Cookery (Level 4)

It's easy! All you need to bring along is proof of citizenship or PR. We'll help you do the rest. If you are an international student, please contact us first to discuss specific requirements for cookery courses.

You might be eligible to do this course for free! Talk with our Student Support Team to find out about funding options available for advanced chef training. If not, you may be eligible for loans and allowances, and we can help you with that.

This course runs from 12 noon until 4pm, Monday to Friday. *Course times may be subject to change based on intake requirements and kitchen scheduling.

We provide you with a complete chef uniform (including coat, trousers, apron and hat), professional knives and a knife bag. All you need to provide is a pair of closed steel toe non-slip shoes suitable for commercial kitchen environments.

You'll be working in our brand-new training kitchens, honing your advanced chef skills. Learn to prepare, cook and present complex soups, meats, desserts, pastry and larder dishes, and build your knowledge of food safety, health and safety, and professional communication. You'll be taught by professional chefs and gain all the expertise you need to succeed in a busy commercial kitchen operation.

You will get extensive hands-on experience during this programme. Our cookery students cook for our school café 'Study Break' and handle catering for Skills Institute industry functions and events, providing real customer service experience.

This programme also includes an 80-hour internship in a café or restaurant, so you will have substantial work experience when you graduate. You'll even have a unique opportunity to work in Spain at a Michelin-starred restaurant, providing international exposure and networking opportunities.

Yes! As part of your course we spend time working on interview and CV skills to make sure you leave us work ready. We also bring in speakers from industry to talk to you about what today's employers expect. Our tutors have excellent industry connections and can introduce you to potential employers across Auckland's hospitality sector and beyond.

This is a high-demand sector with exciting career opportunities. Once you have successfully completed this course you could work as an intermediate chef in restaurants and hotels, cafes, bars, corporate catering firms, hospital kitchens, airport catering companies and even cruise ships. Career progression opportunities include sous chef, head chef, and restaurant management roles.

Yes you can! This qualification opens up exciting opportunities to travel overseas and work internationally. Our chefs have international experience and contacts, and you may be able to connect to their networks. The Level 4 qualification is recognised in Australia and other countries, making it easier to secure work permits and chef positions abroad.

Level 4 focuses on complex culinary techniques and advanced cooking methods, while Level 3 covers fundamental skills. Level 4 graduates are prepared for intermediate chef positions with greater responsibility, menu development involvement, and potential supervisory duties in professional kitchens.

Yes! This qualification provides pathways to higher-level cookery studies, specialised culinary arts programmes, or business qualifications for those interested in restaurant management or opening their own establishments.