral entry admission to the BTech Food Technology course after completing a 3-year Diploma in Food Technology or a related field with at least 50% marks in the final exams. The lateral entry option gives you direct entry to the second year of BTech Food Technology, making the 4-year duration of a BTech degree short for you.

Apart from meeting the eligibility criteria, you also need to clear relevant lateral entry admission tests either conducted by the college or the ones at the state level. You can find all the related information on the websites of the colleges you're targeting. For example, LPU and Chandigarh University offer this BTech Food Technology lateral entry option.

When we talk about the entrance exams for BTech Food Technology, the JEE Main exam stands as the most prominent exam, with more than 75 colleges accepting the exam scores. But there are various state-level entrance exams as well that you can consider appearing for to get admission to the BTech in Food Technology course as given here for your reference:

• MHT CET
• KEAM
• WBJEE
• TS EAMCET
• AP EAMCET
• TNEA Counselling after 12th

There are a few college-level entrance tests that you can prepare for to get admission to the BTech in Food Technology course at those specific academic institutions, like UPESEAT (Conducted by UPES Dehradun), SRMJEEE (for admission to SRM IST), LPU NEST (Conducted by Lovely Professional University), and SHIATS Entrance Exam (For admission to SHUATS).

To choose the best college for studying the BTech in Food Technology course, you should look out for some important parameters like the college course structure, teaching expertise, course fee, practical lab work opportunities, college ranking, placements, and industry reputation.

You should research well about the college and see how well it fits in all the parameters, after which you can take the final call, as the 4-year journey will play a very crucial role in your career ahead. Best wishes.

The average tuition fee for B Tech in Food Technology course is approximately INR 4 Lacs to INR 10 lakh. The tuition fee is not fixed, it rather varies on the basis of the college offering the course, whether it is a private college or falls under government jurisdiction, its location, All India ranking, placement status, and industry reputation.
Other than the tuition fee, you will have to pay extra charges for hostel accommodation facilities, admission application forms, semester exam registration, practical lab work, etc. So, you should always check the course fee structure on the college websites before making the final move for admission.

Yes, of course. There are hands-on lab sessions and intriguing and informative workshops as an important part of the B Tech Food Technology course. You are given thorough training to get to know about the industrial applications of the field of Food Technology so that you can do well at the workfront in the future.

Absolutely, yes. The BTech Food Technology colleges do provide excellent placements to graduates via campus placement fairs and drives in the college during the final year. Top recruiters visit the college campuses to hire a talented pool of students who have the right skill set and the fire in the belly to explore new technologies to be used in food production, ensuring safety and quality of the food and beverage products.

The BTech in Food Technology course suggests varied scope worldwide. Graduates can work in food processing, quality control and product development to guarantee the safety and innovation of new approaches towards food production. 

They can also work within food research, nutrition and regulatory compliance, including food and beverage companies, agriculture or governmental departments. Opportunities in Food Technology jobs are high in countries such as USA, Germany and Australia. Moreover, students can continue their learning with higher education or certifications in the specialisation on food safety and sustainability that would enhance career prospects and expand opportunities to a global scale.

Both B.Tech Agricultural Engineering and B.Tech Food Technology are promising courses with excellent career opportunities. However, the scope and career opportunities for each course may vary based on various factors. B.Tech Agricultural Engineering deals with the design, development, and maintenance of agricultural equipment, irrigation systems, and other farm-related technologies.

Agricultural engineers work on improving agricultural productivity, sustainability, and the quality of agricultural products. The scope of this course includes areas such as agricultural machinery, soil and water conservation, food processing, and post-harvest management. Graduates of this programme can work in various sectors such as agriculture, food processing industries, machinery manufacturing, irrigation, and environmental engineering. B.Tech Food Technology deals with the study of food processing, preservation, and quality control.

Food technologists work on developing new food products, improving existing products, and ensuring the safety and quality of food products. The scope of this course includes areas such as food processing, food Chemistry food microbiology, and food safety. Graduates of this programme can work in various sectors such as food processing industries, food packaging industries, research and development, quality control, and food safety. Both courses have excellent career opportunities and growth prospects. However, the choice between B.Tech Agricultural Engineering and B.Tech Food Technology depends on your interests, skills, and career goals.

If you are interested in agriculture, machinery, and sustainability, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering can be a good choice for you. On the other hand, if you are interested in food processing, product development, and quality control, B.Tech Food Technology can be a good choice for you.

Hi,

Following is the eligibility prescribed by most of the universities:

BE/ B.Tech (FPE / Food Tech /Dairy Tech or Chemical technology (especially in food technology)/M.Sc (food science/ Dairy science or Allied science).

So accordingly, you are not eligible, you have to complete M.Sc degree in food science/ Dairy science or Allied science) to apply for M.Tech in food technology.

All the best.

Yes, Food Technology is a good course to pursue as Food Technology is a very advancing field and offers great career opportunities these days. Students must also score good rank in top national-level or state-level entrance exams such as JEE Main,  MHT CET and KCET for admission into these courses. Food Technology can be easy or extremely tough depending on the way one studies. It is a comprehensive subject which consists of many core and elective subjects as well as industrial training. This makes the course tough to pursue with the bright minds being able to secure good ranks and establish a career in Food Technology. 

Hi, there are about 180+ BTech in Food Technology colleges in India. Listed below are some of the colleges along with their total tuition fee:

Hope this answered your question!

Candidates can pursue M.Tech in Food Technology after clearing GATE in Food Technology. Candidates can apply in the following colleges:

• IIT Kharagpur
• Jadavpur University
• IIT University
• IIT Rourkela
• IIT Guwahati

ICT Mumbai offered the highest placement package of INR 8 LPA and the prominent recruiters participated include TCS, Indian Oil, Glenmark, Amul, ONGC, HP, Asian Paints, etc. Lsted below are some of the BTech in Food Technology colleges in Maharashtra along with their placement package and the top recruiters:

Hope this information proves beneficial for you!