Culinary Arts

Turn your passion for food into a career. Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Culinary Arts diploma program is hands on, fast paced and cutting edge—and the only four semester advanced culinary training program in Saskatchewan. 

Get the professional training you need to launch a career in cooking, whether you’re interested in a career in restaurants, hotels, resorts, private clubs, catering, institutional settings or running your own restaurant. We train the next generation of culinary leaders.

Culinary Arts is a four semester diploma program offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic Prince Albert Campus, Regina Campus and Saskatoon Campus. Your instructors are all experienced Red Seal chefs. They will introduce you to cooking principles and practices, everything from baking to breakfasts, garde manger to a la carte, and meats, seafood and poultry to vegetables, starches and pasta. Here are some of the exciting culinary subjects you will be exposed to:

  • baking and pastry
  • catering and special event cooking
  • Contemporary cuisine and modern food trends
  • field to fork experience
  • fine dining
  • meat cutting and cooking
  • regional foods and Indigenous foods
  • sauces and soups
  • short order food production
  • vegetable cooking
  • wines and beverages
  • world cuisines

 

From food prep to short order cooking to fine dining, you will learn what it is like to work in a commercial kitchen—you’ll spend your time learning new skills and applying new knowledge through a combination of hands-on learning, online learning, and participation in actual food events. You will also learn about kitchen management and industry trends to help you with your future career.
With this Saskatchewan Polytechnic credential, you may be eligible for credit towards apprenticeship training. To learn more, contact the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC).
Diploma graduates are eligible to take the Bachelor of Applied Management degree right here at Saskatchewan Polytechnic with only two years of additional study. Remote classes and part-time options are available.

Career and salary information

Your career

On graduation, you will be qualified to work as a first cook, sous chef, pastry chef, chef de partie, banquet chef, garde manager, junior chef or kitchen supervisor in many different settings. Build your career resume as you work your way up in restaurants, hotels, resorts, catering and private clubs. Look for career opportunities in institutional and corporate settings or use what you’ve learned to start your own business. Our graduates have over a 90% success rate in finding work within six months of graduation.

Potential careers

Sample job title NOC classification
Kitchen manager Food service supervisors (62020)
Sous chef or chef Chefs (62200)
Cook Cook (63200)
Food buyer Retail & wholesale buyers (62101)

Admissions

Admission requirements

Alternative admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

  • 250 Arithmetic
  • 237 Reading

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

2023-24 academic year

$15,300

International students

View tuition rates for international students.

Courses

Get credit for what you know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

Transfer credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Institution Agreement details
Vancouver Island University Graduates of this Sask Polytech diploma program may receive a block transfer of 30 credits toward their Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Regina

 

Student awards

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

Additional information

Everett Nelson
Program head
Culinary Arts