Do you dream of being part of a buzzing team of individuals who love experimenting with culinary arts to satiate the most difficult-to-please palate? Then culinary school may be the perfect choice for you. What better place to train than Australia, world famous for the MasterChef series competitive cooking show? Develop your career as a chef and discover everything you need to know about taking your love for cookery to the next level by enrolling in a structured cookery course in Australia.
Why study culinary courses in Australia?
Before we get into details, let's understand why many international students choose to study culinary sciences in Australia:
- 10 universities from Australia were ranked among the best universities in the world for Hospitality and Leisure Management by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.
- The culinary courses in Australia have global acclaim, and studying here opens up opportunities worldwide.
- The availability of many courses of different durations and complexities lets you develop your skills how you want.
- The country’s diverse population and multicultural heritage expose you to a variety of different styles, flavours, and cooking modes.
- Australia’s food culture is vibrant, innovative, and inclusive.
The tourism, hospitality, and hotel industry is growing at an impressive rate after the pandemic lull, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation. This is promising news for the culinary industry, which is closely tied to the hospitality industry.
What is taught in culinary courses?
Culinary and cookery courses are slightly different to conventional study options, and that means you may not know exactly what you will be taught in these programmes. Suffice it to say that it goes well beyond just cooking.
Here’s a quick overview of what to expect, although the course content will depend on the course you pick:
- Cooking skills foundations
- Different kinds of cuisines from across the world
- Food safety and production
- Food prep and food handling
- Knife skills
- Baking basics and skills
- Cooking styles/ methods
- Seasoning
- Food service
- Culinary management skills
- Inventory and cost control/ perishables storage and management
- Menu-making and management
- Kitchen/ staff/ catering service management
- Budget planning
- Hygiene
- Addressing special dietary requirements
- Legal compliance and regulations
- Operational assessment of kitchen and workflow management
- Leading and motivating the kitchen crew
As you can see, your cookery course in Australia can train you to handle a busy kitchen or a restaurant or food truck on your own or get your foothold in a world-class restaurant under a globally known master chef.
Popular Culinary Courses in Australia
Depending on what kind of culinary career path you have in mind, international students can choose from courses in Australia, including:
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
- Certificate III in Patisserie
- Diploma/ Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management
- Certificate IV in Commercial Patisserie
- Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management
- Diploma of Culinary Arts
- Bachelor of Culinary Arts
- Certificate II in Kitchen Operations
There are also associated courses such as:
- Diploma of Food Science and Technology
- Master of Gastronomic Tourism
- Master of Applied Hospitality Management
Within your courses, you may also be able to choose specialisations such as:
- Catering management
- Restaurant management
- Culinary management
- Baking and patisserie
- Bar management
Best culinary schools in Australia
Choosing the right university abroad is as important as picking the course that suits you best. The right university gives you the infrastructure to learn efficiently, experienced faculty for the best training, networking to help you step into the industry and the hands-on experience to get a feel for the culinary world. Here are some top choices offering cookery/culinary courses in Australia:
1. TAFE International Western Australia
Part of the Department of Training and Workforce Development, TAFE WA offers several vocational courses. International students get the advantage of world-class facilities on campuses at key locations and learn from expert trainers with close connections to the industry. With the goal being employment-based training, TAFE WA is a great place for you to complete your culinary course so that you can ensure an easy transition into your career path.
Some cookery-related courses offered here are:
- Certificate IV in Hospitality
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management
- Certificate IV in Patisserie
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
- Certificate III in Patisserie
The TAFE cookery course costs in Australia can be divided into tuition fees, resource fees, and materials fees. The tuition fees are approximately AUD 6,000 a semester. Note that you can combine courses here so that you add a slew of credentials to your CV without having to repeat your English language requirements or any other duplicated requirements for higher-level programs.
2. Le Cordon Bleu
When it comes to culinary education, Le Cordon Bleu is one of the first and most recognised names that comes to mind. Known for its high-quality training and education in the culinary, business and hospitality segments, this institution offers globally approved degrees and programs, all backed by the accreditation of the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Authority (TEQSA).
They are also registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), and their programmes come with a Work Integrated Learning segment that gets you valuable hands-on experience as you study. They have over 30 years of presence in the industry.
Here are some of the cookery courses they offer along with the tuition fees:
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery- AUD 39,476
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management- AUD 13,081
- Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 66,729
- Certificate III in Patisserie- AUD 39,476
- Certificate IV in Patisserie- AUD 13,081
- Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 66,729
UG and PG Hospitality Management courses:
- Bachelor of Business – AUD 59,880
- Bachelor of Business Administration- AUD 59,880
- Master of Business Administration- AUD 54,080
- Master of Applied Hospitality Management- AUD 54,080
They also offer many short courses like:
- Les Fondements de la Cuisine (5 weeks)- AUD 3180
- Les Fondements de la Patisserie (5 weeks)- AUD 3180
- Les Fondements de la Boulangerie- AUD 3180
3. William Angliss Institute
In 2021, the William Angliss Institute earned the Large Training Provider of the Year Australian Training award. More than 20,000 students enrol at this institution annually to take advantage of the short and long-term courses, traineeships, and apprenticeships. The institute also offers innovative solutions and consultancy to clients both within Australia and abroad, giving it great industry connections globally. These are some course options available at William Angliss:
- Certificate III in Patisserie- AUD 20,400 full tuition
- Certificate IV in Patisserie- AUD 30,600 full tuition
- Diploma of Food Science and Technology- AUD 8,800 per semester
- Bachelor of Culinary Management- AUD 10,800 per semester
- Bachelor of Food Studies- AUD 10,800 per semester
4. Charles Darwin University (CDU)
CDU ranked 401-500 in the world according to the Times Higher Education ranking 2024. It also ranks within the first 10 for full-time employment in Australia, according to the Good Universities Guide 2024. With more than 300+ programmes on offer in various fields, CDU is a great place for your study abroad dreams. As a young university, CDU embraces innovative teaching and training methods to the advantage of students.
Some programmes here for an aspiring chef or culinary arts student:
- Responsible Service of Alcohol- AUD 150 full fee
- Barista Training- AUD 220 full fee
- Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety- AUD 7,918 annually
- Certificate III in Baking- AUD 15,836 annually
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management- AUD 15,836 annually
- Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 15,836 annually
5. Murdoch University
This was the second university set up in Perth, and today, it is also one of the best-known universities for quality education that encourages creative, out-of-the-box thinking. The university’s Times Higher Education rankings stand at 351- 400 in 2024, and it also came 84th in the Young University rankings in 2023. Its affiliation with the Innovative Research Universities group makes it an excellent destination if culinary/ food science research is your interest area. Some of the courses offered here are:
- Graduate Certificate in Food Science- full course AUD 19,980
- Graduate Certificate in Food Security- Full course fee AUD 19,980
- Graduate Diploma in Food Science- Full course fee AUD 39,960
- Bachelor of Food Science and Nutrition- Full course fee AUD 113,040
- Master of Food Science (Industry Practice)- Full course fee AUD 59,940
- Master of Food Science (Industry Practice and Innovation)- Full course fee AUD 79,920
- Master of Food Security- Full course fee AUD 79,920
6. University of South Australia (UniSA)
More than 5,800 international students study at UniSA and get to enjoy the 2,500+ industry partnerships the university has in place. The University ranked 52nd place in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2023, and it has also placed number one for Student Satisfaction (CompareED QILT Course Experience Questionnaire 2021- 22). Industry-focused programmes built on a 150-year legacy of education make UniSA a good destination for international students.
Some programmes offered here for Indian students keen on entering the culinary, food and beverage industry:
- Creative Tourism: Food, Wine, and Festivals (UG)
- Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Sciences- AUD 38,500 per annum
- Bachelor of Business (Tourism, Event and Hospitality Management)- AUD 25,500 per annum
7. Melbourne Polytechnic
With faculty drawn from industry, this institution offers high-end training from experts. Melbourne Polytechnic has many TAFE courses and longer programmes on offer, and the focus on hands-on experience with workshops to mimic industry environments helps students substantially. In October 2023, the polytechnic won the Govt of Victoria Export Awards for extraordinary success in International Education, Training, and student experience.
Some of the programs offered here are:
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery- AUD 8700 per semester
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management- AUD 8700 per semester
- Bachelor of Hospitality Management- AUD 9800 per semester
- Basic Barista course- AUD 150 per course
- Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 8700 per semester
- Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 8700 per semestet
8. Victoria University
In the QILT rankings for 2020- 21, this university came in first place in Australia for employability skills. It is also among the top three per cent of global universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The small class sizes, combined with the innovative VU Block study model, mean you focus on one subject area for four weeks, helping improve learning outcomes. Your options to study cookery here are:
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery- AUD 9,043 per semester
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management- AUD 7,618 per semester
- Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 7,157 per semester.
9. The Gordon Institute of TAFE
The sheer number of programs on offer here is one of the biggest reasons to choose The Gordon because you can find what you need to fast-track your culinary career. With project work being a significant part of the course, you receive great practical experience, and the work placements only make it easier for you to find the best career opportunities quickly and easily. The cookery and culinary course options are here:
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery- AUD 15,910 total tuition. Other fees may apply.
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management- AUD 6,823 total tuition. Other fees may apply.
10. Academies Australasia Polytechnic (AAPOLY)
With several campuses across Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Dubbo, and Gold Coast, AAPOLY is a well-known institution offering a host of programmes for local and international students. The course design is such that it reflects the latest industry trends, and thanks to national accreditation, you can be assured of the quality of training you get. Career support hubs within the campuses help you put the right foot forward when you complete the course. Some programme options include:
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery- AUD 3,080 per term
- Certificate IV in Kitchen Management- AUD 3,080 per term
- Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 2,000 per term
- Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management- AUD 2,000 per term
What are the admission requirements for culinary courses in Australia?
You will need to fulfil the following requirements to be eligible to enrol in a culinary course in Australia:
- Proof of your academic qualifications in the form of certificates, scorecards, and transcripts. The academic level you must have completed depends on the course you want to enrol into.
- English proficiency proof in the form of scorecards from an accepted test like IELTS. The institution you are applying to will specify what scores will get you admission. An overall IELTS band score of 6 to 6.5 is required.
- Letters of recommendation.
Apart from this, you will need:
- A valid passport
- Photographs
- Insurance cover for students who apply overseas.
- Proof of funds to cover your expenses as you study.
- Your offer letter for the programme you applied to.
Australian visa requirements
You need a Temporary Graduate Visa to study abroad in an Australian cookery/ culinary course. This visa is for international students who have qualifications that are deemed valuable in Australia in specific occupations. Once you have this visa, you can study and work in this country for a temporary period. The cost of the visa is AUD 1,895 onwards, and you can stay in Australia for up to 18 months.
If you are an Indian student with a completed degree from an Australian institution, you need the Post Study Workstream Temporary Graduate visa that lets you study, live and work in Australia. With this visa, you can stay here for two to four years, depending on what you have studied.
For more details about Visa types, visit the Australian government's home affairs pages.
Careers after cookery courses in Australia
As far as careers go, you can choose which line to go into Culinary/ pastry, hospitality, food entrepreneurship or even health, nutrition, wellness, or dietetics. Some career choices for Indian students post their cookery course in Australia apart from chef and baker are:
- Pastry chef
- Food stylist
- Food critic
- Food writer
- Speciality baker
- Pastry chef
- Chocolatier
- Wedding cake designer
- Event planner
- Hotel/ restaurant manager
- Nutrition coach
- Holistic health practitioner
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, jobs in this sector are expected to grow six per cent faster than the average until the year 2032. Take advantage of this opportunity to leverage your passion for culinary arts by enrolling in a reputed cookery course in Australia that can give you globally recognised credentials. If you get lucky, you may even get your big shot at fame by featuring in the next MasterChef Australia season!
Editor's note: This article was originally published in August 2015 by our content writer, Antony Chacko. We have since revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.