Cook
On This Page
Description of the Training
Study restaurant and catering in a practical way. The employment situation in the industry is good. A cook who has completed the competence area of food services works at restaurants or in the catering sector, staff canteens, cafés, catering companies, freight and passenger ships as well as institutional kitchens.
Qualification holders are able to
• plan and carry out food preparation or customer service tasks and work in sales in the catering sector
• work in a sales-minded, customer service oriented and quality conscious manner and profitably, productively, and responsibly as well as operate in compliance with hygiene requirements, and sustainable operating practices.
A cook who has completed the qualification knows how to
• work in food preparation tasks at restaurants with different business ideas or missions or in public sector units
• prepare tasty, nutritious, and wholesome food, taking special diets into account
• set out food as individual plated dishes or dishes for a large group of customers.
The training lasts approximately 1,5-2 years or proceeds according to a personal plan. The aim of the training is to complete the Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Service in its entirety. The training is full-time.
The training includes contact teaching, distance learning and on-the-job learning. Contact teaching is 5 days per week between 8:00 and 16:00. At other times, you carry out distance learning as well as on-the-job learning in accordance with regular working hours.
Holidays:
- week 8 spring 2026,
- 1.6.-9.8.2026,
- week 42 autumn 2026
The scope of the Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services is 180 competence points.
Read more about the qualification in the TAI Opinnot online service or on ePerusteet.
The training itself is free of charge. Acquisition of working clothes and working footwear incur expenses.
Turun ammatti-instituutti,
Lemminkäisenkadun koulutalo,
Lemminkäisenkatu 18 D, Turku
For Whom
Admission criteria
The education is targeted at Finns, citizens of the EU and applicants possessing a residence permit in the EU/Schengen countries. If you have a residence permit in the EU, please attach it to the application.
Basic entrance requirements for studying Basic Vocational Qualifications:
- Completed Finnish comprehensive school or other basic education (approximately nine years, from ages 7-16)
- Priority will be given to applicants who have the right to work in Finland. For more information: Finnish Immigration Service – Work in Finland
- Good written and oral command of the English language
- 18 years of age
- Suitability requirements: good health for vocational labor and flexibility in working hours as requested
- Motivation
- Need for education
- Prerequisites for studying: Appropriate study skills and commitment to studies and degree completion.
Student social benefits are mainly granted for full-time studies. In some cases, benefits may also be granted for part-time studies. Check out the different benefits here: Student Social Benefits and Housing | Turun ammatti-instituutti
Every student will receive a personal competence development plan (HOKS). Among other things, it is used to agree on the recognition of prior education, personal choices, the acquisition of missing competence and the methods thereof. For more information on personalisation, see here.
Applying
Application for the training opens on April 28th 2025.
Apply for the training program by filling in the online application form carefully and by attending the mandatory admissions info and interview.
Only eligible applicants will be invited to the mandatory admissions info. Invitations are sent by email. In addition to your email inbox, frequently check your spam folder.
Mandatory admissions info will be held on Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 at the school. The interview day begins with a general information session about the studies, followed by a written task and an individual interview.
Students are selected from applicants who meet the admission criteria. All applicants will be notified of admissions.
More Information
Guidance Counsellor Merja Berg tel. 044 907 3041, merja.berg@edu.turku.fi