Hotel Management vs Culinary Arts: Courses, Colleges, Eligibility, Scope

Hotel Management vs Culinary Arts: Courses, Colleges, Eligibility, Scope

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on May 30, 2025 04:01 PM IST | #NCHM JEE

Hotel Management vs Culinary Arts: So you want to go in the hotel and restaurant industry, but confused which course to opt for? The culinary arts refers to professions that involve preparing and cooking food. Culinary artists often are compared with hotel and restaurant managers in both education and career scope. But there is a huge difference in both when it comes to targeting a specific job profile as a professional, a hospitality management aspirant aims for.

Hotel Management vs Culinary Arts: Courses, Colleges, Eligibility, Scope
Hotel Management vs Culinary Arts: Courses, Colleges, Eligibility, Scope

There are a number of different courses in hospitality and tourism after class 12 which a student can take up. It is important to closely understand the difference between hotel management and culinary arts. The two courses are closely intertwined and do share many common factors. Though it is necessary for the candidates to know what course to opt for. Here by analysing every aspect candidates will know how to choose a hotel management course after class 12. Read the article below to know the difference between culinary arts and hotel management courses.

What is Hotel Management?

Hotel management involves the management of anything that's related to the hotel industry. It focuses on the operations related to hospitality management. It is a career field that places individuals in charge of staffing, administration, visitor accommodations, and, in some cases, food. The baccalaureate program of study is based on coursework that includes:

CII-Institute of Hospitality Admissions 2025

EHL Diploma in India with finest Hotel Chains in the Country ITC, Taj & Hyatt

Manav Rachna-MRIIRS | Hotel Management Admissions 2025

41000+ Alumni network | Students from over 20 countries

NCHM JEE College Predictor
Know your college admission chances based on your Seat Type, Caste, etc. by using NCHM JEE College Predictor.
Try Now

The students will get to know about culinary arts also in this program, however, not very much in detail. So apart from studying culinary arts subjects in hotel management you may land into a completely different course.

What is Culinary Arts?

Culinary management deals primarily with restaurant and food management. While the term is often used interchangeably with restaurant management, they aren’t exactly the same things. In a busy restaurant setting, there may be separate managers for the front of the house and administrative tasks (the restaurant manager) and for overseeing the kitchen, food production and maintaining supplies (the culinary manager).

Culinary arts programs focuses on building exceptional preparation and cooking skills, while hotel management programs focus on administrative tasks. A culinary arts program may contain content in nutrition and sensory evaluation, American cuisine, international cuisine and meat science. The course in it consists of highly specialized courses with a holistic curriculum that mostly revolves around the operations critical to a restaurant or catering company.

Culinary Arts vs Hotel Management: Courses

The top hotel management colleges of India offer both culinary arts courses and specific hotel management courses. In culinary arts specifically, the courses are offered in diploma, certificate, degree and master courses too. While it has been observed that the hotel management courses are mostly offered at bachelor and master level. Also the candidates are granted admission in these courses by the hotel management entrance exams.

Comparison Between Hotel Management and Culinary Art Courses

Culinary Arts Courses in India

Hotel Management Courses in India

  • Certificate in Culinary Arts

  • Diploma in Culinary Arts

  • BSc in Culinary Arts

  • BA in Culinary Arts

  • Bachelor of Catering Technology & Culinary Arts (BCTCA)

  • PGD in Culinary Arts

  • MSc in Culinary Arts

  • Diploma in Hotel Management

  • Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM)

  • Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (BHMCT)

  • BSc in Hotel Management

  • BVoc in Hotel Management

  • BA in Hotel Management

  • BBA in Hotel Management

  • Master of Hotel Management (MHM)

  • MBA in Hotel Management

  • MSc in Hotel Management

  • MA in Hotel Management

  • Master of Tourism and Hotel Management

  • MPhil in Hotel Management

  • PhD in Hotel Management

Eligibility Criteria: Culinary Arts vs Hotel Management

The eligibility criteria for culinary arts and hotel management courses is mostly the same. Colleges follow the AICTE-specified eligibility criteria for hotel management courses. A summary of the eligibility can be found given below.

  • Candidates must have cleared Class 10+2 or graduation (depending upon the course) from a recognized board.

  • Candidates from any stream are eligible to apply for these courses.

  • Candidates must have scored at least 45 per cent marks in the qualifying examination especially for seeking admission in undergraduate courses

  • Candidates applying to postgraduate courses must have completed graduation in a relevant stream

Lovely Professional University | Hospitality Admissions 2025

BHM / M.Sc.( Hotel Management) Admissions Open | 100% Placement with Highest package 32 LPA | Last Date : 20th Jun'25!

UEI Global, Hotel Management Admissions 2025

Training & Placement Guarantee | Top Recruiters: The Oberoi, Taj, Lee Meridien, Hyatt and many more

Top Colleges offering Culinary Arts and Hotel Management

As culinary arts is a part of hotel management courses also, very few students are seen taking culinary arts courses. Despite this, there are some best colleges for culinary arts in India. Career in the hospitality industry can only be assured if the education is taken from the best colleges and universities across the country. Here candidates can check the entire list of some renowned colleges that offer these courses separately.

List of colleges

Hotel Management Top Colleges

Culinary Arts Colleges

Refer here- NCHM JEE: Which are the Best Private Colleges for Hotel Management Admission?

Culinary Arts vs Hotel Management: Career Scope

Individuals with a background in the culinary arts or restaurant management have the skills necessary to succeed in several different careers. Both hospitality management and culinary management come with the same level of education (typically a two- to four-year degree), and deal with the same kinds of issues on a day-to-day basis. For the higher positions even salaries are equal. So where does the difference come in?

If you want to ensure that you’ll be in the kitchen, even if it’s only in the capacity of a manager, it’s probably best to stick to a culinary management career. If you have more flexibility and are interested in business training in addition to food and beverage service, hospitality management might be a better career choice.

While their responsibilities vary greatly, both chefs and hotel managers play an integral role in the operations of a restaurant business. And while chefs can expect more growth in available positions, job competition will remain tough for Head Chef positions or jobs at higher paying, upscale establishments. While not necessary for employment, obtaining postsecondary education may benefit jobseekers who aspire to more responsibilities and higher financial compensation.

Read More-

What does it mean to be a chef

Important Chef Qualification and Skills

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is culinary arts?

The culinary arts refers to professions that involve preparing and cooking food.

2. Is admission to culinary arts courses conducted on the basis of an entrance exam?

The admission to various culinary arts courses is granted both on the basis of entrance exam and without it. It depends totally on the college you aim to seek admission to.

3. What are some of the employment areas where hotel management graduates can take admission?

The various employment opportunities are Marketing/Sales, Human Resources, General Management of a restaurant or hotel, Accounting, Economics, Cost Control, Operations Management, Cruise Ship Hotel management and Club management.

4. Which course is best at hotel management or culinary arts?

Both of the courses are good depending on the kind of career field a candidate aims for.

5. What is the duration of these courses?

The duration for both the courses is a two to four year time.

Articles

Certifications By Top Providers

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

University of Essex, Colchester
 Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
University College London, London
 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
 Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, Post Code EH8 9YL
University of Bristol, Bristol
 Beacon House, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QU
University of Nottingham, Nottingham
 University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD

Questions related to NCHM JEE

Have a question related to NCHM JEE ?

Hello John,

With an AIR of 586 in NCHM-JEE, you have a reasonable chance of getting into IHM Pusa, especially if the past cutoffs were around 200-400. Your rank is competitive, and while IHM Pusa is one of the top institutes, there might still be a possibility of admission depending on the final cutoffs and the number of seats available.

Keep an eye on the counseling process and cutoff updates to confirm your admission status.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.




Dear

According to the information in the NCHM-JEE Exam , you are not required to attempt all questions . The exam consists of 200 questions , and you can attempt as many questions as you like within the given time limit of 3 hours . There is no limit on the number of questions you can attempt from each section.

For finding the best college you can get use College predictor tool.

Thanks.

Hello Aspirant,

For different sections, books of NCHM JEE are enlisted below :-

@English Language

Arihant General English for all Competitive Examinations (English) by Hari Mohan Prashad

Pearson’s English

High School English Grammar & Composition Revised Edition (English) 1st Edition by Wren and Martin


@Numerical Ability & Scientific Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal

Quantitative Aptitude by N.K. Singh

Quantitative Aptitude by Arihant

S Chand’s 30 days wonder for Maths


@Reasoning & Logical Deduction

Verbal Reasoning Book by R S Agarwal

Quantitative Aptitude ebook (ALL Parts Solved) by R S Agarwal

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal

501 Challenging Logical reasoning Practice Book


@Service Sector Aptitude

Arihant - The ultimate guide for Hotel Management

R Gupta’s book for Hotel Management


@General Knowledge & Current affairs

Pratiyogita Darpan

Manorama Yearbook

Lucent’s GK

Pearson India Yearbook

Arihant General Knowledge


For more details kindly check out the link given below :-

NCHMCT JEE Books 2022- Subject-wise Best Books for NCHM JEE Preparation (careers360.com)


I hope this information helps you.

Good Luck!!

Dear Student ,

IHM Lucknow , better can say Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Lucknow is a public college under Ministry of tourism , Govt of India .

It was established in 1969 . Total 19 faculty currently works here .

The following courses is offered here :

  • B.Sc Hospitality and Hotel Administration
  • Diploma in Bakery and Confectionery
  • Diploma in Food and Beverage Service
  • Diploma in Food Production
  • M.Sc Hospitality and Hotel Administration

Facilities : Hostel, Library, Guest Room etc. facilities are available there

To know more about the courses, refer this :

https://www.careers360.com/colleges/institute-of-hotel-management-catering-technology-and-applied-nutrition-lucknow

Hope this helps !

Hello,

National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NCHM JEE 2022 admit card in online mode tentatively in the first week of June 2022 on the official website, nchmjee.nta.nic.in. Visit the official website of NCHM JEE, nchmjeenta.nic.in. Click on the ‘NCHM JEE 2022 admit card’ tab. Enter your application number and date of birth. NCHMCT JEE 2022 admit card will appear on the screen. Download the admit card and take multiple printouts of the same for future reference. Keep an eye on the official website for the latest information.

View All
Food Scientist

A food scientist enhances the safety, quality, and nutrition of food products. They work on developing recipes, testing for quality, analysing nutrition, optimising processes, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Their work spans labs, factories, and offices, often in collaboration with engineers and quality teams to create safe, innovative, and cost-effective food solutions for the market.

3 Jobs Available
Food Inspector

A Food Inspector ensures the safety and quality of food by inspecting facilities, enforcing regulations, and preventing contamination. They examine food products, check sanitation practices, and uphold public health standards. The role requires knowledge in food science or biology, relevant certifications, and strong analytical skills. Their work is essential in preventing foodborne illnesses and maintaining hygiene standards

2 Jobs Available
Food Engineer

A food engineer applies engineering principles to food production, processing, packaging, and storage to ensure safety, quality, and sustainability. They design processing systems, develop packaging and storage solutions, handle supply chain issues, and ensure compliance with food safety standards. Their work combines engineering, biology, and chemistry to improve food systems.

2 Jobs Available
Food Technologist

A Food Technologist develops safe, nutritious, and innovative food products through research, quality control, and process design. They work in labs, processing units, and sometimes on-site to ensure food safety and customer satisfaction. With growing demand for healthy and processed foods, this career plays a crucial role in modern food production and technology.

2 Jobs Available
Family Social Worker

In a career as family social worker, an individual help those people who grow up in dysfunctional families and suffer from mild to extreme dysfunction. Some people are able to overcome the obstacles that childhood brought them and have a positive impact on the future. This negative behavior brings great pressure on family members. Sometimes they need help to learn how to deal with certain family situations or problems faced on a personal level. Individuals who opt for a career as family social worker can help restore harmony by providing services to families in crisis.

4 Jobs Available
Chef

Individuals in chef career path work responsibilities include planning the menu, observing the kitchen, and supervising the entire kitchen staff. In the beginning, a trainee chef might be asked to wash dishes, clean the kitchen, and chop vegetables. There is a gradual process of learning and growth to reach the final destination ‘head chef’.

Every restaurant needs a culinarian and the country has a thousand great restaurant chains. So, there are immense career opportunities as well. In this article, we will discuss Chef roles and responsibilities, how to become a Chef in India, Chef skills, Chef eligibility, how to become chef after 12th and Chef qualification.

2 Jobs Available
Event Manager

An Event Manager plans, coordinates, and oversees events like weddings, conferences, and festivals. They work with clients to understand needs, manage budgets, coordinate vendors, and handle logistics. Strong organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills are essential. Career opportunities exist in agencies, hotels, or freelancing, with growth potential into senior roles like Event Director.

2 Jobs Available
Travel Agent

A travel agent helps clients plan and book trips by arranging transport, accommodation, and tours. They offer advice on visas, insurance, and travel safety, and handle itinerary changes or cancellations. Using industry knowledge, they customise travel experiences and secure deals. Travel agents also support clients throughout their journey, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.

2 Jobs Available
Linguist

Linguistic meaning is related to language or Linguistics which is the study of languages. A career as a linguistic meaning, a profession that is based on the scientific study of language, and it's a very broad field with many specialities. Famous linguists work in academia, researching and teaching different areas of language, such as phonetics (sounds), syntax (word order) and semantics (meaning). 

Other researchers focus on specialities like computational linguistics, which seeks to better match human and computer language capacities, or applied linguistics, which is concerned with improving language education. Still, others work as language experts for the government, advertising companies, dictionary publishers and various other private enterprises. Some might work from home as freelance linguists. Philologist, phonologist, and dialectician are some of Linguist synonym. Linguists can study French, German, Italian

2 Jobs Available
Hotel Manager

A hotel manager oversees daily hotel operations, ensuring guest satisfaction, staff efficiency, and financial performance. Key duties include managing guest services, supervising staff, handling budgets, maintaining facilities, and promoting the hotel. A degree in hospitality and work experience are usually required, along with strong leadership and communication skills.

2 Jobs Available
Food Stylist

A food stylist is a culinary art specialist who is responsible for making the food look arranged in a presentable way decked up with accessories for a close shot. He or she works with chefs, photographers and editors.

2 Jobs Available
Bartender

The bartender is the person who mixes and serves drinks at the bar. He or she helps the people to serve drinks at parties which adds to the glamour of the event or the night and makes the environment like a party mood. It is difficult to plan parties without the help of a bartender serving beers and alcohol with all the mixing techniques. 

Students can pursue BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management), or other related courses to opt for a bartender career in India. Here, in this article, we will discuss the details of how to become a Bartender in India, bartending a good job, bartender career growth, bartender roles and responsibilities, bartender courses in India, and bartender skills. 

2 Jobs Available
Station Master

A Station Master ensures the smooth and safe operation of trains at a railway station. Appointed by the Railway Recruitment Board, they manage train schedules, operate signals, oversee station facilities, assist passengers, and supervise staff. Their role is crucial for maintaining safety, punctuality, and passenger convenience, making it a responsible and rewarding career in Indian Railways.

4 Jobs Available
Linguist

Linguistic meaning is related to language or Linguistics which is the study of languages. A career as a linguistic meaning, a profession that is based on the scientific study of language, and it's a very broad field with many specialities. Famous linguists work in academia, researching and teaching different areas of language, such as phonetics (sounds), syntax (word order) and semantics (meaning). 

Other researchers focus on specialities like computational linguistics, which seeks to better match human and computer language capacities, or applied linguistics, which is concerned with improving language education. Still, others work as language experts for the government, advertising companies, dictionary publishers and various other private enterprises. Some might work from home as freelance linguists. Philologist, phonologist, and dialectician are some of Linguist synonym. Linguists can study French, German, Italian

2 Jobs Available
Travel Planner

A travel planner is a professional who assists clients or people in planning and organising their trips. He or she is responsible for making arrangements for the client's travel requirements such as reservations, booking flights, and arranging transport. A travel planner may also visit the holiday destinations and resorts to help the clients make informed decisions.

In a career as a travel planner, he or she must design cost-effective travel packages according to the client's needs and budget and provide the best recommendations to them. The travel planner oversees the negotiations for the accommodation, transportation, rental companies, tour guides and restaurants for the clients to get the maximum benefits of trips.   

2 Jobs Available
Travel Agent

A travel agent helps clients plan and book trips by arranging transport, accommodation, and tours. They offer advice on visas, insurance, and travel safety, and handle itinerary changes or cancellations. Using industry knowledge, they customise travel experiences and secure deals. Travel agents also support clients throughout their journey, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.

2 Jobs Available
Travel Journalist

A travel journalist explores destinations and shares experiences through articles, blogs, or social media. They plan trips, manage logistics, and may create guidebooks. A degree in Journalism or Mass Communication is typical, with added value from internships and skills in photography or film-making.

2 Jobs Available
Back to top