New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3)

• Creativity
• The ability to work well under pressure
• To be motivated and have a good work ethic
• A willingness to try new things and constantly update your skills. 

• Open entry; there are no academic entry requirements.
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure you are ready for this study. 

All students (international and domestic) for whom English is not a first language:

• must demonstrate English Language skills with an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 5.5, with no band score lower than 5.0 OR
• must provide acceptable alternative evidence of English language proficiency depending on the visa decline rate of the country you are from. See here for acceptable evidence and visa decline rates by country.

Please note: All scores must be achieved in a single test completed in the preceding two years. You cannot combine scores from multiple tests. If you have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance you are not required to provide evidence of English Language skills.

You must supply your academic records, along with certified copies of proof of identity and proof of residency (where appropriate).

All applicants must submit a letter of no more than 500 words which explains:

• why you have chosen to study this Certificate
• your expectations of the programme
• your career goals in the hospitality industry
• the steps you have already taken to progress your career goals to improve your chances of being accepted into the programme.

You may also have to undertake an interview.

If the number of applicants exceeds the available places, a waitlist will be used to ensure preference is given to applicants in order of application.

During your induction day, you have the opportunity to purchase your full uniform from our preferred supplier. You should expect to spend approximately $700 on programme specific equipment. This will be covered by the "Course-Related costs"section of your students loan (if you are eligible).

Embrace the world-renowned Central Otago food and wine experience and enjoy the chance to use local, fresh produce in your dishes. Our unique approach focuses on sourcing ingredients grown on campus to strengthen your understanding of the connection between ‘paddock and plate’. Our extensive horticultural facilities include a hydroponics unit, nursery, modern glasshouses, orchard and the Bannockburn Road vineyard and give you the opportunity to incorporate locally grown and harvested herbs, vegetables, fruit, berries, salad and wine into your cooking.

Upon completion of this Certificate, further your learning and skills with our New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4). This programme is offered in Dunedin and Central Otago as well. 

There are a number of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) issues associated with practical work in areas specific to a commercial kitchen 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 which covers the associated risks in more detail.

This programme is hands-on and involves a lot of practical work to intensively develop your kitchen skills in a commercial facility. 

Upon successful completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Apply health and safety, food safety and security practices to ensure own safety and minimize potential hazards for customers.
• Communicate effectively and behave in a professional manner with colleagues, managers and customers.
• Follow standard operating procedures to deal with familiar problems in a commercial kitchen.
• Apply fundamental cookery skills to prepare, cook and present a range of basic dishes employing commodities commonly used in industry. 

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful. 

If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification. Phone 0800 762 786 or email info@op.ac.nz.

• Discover what's on the menu at our Dunedin training restaurant, Technique.

While every effort is made to ensure that this sheet is accurate, Otago Polytechnic reserves the right to amend, alter or withdraw any of the contained information. The fees shown in this document are indicative ONLY. Both domestic and international fees are subject to change and are dependent on the development and implementation of Government policies. Please note that additional fees may from time to time be required for external examination, NZQA fees and/or additional material fees.

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