- Location
- Langside Campus
- Start Date
- 3 Feb 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 Weeks (January to June)
NPA Professional Cookery (Level 5) is a short 18-week course which is designed to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to become a professional chef. Each unit underpins knowledge and theory to give you the confidence and tools required to progress and succeed in either further education or employment.
If you're organised, creative, self-motivated and looking to enhance your current culinary knowledge to prepare for a career in hospitality, then this course could be perfect for you.
What will I learn?
- You’ll gain expertise in food hygiene, pastry, soups, stocks, sauces, vegetarian cookery, bread making, and cake decoration.
- All topics are taught by experienced chefs from the hospitality industry, providing practical, real-world insight.
Here's a taste of what goes on in our training kitchens.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- A relevant qualification at Level 4, or equivalent relevant experience in the catering industry would be advantageous
- Core skills entry Level 4
- If English is not your first language you should have ESOL Level 3, or equivalent
- You must have an interest in the hospitality industry and demonstrate this in the application form
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study.
Employer and industry links
We collaborate with industry professionals to ensure our courses meet employer demands. By staying current with culinary trends, we offer qualifications that are highly valued and relevant in today’s job market.
Jobs and further study
Upon successful completion, you'll be well-positioned to progress to courses starting in August at Glasgow Clyde College including:
- NPA Professional Cookery Level 5
- NQ Professional Cookery Level 6
Students have also progressed to jobs in the hospitality industry as a commis chef or catering assistant.
Take a look at the course progression map for hospitality and catering courses.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding. This will normally be sent out in January.
