Content Curator | Updated on - Mar 31, 2026

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai offers a full-time M.Phil. in Tourism and Hotel Management, a 1-year (2-semester) research-oriented postgraduate programme under the Centre for Tourism and Hotel Management. MKU is a pioneer in Tourism and Hospitality Education in South India, offering this programme to equip scholars with advanced research skills in tourism planning, hospitality management, destination development, and sustainable tourism. The total programme fee is approximately Rs. 16,185, and admission is based on a university-level entrance test. The programme is popular among students seeking a research career or academic positions in the rapidly growing tourism and hospitality sector. The mode of study is full-time, on-campus at Palkalai Nagar, Madurai.

Admissions for the 2026-27 academic year are currently open. The last date to submit online applications is April 6, 2026, and the entrance examination for PG programmes is scheduled for May 23-24, 2026 (tentative). Applications are available on the MKU admissions portal from March 2, 2026.

Key Points

Offered under the Centre for Tourism and Hotel Management, one of the pioneering tourism education centres in South India.
The programme follows the CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) and requires a minimum of 36 credits for successful completion.
Research areas include tourism planning, hospitality management, destination development, sustainable tourism, heritage tourism, and tourism marketing.
The Centre has active research guidance with 10 Ph.D. degrees awarded and ongoing research projects.
MKU is NAAC A++ accredited (4th Cycle, 2021) and ranked 9th among government multidisciplinary universities in India (Education World, 2022).
The programme provides access to MKU's Central Library with over 3 lakh books, 15,000 e-journals, and 1 Gbps internet connectivity.
Dissertation must be submitted on or before April 30 of the concerned academic year; a 2-month extension is available with a penalty of Rs. 500.

Official Link:

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Highlights
Fees
Admission
Scholarships
FAQs

MKU M.Phil. Tourism Fees

The M.Phil. (Tourism and Hotel Management) at MKU has a total programme fee of approximately Rs. 16,185 for the full 1-year duration. This is among the more affordable M.Phil. programmes at MKU, reflecting its classification under the management/arts category. SC/ST students are eligible for tuition fee waivers as per Tamil Nadu Government norms, and differently-abled students are exempt from tuition and special fees.

Fee Breakdown

Fee Component	Amount (Rs.)
Tuition Fee	10,000
Special Fee (Magazine, Library, Campus Dev., etc.)	3,685
Other Fees (Admission + Recognition)	1,500
Alumni Fee	500
Caution Deposit (Refundable)	500
Total Fees	Rs. 16,185

SC/ST students are exempt from tuition fees as per Tamil Nadu Government norms.
Differently-abled students are exempt from tuition and special fees.
Caution Deposit is fully refundable at the end of the programme.
100% of Special Fees paid are non-refundable.
Refund of 80% of fees (excluding special fee and caution deposit) is available if withdrawal is made at least 15 days before the closing date of admission.
Refund of 50% of fees is available if withdrawal is made less than 15 days before the closing date.
No refund is applicable after the closing date of admission or for spot/varanda admissions.
Payment is to be made through SBI I-Collect to the MKU Registrar Account.
Application fee: Rs. 500 (for M.Phil. programme).

Hostel Fees

Hostel Type	Annual Fee (Approx.)
Men's Hostel (Non-AC Room)	Rs. 13,500 - Rs. 28,500
Women's Hostel (Non-AC Room)	Rs. 13,500 - Rs. 28,500
Mess Charges (Vegetarian)	Rs. 5,000 per year (approx.)
Mess Charges (Non-Vegetarian)	Rs. 8,500 per year (approx.)

Hostel accommodation is optional and subject to availability.
Separate hostels are available for men and women on the MKU campus.

MKU M.Phil. Tourism Admission 2026

Admissions to M.Phil. (Tourism and Hotel Management) at MKU are conducted annually through a university-level entrance test. For 2026-27, the online application process opened on March 2, 2026, with a last date of April 6, 2026. The entrance examination is tentatively scheduled for May 23-24, 2026. Selection is based on 50% weightage to entrance exam marks and 50% weightage to PG marks (up to 5th semester/final year).

MKU Admission Dates

Event	Date
Online Application Opens	March 2, 2026
Last Date for Application Submission	April 6, 2026
Entrance Examination (Tentative)	May 23-24, 2026
Counselling / Selection List Publication	To be announced on MKU website
Commencement of Classes	July 2026 (Tentative)
Dissertation Submission Deadline	April 30, 2027

Entrance Exam Dates

Exam	Purpose	Key Dates
MKU M.Phil. Entrance Test	Mandatory for MKU M.Phil. admission	May 23-24, 2026 (Tentative)
UGC NET (Tourism Administration & Management)	Qualifying exam for JRF/Lectureship	Phase 2: June 2026 (Tentative)

The dates mentioned above are tentative and subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must hold a Master's degree (MBA Tourism and Hotel Management / MA Tourism Management / MBA / MA in related disciplines) from a recognized university.
Minimum 55% aggregate marks in the Master's degree (50% for SC/ST/OBC/Differently-abled candidates).
Candidates appearing in the final year of their Master's programme are also eligible to apply.

Admission Process

Submit online application at admissions.mkuniversity.ac.in before April 6, 2026.
Pay application fee of Rs. 500 online.
Appear for the MKU M.Phil. Entrance Test (objective type, 100 minutes).
Selection is based on 50% entrance test marks + 50% PG marks.
Selected candidates are notified via the MKU website and must report for counselling with original documents.
Pay the prescribed fees through SBI I-Collect on the day of admission.
SC/ST and Christian AdiDravidar students are exempt from registration fees for one programme.

MKU M.Phil. Tourism Scholarships 2026

MKU M.Phil. students can avail of a range of government and university-level scholarships. SC/ST students benefit from tuition fee waivers directly at the time of admission, while other categories can apply for post-matric and merit-based scholarships. Students interested in research careers in tourism can also explore ICSSR fellowships and UGC JRF opportunities.

Available Scholarships

Scholarship / Fellowship	Eligibility	Amount (Approx.)	Offered By
Tamil Nadu State BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship	BC/MBC/DNC students	Varies	Tamil Nadu Government
Post Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)	SC/ST students; family income below Rs. 2.5 lakh	Up to Rs. 20,000 per year	Central / State Government
Post Matric Scholarship for Minorities	Minority community students	Varies	Ministry of Minority Affairs
Post Matric Scholarship for Disabilities	Differently-abled students	Varies	Ministry of Social Justice
UGC Junior Research Fellowship (JRF)	UGC NET qualified candidates	Rs. 37,000/month (JRF)	UGC, Govt. of India
Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF)	SC/ST students	Rs. 25,000/month (JRF level)	UGC, Govt. of India
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)	Minority community students	Rs. 25,000/month	UGC, Govt. of India
ICSSR Junior Research Fellowship	Social science / management research scholars	Rs. 25,000/month	ICSSR, Govt. of India
Non-NET Fellowship	M.Phil. students not holding NET/JRF	Rs. 5,000/month	UGC
University Research Fellowship (URF)	MKU students selected by university	Varies	Madurai Kamaraj University
Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship	Single girl child pursuing higher education	Varies	UGC

SC/ST students must apply for scholarships through the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Welfare Department.
BC/MBC students must apply through the Tamil Nadu BC/MBC Welfare Department.
ICSSR JRF is particularly relevant for Tourism and Hotel Management scholars given its social science and management orientation.
UGC NET in Tourism Administration and Management (Paper Code: 64) is the relevant NET subject for this programme.
Application deadlines for government scholarships vary; students should check the National Scholarship Portal (scholarships.gov.in) for current deadlines.

MKU M.Phil. Tourism FAQs

Ques. What is the scope of M.Phil. Tourism and Hotel Management from MKU and how does it help in a career?

Ans. The M.Phil. in Tourism and Hotel Management from MKU is a research-oriented degree that opens doors to academic careers as lecturers and assistant professors in tourism and hospitality management colleges. It also strengthens research skills for those aspiring to pursue a Ph.D. in the field. Additionally, it is valued in policy research roles with tourism boards, government departments, and international tourism organizations.

Ques. What is the syllabus structure of the M.Phil. Tourism and Hotel Management at MKU?

Ans. The programme follows the CBCS framework and requires a minimum of 36 credits. The curriculum includes Research Methodology (5 credits), a core course in Tourism and Hotel Management (5 credits), an elective course related to the dissertation topic (5 credits), research work/internal marks (6 credits), a dissertation (10 credits), and a viva-voce (5 credits). Students also complete SSS (Soft Skill/Supportive) courses.

Ques. Can candidates with an MBA (not in Tourism) apply for M.Phil. Tourism and Hotel Management at MKU?

Ans. Yes. Candidates with an MBA or any relevant Master's degree in management, tourism, hospitality, or related disciplines are eligible to apply, provided they have a minimum of 55% marks in their PG degree (50% for SC/ST/OBC). The interdisciplinary nature of the programme makes it accessible to students from management, social sciences, and hospitality backgrounds.

Ques. Is there a fellowship or stipend available for M.Phil. students in this programme?

Ans. Students who qualify UGC NET with JRF are eligible for a monthly fellowship of Rs. 37,000. MKU also offers a Non-NET Fellowship of Rs. 5,000/month for M.Phil. students who do not hold a JRF. SC/ST students can apply for the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF). ICSSR JRF is another relevant fellowship for tourism and management research scholars.

Ques. What are the placement and career opportunities after M.Phil. Tourism and Hotel Management from MKU?

Ans. Graduates can pursue Ph.D. programmes in tourism, hospitality, or management at premier institutions. Career opportunities include assistant professor positions in tourism and hotel management colleges, research analyst roles in tourism boards (Tamil Nadu Tourism, Ministry of Tourism), policy research positions in government and NGOs, and consultancy roles in destination management organizations. The tourism sector in India is growing rapidly, creating demand for research-trained professionals.

Ques. How is the M.Phil. Tourism and Hotel Management different from the MBA Tourism and Hotel Management at MKU?

Ans. The MBA Tourism and Hotel Management is a 2-year (or 5-year integrated) professional management programme focused on industry skills, operations, and management practice. The M.Phil. is a 1-year research programme focused on academic research, dissertation writing, and scholarly contribution to the field. The M.Phil. is ideal for those who want to pursue a Ph.D. or an academic career, while the MBA is suited for those targeting industry roles in hotels, travel agencies, and tourism companies.