- Location
- Langside Campus
- SCQF Level
- 4
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NPA
- Course Type
- Short Full-Time
- Duration
- 18 weeks
Applications open 15th January 2025
Start your learning journey in an exciting industry with lots of career opportunities with this National Progression Award (NPA) in Professional Cookery. Throughout this fast paced 18 week course, you will learn how to use professional equipment to develop practical cookery skills and gain the knowledge required for entry-level positions within the hospitality industry.
What will I learn?
Units that you may study during NPA Professional Cookery include:
- Food preparation techniques: An introduction
- Cookery processes: An introduction
- Food hygiene for the hospitality industry
- Craft bakery: An introduction
- Cake decoration: An introduction
- Building your own employability skills
- Safety in the professional kitchen
- World foods
- Guidance
Group Award in:
- Professional Cookery.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- No formal entry qualifications are required
- You must have an interest in the catering and hospitality industry
- An interview will be part of the selection process
- References on request
- Proof of residency and ESOL Level 2 will be required.
Entry requirement equivalency table
- If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
You will complete the 'Building your own employability skills' unit, which will allow you to apply for suitable jobs. You will also practice interview skills and compile a CV.
Current job vacancies are posted on the student notice board.
Jobs and further study
- NPA Professional Cookery (Level 5)
- NQ Professional Cookery (Level 5)
- NQ Bakery (Level 4)
- Jobs in the hospitality industry.
Take a look at the course progression map for hospitality and catering courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
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, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out within three weeks of accepting your offer.
