Cook

Study to Become a Cook at Tredu Santalahdentie!

Gain professional skills in restaurant and catering services, customer service, and English skills. Specializing in cooking, you’ll learn to prepare delicious meals, manage kitchen hygiene, and work as part of a restaurant team.

Cooks master ingredients, plan and plate dishes, and use kitchen tools safely and efficiently. They understand nutrition, special diets, and follow hygiene standards. Workplaces include restaurants, cafés, hotels, catering companies, and fine dining and lunch restaurants. Our students also acquire hygiene passport and Emergency First Aid Training as part of their studies.

Key strengths in this field:

• Taste and creativity
• Craftsmanship and teamwork
• Language skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexibility and responsibility
• Sales and service skills
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Physical fitness is an advantage

Content of the degree

The scope of the Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services is 180 competence points. The qualification is composed of vocational units (145 competence points) and common units (35 competence points).
Check out the Requirements of Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services at the site of Finnish National Agency for Education (Opens in a new window)

The vocational qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services has two competence areas:
• competence area of customer service (waiter/waitress) and
• competence area of food services (cook).

The preliminary selection of the competence area will be done in the application document. Note! Spring 2026 application is only for competence area of food services (cook). Tredu provides perfect facilities for training at the college’s own lunch restaurant Elmeri and cafeteria Eevi, before the on-the-job periods in Finland or abroad.

Duration of studies

2-3 years or according to the personal skills development plan. The studies are carried out during daytime and also in the evenings.

Do double examination

It is possible to prepare for the national matriculation examination during the studies and combine the general upper secondary education with this in five subjects (Finnish as a mother tongue, Swedish, Mathematics, English and a theoretical subject). These studies are carried out during daytime. The language of instruction is Finnish.

Requirements for student selection

• Qualification equivalent to Finnish basic education (grades 1-9), qualification equivalent to Finnish general upper secondary education (high school diploma) or a vocational degree / university degree.
• Citizenship or residence permit in Finland or in EU/ETA/Schengen countries, valid until 30th June 2026 or longer.
• Fluent in English language.
• Basic level of Finnish language is required. If the applicant is of compulsory school age, Finnish is not required.

No exceptions will be made, and we do not request missing documents later. Your application will be automatically cancelled if the required attachments are not included, we are not able to open them or if you do not meet the listed requirements. Please note that applications are reviewed daily during the admission period.

Applicants under 18 years of age who live abroad must have a guardian residing in Finland (such as a parent, grandparent, close relative, or sports coach).

Check out our video about Restaurant and Catering studies:

Information for applicants

• All eligible applicants (except those of compulsory school age) are invited to an in-person information session on 31 March 2026 at 10:00, at Santalahdentie 10, Tampere (no remote option).
• At the end of the session, a time for the group interview will be scheduled.
• Please note: If you do not attend the information session or the interview, your application will be cancelled.
• Applicants of compulsory school age will be invited directly to a group interview and do not need to attend the information session.
• Motivation and Finnish and English language skills will be assessed during the group interview which will take place later in April in Tampere, Finland (online interviews are not possible).

The language of instruction is English.
Studies take place in Tampere, Finland (no remote option).

Admission procedure

Fill out the application form in Opintopolku.

• Admission period: 17 February – 17 March 2026
• Selection results: Announced during weeks 23–24, by 12 June 2026 at the latest
• Deadline to accept the study place: Within one week after the selection results are published
• Start of studies: 5 August 2026

Further Information

Guidance Councellor
Saija Hellsten
+358 41 730 7299
saija.hellsten@tampere.fi

TreduNavi Admission Services
e-mail: tredu.haku@tampere.fi
tel +358 40 170 5649