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Restaurant Cook, Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services

Full-time Day Studies and Work-based Study Program

VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION OF RESTAURANT AND CATERING SERVICES

COMPETENCE AREA: FOOD SERVICES

Full-time Day Study Programme

Turn your passion for cooking into a career. At Perho Culinary, Tourism and Business College, you’ll gain the practical skills and hands-on experience needed to work as a restaurant cook. You can study through a work-based learning pathway or complete the full-time day programme.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to work in a variety of settings within the hospitality industry — from hotels and cruise ships to restaurants of all styles, cafés and catering companies, tourism businesses, or institutional kitchens.

As a restaurant cook, you’ll learn how to prepare delicious, nutritious meals while taking special diets into account. You’ll also develop the skills to serve food for both individual guests and large groups, ensuring every dining experience is memorable.

Applying Period

Applying period for the full-time day studies 15.3.–24.4.2026

You can apply for a study place during the application period via the link given on the website. The link to the application form will open on 15th March.

Fill Restaurant Cook full-day time application form here

To Whom

You can apply if you live in Finland, you have completed upper secondary level education and you do not have a vocational qualification, degree, or a study place. You must have sufficient level of English language skills.

Duration

In the full-time day study program you can start from the scratch and become a qualified restaurant cook. Studies lasts 1,5–2 years on average.

Tuition

There is no tuition fee, however professional uniforms/knives cost about 500 euros.

Interview

We will invite selected applicants for an interview based on their application and supporting documents including educational certificates, CV and motivation letter. In the interview, we pay attention to your career plan, motivation, and preconditions in studying for the vocational qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services. Interviews will be held during the application period.

Start of studies

Studies will start in May, 2026.

Studying in the Full-time Day Study Programme

In the full-time day study programme, you can start from scratch and become a qualified restaurant cook. Your studies include training periods in Perho Culinary, Tourism & Business College’s teaching restaurant Perho and in various restaurants in Helsinki metropolitan area or abroad.

Campus: Töölö, Perhonkatu 11, FI-00100 Helsinki

The Work-based Study Programme, Apply 24 x 7

In the work-based study programme you will learn by working and become a professional restaurant cook. You come to school monthly for two days and study also online. Studies lasts 1–1,5 years on average on Töölö Campus.

Applying

You can apply a study place throughout the year. We will contact you by email within two weeks of receiving your application.

Fill Restaurant Cook work-based studies application form

To Whom

You can apply if you have at least one year experience of working in the kitchen, and your current employer is willing to sign an apprenticeship (paid one) or a training agreement (not paid). In addition, you should live in Finland, and have sufficient level of English language skills.

Duration

Your individual studies can begin throughout the year. The study time is also individual depending on your work experience background. Studies last 1–1,5 years on average. You can graduate individually at the end of each month except July.

Tuition

There is no tuition fee, however students must have their own professional uniforms and shoes.

Interview

We will invite selected applicants for an interview based on their application and supporting documents, including educational certificates, a motivation letter and your current work contract. In the interview, we pay attention to your career plan, motivation, and preconditions in studying the vocational qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services.

Studying Mainly by Working

In the work-based study programme you will mainly learn by working in restaurants by an apprenticeship contract or a training agreement with your employer.

You come to school on average twice a month at Töölö Campus, Perhonkatu 11, Helsinki.

Your contact studies include kitchen classes and some service. You will also study theoretical subjects related to the profession; most of the theory studies can be done independently at iPerho, our digital learning environment. There are about 20 students in your multicultural study group.  

Why choose Perho?

In the Vocational Qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services, you will gain versatile skills in food preparation, serving, sales, and customer service. After graduation, you can work in a wide variety of roles within the restaurant industry – in restaurants, hotels, staff canteens, student and lunch restaurants, on ships, in cafés, as well as in event catering and tourism companies.

The field also offers international opportunities. If you wish, you can work abroad or start your own restaurant. Perho equips you with the skills to build a career path that suits you.

More information

  • Jenni Heikkilä

    Study Coordinator +358 40 774 7622