Diploma in Professional Cookery

This part-time course is for the aspiring chefs of the future and gives you the opportunity to gain a professional qualification in order to further your career in the catering industry. Working in our state of the art training kitchens, this course will give you the skills and techniques to work in a range of establishments within the hospitality and catering industry.

* Great news... if you're aged 19 or over and earning less than £20,319 a year (gross salary), you may not have to pay for this course. Apply online now!

Important Notice

Please note that all courses are subject to minimum numbers. If there are too few enrolments, the College may cancel the course. A place on your chosen course is not confirmed until enrolment is complete and any relevant fees are paid.

If you have any questions about this course, please contact us.

Tel: 023 8048 4848
Email: enquiries@southampton-city.ac.uk 

The aim of this course is to learn good, professional cookery skills that will equip you for industry.

You will learn how to prepare and cook a range of products including stocks, soups, fruit and vegetables, fish and shellfish, meat and offal, poultry, pasta, rice, grain, eggs, hot and cold desserts, fermented dough, and pastries.

Alongside the main kitchen techniques and skills, this course also includes health and safety, hygiene and all of the cookery elements.

The work is mainly practical and you will need to complete a portfolio of evidence. Your portfolio will consist of an element of written knowledge and practical assessments at college, or at your place of work by one of our assessors. This course normally lasts one year of study, depending on experience and progress.

This qualification is practically based with some formal classroom based learning.  Assessment is ongoing and allows for a range of learning styles through workshops, taught sessions and practical work.

Our modern commercial kitchens and commercial fine dining restaurant (Aspire) will provide you with the perfect place to learn your trade in this industry.

There is no formal exam for this qualification, every unit is tested with a short test either short answer or multiple choice. Practical units are observed and assessed in the kitchen.

You will either already be working in the catering industry or wishing to make catering a professional career.

Appropriate levels of English and Maths will be required for the course and at the required interview all applicants will have an assessment test.

• Apprenticeship in Hospitality or Catering
• Employment in the hospitality and catering industry

You will need catering equipment including full chef’s whites, a set of knives and safety shoes costing approximately £200.

All ingredients for this course are provided by the college.