Calling all foodies who dream of running a kitchen or opening a restaurant. VIU's Culinary Management Diploma will train you in advanced culinary and pastry techniques, as well as important management, accounting and beverage skills. Learn what it takes to launch a culinary career, with work opportunities close to home and around the world.
This Culinary Management Diploma program includes a paid co-operative education component that allows students to network and build industry contacts. At the end of the Culinary Management program, students can write the inter-provincial Red Seal exam.
Graduates also receive advanced credit when applying to the VIU Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree. The Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island (CIVI), at VIU provides students with the options of a Certificate (one year), and a Diploma (two years) program in culinary training and management skills. The diploma program provides students with advanced culinary and pastry training as well as the management skills needed to obtain higher positions within the industry.
Upon entering the Culinary Management Diploma program, students are registered as apprentices with SkilledTradesBC, allowing them to accrue apprentice hours while they complete their technical training. At the end of the first year students participate in a paid co-op work placement, gaining industry work experience and additional apprentice hours.
As part of the program students study Japanese cuisine and obtain a Bronze Certification in Japanese Cooking Skills through CIVI's affiliation with the Government of Japan. The Bronze Certificate is recognized world-wide and is a valuable addition to our graduates' resumes.
The first year of the Culinary Management Diploma program is identical to VIU's Culinary Arts Certificate program. It consists of the 28-week Professional Cook 1 (PC1), and the 14-week Professional Cook 2 (PC2) and a ten week paid co-op work placement. Students who successfully complete the Culinary Arts Certificate program can apply for admission to Year 2 of the Culinary Management Diploma program, however there are additional high school courses required for admission.
The second year of the diploma builds on the foundations learned in first year to teach culinary students the advanced skills they will need for a management position in the food industry. Topics covered in the second year include advanced culinary techniques, advanced pastry arts, and artisan baking in our wood burning brick oven. Students will also be learning important management, accounting, and beverage instruction delivered by instructors from the VIU Hospitality department.
After completing the program, and having completed the industry's apprentice hours requirement, students can write the inter-provincial Red Seal exam.
Students who successfully complete the Culinary Arts Diploma program can apply for admission to bridge into the VIU Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree.
The Culinary Management Diploma can give students a number of credentials including:
Expected August 2025
Vancouver Island University
Nanaimo Campus,
900 Fifth Street,
NANAIMO,
British Columbia (BC),
V9R 5S5, Canada
Admission Requirements - Culinary Management Diploma
Note: Foodsafe Level I certificate is offered through Foodsafe.ca
Recommendations for Admission
Second Year Culinary Management Diploma Program - Only
Students who have completed a Culinary Arts Certificate, which includes the Professional Cook 1 (PC1) Certificate and the Professional Cook 2 (PC2) Certificate, can apply to the second-year diploma program. The admission requirements are as follows:
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.