So, you’ve decided you want to be a chef, but what path will you take to establish your career?
Nowadays, there are many courses available at different levels of study and in different areas of catering and cuisine.
We’re here to help you find the path to success that’s best suited for you.
Studying a Degree
Food Service is a broader industry than you may think, and there are many areas of study that you can apply for, all specialising in different areas of catering and kitchen management.
While there are no strict requirements in the level of education you need to be a chef, all establishments are different in terms of their job role requirements, so the better and broader your understanding in the industry is, the more likely you are to be taken on.
Two popular degrees you could take at culinary school, depending on your personal passions in becoming a chef are:
- Associate of Applied Science in the Culinary Arts
- Bachelor of Science in the Culinary Arts
Both of these degrees involve a mixture of theory-based work, in a classroom and through practical experience. On average, going to culinary school or university will take around four years to earn your qualification.
While the predominant and most obvious role of becoming a chef is cooking and preparing various dishes, it is also crucial that the catering student understands the rules of kitchen safety, hygiene and many other important areas.
Associate of Applied Science in the Culinary Arts
Also known as an AAS degree, this type of course focuses on understanding food sanitation and hygiene, along with classic baking and cooking.
Depending on the institution you study with, most degrees involve menu planning, nutrition, and serving food. These areas are usually based on global cuisine to provide knowledge and understanding of a range of catering establishments and industries, to help the student find a placement relatively easily, that’s transferrable.
What modules tend to be covered in this degree? Commonly, these are some of the focused areas you’ll cover:
- Hot and cold food preparation
- National and International cuisine
- The food supply chain (the process of food production, processing and distribution)
- Advanced baking techniques
Bachelor of Science in the Culinary Arts
This is a less popular degree as there aren’t as many institutions that offer this form of study. Hinted by the title, this course is much more science-based and focuses around food biology and nutrition.
To take this degree, you will need to be submitted by your culinary school or university. You are entitled, most of the time, to show your record of academic accomplishments and possibly show evidence of previous catering or chef experience.
By focusing on these scientific and business aspects of cheffing, the course aims to provide you with the knowledge and experience to work in restaurant management, as well as advanced food preparation and cooking.
Every course is different, but these are some of the things you’ll be likely to cover when taking this degree:
- Food microbiology
- Food nutrition and hygiene
- The preservation and storage of food
- Managerial skills
- International cuisine
For more information on the topics you’ll be covering for these courses, we’d recommend you have a look at the syllabus provided by the university you’re looking at studying with.
Open University
There’s a strong demand for chefs across the country, so many universities are offering open university courses that allow you to lead the way, in terms of your learning structure.
What you study will depend on the chosen course, but the modules are likely to be similar to those mentioned above.
The entry requirements usually look for a pass in 4-5 different GCSE’s, preferably catering or food and nutrition. Some open universities look for A-Level results and sometimes a lower level diploma in a catering related course.
Are you looking for more information on the different chef courses available to you? You can contact our team of experts here to find out where and what you could study to become a chef.
