Bachelor’s Degree in Food Technology: Study Options and Costs in Nepal

Kathmandu: During festivals, we often see authorities inspecting food in hotels and shops to ensure quality. Many such establishments face action for failing to meet standards. This quality-checking work falls under the role of a food technologist. Today, we provide information about the Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology offered in Nepal.

Tribhuvan University (TU) was the first to introduce Food Technology studies in Nepal. The B.Tech. in Food Technology is offered under TU’s Faculty of Science and Technology. Teaching began in 2029 BS at the Central Technology Campus in Dharan, initially with the I.Tech. Food Technology and I.Tech. Lab courses at the +2 level. Undergraduate-level teaching began in 2036 BS, and since 2059 BS, the Central Food Technology Department of TU has also operated from the same campus.

Where Is It Taught?

The course is available at Tribhuvan University and Purbanchal University. Among TU’s constituent campuses, only the Central Technology Campus in Hattisar, Dharan offers B.Tech. in Food Technology. According to Associate Professor Babita Adhikari, Head of the Central Food Department, there are 48 seats available.

Previously a four-year course, the program is now being revised to match global competition and industry needs. “We started teaching under the semester system last year. Students are now in their second semester, while the curriculum for the remaining six semesters is being prepared,” Adhikari said.

In the past decade, several private campuses have received TU affiliation for this program. Currently, ten private and community campuses affiliated with TU offer B.Tech. in Food Technology, with 24 seats in total.

These include:

• National College of Food Science and Technology, Lainchaur, Kathmandu

• Lalitpur Valley College, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur

• Padmashree College, Tinkune

• Golden Gate International College, Battisputli

• Pokhara Science and Technology Campus, Kaski

• Sunsari Technical College, Dharan

Four campuses, Birat Multiple Campus (Biratnagar), Dharan Multiple Campus (Dharan), Nilgiri College (Sunsari), and Nagarik College (Nawalparasi), have been barred from offering the course in the 2082/083 academic session. TU took action after these campuses admitted students without conducting entrance exams last year. They can resume operations next year as per university rules.

Under Purbanchal University, the College of Applied Food and Dairy Technology (CAFODAT) is the only institution offering B.Tech. in Food Technology. Established in 2005, it has 48 seats.

Eligibility

Students who have studied science or hold an equivalent qualification from a recognized educational institution are eligible to apply.

Course Fees

At the Central Technology Campus, 24 students pay full fees and 24 receive scholarships. Full-paying students are charged up to Rs 400,000, while scholarship students pay under Rs 50,000 for the entire program.

Private and community campuses affiliated with TU charge between Rs 600,000 and Rs 800,000. At CAFODAT, the fee is Rs 650,000, with a 10% scholarship provision. According to Vice-Professor Dr. Bhaktapralhad Pandey, the campus is offering a Rs 150,000 discount to the first 20 students enrolled this academic year.

Subjects Covered

The curriculum includes physics, chemistry, biology, medical microbiology, industrial microbiology, and food process engineering. Students gain knowledge and skills from food production to consumption, including, timely harvesting and quality checks, new food product development, storage and packaging technology and nutrient fortification in foods

Students also learn to process agricultural products into items such as beer, wine, biscuits, noodles, and pasta. They are trained to check market food for edibility, detect adulteration or pesticide use, and fortify foods, for example, adding iodine to salt.

Career Opportunities

Food technologists are employed in the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, in district offices, and at border points. They can also work in the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology.

They are essential in all food industries, both for quality testing and research. Food technologists also work in government and private laboratories, hospitals (as dietitians), and nutrition-focused organizations. There is demand for them in national and international bodies, including the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

Entrepreneurial opportunities exist in bakery, pastry, dairy processing, and confectionery industries. Graduates can also export or sell products domestically. Many Nepali food technologists work in developed countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States, with some pursuing higher studies abroad on scholarships.

 

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