The Professional Chef Training Program: A Holistic Overview

"This  Diploma program is a real boot camp; it is equivalent to other one year culinary programs."

What makes ICCA Dubai one of the best schools for young chefs and how does it offer a guaranteed work placement? “There’s really no magic about it - it's merely the hard work the students undergo during the intense 3 month Diploma program that is 100% industry focused,” says Sunjeh Raja, Principal of ICCA Dubai.

1. The Diplomas in Cookery and Pâtisserie take 3 months each to complete. A student chef can choose to do either one or both the diplomas.
2. These 620 hour Diplomas are “Zero to Hero” programs. No prior experience or cookery knowledge is required to do either of the Diplomas. Students start with basic culinary techniques and progress to intermediate and advanced techniques by the end of the three month period.
3. The programs adhere to the International Vocational Qualification guidelines and standards, accredited by the City & Guilds, London, that ensure high quality skills and competency based education and training.
4. Each of the 620 hour Diploma programs consist of intense 8 am to 5 pm days, 6 days a week (Friday is the weekly holiday) delivered to simulate the industry work environment. Every culinary program has its advantages; our Diploma can change a life in 3 months. Student chefs are able to study for three months and immediately get employed compared to studying for nine months to one year in equivalent culinary programs that are delivered on a part time basis in other parts of the world.
5. The student chef can study for 3 months, work for 3 years and become eligible for skilled emigration to countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The City & Guilds Diplomas awarded are recognized internationally.
6. The programs and certifications offered by ICCA Dubai are also recognised locally by the Knowledge & Human Development Authority (the educational quality assurance and regulatory authority of the Government of Dubai, U.A.E).
7. Minimum entry requirements are age 16 or above with a high school qualification (12 years).

1. Upon successful completion of the Diploma programs, we offer a 100% guaranteed paid work placement through the IWEP program for students aged 18-28 at the Commis level in the leading hotels and restaurants in Dubai.
2. The Industry Work Experience Placement Program (IWEP), which a student takes in addition to their Diploma, helps students seamlessly integrate, effectively deliver and excel in their work placement. The student chef is put through all aspects of employability training such as interview preparations, learning the importance of grooming and poise, and confidence building exercises which lead to technical knowledge reinforcement and a positive industry attitude.
3. The courses are based on Classical Continental (European) cuisine and popular Regional Specialities from around the world.
4. This course is a “Boot Camp”; It is structured and rigorous; the student chefs begin their day with opening tasks such as, receive and store goods, chiller tagging, etc., continue to have a morning session for three hours, followed by an afternoon session for three hours and end with closing tasks such clean and maintain kitchen premises, and cold and dry storage maintenance.
5. Apart from learning to cook, students clean up and wash up after every class. Through this, the student chef will learn all the systems and procedures used in real kitchens and will get a feel for life in a kitchen.
6. The program is absolutely ‘hands-on’ and the student chef will learn to make 6 dishes a day from scratch (from cutting the ingredients to plating the dish) with a partner. This is done to encourage the student chef to become confident in multi-tasking and preparing food in a kitchen.
7. We are not only committed to delivering a high quality education, but also committed to ensuring our student chefs develop well mentally and emotionally, and enjoy the course. We offer as much guidance and counseling a student chef needs to feel comfortable during their Diploma program.
8. Our award-winning culinary school has the most up to date industry standard machinery and equipment. The student chef will be well exposed and adept in using some of the most complex industry machinery by the end of the course.
9. When work placed at the commis level, the student chef will receive an entry-level salary package deal with accommodation, food, transport, ticket to the home town once in two years, medical insurance and AED 1,200 to AED 2,000 (approx. ZAR 4,250 to ZAR 7,000) cash-in-hand. The total value of cash and kind in this package comes to USD1,500 (approx. ZAR 20,000). Salaries increase with experience, as one progresses through the kitchen hierarchy.
10. The school is located in Dubai which has a booming hospitality and tourism industry. Young chefs have the opportunity to work with ingredients, cuisines and chefs from around the world with several opportunities to progress in their career in the food industry here.
11. People from all around the world come to do the Diploma programs at ICCA, Dubai. The student chef will get to learn from and experience different cultures and will learn what each has to offer in terms of food.

1. ICCA Dubai has been operating since 2005 and have a network of over 6,000 alumni, many working in the best restaurants in the world like Attica (Melbourne), Coya, Ossiano, Nobu, etc. Apart from becoming successful chefs, our graduates have also become successful restaurant owners, food stylists and photographers, food bloggers and more.

1. Team ICCA participates in events related to food in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which include the Taste of Dubai, the Taste of Abu Dhabi, Gulf Food, Gulf Host, the Dubai Airshow, the Dubai World Cup, World Skills Abu Dhabi, food related Guinness World Record attempts and helping at the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi on the Yas Marina circuit during the Formula One Abu Dhabi GP, apart from events that take place at ICCA, Dubai. The student chef may get to work alongside and learn from Michelin star chefs (like Giorgio Locatelli, Jun Tunaka, and Gary Rhodes) and celebrity chefs (like Jenny Morris, Annabel Karmel, Sanjeev Kapoor, and Eric Lanlard) during these events.

‍

PRICE

‍The IVQ Level 2 City & Guilds Diploma in Food Preparation & Culinary Arts – Cookery (8065 – 02) and The IVQ Level 2 Diploma in Food Preparation & Culinary Arts - Patisserie (8065 - 03) are USD$15,550.50 each (approx. ZAR 206,710) for international admissions. When student chefs opt to do both the Diplomas in Cookery and Patisserie, a substantial discount is offered on the second Diploma and both the Diplomas together cost USD$23,955.75 (approx. ZAR 318,444).

Prices inclusive of 5% VAT, tuition, course material, online learning resource, City & Guilds registration and examination fee, one full set of uniform (excluding safety shoes which can be purchased on orientation day for AED 158 (approx. ZAR 543)), accommodation, breakfast and lunch on working days. Transport and dinner are not included. Additional full sets of uniform (jacket, pant, cap and apron) cost AED 473 (approx. ZAR 1,714) each and a set with only a jacket and pant costs AED 315 (approx. ZAR 1,142). Most students purchase an extra set with only a jacket and pant.

‍A student chef will also need approximately AED 3,000 (approx. ZAR 10,859) to cover personal expenditure, a meal in the evening, food on the weekends and travel as two meals on working days and accommodation are taken care of in the package offered. The total a student would need to have cash-in-hand would be at least AED 3,473 (approx. ZAR 12,567) (expenditure + safety shoes + extra set with jacket and pant only). Cost of flights will also need to be taken into account.

The ICCA student accommodation are shared apartments, located centrally near the Mall of the Emirates and easily accessible by public transport. There is a public transport bus service that runs from close to the accommodation to ICCA which takes approximately 20 minutes.

Students who wish to live with their families can opt of a fee package without accommodation and food.

‍COMMUNITY

‍Check out what our alumni have to say about us. While you’re there, take a virtual tour through our school.  See what’s happening at ICCA, Dubai through our social media – Facebook and Instagram.

‍ADMISSION

‍The next intake dates in 2018 for both the programs are: August 26, October 21, and November 27.Note: While we usually have a few seats left in our batches, the last three batches of the year fill up quickly because of the beautiful weather. Admissions from South Africa will be given priority.

‍Our student support team will help you through every step of the admissions and visa processes. If you would like to sign up or get more information about the Diplomas, send us an email at enquiry@iccadubai.ae with the subject “Professional [Cookery / Patisserie / Both] – [Your name] – [Preferred in take dates]” and we’ll get back to you with the admission process/information requested.

‍