Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services

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.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 30 June 2027 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 or if you do not meet the listed requirements. Please note that the 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).

Information for Applicants

Motivation and Finnish and English language skills will be assessed during an interview which will take place 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

• Admission period: 18 August – 22 September 2027
• Selection results: Announced by December 2027
• Deadline to accept the study place: Within one week after the selection results are published
• Start of studies: 11 January 2028
• Note that the programme will be organized only if there are enough participants

Total amount of 20 applicants will be invited to the admission interview. Priority is given to applicants already living in Finland. If there are more than 20 eligible applicants, we will use random selection to determine who we interview.
Please note: If you do not attend the interview, your application will be cancelled.
Motivation and Finnish and English language skills will be assessed during the interview in Tampere, Finland (online interviews are not possible).

Tuition fees for upper secondary education

If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and EEA, you may have to pay tuition fees for vocational education.
More information about tuition fees: https://www.tredu.fi/en/studying-at-tredu/for-applicants/
Opintopolku/Studyinfo: Tuition fees for upper secondary education

Check out our video about Restaurant and Catering studies:

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