Bachelor of Tourism Studies [BTS]

The Bachelor of Tourism Studies (BTS) is a 3-year full-time undergraduate programme offered through affiliated colleges of Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), Kottayam, spread across 6 semesters. The programme covers core areas such as fundamentals of tourism, travel agency and tour operations, hospitality management, eco-tourism, tourism marketing, cultural heritage, and computerised office management. Total fees across affiliated colleges typically range from approximately Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 46,500 for the full course depending on the college type (aided/unaided), making it one of the most affordable tourism degree programmes in Kerala. Admission is merit-based through MGU's Centralized Allotment Process (CAP) with no entrance exam required. The course is highly popular among students in Kerala owing to the state's booming tourism industry, strong placement prospects in travel agencies, star hotels, airports, and tour operators both in India and abroad.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are upcoming. The MGU UG CAP 2026 will commence shortly after the publication of Kerala Plus Two (DHSE) results, which are expected around May 22, 2026. Students must register on the CAP portal (cap.mgu.ac.in) after results are declared to secure a seat.

Key Points

• The BTS programme is offered at multiple affiliated colleges of MGU across the Kottayam region and other districts of Kerala, including aided, government, and self-financing institutions.
• The curriculum includes mandatory practical training of 3 weeks in tourism enterprises, travel agencies, star hotels, or airports during the second year.
• Students are required to undertake a national tour of a minimum of 3 weeks covering important tourist destinations in the final year, which forms part of the academic requirement.
• The programme equips students for higher studies in tourism such as MTM (Master of Tourism Management), MTA (Master of Tourism Administration), MBA (Tourism), and MTTM (Master of Tourism and Travel Management) offered by MGU's own School of Tourism Studies.
• Kerala, being one of India's top tourist destinations and the first state to introduce Responsible Tourism, provides an ideal ecosystem for BTS graduates to find employment locally and internationally.

MGU BTS Fees

Fee Structure

• Fee structures vary significantly between government-aided and self-financing affiliated colleges.
• The figures above are indicative ranges based on MGU government orders and available data.
• University examination fees are subject to a 5% annual increase as per MGU orders (latest order for 2025-26 issued in April 2025).
• Hostel facility is optional and available at select affiliated colleges.
• It is not mandatory for the BTS programme.
• Caution deposit (if collected) is refundable at the time of leaving the institution, subject to no dues.
• No EMI facility is formally offered by the university; however, individual colleges may allow instalment-based payment of college-level fees.
• Students are also required to bear the cost of the mandatory national tour (final year) and practical training travel, which are not included in the above fee structure.

MGU BTS Admission 2026

MGU UG CAP 2026 Admission Schedule

• The above dates are tentative and based on the MGU UG CAP 2025 schedule pattern.
• Official dates for 2026 will be published at cap.mgu.ac.in after Kerala Plus Two results are declared.

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must have passed the Plus Two (Higher Secondary) examination of the Kerala Board (DHSE/VHSE/THSE) or an equivalent examination recognised by Mahatma Gandhi University.
• A pass in Plus Two in any stream (Science, Commerce, or Humanities) is sufficient; no specific subject combination is mandatory.
• SC/ST candidates need only a pass in the qualifying examination without any minimum percentage requirement.

Admission Process

• Register on the MGU CAP portal (cap.mgu.ac.in) after Kerala Plus Two results are declared.
• Upload required documents including Plus Two mark sheet, community certificate (if applicable), and other relevant certificates.
• Submit college and course preferences (options) in order of priority on the CAP portal.
• Allotment is made based on merit (Plus Two marks), reservation norms, and options submitted.
• Candidates allotted a seat must pay the university fee online and report to the allotted college within the stipulated dates for admission.
• Candidates not satisfied with the allotment may participate in subsequent supplementary allotments.

MGU BTS Scholarships 2026

Scholarship Details

• E-Grantz is the primary scholarship for SC/ST/OEC students in Kerala and covers tuition fees and a maintenance allowance.
• Applications are submitted through the college at the beginning of each academic year.
• The KSHEC scholarship is awarded based on Plus Two marks and is disbursed annually.
• Students must apply through their respective colleges.
• For Central Government scholarships (NSP), the application window typically opens in October-November each year on the National Scholarship Portal.
• Students are advised to apply for scholarships at the earliest after admission, as deadlines are typically within the first few months of the academic year.

MGU BTS FAQs

Ques. Is there any entrance exam for BTS admission at MGU-affiliated colleges?

Ans. No, there is no separate entrance examination for BTS admission at MGU-affiliated colleges. Admission is entirely merit-based through the MGU Centralized Allotment Process (CAP). Your Plus Two marks are the sole criterion for allotment. You need to register on the CAP portal (cap.mgu.ac.in) after Kerala Plus Two results are declared, submit your college preferences, and allotment is done based on your marks and the options you have filled. Some self-financing colleges may conduct their own aptitude test or interview for management quota seats, but the CAP quota seats are purely merit-based.

Ques. What are the career options after completing BTS from an MGU-affiliated college?

Ans. After completing BTS, graduates can work in travel agencies, tour operators, star hotels, airlines (ground staff, ticketing), cruise lines, tourism boards, and event management companies both in India and abroad. Kerala's thriving tourism industry, including backwater tourism, eco-tourism, and heritage tourism, provides strong local employment opportunities. Many graduates also pursue higher studies such as MTM, MTA, MBA (Tourism), or MTTM at MGU's School of Tourism Studies or other universities. Doing additional diploma courses like IATA/UFTAA (ticketing) after BTS significantly improves job prospects in the airline and travel sector.

Ques. What is the difference between BTS offered at aided colleges versus self-financing colleges under MGU?

Ans. The primary difference is in the fee structure. Government-aided colleges charge very nominal fees (a few hundred to a couple of thousand rupees per semester) as the government subsidises the cost, while self-financing colleges charge higher fees (approximately Rs. 7,560 to Rs. 10,080 per semester as per MGU government orders). The syllabus and degree awarded are the same from MGU in both cases. However, aided colleges typically have limited seats and higher competition for admission through CAP, while self-financing colleges may have more seats available including management quota. Infrastructure and placement support may vary between individual colleges.

Ques. Can students from outside Kerala apply for BTS at MGU-affiliated colleges?

Ans. Yes, students from outside Kerala can apply for BTS at MGU-affiliated colleges. The MGU CAP portal accepts applications from candidates who have passed Plus Two or equivalent examinations from any recognised board in India (CBSE, ISC, state boards, etc.). However, reservation benefits (such as community quota, E-Grantz scholarship) are primarily available to Kerala domicile students. Non-Kerala students compete under the open merit category. The CAP portal has a separate registration process for candidates from CBSE/ISC and other boards.

Ques. Is the mandatory national tour and practical training included in the fees?

Ans. No, the cost of the mandatory national tour (minimum 3 weeks in the final year) and the 3-week practical training in tourism enterprises/hotels/airports (second year) is not included in the regular tuition fees. These are additional expenses that students bear themselves. The national tour is an academic requirement and the tour report is submitted as part of the curriculum. The cost of the tour varies depending on the destinations covered and is typically organised by the college's tourism department. Students should budget separately for these components when planning their finances.

Ques. After BTS, can I directly apply for MTTM at MGU's School of Tourism Studies?

Ans. Yes, BTS graduates are eligible to apply for the Master of Tourism and Travel Management (MTTM) programme at MGU's School of Tourism Studies (sts.mgu.ac.in). The eligibility for MTTM is a Bachelor's degree (10+2+3) with a minimum of 50% marks in any discipline from MGU or any recognised university. Admission to MTTM is through MGU CAT (Common Admission Test), which is a national-level entrance test conducted by MGU. The CAT 2026 registration is open until April 30, 2026, and the exam is scheduled for May 23-26, 2026. This is one of the most popular PG options for BTS graduates within the MGU system.