Programme highlights
Already working in a kitchen, or ready to start a career in hospitality? This programme builds the skills and confidence to take your cooking to the next level.
You’ll learn to prepare and finish a wide range of dishes using professional techniques, work with limited supervision, and build the communication and teamwork skills that keep a busy kitchen running.
Step into a professional kitchen and learn it all, from first prep to final plate. You’ll build the food safety and customer service skills that keep everyone safe, then master the hot dishes every kitchen relies on, classic and modern. Get creative with veggies, grains, pasta and dairy, cook meat, seafood and alternative proteins with confidence, and finish every menu in style with breads, pastries and desserts.
Graduate with the skills to step into intermediate chef roles in restaurants, cafés, hotels, catering and beyond.
Highlights
- Stand out from the crowd with a qualification that opens the door to intermediate chef roles, not just entry-level jobs.
- Practise in a real kitchen. You’ll cook in realistic commercial settings, so by the time you’re on the job, service feels like second nature.
- Graduate with the confidence and skills to run your own section, with limited supervision.
- Take your skills anywhere. Café, hotel, restaurant, caterer? Your qualification opens doors across hospitality, here and overseas.
- Be the one everyone wants on their team. You’ll learn to work well with colleagues, managers and customers, even when service gets busy.
- Know the standards employers expect. You’ll learn the procedures that keep a kitchen safe, compliant, and running smoothly, so you can step into any workplace with confidence.
- Cook smart, waste less. You’ll learn how to cut waste and save energy and water, which is a skill employers in the industry are actively looking for.
- Look after yourself (and your crew). Kitchens are intense. You’ll learn how to protect your wellbeing and your team’s, so you can enjoy a long career in the industry.
- When you graduate, you will be ready to step into roles in restaurants, cafés, catering, hotels, and events or keep the momentum going and take your skills further with our New Zealand Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) (Level 5) Cookery strand.
Entry requirements
General
Open entry for domestic students.
International students: English language entry requirements
International students must meet the English Language Requirements as specified by NZQA. For the minimum English language requirements refer to the requirements set out in the NZQF Programme and Accreditation Rules
Give yourself credit with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Did you know you can use the knowledge and experience you already have to your advantage?
Your previous work experience and on-the-job skills, volunteering, professional development, and other providers’ qualifications can be recognised as prior learning, matched against credits in our courses, and put towards your qualification – potentially saving you money and possibly helping you to complete your qualification faster Learn more.
Programme structure
You will need to complete the below seven courses (120 credits):
Do you want to study a single course, without enrolling into the full programme?
Courses within some of our programmes may be offered as an individual Certificate of Proficiency (COP). Programme entry requirements and course fees apply. For more information, please speak to our friendly Ask Me! team.
Further training or study
New Zealand Diploma in Cookery (advanced) (Level 5) Cookery strand
Career opportunities
Kitchens of every shape and size need great chefs. When you graduate, you could be working as a:
- Café cook
- Restaurant cook
- Hotel chef
- Chef de partie / section chef
- Catering chef
- Events chef
- Pastry or baking cook
- Institutional kitchen cook (hospitals, aged care, schools, universities)
- Commis chef (progressing to senior roles)
Visit Tahatu Career Navigator for further study information.
See why more people choose Culinary at MIT
Considering baking, culinary and hospitality at MIT?
“I loved the location of MIT.”
“I loved the location of MIT – away from the city so I could concentrate on my studies. A lot of the equipment is new and the lecturers and staff are the most helpful I’ve ever met. We were just like a family. I also did some of my training at Novotel Auckland Airport which was a great experience. For international students, there are convenient payment options for fees. I heard about my current job from another MIT graduate. There are so many ways that MIT will help you find a good job.”
Anne Anggraeni
MIT graduate
“Cooking is for everyone, it’s a life skill.”
“Landing a job at a top Auckland hotel through my internship is a dream result.”
International student Ravneel Anand was delighted when his industry placement at a top Auckland hotel lead to a part-time job. Ravneel, from Fiji, spent a month working at The Langham as part of his International diploma in culinary course at MIT. The placement gave him a chance to work in every department in their kitchens, from pastry to mains to desserts. After Ravneel completed the internship, he was offered a part-time job as a commis chef. Ravneel loved his job and says his studies at MIT were excellent preparation for his future career.
“MIT was a great choice to prepare me for a culinary career. I have found studying at MIT interesting and challenging and amazing. Everything has been enjoyable. The lecturers are so down-to-earth and helpful.”
Ravnell is also enjoying living in Auckland. “I like going out with my friends, seeing new places and having a good time.”
Ravneel Anand
MIT graduate
“See what we do in the culinary world at MIT.”
“MIT is a wonderful learning facility with an excellent reputation.”
“The qualification you obtain from MIT will open up so many doors for you.
Level 4 cookery is a fantastic course for those wanting to start learning culinary arts. You will learn the fundamentals and principles of working in a commercial kitchen and walk out with your qualification and ready to walk into an entry-level position.
I love the facilities at MIT and the calibre of students that we attract. The lecturers are all industry relevant and have such passion for their subjects. It’s a great learning space for anyone who wants to get a great qualification towards their career.”
Tamara Johnson
MIT lecturer
See why more people choose Culinary at MIT
Considering baking, culinary and hospitality at MIT?
“I loved the location of MIT.”
“I loved the location of MIT – away from the city so I could concentrate on my studies. A lot of the equipment is new and the lecturers and staff are the most helpful I’ve ever met. We were just like a family. I also did some of my training at Novotel Auckland Airport which was a great experience. For international students, there are convenient payment options for fees. I heard about my current job from another MIT graduate. There are so many ways that MIT will help you find a good job.”
Anne Anggraeni
MIT graduate
“Cooking is for everyone, it’s a life skill.”
“Landing a job at a top Auckland hotel through my internship is a dream result.”
International student Ravneel Anand was delighted when his industry placement at a top Auckland hotel lead to a part-time job. Ravneel, from Fiji, spent a month working at The Langham as part of his International diploma in culinary course at MIT. The placement gave him a chance to work in every department in their kitchens, from pastry to mains to desserts. After Ravneel completed the internship, he was offered a part-time job as a commis chef. Ravneel loved his job and says his studies at MIT were excellent preparation for his future career.
“MIT was a great choice to prepare me for a culinary career. I have found studying at MIT interesting and challenging and amazing. Everything has been enjoyable. The lecturers are so down-to-earth and helpful.”
Ravnell is also enjoying living in Auckland. “I like going out with my friends, seeing new places and having a good time.”
Ravneel Anand
MIT graduate
“See what we do in the culinary world at MIT.”
“MIT is a wonderful learning facility with an excellent reputation.”
“The qualification you obtain from MIT will open up so many doors for you.
Level 4 cookery is a fantastic course for those wanting to start learning culinary arts. You will learn the fundamentals and principles of working in a commercial kitchen and walk out with your qualification and ready to walk into an entry-level position.
I love the facilities at MIT and the calibre of students that we attract. The lecturers are all industry relevant and have such passion for their subjects. It’s a great learning space for anyone who wants to get a great qualification towards their career.”
Tamara Johnson
MIT lecturer
