Catering Course Details - Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Duration, Eligibility, Career Scope

What is Catering

What is Catering?

Catering is one of the highly specialised fields in the hospitality industry. Catering is also a part of the hospitality industry having great career prospects. In India, various colleges and universities provide hospitality courses with catering as a specialisation. Some institutions treat catering separately from the hospitality field and therefore, provide full specialisation in it.

Students can pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, certificate, and other courses in the catering field. The hospitality industry has emerged as one of the major leading industries with great opportunities. The hospitality industry has different parts and has various aspects, such as food service, hotel management, and accommodation. Candidates who wish to pursue a course in catering can check the details like eligibility criteria, admission process, career, scope by going through the article. 

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Catering

Catering Eligibility Criteria Undergraduate Level

• Students should have completed their 10+2 or any other equivalent exam from a recognised board or university.
• Students should have secured a minimum of 45% aggregate marks.
• Students should have English as a compulsory subject in their qualifications.
• Students need to qualify in the entrance exams if there are any.

Catering Eligibility Criteria  Postgraduate Level

• Students should have completed their 10+2 education or any other equivalent exam from a recognised board or university.
• Students are required to have a relevant bachelor’s degree or any other equivalent degree from a recognised board or university.

Catering Eligibility Criteria  Diploma

• Students should have completed their 10+2 education or any other equivalent exam from a recognised board or university.
• Students should have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate marks during their 10+2 exam.

Entrance Exams for Catering

Catering Entrance Exams at Undergraduate Level

There are many catering courses available for students at an undergraduate level. Most of the catering courses or programs are taught jointly with hotel management courses.

There are various undergraduate courses and programs in the field of catering such as B.Sc. (Catering Science and Hospitality Management), B.Sc. (Catering and Hotel Administration), BBA in Hotel and Catering Management, and Bachelor of Catering Technology and Culinary Arts. Just like other undergraduate courses, undergraduate courses in this field are for 3 – 4 years. Generally, there are no entrance exams for getting admitted to catering courses. But, there are some colleges and universities that admit students for some courses like the BHMCT course based on some entrance exams.

Below is the list of the entrance exam that students need to opt for and qualify to get admission in these programs:

NCHMCT JEE – The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology Joint Entrance Exam is accepted by many colleges in the field of Hotel Management and Catering. It is mainly good for getting admissions to IHMs, especially to the BHMCT course. 

There are also other entrance exams conducted by different colleges like IPU CET, BVP CET, and BHU UET.

Catering Entrance Exams at Postgraduate Level

Students can also get admitted to various postgraduate courses and programs in the field of catering. Just like other fields, postgraduate courses in this field are for 1 - 3 years. There are various postgraduate courses and programs in the field of catering, such as M.Sc. in Hotel Management and Catering Science, and an MBA in Hotel and Catering Management. There are no specific entrance exams to get admission to the courses and programs in this field.

Catering Entrance Exams at Diploma

Apart from undergraduate and postgraduate courses, there are also diploma programs in catering. Just like other fields, postgraduate courses in this field are usually for 1 - 2 years. There are various diploma courses and programs in the field of catering, such as Diploma in Catering Management and Advanced Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management. 

Required Skillset for Catering

Skillsets Required for Catering

Below are some of the key skills, every candidate willing to make a career in the catering field should possess:

Good Communication Skills – The field of catering is all about communication with different people, in different places, and at different points of time. Professionals in this field need to communicate with a large number of people daily keeping in mind various things. They also have to communicate effectively with subordinates, co-workers, and higher job authority. It is almost impossible to perform best in this field without having good communication skills.

Willingness – The next important skill that every candidate should have is the willingness, interest, and passion for catering. Candidates should have the willingness to work long and odd hours without any complaints. They also should possess the ability to adjust in any situation, be committed, and be dedicated to a task.

Negotiation and Interpersonal Skills – To deal with clients and other people during the work, candidates should have good negotiation skills. Candidates should know the skill of being a polite demeanor. Candidates should also possess interpersonal skills like being a good speaker as well as a good listener.

Personality – Personality plays a very crucial role in the catering field. Therefore, candidates should have a good personality. Candidates should be responsible, disciplined, outgoing, and pleasant personalities. He/she should also be confident in their work.

Problem Solving Skills – Problems are quite uncertain in this field as they can arise in any place and at any point in time. Problem-solving such as being creative and having a customer-oriented approach in this field is a plus point for candidates.