CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore (CFTRI) is India’s national laboratory for food science and technology. It operates under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, and was established on 21 October 1950. Its academic degrees are awarded by the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), an Institution of National Importance created through an Act of Parliament.

AcSIR holds the 9th position among Research Institutions in NIRF Research 2025. CFTRI has more than 150 scientists and researchers working in food engineering, nutrition, biochemistry, biotechnology and food safety. Its 148-acre campus in Mysuru includes pilot plants, advanced instrumentation services, a library, cafeteria and medical centre.

Students can choose from the following postgraduate and research programmes:

  • The 2-year M.Sc Food Technology is CFTRI’s main taught postgraduate programme and has 30 general seats in each batch.
  • The integrated M.Sc and PhD in Nutritional Biology runs for 5 to 6 years and is designed for students seeking a research-focused route.
  • PhD options in Sciences and Engineering cover Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemical Sciences, Chemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, Microbiology and Engineering.
Admission Update: Applications for the M.Sc Food Technology 2027-29 batch are expected to begin in early 2027. PhD applications are submitted through the official AcSIR portal at acsir.res.in.

CFTRI Admission Dates 2027

CFTRI holds a national-level entrance examination at Mysuru each year for M.Sc Food Technology admission. AcSIR manages PhD selection through an aptitude test and interview. The next admission activities are expected during the periods listed below.

Event Date
M.Sc Food Technology 2027-29 notification and applicationEarly 2027
M.Sc Food Technology 2027-29 national entrance examinationJune to July 2027
Applications open for the AcSIR PhD February 2027 sessionNovember 2026 to January 2027
CFTRI interview for the PhD February 2027 sessionJanuary to February 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

CFTRI Courses and Fees

CFTRI provides specialised postgraduate and research education through AcSIR. It does not run undergraduate courses. Laboratory research and work with pilot-plant facilities form an important part of every programme.

Course Duration Eligibility Total Fees
M.Sc Food Technology2 years (4 semesters)B.Sc or B.Tech in a relevant science or technology subject with 55% marksINR 1.24 Lakhs
Integrated M.Sc and PhD in Nutritional Biology5 to 6 yearsB.Sc in a relevant science subject with 60% marksINR 2.80 Lakhs
PhD in Food Technology, Food Science and Technology, or Food Science and Nutrition3 to 5 yearsMaster degree in a relevant field with 55% marks and a JRF or SRF fellowshipINR 85,000
PhD in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Chemical Sciences, or Chemistry3 to 5 yearsMaster degree in a relevant science subject with 55% marks and a JRF or SRF fellowshipINR 85,000
PhD in Engineering (Food Process Engineering)3 to 5 yearsM.E. or M.Tech with 55% marks, or B.Tech with 75% marks, along with a fellowshipINR 85,000

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

The M.Sc Food Technology intake includes 30 general seats. There are also 2 seats each for Defence personnel, industry-sponsored applicants and foreign nationals. Most PhD scholars obtain CSIR-JRF or SRF, UGC-JRF, DBT, DST or ICMR support, which covers a monthly stipend and contingency expenses.

CFTRI Admission Process

M.Sc Food Technology

CFTRI selects M.Sc Food Technology students through its own objective-type National-Level Entrance Examination. The test is normally held once a year at Mysuru during June or July.

  • Applicants must hold a B.Sc or B.Tech in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Nutrition or a related science subject. The minimum aggregate is 55%, reduced to 50% for SC, ST and PH applicants.
  • Eligible students take the written examination at CFTRI Mysuru, after which the institute prepares the merit list.
  • The seat distribution is 30 general seats, 2 Defence seats, 2 industry-sponsored seats and 2 seats for foreign nationals.
  • SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PH reservations follow Government of India rules.

PhD (Sciences and Engineering)

AcSIR conducts CFTRI PhD admissions twice each year for its February and August sessions.

  • For a Science PhD, an applicant needs a 2-year Master degree in Science with 55% marks, or 50% for SC, ST and PH categories. A 4-year B.Sc with 75% marks is another accepted qualification.
  • Engineering PhD applicants require an M.E. or M.Tech with 55% marks. Those holding a 4-year B.Tech must have 75% marks.
  • Most seats require a valid national fellowship such as CSIR-NET JRF, UGC-NET JRF, DBT-JRF, ICMR-JRF, DST-INSPIRE or GATE with an MHRD scholarship. Shortlisted applicants then attend an aptitude test and interview at CFTRI.
  • Applications must be filed through the AcSIR portal at acsir.res.in.

M.Sc and PhD in Nutritional Biology (Integrated)

Selection for this integrated course takes place through a separate CFTRI entrance test or a direct interview. Applicants need a B.Sc in a relevant science field with at least 60% marks.

CFTRI Placements and Career Outcomes

CFTRI students move into food-sector jobs, research positions and industry R and D roles. Food and FMCG companies recruit M.Sc Food Technology graduates through campus placements. PhD holders commonly pursue academic work, government research or senior industry research positions.

Programme Career Pathway Typical Entry Compensation
M.Sc Food TechnologyR and D, quality assurance and product development roles at Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Nestle, Britannia, Cargill and similar FMCG companiesINR 8 to 10 LPA median for campus offers
Integrated M.Sc and PhD in Nutritional BiologyResearch posts at ICMR or NIN, food policy work and academic faculty positionsINR 60,000 to 80,000 per month in a government position after the PhD
PhD in Sciences and EngineeringPost-doctoral study in India or abroad, CSIR laboratory posts, university teaching and senior R and D management in the food, pharmaceutical or agricultural industryINR 47,000 per month as a JRF during the PhD; INR 8 to 14 LPA for an industry position after the PhD

CFTRI Rankings

Degrees offered at CFTRI come from AcSIR, the national research university established by an Act of Parliament for CSIR constituent laboratories. NIRF evaluates AcSIR in its Research Institutions category rather than assigning CFTRI a separate position.

Ranking Body Category 2025 Rank
NIRF, through AcSIRResearch Institutions9

The 9th-place NIRF Research 2025 ranking represents the combined research output and academic quality of AcSIR and all 37 CSIR constituent laboratories, including CFTRI Mysore.

CFTRI Campus and Infrastructure

CSIR-CFTRI occupies a 148-acre campus in Mysuru, Karnataka. Research laboratories and pilot plants operate alongside a residential colony. Students and researchers have access to a central library, an instrumentation centre, an auditorium, a cafeteria, a gym and a medical centre. Eligible PhD scholars can also receive housing on campus.

The pilot plants support food-processing research in milling, extrusion, fermentation, spray drying, cold-storage simulation and specialised food packaging. CFTRI’s High-End Instrumentation Facility contains equipment for NMR, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy and flow cytometry, and research scholars can use these services. The campus is a DSIR-certified in-house R and D facility and supports industry collaboration through CSIR Open Source Drug Discovery and Technology Business Incubator models.

CFTRI vs NIFTEM vs IICPT Thanjavur

Students exploring government-funded food technology institutes may compare CFTRI Mysore, NIFTEM in Kundli and IICPT Thanjavur. Their courses and research areas support different academic and career routes within the food sector.

Parameter CFTRI Mysore NIFTEM Kundli, Haryana IICPT Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
TypeCSIR National Research LaboratoryInstitute of National Importance, Government of IndiaCSIR Constituent Laboratory
Established195020121989
FocusFull range of food research and technologyFood technology education and entrepreneurshipCrop processing and packaging
Flagship ProgrammeM.Sc Food Technology with 30 seats and PhD programmesB.Tech Food Technology, M.Tech and MBA in Food BusinessM.Tech Food Processing Technology and PhD
Degree Awarding BodyAcSIR, ranked 9th in NIRF ResearchNIFTEM, a deemed universityAcSIR
Admission BasisCFTRI entrance examination; JRF qualification for PhD admissionJEE Main for B.Tech; GATE for M.TechGATE or JRF for PhD; entrance examination for M.Tech
Industry LinksITC, Hindustan Unilever, Nestle, Britannia and CargillNational food-processing industryFood industry in Tamil Nadu and southern India

CFTRI is distinguished by its research facilities, its scientific work since 1950 and the connection between its M.Sc curriculum and CSIR pilot plants. NIFTEM provides B.Tech and food-processing entrepreneurship routes. IICPT concentrates on crop processing and post-harvest work, making it relevant to students interested in the agricultural processing sector of Tamil Nadu.

CFTRI FAQs

Ques. Which degrees can students pursue at CFTRI Mysore?

Ans. The institute runs a 2-year M.Sc Food Technology course with 30 general seats, a 5 to 6-year integrated M.Sc and PhD in Nutritional Biology, and full-time PhD courses. Research fields include Food Technology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Microbiology, Food Science and Nutrition, and Engineering. CFTRI has no undergraduate programmes. AcSIR, an Institution of National Importance, awards all these degrees.

Ques. Who can seek admission to CFTRI’s M.Sc Food Technology course?

Ans. A B.Sc or B.Tech in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Nutrition or a related science field is required. Applicants need at least 55% aggregate marks, while SC, ST and PH applicants need 50%. Selection depends on CFTRI’s national-level entrance examination, generally conducted once each year at Mysuru in June or July.

Ques. Is financial support available to CFTRI PhD scholars?

Ans. Yes. Most scholars receive monthly support from national funding programmes. A CSIR-JRF provides INR 37,000 per month, which increases to INR 42,000 per month at the SRF stage. UGC-JRF, DBT-JRF, ICMR-JRF and DST-INSPIRE awards are also accepted. Students holding these fellowships may apply for the CFTRI PhD through AcSIR, and the full programme fee is INR 85,000.

Ques. Does CFTRI have an independent NIRF position?

Ans. No separate NIRF rank is assigned to CFTRI. Its degrees are awarded through AcSIR, which secured the 9th rank in the NIRF Research Institutions category in 2025. This collective ranking covers all 37 CSIR constituent laboratories, including CFTRI Mysore.

Ques. What jobs and salaries can follow an M.Sc Food Technology from CFTRI?

Ans. Graduates enter R and D, quality assurance, product development and regulatory affairs. Recruiters from earlier years include Hindustan Unilever, ITC Limited, Nestle and Britannia. The median campus package is typically INR 8 to 10 LPA. After a PhD, students may take post-doctoral roles, join research organisations such as CSIR, ICMR or NIN, or enter senior industry R and D positions paying INR 8 to 14 LPA.

Ques. What steps are involved in applying for a CFTRI PhD?

Ans. Candidates apply through the AcSIR portal at acsir.res.in for the February or August intake. They normally need a national JRF qualification through CSIR-NET, UGC-NET, DBT, ICMR or DST-INSPIRE. Shortlisted applicants complete an aptitude test and interview at CFTRI. Final selection considers their research ability and how well their proposed work matches active CFTRI projects.