New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4)
Do you love cooking? Do you get excited by food? Take your first step towards becoming a chef no matter what experience you have. Surround yourself with like-minded people and learn from chef tutors who are industry professionals. Packed with lots of practical cooking, this programme is perfect for people who like hands-on learning. Develop a wide range of culinary skills and techniques while gaining the knowledge and confidence to cook like a professional in our commercial training kitchens. When you’re ready to take the next step on your culinary career path, our Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Cookery or Bachelor of Culinary Arts degree are here to support you.
Domestic
About the programme
Loaded with hands-on, practical cooking in our training kitchens and commercial restaurant, this programme is perfect for those who have little or no experience in the culinary field.
As part of your studies, you’ll master the art of preparing delicious food, from meat, poultry, seafood, plant-based, and pasta dishes, to pastries, and desserts. As well as developing a range of cookery skills enabling you to prepare, cook, and serve a variety of dishes, you’ll also gain skills in teamwork, time management, workflow organisation and food safety. And you’ll gain all of these skills in our purpose-built learning environment, alongside learners of all ages and different cultures and backgrounds.
Embrace the chance to learn the fundamentals of cookery so you can then express your creativity when you create your own dishes!
International
About the programme
Loaded with hands-on, practical cooking in our training kitchens and commercial restaurant, this programme is perfect for those who have little or no experience in the culinary field.
As part of your studies, you’ll master the art of preparing delicious food, from meat, poultry, seafood, plant-based, and pasta dishes, to pastries, and desserts. As well as developing a range of cookery skills enabling you to prepare, cook, and serve a variety of dishes, you’ll also gain skills in teamwork, time management, workflow organisation and food safety. And you’ll gain all of these skills in our purpose-built learning environment, alongside learners of all ages and different cultures and backgrounds.
Embrace the chance to learn the fundamentals of cookery so you can then express your creativity when you create your own dishes!
What You Study
Courses
This programme is full of hands-on learning and is great for those who have limited or no experience in the culinary field.
The focus is on developing the fundamental skills of food preparation, cookery, and presentation that will provide the platform for a career as a chef.
You'll learn how to prepare a range of contemporary dishes, as well as learning how to make food look good and taste amazing.
The programme is delivered through a series of small projects, allowing you to gain the fundamental skills and techniques used by professional chefs, and then applying them in everyday, real-world hospitality situations.
Our programme not only equips you with essential cookery techniques, it also provides you with the skills to safely and professionally work in a commercial kitchen.
| Course Title (Compulsory) | Level | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
Introduction to Complex Cookery In this course you will be introduced to the fundamentals of cookery and learn to work safely within a professional kitchen. |
4 | 45 |
|
Complex Cookery Having mastered the basics in our training kitchens, this course allows you will unleash your cookery skills on the dining public in our training restaurant kitchen. Along the way you will learn to deal with allergens and dietary issues as well as the importance of effective teamwork and communications skills. |
4 | 45 |
|
Work Experience A fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice. Develop observation and critiquing skills so you can monitor and maintain existing kitchen processes and interactions in a professional kitchen. |
4 | 15 |
|
Capstone Assessment This course allows you to show case your new learning. Drawing on your skills of cookery, planning, organisation and teamwork, you will create and cook a menu of your own creation. |
4 | 15 |
| Total | 120 |
Health and safety
There are a number of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues associated with practical work in areas specific to a commercial hospitality environment. These include, but are not limited to, burns from hot liquids or hot objects and cuts from sharp instruments. You will have access to an orientation booklet that covers the programme specific risks in more detail.
Further study options
After successfully completing this Certificate, you will be in a great position to apply for the New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 5) offered in Dunedin or the Bachelor of Culinary Arts offered in Dunedin.
Workload
Your workload
You'll spend the majority of your time in the training and production kitchens and you'll also need to take part in classroom and online learning.
You'll undertake a work placement which is a vital component of this programme as you will be expected to compare Otago Polytechnic procedures and standards with what occurs in your placement.
Entry
Entry requirements
- Open entry.
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
Selection criteria
- If we have more applicants than places available, preference will be given to those who hold the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3), or equivalent, or have at least one year of relevant industry experience, and who meet the necessary English Language requirements above (if English is not your first language).
Additional documentation
You'll need to supply your academic records, along with certified copies of proof of identity and proof of residency (where appropriate).
If you have industry experience, please also submit a CV with details of this.
Selection procedure
If the number of applicants exceed the available places, a waitlist will be used to ensure preference is given to applicants in the order that they applied.
Fees
Domestic fees
International fees
Additional costs
During your induction day, you will have the opportunity to purchase your full uniform from Otago Polytechnic's preferred supplier. You should expect to spend approximately $450 on programme specific equipment. This will be covered by the 'Course-Related Costs' section of your student loan (if you are eligible - see the Student Loan and Allowance section below). You may already have some or all of the required uniform and equipment.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.
Studylink
Domestic full-time students can apply for a student loan through Studylink.
Some support may be available for domestic part-time students if this programme offers a part-time study option.
Apply at the same time as you apply for your course (you can withdraw your application anytime).
Student Services Fee
For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.
The international tuition fee does not include your Student Levy. This will be calculated when you enrol with us.
Click below to find out more about the Student Levy costs and services provided.
Fees Free
The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.
If you are a first-time tertiary learner in 2025, you may be able to get Fees Free for your final year of study or training. If you are eligible, you will need to apply for your entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.
For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit FeesFree.govt.nz.
Study Grants for international students
We have a range of Study Grants to support our international students.
Application
A change for 2023 enrolments
When you apply to study with Otago Polytechnic in 2023, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the new national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people, and you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.
