Cook

Come and study at Tredu Santalahdentie! These studies provide expertise in restaurant and catering services as well as the customer service and English language skills. The students specialize in cooking tasks. Cook is working in food preparation tasks at the restaurant and participates in customer service with the other restaurant staff. Cook knows the ingredients, plans and prepares tasty dishes, sets out portions and takes care of the cleanliness of the kitchen.

He/she uses various tools and equipment according to his operating environment. Cook also knows how to take into account nutritional recommendations and special diets. Cook’s working places include professional and catering kitchens, cafes and lunch restaurants, food restaurants and bars, banquets, fine dining restaurants, hotels and catering companies. The strengths of the cook’s profession are precise taste, craftsmanship, imagination and creativity. Jobs in the field also emphasize the ability to withstand pressure and hurry, as well as the ability to work with different kind of people. Our students also acquire hygiene passport and Emergency First Aid Training as part of their studies.

Other important things in this field are:

• sales and service skills
• teamwork skills
• language skills
• flexibility
• responsibility
• economical skills
• entrepreneurial attitude
• good physical condition is beneficial when working in restaurant and catering field

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

Three 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 primary education (grades 1-9). Applicants of compulsory education age are prioritized. All certificates must be translated into Finnish or English by a certified translator. Please note, that you are not qualified to apply if you have a vocational education or bachelor’s degree in Finland.
• Citizenship or residence permit in Finland or in EU/ETA/Schengen countries, valid until 30th June 2026 or longer. Please attach a photo of your residence permit (both sides) on the application form.
• Fluent in English language. Language skills (both written and spoken) will be tested in the admission interview (for those who are invited).
• Basic level of Finnish language is required. If the applicant is of compulsory school age, Finnish is not required. Language skills (both written and spoken) will be tested in the admission interview (for those who are invited).

No exceptions will be made, and we don’t ask for supplements. The application will be automatically cancelled if you have not attached the required supplements on your application, or if you don’t meet the requirements listed. Please note, that the applications are handled daily during the admission period.

Applicants under 18 years living abroad must have a guardian (parent, grandparent, close relative, sports coach etc.) living in Finland. We will check the eligibility and guardian’s information before inviting the applicant to an interview.

Motivation and Finnish and English language skills are tested in an admission interview. Interviews will be held in Tampere, Finland (online interview is not possible). Invitations are sent via email.

Total amount of 10 persons will be invited to the admission interview. Priority is given to applicants already living in Finland. If you don’t attend the interview, your application will be cancelled automatically. If there are more than 10 eligible applicants, we will use random selection to determine who we interview.

Check out our video about Restaurant and Catering studies:

How to apply

Fill out the application form in Opintopolku.

Admission procedure (information will be updated):

• Admission period
• The admission interview will be held at Tredu Pyynikki campus, (Santalahdentie 10) Tampere.
• The results of student selection will be announced by June 2026.
• The deadline for accepting the study place is in one week after the student selection announcements.
• The studies begin on August 2026.

Study language: English
Location of studies: Tredu Santalahdentie 10, Tampere, Finland (not online)

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