International culinary schools are schools that promote international education in an international environment. International schools usually provide foreign students with an alternative education option from that of the local schools.
For culinary students, there is no better training than first-hand exposure to native cuisine. The resume of the world’s most celebrated chefs contains work enquiries from around the globe.
Apprenticeships and other study modules place chefs under the tutelage of international food professionals, who aptly convey nuances of gastronomy in their motherland.
Now if you have been wondering what it looks like to study in an international culinary school, then read this article carefully till the end.
The global food culture and the international culinary schools
The global food culture embraces culinary cross-pollination which oftentimes is noticed when multicultural chefs exchange ideas and recipes.
There are a lot of culinary schools all over the world that partner with international entities for work-study reciprocity, this gives students of culinary programs a chance to travel to other countries to study.
The very popular international culinary schools are found in progressive, dynamic cities around the globe.
These international culinary schools not only offer degrees or skills but also give students access to regional cuisine, acclaimed chefs and culturally flavoured food knowledge – at the source.
Where to find the international culinary schools
European International Culinary Schools:
Most countries have international culinary schools but France, England, Italy inspire images of rich cuisine and they have kept evolving for thousands of years.
There are a lot of international culinary schools in Europe that will expose you to artisanal practices and classical preparations that keep cultural influences intact, on the plate.
French culinary tradition is the gold standard when it comes to chef instruction and it is a home for one of the most popular international culinary schools, Le Cordon Bleu academies. You will find the following type of schools in Europe:
- Mainstream commercial hospitality schools
- Small cookery schools
- Private cookery schools
- Restaurant management schools
- Commercial culinary arts schools
Canadian International Culinary Schools:
Canadian cities are multicultural by design and that means that regional cuisine is a natural gastronomic melting pot of anything flavours and influences.
Yorkshire Pudding portrays Canada’s colonial heritage while Hardy cuisine reflects the bounty of the land including wild game and smoked meats.
Salmon and cod provide regional counterparts to earthy indigenous agriculture, like wild mushrooms –chanterelle, morel and puffball.
If you become a culinary art student in Canada, your recipe book might include a Caribou and Fiddlehead Fern recipe; or another regional interpretation called ‘poutine’, French fries with cheese curds and gravy.
Going for a degree in the International culinary schools in Canada places you in the perfect position in becoming a professional in the industry.
Le Cordon Bleu is in Europe and is also found in Canada alongside so many other international culinary schools in popular cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, etc.
Asian International Culinary Schools:
Asia is home to a lot of food traditions that are cherished all over the world.
There are just a few culinary schools in Asia, just like we have the Culinary Schools in Korea and the top Culinary Schools in Japan.
There are just a few culinary schools in Asia that cater for international students, by offering English-language cooking instruction.
In the International culinary schools in Asia, you also learn kitchen skills, cooking styles, and become an expert in the special ingredients used in ethnic Asian preparations.
You will also be taught how to present true Asian dishes and before applying, find out if you might need to speak the native language.
International Culinary Schools in Asia and Other Places:
Australia and New Zealand have consistently temperate climates, beautiful stretches of beach, and in some places, rugged mountains.
The resulting tourist economy provides fertile ground for culinary exploration and valuable opportunities for chef students who are ambitious.
There are full-scale culinary educators in Australia and there are also smaller Culinary schools in Australia that handle the job of creating employable chefs.
Some of such schools include:
- Orange Regional Cooking School
- The Sydney Seafood School
Orange Regional Cooking school exemplifies the smaller paradigm with intimate instruction in several specialty areas. while Sydney Seafood School is unique when it comes to learning coastal bounty and how to prepare it.
The List of International culinary schools
There are a lot of International culinary schools in the Word, but we will be discussing just 17 of the top international Culinary Schools.
They are not arranged in order of the best. This also that there might be other international culinary schools in your locality, please make sure you share their names with us at the end of the article.
- Culinary Arts Academy, Switzerland
- Institute of Culinary Education, New York, USA
- Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France
- Cook and Taste – Barcelona
- International Cooking School – Bologna
- Kitchen at Camont – Gascony
- Cooking ala Turka – Istanbul
- Billingsgate Seafood Training School – London
- The School of Artisan Food – London
- La Cuisine Paris – Paris
- Apicius, Italy
- Ballymaloe Cookery School – Ireland
- International Culinary Institute Hong Kong
- Culinary Institute of Savannah-United States
- Culinary Institute of Barcelona, Spain
- Hattori Nutrition College, Japan
Culinary Arts Academy, Switzerland
This culinary school is regarded as Switzerland’s best culinary school and one of the world’s finest. They have a comprehensive curriculum that blends to a top-rated culinary arts education.
At Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, you don’t just get a world-class education – you also get the qualifications to back it up.
Their courses are run in partnership with both academic and industrial partners, which means that you will finish your education with diplomas that are highly regarded and professionally recognized in any kitchen.
Their curriculum is influenced and delivered by the best in order to provide students with the right inspiration, expertise, and support throughout their culinary journey. Here are some of their courses:
Swiss Grand Diploma in Culinary Arts: Master the fundamentals of culinary arts and develop your palate and senses by exploring different techniques, ingredients, and world cuisines.
Swiss Grand Diploma in Vegetarian Culinary Arts: Explore the health benefits of vegetarian cuisine and learn how to prepare vegetarian fine-dining meals, through mastering presentation, ingredient substitutions, and wine pairings.
Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts: This business-focused culinary degree helps you build the foundation in kitchen fundamentals & business, by linking practical skills to academic knowledge.
Master of Arts in Culinary Business Management: Geared towards career changers, food and beverage entrepreneurs and culinary enthusiasts, through this program you will acquire relevant managerial skills, develop your own food concepts, create recipe books, and develop a business plan.
Culinary Arts Academy, Switzerland Fees:
- The Bachelor program costs about CHF 152,000 for three years
- The Master program CHF 44,000
- The two Swiss Grand Diploma programs CHF 62,000
- The Vegetarian Diploma program, CHF 42,000
The price includes tuition, accommodation, and meals.
Institute of Culinary Education, New York, USA
This is an award-winning, vibrant, and diverse institute that has helped thousands of students find their culinary voices.
The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) is ranked the No. 1 Culinary School in America and is one of the largest and most diverse culinary schools in the world.
They offer award-winning six to 13-month career training programs in:
- Culinary Arts
- Pastry & Baking Arts
- Health-Supportive Culinary Arts
- Restaurant & Culinary Management
- Hospitality & Hotel Management
- Professional development programs in Bread Baking and Cake Decorating
They have more than 15,000 successful alumni, many of whom are leaders in the culinary and hospitality industries.
They offer continuing education for culinary professionals and host more than 500 special events each year and above all, it is a home for the largest recreational cooking, baking and beverage programs.
- Program Duration: 8, 11 and 12-month options
- Class Times: morning, afternoon, evening and weekend
- Tuition, Fees & Charges: $36,120-$41,305
Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France
Excellence in teaching the Culinary Arts and Hotel Management since 1895. They offer internship pathway programs for 13 to 18 months.
They combine the apprenticeship of Culinary techniques with solid hands-on practical experience in prestigious Parisian companies.
Among the numerous programs they offer, they have the Diploma in Culinary Management, which is a program that provides students with the managerial skills which they need to start their own business.
Le Cordon Bleu has 4 intakes per year: January, April, July and October. Here are some of their programs:
- Cuisine
- Wine & Spirits
- Pastry & Confectionery
- Gastronomy & Nutrition
- Continuing Education
- Gourmet & Short Courses
- Online Learning-Accredited
- Online Learning-Non Accredited
- Bakery, Danish Pastries & Artisan Breads
- Hospitality Management & Gastronomy
Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France Tuition:
Cuisine Diploma tuition fees:
Basic Cuisine Certificate: €10 600, including an application fee of €500(3 months)
Intermediate Cuisine Certificate: €10 100 including an application fee of €500(3 months)
Superior Cuisine Certificate: €10 300 including an application fee of €500( 3 months)
Cuisine Diploma: €28 850 including an application fee of €1500(9 months)
Grand Diplôme:€49 200 including an application fee of €1500
La Cuisine Paris – Paris
La Cuisine Paris is a French cooking school in Paris offering a variety of cooking classes in English.
They offer numerous French cuisine classes, including Croissant Classes, Macaron Classes, Traditional French Pastry Classes, Technical Skills Classes, and a French Cheese Workshop in addition to Food Tours in Paris and Versailles! Croissant Classes, Macaron Classes, Traditional French Pastry Classes, Technical Skills Classes, and a French Cheese Workshop in addition to Food Tours in Paris and Versailles!
They have a small international team, with different backgrounds and experiences.
There are online Video Classes for individuals who cannot get to Paris and there are Zoom French Cooking classes also.
Some of their classes include:
Baking Classes / French Baguettes and ‘Boulangerie’ Class: Price: €99.00
French Technical Classes / Poultry Cooking Class: Price: €99.00
French Technical Classes / Mastering Classic French Sauces: €99.00
French Macarons / Les Macarons : 2-hours: Price: €99.00
Cook and Taste – Barcelona
In Barcelona since 2004, Cook&Taste’s project went live after their passion for sharing, cooking, eating and laughing. Ever since then, they have continued to provide hands-on training experiences to their clients.
They offer commitment, authenticity, impeccable service and a customer-oriented approach. They boast of 3 spacious kitchens, practical and well-equipped spaces.
The cooking school is located in the middle of Barrio Gotico, the oldest district in Barcelona. Only the best ingredients land on the table, carefully selected on one of the best markets in Europe – La Boquería. Visit their Website for more information.
Billingsgate Seafood Training School – London
The Seafood School at Billingsgate is an educational centre of excellence in fish and shellfish purchasing, preparation, and cooking. Its mission is to support healthy marine environments and a thriving fish industry by helping people to make informed choices.
They provide students with the highest quality education and training through their professionals.
The school has been established as a charitable company with the aim of promoting awareness of fish as a healthy food amongst young people.
Cooking ala Turka – Istanbul
This is one of the international culinary schools located in Instanbul that was opened in the year 2002 as Istanbul’s first cooking school and has remained a top choice for travellers ever since.
They believe cooking together and sharing food is the quickest way to discover a new culture. Their classes are usually in a group of 2 to 10 persons.
Their class rate is 65 euros per person, including the 5-course lunch or dinner 2 glasses of wine beer or soft drinks, plus coffee and tea.
The School of Artisan Food – London
The School of Artisan Food is dedicated to inspiring and helping people from all walks of life to learn about healthy, sustainable and delicious food.
They offer a wide range of hands-on courses that are taught by world-class tutors, and they cater for all levels of experience.
Courses cover a wide range of subjects, from hands-on making to the business of creating and running artisan food enterprises, with many options in between.
Subjects include:
- Baking
- patisserie
- cheesemaking
- butchery
- charcuterie
- pie making
- brewing
- preserves and pickling
- foraging
- fermenting
- ice-cream making
- business start-up
- micro-bakery
- therapeutic baking
The School of Artisan Food offers the UK’s first Advanced Diploma in Artisan Baking, accredited by FDQ. This six-month, full-time intensive course is the equivalent of a foundation degree qualification.
Their Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Artisan Food Production is a two-year mostly practical course that is delivered by professional artisan food specialists.
There are also short course programmes designed to give people the opportunity to get back in touch with real, handmade food, and it suits all ages and skill levels.
Apicius, Italy
APICIUS reinterprets the concept of hospitality and tourism in the international destination of Florence, where the cityscape is teeming with traditional and contemporary structures sought by people from all over the world.
This culinary institute seeks to shape students who make dynamic, proactive contributions to the areas of hospitality in Italy during their studies.
This institution collaborates with many institutions for the direct acceptance of credits, as indicated in the list of affiliates.
For students from non-affiliated institutions, US credit can be issued through Palazzi’s School of Record.
There are so many departments in Apicius and the school of food and wine studies alone have the following departments:
- Baking and Pastry
- Culinary Arts
- Dietetics and Nutrition
- Food and Culture
- Food, Family, and Consumer Sciences
- Wine and Culture
- Wine Expertise
Ballymaloe Cookery School – Ireland
This is an award-winning Ballymaloe Cookery School that has been delivering first-class culinary education to students all over the world since 1983.
They are proud of their long-standing tradition of excellence and their Slow Food philosophy.
They have an internationally recognized 12 Week Certificate which will be the first step of the culinary journey of students.
The Ballymaloe Cookery School Alumni are a wide network of people from all works of life and age groups.
Ballymaloe Cookery School students (whether they are participating in the 12 Week Certificate or our short courses) gain an understanding of the fundamentals of organic food production.
They have an impressive student to teacher ratio of 6:1. They guarantee student tuition and close personal attention.
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Their 12-week certificate course includes a business module delivered by Blathnaid Bergin who set up and runs The School of Restaurant & Kitchen management.
This module equips students with the key skills that are necessary to set up and manage their own food business. Below are some of their courses and fees:
12 Week Certificate Course January 2022: €12,995
12 Week Certificate Course April 2022: €13,195
12 Week Certificate Course September 2022: €13,195
For Year 2023
12 Week Certificate Course January 2023: €13,295
12 Week Certificate Course April 2023: €13,395
12 Week Certificate Course April 2023: €13,395
International Culinary Institute Hong Kong
This is one of the international culinary schools that provides culinary training for secondary school graduates and in-service personnel which will lead them to professional culinary qualifications at different levels.
Their programs usually focus on international cuisines, covering European, Mediterranean, South American, Middle Eastern and Asia-Pacific cuisines.
They offer both full-time and part-time programs. Some of these programs offered include; Higher Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts, Higher Diploma in Classic Western Cuisine, and Professional Diploma in International Culinary Arts and Management.
Depending on the program attended, students will take classes that focus on topics like contemporary plated deserts, food safety, etc.
Students will be guided by master chefs and be given the chance to work in some of Hong Kong’s most prestigious restaurants.
Higher Diploma in Wine and Beverage Business Management: HK$31,570
Higher Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts: HK$31,570
Higher Diploma in Culinary Art: HK$31,570
Higher Diploma in Classic Western Cuisine: HK$31,570
Basic Food Hygiene Certificate for Hygiene Supervisors : HK$500
Basic Food Hygiene Certificate for Hygiene Managers : HK$1,130
Find out other programs and fees on their website.
Culinary Institute of Barcelona, Spain
This is one of the international culinary schools that teaches students to improve, to question, to imagine, to seek and find new possibilities.
They prepare their students to face the constant and major paradigm shifts of the 21st century. The Culinary Institute of Barcelona is designed so that you have a unique and unrepeatable experience based on multiculturalism, creativity and innovation.
The following steps can be taken to start a program in this institution:
- Choose your program
- Send your application for admission
- Your assessment interview
- Admissions committee
- Registration
They offer the following courses:
Pastry and chocolate chef: 8,250 €(7,425 € in 2023)
Gran Chef Diploma: 33,787 €. Visit their website to find out more about their courses and fees.
Hattori Nutrition College, Japan
This college cultivates experts as nutritionist and chef taking this role of “SHOKUIKU.” Based on tasteful food and taking full consideration in health, safety, and environment, Hattori Nutrition College is pleased to teach what would be ahead. Here are some of their courses:
Nutrition Course: day classes, 2 years /150 students
Culinary Course: day classes, 1 year /260 students
Culinary High Tech Business Administration Course: day classes, 2 years /120 students
The kitchen at Camont – Gascony
From crafting globe-trotting Cassoulets to rolling out buttery Croustade aux Pommes, They teach the basics of French cuisine, the fine points of Gascon cooking, and how to master the cooking of Southwest France. Visit their Website.
International Cooking School – Bologna
This is one of the culinary schools in Bologna. Their courses are on:
- Essentials of Greta Italian cooking
- Pizza
- Savoring Emilia-Romagna & Tuscany
Common courses in these international culinary schools
Nutrition Course: A nutritionist has to coordinate people’s diet. To coordinate ones’ diet, a wide range of knowledge in addition to understanding food and nutrition are required.
Culinary Course: A chef is so-called a creator, who makes people happy with his/her technique and a sense through the many years of experience. Practical training and lectures are provided to acquire this capability.
Culinary Patisserie & Boulangerie Course: In confectionery course, students learn from basic (measuring ingredients) to practical training (e.g. decoration technique).
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