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.
Start date
September 2025: Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon
January 2026: Saskatoon
Length
Total length of training is 64 weeks (4 semesters of 16 weeks each semester).
Locations(s)
Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, SaskatoonLength and location notes
Prince Albert and Regina's intakes are offered from the fall to spring. After a summer break (between semesters two and three), the upcoming semesters will begin the following fall. Saskatoon has all semesters offered concurrently for a total of one and 1/3 years of studies with no summer break.
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
Intensive, hands-on education
Apprenticeship credit
Diploma to degree
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
- Grade 12
- You must be 18 years old as of the program start date
- English Language Requirement
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 AdmittedThe 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.2024-25 academic year
$15,450
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.
- Candidate Guide
- Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
- communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
- More 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 | Details |
|---|---|
| Vancouver Island University | Graduates of this program may be eligible for block transfer of 60 credit units into the Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree program at Vancouver Island University. |
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.
Additional information