Best University to Study for Culinary Arts in Malaysia 2019

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About Culinary Arts in Malaysia

Culinary arts is suitable for students who desire to be a part of the dynamic and rewarding career, whether a student plans to work in a 5 stars hotel or running their own bakery in the future.

With so many culinary arts schools in Malaysia, finding the right one is not easy, let along the course fees, student or parents also looking at the employability and recognition of the cert. If the chefs from the school participate in competitions and won, it also indicates their quality in the particular field.

A good culinary university or college, other than having experienced chefs and excellent kitchen facilities for a student to learn, industry internship opportunity is also important to the student. Culinary arts school, Instead to act as a medium to transfer knowledge and skills to the student, it provides hands-on experience to the student.

How Does Your Education Pathway Looks Like?

Upon completing your high school or equivalent (eg. SPM, IGCSE), you can head straight into a Diploma in Culinary Arts.

Upon completion of the course, you can either progress to employment or progress to a Degree in Culinary Arts.

Do you want to become a celebrity chef?

Culinary arts has been growing popular in Malaysia due to the media industry consistently broadcast cooking related programs on TV and Internet. Chefs can now have broader careers other than working inside a kitchen. Example of celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsay from “Kitchen Hell”, Chef Wan from Malaysia, Nicholas Tse from Hong Kong and Jamie Oliver from “Naked Chef” have increased the awareness of successful culinary careers.

What Can you learn from Culinary School?

Many culinary art schools in Malaysia teach a choice of cuisines and preparation methods. A student will take subjects ranging from basic through advanced levels of pastry, boutique style desserts, confectionery craft and delicious decorating techniques.

At Culinary Arts School, students will acquire important skills in culinary, organising and management. Students will begin with basic culinary skills such as knife skills, cooking methods, timing, preparation prior to service, plate decoration & presentations, flavour & seasoning, cooking on the line and others. Here are some of the subjects that you may learn:

  • Essential Cuisine Techniques
  • Kitchen Operations & Management
  • Food Nutrition & Sanitation
  • Patisserie & Baking
  • Cost Control & Financial Management
  • Menu Design & Creation

Besides, being well organised is key to running a successful kitchen, from ordering, scheduling, food costing, and dealing with suppliers are just some of the work involved. Chefs need to work as a team, and the management skills with the other kitchen staff well. The complexities of motivating staff and getting the best out of them are important. Ultimately, a chef will become a mentor to other chefs and having people skills is important to impart his or her skills to the next generation.

Who should study Culinary Arts in Malaysia

The culinary, patisserie and hospitality service management industries are ideal for people who enjoy experiential learning and being able to apply their skills and knowledge gained immediately to practice. They are people who:

  • Love to cook or bake
  • Are hands-on workers
  • Are service oriented
  • Able to react quickly to different kinds of challenges
  • Work in flexible hours
  • Customer service Oriented

Nature of the work for culinary chefs in Malaysia

  • Long hours
  • Usually required to work on the weekend
  • High pressure at peak periods
  • Customer service-oriented – provide a high level of services
  • Dynamic – on-the-go
  • Able to adapt to changes and stress

It is important to choose a culinary arts college in Malaysia that has years of experience or that can provide students with excellent exposure to the industry. The best colleges in Malaysia in culinary arts can help prepare students with the necessary knowledge and skills for a successful career.

Being a Pastry Chef or Patisserie Chef

  • Pastry chefs have the enviable job of creating a multitude of baked good and confections from cookies and cakes to chocolates, beignets… or any dessert you can think of.
  • The Pastry Chef has to be In creative and well-versed in dessert tastes and flavours. Create a multitude of baked goods and confections — everything from cookies and cakes to chocolate involves the preparation of pastries, such as cakes, candies, chocolates, and other specialty dessert items in retail and commercial settings.
  • Pastry chefs with sound business experiences can move on to opening their own pastry shop or bakery.

Comparing the world-class Le Cordon Bleu with other culinary arts college in Malaysia

Other than the fee (1-year diploma of patisserie at Le Cordon Bleu costs around USD20,000 compared to Diploma of Culinary Arts with Berjaya University College, at about USD 12,000). If a student is looking forward to work at 5 -6 stars hotel in the global market, go for Le Cordon Bleu; If a student is after fast graduation and doesn’t matter to work at anywhere or perhaps, start their own bakery shop, other culinary arts school should be sufficient. Below here is the course structure for reference.

Le Cordon Blue Malaysia
Course: Diplôme de Cuisine
Duration: 9 months
Course fee (2019): RM 101,800
Berjaya University College
Course: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years
Course fee (2019): RM 47,160
Basic Pâtisserie Certificate
French culinary terms and definitions:
  • The use and care of cookery equipment
  • Working in a safe and hygienic manner
  • Food preparation and mise en place
  • Work organization and planning
  • French classical cooking techniques
  • Commodities – receiving and storage
  • Basic French pastry terms
  • Basic decoration
  • Introduction to chocolate
  • Introduction to bread and yeast dough’s
  • Introduction to desserts
  • French Patisserie – introduction to a variety of cakes and pastries
  • Basic dough’s and fillings – short pastry, choux pastry, puff
Intermediate Pâtisserie Certificate
The focus will be refining and developing those skills previously learned.
  • Artistic and decorative skills
  • Ice cream and sorbet
  • Introduction to bread making
  • Mastering Bavarian creams and mousses
  • Classical and contemporary desserts
  • Classical and contemporary presentations
  • Variations on restaurant hot and cold plated desserts
  • French Pastries and cakes
  • Career preparation and workplace communications
Superior Pâtisserie Certificate
Variety of classic pastries and cakes
  • Sweet yeast products
  • Advanced gateaux and tortes
  • Desserts for dietary requirements
  • Boulangerie – bread products – advanced
  • Afternoon Tea menus
  • Preparation and service of espresso coffee
  • Application of menu presentation
  • Modern approach to plate design and presentation to restaurant standards
  • Presentation and service requirements of the finished menu
  • Organize and prepare mise en place for a restaurant
  • Teamwork
  • Career preparation and workplace communications
  • Petit four classic and contemporary chocolate box
  • Presentation of petit fours
  • Basic Food and Beverage Services
  • Pastry and Baking
  • Food Commodities
  • Basic Culinary
  • Cuisine and Restaurant Operations
  • Advanced Pastry and Baking
  • Kitchen and Hygiene Management
  • Butchery
  • Advanced Cuisine and Restaurant Operations
  • Nutrition and Sensory Analysis
  • Food and Beverage Cost Control
  • English for Academic Purpose
  • Personal Development Skills
  • Team Development Skills
  • Professional Development Skills
  • Garde Manger
  • Malaysian Cuisine
  • Menu Planning and Development
  • Introduction to Business
  • Kitchen Layout and Design
  • Aseana Cuisine
  • Entrepreneurship Development
  • Internship

The program listed are provided as a general guide only, the course fees were captured base on the publicly available information on the internet. Please consult with our education advisor for further assessment.

Written by Excel Education, For more information on intake date, student visa, scholarship, chat with us online

Employment Pass for foreign students looking for a job in Malaysia after graduation

(For international students)

If you are considering to work in Malaysia after graduation, you can either request an extension of your internship with the school, so that you can use your student visa to work. Or get an employment pass. The Employment Pass (EP) is a work permit that enables a foreigner to take up employment with an organisation in Malaysia. The pass is subject to the contract of employment (up to 60 months).

Salary outlook of a chef in Malaysia

Ever wondering how much can a chef earn in Malaysia, according to Indeed (https://www.indeed.com.my/salaries/Chef-Salaries), a fresh graduate can earn about RM2,000 per month, while a chef with 3 – 5 years experiences can earn about RM4,000 per month. If you have 10 years working experience or an award-winning chef, your potential earning might be about RM6,000 and above.

Level of study for Culinary Arts

There are generally three levels of culinary arts to study in Malaysia, mainly

  • Certificate Culinary Arts
  • Diploma of Culinary Arts
  • Bachelor of Culinary Arts

Top Universities & Colleges in Malaysia for Culinary Arts

Here are some of the popular universities and culinary schools that offer Culinary Arts in Malaysia.

UniversityCourse name & durationIndicative annual
course fee
2018/2019
Le Cordon Bleu MalaysiaDiploma in Cuisine
Duration: 9 months

RM 101,800

Taylor’s University CollegeDiploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years

RM 26,881

Bachelor of Culinary Arts & Foodservice Management (Hons) (1+2), with Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration: 2-3 years

RM 68,773

Sunway University

Diploma in Culinary Arts (Accredited by Le Cordon Bleu)
Duration: 2 years

RM 22,000

BSc (Hons) in Culinary Management (Accredited by Le Cordon Bleu)
Duration: 2-3 years

RM 29,533

INTI UniversityDiploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years

RM 21,623

Berjaya University College of Hospitality

Diploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years

RM 24,905

Bachelor of Culinary Arts Management (Honours)
Duration: 2-3 years

RM 26,267

City University

Diploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 3 years

RM 10,550

UCSI University

Diploma Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years

RM 14,780

SEGI University College

Diploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years

RM 16,600

HELP College of Arts & TechnologyDiploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years

RM 24,850

Nilai University

Diploma in Culinary Arts
Duration: 2 years

RM 15,766

The program listed are provided as a general guide only, the course fees were captured base on the publicly available information on the internet. Please consult with our education advisor for further assessment.

Written by Excel Education, For more information on intake date, student visa, scholarship, chat with us online.

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About Post Author
Michelle Phan
Michelle is a freelance content writer graduated from Curtin University with a degree in Communication (Commercial writing). Michelle loves to travel and enjoys walking on the beach. Michelle also feeds on psychology quote and will give away just about anything to cuddle with furry felines.
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