Canada is home to some of the best culinary schools in the world and they accept international students. Curated here are the best culinary schools in Canada with a focus on the culinary schools in Toronto, Ontario, and Alberta.
Do you wish to enroll in a culinary school to become a chef? Have you considered Canada? If you haven’t, then you should, and here is why.
Culinary schools in Canada are among the best in the world like the Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute and many others. Aside from culinary schools, colleges, and vocational institutions in Canada offer culinary programs to anyone who wishes to master the art of making great dishes.
These culinary schools in Canada will teach you how to be a great chef, instilling in you the skills, knowledge, and techniques required to excel in the field and build a successful career in the food industry. If you dream of opening your own restaurant one day, culinary courses in Canada will set you up for the journey.
These schools do not just equip you with cooking/baking skills, they also educate you about the business aspect of the industry so that you can, not only cook but also efficiently run a business as well.
Not sure whether culinary school is the place for you? Test the waters by enrolling in free online cooking courses and free online baking classes, they will grant you a certificate when you complete the courses.
Is Canada Good for Culinary Arts?
Canada is an awesome place to study culinary arts and this is because the country is a blend of French and English people and a sprinkle of other cultures, so you get to learn to make dishes of both major cultures. In addition, you will gain an understanding of how to make cuisines from multiple countries and be able to apply general knowledge to more specific cuisines.
Furthermore, culinary schools support their students through adequate experience and training and the provision of scholarships to support their culinary education.
How long is a culinary school in Canada?
The duration of a culinary school in Canada varies by school and the program you want to go for. A diploma in culinary arts takes 2 years to complete while a bachelor’s degree in culinary art takes 3 or 4 years.
How Much is a Culinary School in Canada?
The tuition fee of culinary schools in Canada varies by program and student’s location. As usual, it is cheaper for domestic students and expensive for international students.
The cost of culinary schools in Canada for domestic students ranges between $6,550 and $11,200 depending on your preferred program. While for international students, it ranges between $9,220 and $27,912.
Requirements for Culinary Schools in Canada
Below are the general requirements for culinary schools in Canada:
- Applicant must have completed high school and show proof such as a high school diploma, official high school transcripts, GED, HISET, high school equivalency documentation, or an acceptable home school certificate.
- A non-refundable application fee of $25, could be more or less, some schools may not even require it
- Letter of recommendation
- Essay
- Valid ID card
- Study permit or student visa for international students
- Language proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS for the English language, DELE for the Spanish language, DELF or DALF for the French language, and DSH, TestDAF, OSD, or TELF for the German language (may not be required by some schools)
Note that this is just a general requirement, your host institution may require more documents. The requirements for Canadian culinary schools vary from province to province and the qualification you want to earn.
List of Best Culinary Schools in Toronto
Here are the best culinary schools in Toronto with specific details on each of the schools.
- George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts
- Liaison College of Culinary Arts
- Centennial College School of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts
- Stratford Chefs School
1. George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts
George Brown College’s Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts is one of the best culinary schools in Toronto. The college offers certificates, diplomas, degrees, and postgraduate programs in the culinary arts. International and domestic students can apply for any of these programs to develop and enhance culinary skills and build a successful business as chefs or business owners in the restaurateur industry.
The college offers a blend of theoretical and experiential education students gain the skills and knowledge to achieve a successful career in the current culinary arts and food industry. The tuition for Canadian students ranges from $2,460 to $13,200 and between $15,800 to $29,048 for international students.
2. Liaison College of Culinary Arts
Liaison College is a private culinary arts training college founded in 1996, located in Toronto, and recognized among the best culinary schools in Canada. It is Canada’s largest private culinary arts and chef training facility. The college has 8 campuses located around Canada to provide as many culinary teachings to as many people as possible.
Liaison accepts international and domestic students into the following programs;
- Specialist Chef
- Culinary Management
- Chef De Cuisine
- Personal Chef Diploma
- Hospitality Management
- Cook Advanced
- Cook Basic
Students can choose to study any of the programs on full-time or part-time study options.
3. Centennial College School of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts
The School of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts in Centennial College is one of the best culinary schools in Toronto, Canada providing culinary education to international and domestic students. The program length is 2 years after which graduates are offered an Ontario College Diploma as proof of their skills in the culinary arts.
The college diploma program will teach you the necessary skills and knowledge to create exquisite menus and dishes by global food trends and flavors and equip you with skills to kick start a successful career.
4. Stratford Chefs School
Stratford Chefs School is one of the best culinary schools in Canada, located in Ontario, and has been training individuals to become chefs since 1983. The college is focused on the innovative, hands-on training of high-quality, aspiring chefs and culinary entrepreneurs.
The culinary programs here are led by industry-leading instructors who will educate, train, and coach you all the way to your Red Seal Exam.
5 Culinary Schools in Ontario
- The Culinary Art School of Ontario
- Nella Cucina Culinary School
- Cirillo’s Academy
- Dish Cooking Studio
- Maplehern Cooking School
1. The Culinary Art School of Ontario
Chef School is one of the culinary schools in Canada, located in Mississauga, Ontario. Here, international and domestic students are welcome to enroll in any of its four culinary diploma programs. The programs are;
- Culinary Arts Diploma
- Sous Chef Diploma
- Professional Chef Diploma and
- Culinary Management Diploma
These programs offered by the Chef School are designed to teach students the practical and creative skills required to start on their path to becoming professional chefs.
2. Nella Cucina Culinary School
Nella Cucina Culinary School is one of the culinary schools in Canada located in Toronto and offers cooking classes where you will learn the latest food trends and cooking techniques. Here, all students are accepted and you don’t have to have any existing culinary experience or academic qualifications to enroll.
The school has class formats that are divided into four broad categories, they are;
- Hands-on Individual
- Hands-on Team
- Interactive Demo
- Specialty Tastings, Guest Speakers, and Demonstrations
The Nella Cucina Culinary School does not offer any diploma or degree programs unlike the colleges listed here but the advantage of this is that the culinary education here is cheaper and has fewer requirements to enroll.
3. Cirillo’s Academy
Cirillo’s Academy is your go-to place if you want to polish your cooking skills and learn modern culinary techniques. It is one of the culinary schools in Canada, located in Toronto, and just like the school above does not offer a diploma or other degree programs.
Cirillo’s will equip you with the latest skills in the food industry, teach tips and tricks on how to master your kitchen and guide you on setting up your restaurant business.
4. Dish Cooking Studio
How about a studio that teaches you all about cooking? Well, here you have it.
The Dish Cooking Studio is one of the culinary schools in Canada located in Ontario and has been teaching people to cook and become professional chefs since 2000.
Another exciting thing about this particular school is that it implements virtual learning, that is, you can join online cooking classes from the comfort of your home. This makes it possible for anyone anywhere in the world to gain top-notch cooking techniques and become a professional chef in no time.
This school does not offer any form of diploma or degree to its students just the skills to make you become a seasoned cook and set up your own business or simply make great meals for personal occasions.
5. Maplehern Cooking School
Maplehern is one of the culinary schools in Canada, it is located in the Toronto province and is an extension of Chez Laurent, a local restaurant. The cooking school focuses on holistic nutrition and guides students as to how they can improve their health through the food they eat.
The classes are held on different days, 3 hours to complete, are hands-on, and include a recipe booklet to take home, and a full meal. Classes are mostly held on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm which costs $75 per student.
Note that the classes held here do not provide any certification, diploma, or degree of any sort, instead, you are only learning to enhance your cooking skills which you can apply at home or for business reasons.
3 Culinary Schools in Alberta
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Culinary Arts Program
- Lethbridge College Culinary Arts Program
- Portage College Culinary Arts Program
1. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
NAIT is one of the culinary schools in Canada, they offer a Diploma in Culinary Arts to international and domestic students both on-campus and virtual to allow students to choose the option that suits them best. The program is completed in 2 years and provides students with relevant high-quality culinary training.
2. Lethbridge College
Lethbridge College is located in Alberta, Canada, and offers culinary programs to international and domestic students this makes it rank among the culinary schools in Canada. The culinary programs at Lethbridge take 2 years to complete and studies are delivered in blended (on-campus and online), asynchronous and synchronous.
3. Portage College
Portage College provides a Culinary Arts Diploma degree, which typically takes 2 years to complete, the program is designed to provide students with all the specialized knowledge and professional skills needed for the ever-changing and equally exciting food service industry.
7 Culinary Schools in Canada for International Students
- Holland College
- The Culinary Arts School of Ontario
- George Brown College
- Vancouver Community College’s Culinary Arts program
- Liaison College
- Northwest Culinary Academy
- Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute
1, Holland College
Holland College is located in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The college accepts international students into its culinary program which takes 2 years to complete and earn a Diploma in Culinary Arts. International students interested in pursuing a degree in culinary arts at Holland College have to fulfill the academic requirements, including the English language test and a valid study permit.
The program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of culinary skills and business training to prepare them for the full scope of restaurant operations.
2. The Culinary Arts School of Ontario
The Culinary Arts School of Ontario is one of the culinary schools in Canada and accepts international students into its programs, further details, as well as the application link of this school, have been provided above.
3. George Brown College
George Brown College is among the list of culinary schools and accepts international students into its programs, details and the application link of this school have been provided above.
4. Vancouver Community College
This is one of the culinary schools in Canada that accepts international students. The school has two culinary programs, a Certificate in Asian Culinary Arts and a Diploma in Culinary Arts, completed in 5 months and 2 years respectively.
5. Liaison College
Liaison College is one of the schools in Canada that offers culinary programs, they accept international students into these programs. Further details about the program have been provided above.
6. Northwest Culinary Academy
Northwest Culinary Academy is one of the culinary schools in Canada and they accept international students into its culinary programs. The programs include Professional Culinary Arts Diploma, Professional Bread & Pastry Arts Diploma, and One Year Culinary & Pastry/Bread.
7. Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute
For more than 125 years, the Le Cordon Bleu has been providing world-renowned education in the culinary arts, applying distinctive teaching methods where students gain experience through hands-on learning. The institution offers a couple of short courses, a diploma, and a Bachelor of Integrated Food Sciences.
Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute is one of the culinary schools in Canada and they accept international students.
Conclusion
Now you have all the details you need to pursue a culinary program in Canada and pursue your dream as a chef whether in Canada or in your home country. To expand your options, we have a guide on culinary schools in Italy and culinary schools in New York.
FAQs
What is the salary of chefs in Canada?
According to Indeed, the average salary for a chef in Canada is $21.65 per hour
How many years is a culinary school in Canada?
Two years
Where is the best place to study culinary in Canada?
Humber Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning and The Culinary Arts School of Ontario are the best places to study culinary in Canada.
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Please is there any scholarships opportunity in any culinary school in either places like Alberta and the rest.. reply thanks