New Zealand Certificate in Cookery

Summary

Take your first steps towards becoming a professional chef in a region renowned for its food and artisan producers.

Immerse yourself in all aspects of the culinary arts with this menu-focused programme in NMIT's commercial training kitchens and restaurant facilities, equipped to provide you with a cutting-edge learning environment.

Learn from our experienced tutors who have worked in many diverse roles, gaining culinary knowledge from all over the world in order to deliver you the most up-to-date industry skills and knowledge. 

Benefit from NMIT's strong relationships with local businesses and renowned experts - from restaurants and cafes to global food producers and world-class chefs.

You will have the opportunity to take part in community functions and events and will be rostered onto services in our training restaurant, The Rata Room.

Real world experiences you will love

Throughout the year NMIT cookery students run pop-up cafes, cater for the new food cart on the Richmond campus and provide catering for the Nelson Giants(external link) at-home games. The NMIT catering team also include cookery students when supporting on and off-campus specialty events like the Pic’s ‘The Food Factory(external link)’ launch, or the MET Charity Gala.(external link)

At times students also get to work in co-lab’s with students from other NMIT programmes. Often this may be with our photography students which can give cookery students the opportunity to look at food styling, and what is required to prepare a dish for photography.

Taste the benefits of working with local food producers

Cookery students reap the benefit of the connections NMIT tutors have developed over the years and often work to feature recipes with locally produced condiments and foods. These range from
J Bush and Sons(external link) honey, Manaaki(external link) preserves and condiments, to seafood providers like King Salmon(external link).

Work while you learn

Working closely with industry means that our tutors have identified how to deliver this programme in the best way to allow students to continue working.

The new programme timetable is also designed to support local eateries and restaurants by upskilling their staff without taking them away from continued work.

Entry requirements Academic requirements

NCEA Level 2

Other requirements

You must be able to confirm that they will have the physical capability to comply with relevant health and safety requirements and can safely withstand 4-8 hour sessions of working in the commercial kitchen environment.

Special Entry

Special Entry approval is required from the Curriculum Manager or delegate. 
Skills for tertiary study (including literacy and numeracy) may be acquired through study, work and/or life experience. If you can demonstrate these skills you may apply for Special Entry. 
Qualifications other than those listed in the Entry Requirements above will need to be assessed for equivalence, and applicants holding these qualifications will need to apply for Special Entry approval from the Curriculum Manager or delegate.

English Language requirements

You must have a level of English sufficient to be able to study at this level. If your first language is not English you should have an international English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 5.5 (with at least 5.0 in each band) issued within the last two years, or a qualification considered to be equivalent to the above:
Refer to The NZQA Table of Internationally Recognised English Proficiency Outcomes for(external link)
International Students(external link) 

Note: If you who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not required to provide evidence of English Language Skills.

Additional costs

You are responsible for purchasing your chef kit which include...