The world of food, cooking and baking is one that brings us much satisfaction. There is no question about the importance of chef’s, bakers and those in the industry. Through food we learn about culture, taste, smells, consistency and more.
Food plays a big role in our culture and every culture around the world so having those there who know how to prepare, cook and present it at its best cannot be underestimated.
If this is an area that interests you, you’ve come to the right place. We might be able to help you with your options.
What are cookery courses?
Cookery courses focus on all aspects of cooking from the activity of food preparation to cooking food.
What 3rd courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering courses in the following areas:
- Culinary Arts
- Professional Cookery
- Hotel and Catering
- Hotel and Catering Management
- Culinary Arts and Food Technology
Studying cookery courses in college
Different courses may cover different content. There are a large number of PLC courses available in the area of cooking in colleges all around the country. These purses will allow you to gain a level 5 or 6 QQI Certificate and provide you with the opportunity to go forward with your training and take an undergraduate degree.
PLC courses will typically be 1 year. Culinary Arts course will cover areas from pastry, baking, desserts and culinary techniques to menu planning, food science and technology to name just a few areas that are covered. There are options of courses between Level 5 and Level 6 and in some of these, you may have to carry out work experience.
In undergraduate courses such as Culinary Arts (TU Dublin) and Hotel and Catering Management (GMIT) will be either 3 or 4 years and involve work experience so you can apply all of your theory to practical work and gain experience in the world of cooking, catering and culinary arts.
As there are a range of different courses, there will be differentiating content from course to course but all will cover the basics of the world of cooking, the skills and knowledge required to be able to work to the best of your ability and produce some delicious food as well as the other aspects from menus and nutrition of the food. You will be prepared for the industry and have a good knowledge of how it all works.
Career Options
The majority of people who take a course in culinary arts do so with the intention of going down the route of becoming a chef, working in catering or owning their own catering company. Some may work in restaurants, hotels, independent catering companies or even in other areas such as hospitals, for example.
With a PLC course, you could go on and study an undergraduate degree in a related area. With an undergraduate degree you could then go on to a postgraduate degree if that interests you. There are also cookery courses around the country from people already in the industry who hold courses for a few months which could add to the degree or certificate you already have.
There are many routes you can take depending on the specific area you’d like to work or if you’d like to specialise in a specific area such as desserts and pastries, for example.
In this area, there are a few skills and qualities you will need to ensure success. They include strong communication skills, ability to work well with others, the ability to take direction, good customer service skills, high hygiene standards, ability to work well under pressure, organisation skills and time management skills.
Related Jobs
- Caterer
- Catering Business owner
- Sous chef
- Hotel chef
- Kitchen chef
- Kitchen staff
- Baker/Pastry cook
Further Study
Visit postgrad.ie for more information.
FAQ
Different courses and different colleges will have different entry requirements. It’s always safest to check with the individual higher education institution which is available on their websites. As a general rule Leaving Cert students should have a minimum of six subjects which should
include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
When applying for a PLC, you will need Leaving Certificate results. If you are looking to go straight to an undergraduate degree, Culinary Arts is the main choice that requires CAO points. In 2020, Culinary Arts required 236 points. Points for Hotel and Catering Management were 198.
Where can I study?
You can explore your options here.
Did you know?
- Chefs are considered to be both artists and scientists as food is seen as art and science.
- Broccoli contains more protein than steak
- The creation of the first modern chocolate bar was in 1847 credited by Joseph Fry. Cadburys was marketing chocolate products by 1868.
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