What is Culinary Arts?: Course Fees 2026, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Updated on Dec 9, 2025 05:11 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaAssistant Manager

Culinary Arts courses teach students how to cook professionally and understand the art and process of making food. These courses are chosen by the candidates who want to become a chef and work in the Hospitality sector. 

Now, Culinary Arts course includes different types of course levels which can be selected by candidates according to their liking like UG, PG, Doctorate, Diploma and also Certificate level.

If we talk about eligibility generally, candidates should pass Class 12 (any stream) with passing marks. Fees can range around INR 1,000 to INR 17,000. But candidates should know that eligibility as well as fees can be different according to the courses as well as colleges.

Popular colleges are CU, IHM Delhi, IGNOU, etc.

Jobs available for graduates are Chef, Food Stylist, Catering Supervisor/Manager, etc. Recruiters include The Taj Group of Hotels, Marriott International Inc., Hyatt Hotels, etc.

 

Culinary Arts Courses: Details

Candidates can see detailed highlights of the Culinary Arts courses below - 

Parameters

Culinary Arts Course Details

Course Level

UG, PG, Diploma, PG Diploma, and Certification

Duration

UG: 3 Years

PG: 2 Years

Diploma/Certification: 6 Months to 1 Year

PG Diploma: 1 to 2 Years

Fees 

INR 1,100 to INR 17.25 Lakh

Admission Criteria

Class 12/Entrance-based

Popular Colleges

IHM Delhi

IHM Mumbai

WGSHA Manipal

Job Profiles

Chef

Food Stylist

Catering Supervisor/Manager

Catering Officer

Average Salary

INR 3 LPA

Top Recruiters

The Taj Group of Hotels

Marriott International Inc.

Hyatt Hotels

ITC Group of Hotels

Q:   What is Culinary Arts course?
A:

Culinary Arts course focuses on food preparation and cooking. Candidates who wish to get in hospitality industry can go for this course. 

Also Culinary Arts courses can help students get skills to work in hospitality settings.

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Q:   Why study Culinary Arts?
A:

Candidates can see benefits below - 

Skills and knowledge that are needed to become a chef

Know about different cultures and how their cuisine are different from each other

You will get to work in Food and Beverage Service, Kitchen Management as well as other Hospitality & Travel sector.

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Table of contents
  • Culinary Arts Eligibility & Admission
  • Culinary Arts Exams
  • Culinary Arts Syllabus
  • Types of Culinary Arts Courses
  • Culinary Arts Course Top Colleges
  • Popular Private Culinary Arts Colleges in India
  • Culinary Arts Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters
  • Culinary Arts FAQs
  • Popular Culinary Arts UG Courses
  • Popular Culinary Arts PG Courses
View More

Culinary Arts Eligibility & Admission

Candidates should know that eligibility can be different according to the courses. This is why they should check it. Failure to fulfill the eligibility can lead to cancellation of candidature.

Candidates can see the general outline of the eligibility below -

Course Level Eligibility Criteria
UG
  • Class 12 from any stream,
  • Minimum 45 percent aggregate score from a recognized board.
PG
  • Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, like a BSc in Culinary Arts or a relevant discipline.
Diploma 
  • Class 10 from a recognised board.
PG Diploma
  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

Culinary Arts Admission Process

Candidates can check a general overview of the Culinary Arts admission process below:

  • Make sure you meet the eligibility
  • Apply online by filling up the form
  • Take entrance exam
  • Wait for the merit list and result
  • If selected, attend the counselling session
  • Get the documents verified and pay the fee to secure the seat

 

Q:   What is the eligibility to pursue a culinary course after Class 12?
A:

After Class 12, candidates can pursue Culinary Arts course at different levels at UG, PG and Diploma, etc.

You can opt from a range of courses irrespective of your stream in Class 12.

But, minimum requirement is to pass Class 12 with minimum 50%. Some colleges may also require English subject scores.

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Q:   Does Culinary Arts require Mathematics?
A:

No if you wish to pursue a Culinary Arts course you are just required to pass Class 12 and it does not matter if it your stream with a minimum of 50% score.

There are some after Class 10 diplomas and certification courses that only need Class 10. 

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Culinary Arts Exams

There are some exams whose scores are also considered for admission. Candidates can see the table below for list of Culinary Arts exams in India:

UG Culinary Arts Courses
Culinary Arts Entrance Exam Exam Dates Exam Schedule
CUET

May '26

CUET Dates

PG Culinary Arts Courses

Culinary Arts Entrance Exam Exam Dates Exam Schedule
CUET PG

Mar '26

CUET PG Dates

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

Important Exam Dates

DatesUpcoming Exam Dates
Feb ' 26 - Apr ' 26

Oberoi STEP 2026 Application Form

TENTATIVE
Apr ' 26 - May ' 26

Oberoi STEP 2026 Exam

TENTATIVE
To Be Notified

Oberoi STEP 2026 Counselling

Apr ' 26

Last Day to fill Oberoi STEP 2026 Application Form

TENTATIVE
25 Oct ' 25 - 30 Apr ' 26

CUCET 2026 Phase 1 Application Form

ONGOING
25 Oct ' 25 - 01 May ' 26

CUCET 2026 Phase 1 Exam

ONGOING
DatesPast Exam Dates
To Be Notified

Last date to fill application form

To Be Notified

IHM Aurangabad Entrance Exam Date 2025

To Be Notified

IHM Aurangabad Entrance Exam Notification

27 Feb ' 26

Last date to apply for March Attempt

14 Mar ' 26

SAT India exam (March attempt)

Apr '26 - Jun '26

MAKAUT CET Registration

TENTATIVE

Jun '26

Issuance of MAKAUT CET Admit Card

TENTATIVE

Jan '26

MAH HM CET 2026 registrations for BHMCT course

TENTATIVE

Jan '26

MAH MHMCT CET registrations

TENTATIVE
Q:   Is there any entrance exam for Culinary Arts?
A:

Culinary Arts courses are offered at different levels and specializations. 

Candidates can see table listing popular exams for Culinary Arts below -

Entrance Exams for Culinary ArtsExam Dates
CUETMay'25
NCHMCT JEEMay'25
LPU NESTJuly 5 - 31, 2024
IIHM eCHATJuly 31, 2024

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Culinary Arts Syllabus

Culinary Arts courses are all about design and development of robots for different uses. Courses are offered at the UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate and Doctorate levels. This course is focused on theoretical as well as practical subjects with core and elective subjects which help candidates understand the concepts of Culinary Arts courses. Candidates should know that syllabus and the curriculum can be different according to the course levels. Course duration can be from 6 months to 3 years but then again it depends on the course level.

Culinary Arts Syllabus - UG

Candidates can see the syllabus for Culinary Arts for undergraduate courses below:

Culinary Arts Courses: UG Syllabus Year 1
Basics of cooking Kitchen tools
Hygiene practices Introductory culinary theory.
Culinary Arts Courses: UG Syllabus Year 2
Advanced food preparation Baking and confectionery
Food service techniques Nutrition basics
Culinary Arts Courses: UG Syllabus Year 3
International cuisines Kitchen and staff management
Menu planning Costing

Culinary Arts Syllabus - PG

Candidates can see the syllabus for Culinary Arts for postgraduate courses below:

Culinary Arts Courses: PG Syllabus Year 1
Research-based culinary methods Global cuisine trends
Food safety standards Kitchen operations
Culinary Arts Courses: PG Syllabus Year 2
Culinary innovation Entrepreneurship in food
Leadership training Thesis or industry project

 

Popular Specializations

Q:   Which specializations can I choose in Culinary Arts courses?
A:

Specialisations are basically focused area of education where one develops deeper knowledge of that topic/subject.

In PG course level, candidates can choose from the following specialisations according to their liking - 

Q:   Are Culinary Artist and Chef the same?
A:

No they are not same.

Culinary Arts is a wider field when it comes to food preparation and cooking and includes elements such as cooking techniques, food presentation, food safety etc. It is basically creative and technical part of preparing and presenting food. 

But a Chef is a skilled professional who has talent of cooking food. He/she works in a professional kitchen and is responsible for planning menus, supervising kitchen staff, and more.

Types of Culinary Arts Courses

Culinary Arts can be studied at UG, PG, Diploma and even Certificate levels in India. There are many types of Culinary Arts courses that are offered in India. Out of these they choose according to their liking.

Candidates can see the list of types of courses that are offered below: 

Culinary Arts Courses - UG 

Candidates can check the list below for UG Culinary Arts courses -

Culinary Arts Courses Colleges Fees (INR)
BSc Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal Academy of Higher Education 8.28 Lakh
School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Navi Mumbai 12 Lakh
Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts, Symbiosis International, Pune 8.25 Lakh - 12 Lakh
BA Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management 4.3 Lakh
ITM  6.9 Lakh
International Institute of Hotel Management 5 Lakh
BVoc M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (MSRUAS) 1.5 Lakh
International Institute of Culinary Arts and Career Management 8.5 Lakh
Dayalbagh Educational Institute [DEI] 5,280
BHM UEI Global, Delhi 4.11 Lakh
Indian Institute of Hotel Management and Culinary Arts 4.6 Lakh
Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata 4.99 Lakh
BCT & CA Culinary Academy of India 1.2 Lakh
Vedatya Institute 3.89 Lakh
G H Raisoni University, Amravati 1.89 Lakh
BBA Dhamma Dipa International Buddhist University 1.8 Lakh
BHMCT Academy of Pastry and Culinary Arts, Bangalore Campus 16.5 Lakh

Note: Fees is taken from other sources and can be different.

Culinary Arts Courses - PG

Candidates can check the list below for PG Culinary Arts courses -

Culinary Arts Courses Colleges Fees (INR)
MSc SNDT College 82,340
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 2.8 Lakh
SVSU  25,000
MA Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration 3.8 Lakh
Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute 3 Lakh
PRSU 3,520

Note: Fees is taken from other sources and can be different.

Culinary Arts Courses - Diploma

Candidates can check the list below for Diploma Culinary Arts courses -

Culinary Arts Courses Colleges Fees (INR)
After 10th Diploma The ICFAI University, Sikkim 50,000
Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management 1.33 Lakh
ITM 1.33 Lakh
UG Diploma IHM Delhi 50,000 - 70,000
Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai 70,000
Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore 98,690
PG Diploma IHM Chennai 31,070
SRM Institute of Hotel Management, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 1.2 Lakh
IGNOU  14,400

Note: Fees is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

Q:   What is Diploma in Culinary Arts fees in India?
A:

There are many colleges that offer this course in India. The course fees is pocket friendly in many colleges of India.

Candidates can see table giving colleges which offer this course with fees below -

CollegesDiploma in Culinary Arts Fees (INR) 
The ICFAI University, Sikkim50 K
Jaipur National University40.42 K
Jagran Lakecity University45 K
Jaipur6 Delhi 50 K - 70 K
Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai70 K

 

Q:   Is a Culinary Arts Diploma better than a degree?
A:

A Diploma in Culinary Arts is shorter and mostly about skill. It good for student who want to start working fast. It focus on hands-on training like cooking, baking and also running kitchen.

But a Culinary Arts degree go more deep. It teach food science, management and world cuisines. Diploma is cheaper and faster but degree is seen more value for long time career and leadership in hotel or restaurant.

Culinary Arts Course Top Colleges

There are approximately 500+ colleges which have Culinary Arts courses, out of which 70+ are government, 200+ private and 5 are public private. Choosing best colleges for Culinary Arts education can be tough, specially when there are a lot of options in front of candidates. At this point it becomes very important to filter them out according to your liking, budget and career plan.

That is why candidates can see a list of popular government and private colleges below -

Culinary Arts Colleges - IHMs

Below table shows the Culinary Arts courses offered at popular IHMs in India -

IHMs in India Chef Course Fees
IHM Aurangabad INR 16 Lakh
IHM Bangalore INR 98,690
IHM Chennai INR 31,070 - 53,520
IHM Dehradun INR 92,000 - 95,000
IHM Goa INR 70,000
IHM Kolkata INR 70,000
IHM Lucknow INR 32,000
IHM Mumbai INR 30,000 - 88,200
IHM Pusa, Delhi INR 62,500 - 89,850
IHM Shimla INR 27,500 - 35,150

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

Culinary Arts Government Colleges

IHM Delhi, IHM Mumbai, IHM Bangalore, etc. are some government colleges which offer UG and PG courses. Further bifurcation for each course is below - 

Government Colleges - UG Courses

Below table shows the top government UG Culinary Arts colleges in India with their cost:

Colleges Course Fees (INR)
IHM Delhi  50,000 - 70,000
Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai 70,000
IHM, Bangalore 98,690
IHM Chennai  33,770 - 53,520
Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition 49,860
Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition, Lucknow 32,000
Institute of Hotel Management, Catering & Nutrition 35,150
IHM, Gurdaspur 45,000
IH, Kovalam  70,000

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Government Colleges - PG Courses

Below table shows the top government PG Culinary Arts colleges in India with their cost:

Colleges Course Fees (INR)
IHM Chennai 31,070
IGNOU 14,400
SNDT College 82,340
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 2.8 Lakh
Dayalbagh Educational Institute 3,520
UPRTOU  32,000
PRSU  3,520
Faculty of Life Sciences, Kurukshetra University 13,750
UNIRAJ  2,410

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

Culinary Arts Private Colleges

WGSHA, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts, etc. are some private colleges which offer UG and PG courses. Further bifurcation for each course is below - 

Private Colleges - UG Courses

Below table shows the top private UG Culinary Arts colleges in India with their cost:

Colleges Course Fees (INR)
WGSHA, Manipal 8.28 Lakh
School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Navi Mumbai 1.75 Lakh - 12 Lakh
Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts, Symbiosis International, Pune 1.25 Lakh - 12 Lakh
M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (MSRUAS) 1.5 Lakh
Chitkara College of Hospitality Management, Chitkara University, Chandigarh 7.04 Lakh
NSHM Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management, Durgapur 3.75 Lakh - 4.55 Lakh
Guru Nanak Institute of Hotel Management 4.3 Lakh
ITM - Institute of Hotel Management, Navi Mumbai 6.9 Lakh
Jaipur National University 40,420

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Private Colleges - PG Courses

Below table shows the top private PG Culinary Arts colleges in India with their cost:

Colleges Course Fees (INR)
WGSHA, Manipal 3.8 Lakh
SRM Institute of Hotel Management, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 1.2 Lakh
Culinary Academy of India 45,000
SVSU  25,000 - 37,000
School of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies 3.48 Lakh
SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur 1.2 Lakh
Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute 3 Lakh
AAFT University of Media And Arts 1.72 Lakh
Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phoole University 70,000

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

 

8.64 L
5.0

#3 The Week

Culinary Arts Applications open. Apply Now

3 Courses
50 K - 70 K
4.6

#4 Outlook

6 LPA
14 K
5 Courses
35 K - 70 K

#6 Outlook

2 Courses
60 K
Q:   Which are the top colleges for BSc in Culinary Arts?
A:

Hi,

Around 65 colleges in India give BSc Culinary Arts course in India that candidates can choose. They can see some popular colleges below -

BSc in Culinary Arts collegesTuition Fee
Chandigarh UniversityINR 8.01 Lakh
SSCA PuneINR 12 Lakh
Lovely Professional UniversityINR 6 Lakh
D Y Patil School of Hospitality and Tourism StudiesINR 12 Lakh
Thakur Institute of Hotel ManagementINR 1.55 Lakh

Note: This info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Q:   Which are the best colleges for Culinary Arts in India?
A:

Around more than 450 colleges in India offer this courses out of which 255 are private and 77 are government.

These colleges offer full time, part-time, distance and also online courses.

Candidates can see table giving these colleges below -

Culinary Arts CollegesTuition Fees
IHM PusaINR 62,500 - INR 89,850
IHM MumbaiINR 30,000 - INR 88,200
Chandigarh UniversityINR 5.97 Lacs - INR 8.01 Lakh
CII Institute of Hospitality - ITC Maurya, DelhiINR 3.89 Lacs - INR 4.01 Lakh
IIHMCA HyderabadINR 80,000 - INR 3.75 Lakh

Note: The info is taken from other sources and can be different.

Popular Private Culinary Arts Colleges in India

2 Courses
4.7
4.7

#3 Outlook

1.33 L - 6.9 L
4.3

Culinary Arts Applications open. Apply Now

6 L - 8 L

#9 Outlook

Culinary Arts Applications open. Apply Now

3.45 L - 4.31 L
2.5 LPA

#11 The Week

Culinary Arts Applications open. Apply Now

1.3 L

#17 The Week

1.3 L

Culinary Arts Career Scope: Job Profiles, Salary and Top Recruiters

Work of a chef can be tough and competitive. To do well, you need hard work, keep learning new things, and follow new food trends and what people like to eat.

If you want career in culinary arts, you can join good culinary schools. They teach skills and give better chance for success in future.

Culinary Arts Salary

Candidates can see list of jobs below:  

Culinary Arts Jobs

Culinary Arts Salary

Chef

INR 3 LPA

Food Stylist

INR 3.5 LPA

Catering Supervisor/Manager

INR 7.3 LPA

Catering Officer

INR 4.1 LPA

Chocolatier

INR 4.8 LPA

Note: Salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Culinary Arts Top Recruiters

Candidates can see list of top recruiters below -

Top Recruiters

Taj Group of Hotels

Marriott International, Inc.

Hyatt Hotels

ITC Group of Hotels

Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts

Accor Hotels

Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts Group

Hilton Worldwide

 

Q:   What is the average salary package of a chef in India?
A:

The salary is different on the basis of experience, where they work and country. But candidates can see a general outline of salary range for chefs in India below -

  • Entry-Level or Commis Chef: INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000
  • Chef de Partie: INR 4,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 per year
  • Sous Chef: INR 6,00,000 to INR 12,00,000
  • Head Chef or Executive Chef: INR 10,00,000 to INR 30,00,000.

Note: Salary is taken from Ambitionbox.com.

Culinary Arts FAQs

Candidates can refer to this section for Culinary Arts related FAQs.

Q:   Which industries offer the highest salaries for Culinary Art course?
A:

The students of this course can find good chances in restaurants, hotels and also restaurants. If you are looking to earn good salary then you can also go for management sectors. Examples are Swiggy, Zomato, Food Panda and other big food chains such as McDonald and Burger King

Q:   Which course is the best in Culinary Arts for career prospects?
A:

If you are seeking future prospects in Culinary Arts any course will lead you to the same employment options. You can choose any course from UG, PG, certification or even diploma in Culinary Arts.

These courses can be different based on duration, fee structure, college, etc. but they all have to focus on same discipline where they will learn about the art and Science of preparing and presenting food.

Q:   Can I study Culinary Arts without Science in 12th?
A:

Yes you can do this course even if you don’t have Science. Student from Arts, Commerce or any stream after 12th can choose Diploma or degree.

This field is more about cooking skill, creativity and also food presentation not too much science subject. College mostly see your passion for cooking, new ideas and also practice skill so many background student can join.

Q:   Is Mathematics required for Culinary Arts courses?
A:

No you don’t need Math for Culinary Arts course. Most college take student from any stream without asking for special subject.

But little math is still helpful like for recipe measure, stock check and even money control.

You don’t need to be very good but knowing simple ratio and calculation make kitchen work and food business easier.

Q:   What is the difference between a chef and a culinary artist?
A:

Chef cooks food, manage kitchen people and even make sure food taste good. Their job is about skill and doing work right. They make new recipe, try diff flavors and even make food look very pretty. All culinary artist are chef but not all chef are doing art part.

Q:   Can I join a Culinary Arts course after B.Com or BA?
A:

Yes graduates from any stream be it BCom, BA or BSc can go for Culinary Arts courses. 

Depending on liking they can choose a PG Diploma or a specialised certificate. Some even go for international culinary schools for higher training. 

Q:   What skills are needed to succeed in Culinary Arts?
A:

To succeed in Culinary Arts you need technical skills like knife work, cooking methods and food safety, plus soft skills like time management, creativity, teamwork and also staying calm under pressure. 

Candidates need to have some skills if they want to go for this course. Candidates can see table giving such skills below -

Skills
Cooking & baking techniques
Creativity & innovation in recipes
Time management & multitasking
Knife skills & food preparation
Knowledge of international cuisines
Food presentation & plating
Teamwork & communication
Attention to detail

 

Popular Culinary Arts UG Courses

Following are the most popular Culinary Arts UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Culinary Arts PG Courses

Following are the most popular Culinary Arts PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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