Why Study / Key Benefits

• Progress from beginner-level cookery towards intermediate commercial-kitchen skills.

• Develop the ability to prepare and present complex hot and cold dishes, patisserie items and desserts.

• Gain practical experience in UCOL’s commercial kitchen and training restaurants, including Ambitions and Visions.

• Palmerston North students may have the opportunity to prepare meals served at Ambitions Training Restaurant.

• Learn professional kitchen practices, food safety, hygiene, equipment operation, teamwork and customer relations.

• Build a foundation for entry-level chef roles and further culinary study.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification consists of four 30-credit courses, totalling 120 credits.

- Cookery Fundamentals – 30 credits

• Health, safety and hygiene in a commercial kitchen.

• Operation, monitoring and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

• Hazard identification, scene assessment and prioritising safety risks.

• Environmental and personal safety procedures.

• Basic life support and first-aid response in simulated situations.

• Recipe interpretation, weighing and measuring, ingredient preparation and equipment use.

• Food commodities, cookery terminology, food safety and basic nutrition.

• Preparing, producing and presenting basic and hot-kitchen dishes.

• Basic and complex cooking skills.

• Introduction to stocks, soups, sauces and cooking methods.

• Professional kitchen practice standards.

- Applied Complex Cookery Skills – 30 credits

• Health, safety and hygiene in commercial kitchens.

• Team communication and interaction.

• Sociocultural skills for working in a commercial kitchen.

• Teamwork and equipment maintenance.

• Basic nutrition applications.

• Menu writing that incorporates nutrients, healthy food and special diets.

• Preparing and presenting complex hot-kitchen dishes, patisserie and desserts.

• Recipe interpretation, weighing and measuring, ingredient preparation and equipment use.

• Food safety, nutrition and professional practice standards.

- Restaurant Cookery and Professional Practice – 30 credits

• Working in intermediate chef positions in a commercial kitchen.

• Team communication and interaction.

• Applying sociocultural skills in a professional kitchen.

• Applying industry knowledge while working as part of a team.

• Preparing and presenting complex cold-larder dishes.

• Preparing and presenting complex hot-kitchen dishes.

• Preparing and presenting patisserie and dessert dishes.

• Recipe interpretation, weighing, measuring and ingredient preparation.

• Kitchen equipment, cookery processes, food commodities and terminology.

• Food safety, nutrition and professional practice standards.

- Industry Cookery Skills – 30 credits

• UCOL describes this course as developing skills to improve employment opportunities in commercial kitchens across the hospitality sector.

• Detailed subject-by-subject content for this 30-credit course is not set out on the public programme page. Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

Disciplines / Specialisations

• Main discipline: Cookery and Culinary Arts.

• Related subject areas include commercial kitchen operations, complex cookery, cold-larder preparation, hot-kitchen cookery, patisserie, desserts, restaurant cookery, food safety, nutrition and professional kitchen practice.

• No separate formal specialisations or elective pathways are listed on the programme page.

Programme Highlights

• Practical learning in commercial kitchen facilities.

• Training with industry-experienced professionals.

• Practical experience in UCOL’s training restaurants, Ambitions and Visions.

• Opportunity for Palmerston North students to prepare meals served at Ambitions Training Restaurant.

• A 120-credit qualification covering foundational and complex cookery.

• Training in hot and cold dishes, patisserie and desserts.

• Development of professional kitchen standards, teamwork, food safety and customer relationship skills.

• UCOL Hospitality Schools are members of NZ Chefs and participate in the Manawat? Hospitality Awards

Career Outcomes

UCOL states that successful graduates should be able to:

• Monitor and maintain health and safety, food safety and security practices.

• Manage workplace and customer relationships.

• Apply standard operating policies and procedures in commercial kitchen roles.

• Prepare, cook and present cold-larder dishes, hot-kitchen dishes, patisserie and desserts using complex preparation and presentation techniques.

Potential employment settings listed by UCOL include:

• Commercial kitchens.

• Commercial catering businesses.

• Café kitchens.

• Institutional catering.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

Current programme information:

• UCOL currently lists the 2027 intake at Palmerston North and Masterton, both beginning on 22 February 2027.

• The published international tuition fee is NZD $27,982.

• The programme is NZQA-approved, and UCOL is accredited to deliver it.

Attendance and practical requirements:

• Full attendance is encouraged.

• At least 80% attendance at practical classes is compulsory to meet external examination requirements.

• Students may be required to work after hours when studying at Palmerston North.

• Applicants should be aware of the physical requirements of working in a commercial kitchen.

• Students with special needs or requirements should advise the Head of School in writing before the programme begins.

• UCOL recommends literacy and numeracy skills equivalent to NCEA Level 1.

Weekly study commitment:

• 22.5 hours of lecturer-supported learning, including practical kitchen learning, theory and computer work.

• 13 hours of self-directed study.

• Students are advised to have their own internet-capable device for study away from campus.

Additional course costs:

• UCOL uniform.

• Knives.

• Shoes or boots.

• UCOL estimates these additional costs at approximately NZD $824.

• The NZ Chef 4th Edition textbook is optional and listed at an additional NZD $153.99.

Recognition of Prior Learning:

• Students who believe they have already met the learning outcomes may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, including credit transfer, cross-credit or assessment of prior learning.

• Applications are assessed individually under UCOL’s academic rules and policies.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally need a Fee Paying Student Visa to study this full-time qualification in New Zealand, subject to Immigration New Zealand’s assessment.

Main requirements:

• Offer of Place: An offer from an approved education provider, such as UCOL.

• Tuition fees: Evidence that you have paid, or can pay, the tuition fees for one course or one year of study, whichever is shorter. Applicants applying from outside New Zealand may be able to wait until approval in principle before paying, subject to Immigration New Zealand’s process.

• Living funds: For tertiary study lasting less than one year, Immigration New Zealand’s published requirement is NZD $1,667 per month. The amount required depends on the period being assessed.

• Outward travel: Evidence of a ticket out of New Zealand or sufficient additional funds to buy one.

• Insurance: Acceptable medical and travel insurance for the duration of the stay.

• Health and character: Applicants must meet Immigration New Zealand’s health and character requirements.

• Genuine study intention: Applicants must demonstrate a genuine reason for coming to New Zealand to study.

• Supporting documents: A valid passport, offer-of-place evidence, tuition and living-funds evidence, and any other documents requested by Immigration New Zealand.

UCOL application and insurance process:

• Prepare certified proof of English-language proficiency, identification, academic transcripts and certificates, and any additional documents requested for the programme.

• If accepted, sign and return the Offer of Place as instructed by UCOL.

• UCOL requires international students to have medical and travel insurance.

• UCOL automatically enrols international students in its preferred Studentsafe insurance. The insurance cost is included in the Offer of Place.

• Students arranging their own insurance must provide evidence that the policy meets UCOL’s requirements.

Visa cost and processing:

• Fee Paying Student Visa cost: from NZD $850.

• Immigration New Zealand states that 80% of applications are processed within 7 weeks.

• The visa can be granted for up to four years, although the actual period normally relates to the paid study period and passport validity.

• Immigration New Zealand recommends applying at least three months before planned travel.

Work rights:

• Eligible student visa holders may be permitted to work up to 25 hours per week during study.

• Full-time work may be allowed during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions on the visa.

• Immigration New Zealand states that students seeking full-time work rights during scheduled holidays must provide evidence that their course has a value of 120 credits and show the scheduled holiday dates.

• This programme is listed as 120 credits and includes 6 holiday weeks. However, work rights are not automatic; the student must check the conditions granted on their visa.

UCOL pathway visa information:

• UCOL states that it is an approved provider for the pathway student visa pilot.

• A pathway visa may allow eligible international students to study up to three consecutive programmes on one visa, for up to five years.

• This is a separate visa pathway and should not be confused with the standard Fee Paying Student Visa. Eligibility and conditions must be checked with Immigration New Zealand.