Top 10 Culinary Schools in Malaysia 2026

Top Culinary Schools in Malaysia Top Culinary Schools in Malaysia

Best Private Universities & Colleges in Malaysia to Study Culinary Arts

Everyone loves to eat good food, and the job opportunities for top chefs abound for graduates in Malaysia. Therefore,  Culinary arts is perfect for people who desire to be a part of a dynamic and rewarding career. People who love people, work well with stress, creative solution providers and always on the move are perfect candidates to study at top culinary schools in Malaysia.

Students who are driven to pursue a career in the food and beverage industry, a Diploma in Culinary Arts is the first step before pursuing the degree programme. In an ever changing industry, it is important to choose a programme that offers current and relevant education, where it is food-centric as well as business focused. In a Culinary Arts course at a private university in Malaysia, you will learn a bit about everything like Pastry/Baking, Oenology, Hygiene, Business, and more. Whatever your chosen emphasis, you will first need to focus on mastering kitchen skills, classical cooking techniques, and kitchen theory.

Aspiring chefs often opt for the Diploma in Culinary Arts after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels. A diploma usually takes 2.5 years to accomplish and covers general educational requirements, communication, and business alongside culinary training. A typical program will emphasize the practice of culinary techniques, preparation of various recipes, and proficiency in every area of food preparation from cooking, cost control, and nutrition to food safety and sanitation. More specifically, a good curriculum covers cooking skills, baking, dining & beverage service skills, advanced techniques in classical & international cuisines, garde manger, patisserie/dessert, and dining room. For students who want to step into entry-level hospitality management jobs, a Bachelor’s degree is the usual pathway.

Top culinary universities or colleges would have experienced chefs to share their knowledge and skills, and excellent kitchen facilities for you to learn. Awards from competitions would also indicate their quality in the particular field. Furthermore, they expose you to a world class working environment so that you would be job ready.

Study to be a Top Chef in Malaysia at the Best Private Universities & Colleges for Culinary Arts

Culinary arts is perfect for people who desire to be a part of a dynamic and rewarding career. People who love people, work well with stress, creative solution providers and always on the move are perfect candidates to study at top culinary schools in Malaysia.

Getting your Culinary Arts degree can open doors for your career in the Food & Beverage industry worldwide. Building a foundation of skills and techniques that you’ll be able to draw upon for years to come is an investment in your future. A formal culinary education provides you with a broad overview of cuisines, theories, ingredients and techniques that restaurant experience alone cannot deliver. This culinary education is important as it will allow you to stand out from other applicants in a competitive job market and demonstrate to your employers that you have acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in culinary arts.

The best culinary schools in Malaysia pride themselves on their facilities. Students get hands-on experience in kitchens equipped with the latest technology and equipment. Many of these schools also have their own restaurants, patisseries, or cafes on campus, where students can get real-world experience and showcase their skills to the public.

Which are the Top 10 Private Universities & Colleges in Malaysia offering the Culinary Arts Course?

I contacted EduSpiral to find an affordable college for culinary arts. He arranged to take me and my mother to tour the college that had excellent facilities and where I could learn without paying too much.
Fu Wei, Diploma in Culinary Arts at YTL International College of Hotel Management

Preparing delicious dishes & pastries are just a few of the skills that you can learn at a top culinary school in Malaysia. A culinary program can help prepare you for a great career as a chef, baker, wine steward or restaurant owner. The skills you develop as you train to be a chef are vital for future success in the culinary world.

At any good culinary school, students will acquire important skills in culinary, organising and management.  Students will begin with basic culinary skills such as knife skills, cooking methods, timing, mise en place (Preparation prior to service), creative plates & presentations, flavour & seasoning, cooking on the line and others.

Culinary arts students should develop a strong understanding of how the abilities they hone in the classroom transfer to professional kitchens across the globe will be invaluable to their career advancement.

While it can be difficult to choose between private universities or colleges in Malaysia offering culinary arts, you will find that there are some key differences between them that can help you make the big decision in choosing the right one that fits you.

The best private universities and colleges in Malaysia have excellent culinary arts facilities, years of experience running the diploma in culinary arts course, strong student support services, internships and experienced lecturers.

  1. Taylor’s University
  2. UOW Malaysia
  3. UOWM KDU Penang
  4. YTL International College of Hospitality Management (YTL-ICHM)
  5. Berjaya University College
  6. Sunway University
  7. INTI International College
  8. Nilai University
  9. TARUMT
  10. UCSI University

Studying at the Best Private Universities and Colleges in Malaysia for Culinary Arts or Patisserie

KDU University College School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts lecturer and kitchen artist Chef Hamirudin Nazir shows off his ice-carving skills at the new lab.
KDU University College School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts lecturer and kitchen artist Chef Hamirudin Nazir shows off his ice-carving skills at the new lab.

Most culinary art schools in Malaysia teach a variety of cuisines and preparation techniques. Instruction ranges from the fancy haute French style cuisine to Italian style cuisine or Asian fusion styles.

This is perhaps the greatest strength of Malaysian cuisine: so many diverse backgrounds and foods come together in the kitchens and restaurants of Malaysia.

At the best universities and colleges for culinary arts in Malaysia you’ll be taught how to make mouthwatering food, and how to combine this with the business side of managing a restaurant. You will find that the culinary, hospitality and tourism industries possess high job prospects for graduates with the boom in tourism and increase in affluence of society. Therefore, the job prospects for the various areas of culinary arts are very positive not only locally but globally.

How long is the Diploma in Culinary Arts Course?

A Degree in Culinary Arts will take you 3 years to complete including an internship.

Internship

Students will undergo an internship in the kitchen and restaurants to develop practical and relevant skills.

How is the Culinary Arts Degree Assessed?

The assessments for a culinary degree programme at private universities and colleges in Malaysia is a mix of Assignments, Coursework, and written examination percentage. The diploma programme provides students with relevant, interesting, stimulating and practical experience via a variety of teaching and practical techniques.

Accreditation & Recognition for the Degree in Culinary Arts Course

EduSpiral advised us on getting a recognised culinary arts diploma with job guarantee so that we have a secure future. He also arranged for us to attend the Open Day for us to experience & tour the campus. Zi Jun & Yung Cong, Diploma in Culinary Arts at YTL International College of Hotel Management
EduSpiral advised us on getting a recognised culinary arts diploma with job guarantee so that we have a secure future. He also arranged for us to attend the Open Day for us to experience & tour the campus.
Zi Jun & Yung Cong, Diploma in Culinary Arts at YTL International College of Hotel Management

When choosing a culinary arts degree programme, students will need to ensure that the course is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and that the institution is recognised by the Ministry of Education.

The Malaysia Qualifications Agency (MQA) is an official body that is governed by the Ministry of Higher Education and is the only body that controls universities’ accreditation status, regulate curriculum and set operational standards for both public and private universities and other higher learning institutions in Malaysia.

MQA also accredit individual courses and programmes at each university. MQA’s operation is important because it works to ensure that higher learning in the country is up to global standards and is fit for the future of the nation.

Accreditation is a formal recognition that a certificate, diploma or degree programme has attained the quality standards and criteria set by MQA and is in compliance with the MQF.

What is the Education Pathway to Become a Chef in Malaysia?

Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels wanting to pursue a top culinary arts programme at the university in Malaysia can go for the Foundation programme or Diploma in Culinary ArtsStudents after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels can go for the 1-year Foundation course with 5 relevant credits and then enter into the Culinary Arts Degree programme for 3 years.

Students with a minimum of 3 credits can go for the Diploma in Culinary Arts for 2.5 years before entering into Year 2 of the Degree programme for another 2 years. If you are sure that you want to study culinary arts, then you can go for the Diploma, if not, go for the Foundation in Arts course.

Who should study Culinary Arts in Malaysia?

I contacted EduSpiral to find an affordable college for culinary arts. He arranged for me and my mother for a campus tour & helped me find a college that had excellent facilities that I could afford. Fu Wei, Diploma in Culinary Arts Graduate from YTL International College of Hotel Management
I contacted EduSpiral to find an affordable college for culinary arts. He arranged for me and my mother for a campus tour & helped me find a college that had excellent facilities that I could afford.
Fu Wei, Diploma in Culinary Arts Graduate from YTL International College of Hotel Management

The culinary industries are ideal for people who enjoy experiential learning and being able to apply their knowledge gained immediately to practice. Students who possess the characteristics below are perfect candidates to study at top culinary schools in Malaysia. They are people who:

  • Love to cook
  • Enjoy meeting new and exciting people
  • Enjoy traveling and entertainment
  • Are creative thinkers
  • Are hands-on workers
  • Are critical thinkers
  • Are service oriented
  • Provide quick and creative solutions to different kinds of challenges
  • Enjoy being a part of a exciting environment
  • Work in flexible hours
  • Love to explore new and different cultures

Plus points for qualified chefs in Malaysia

  • Able to travel round the world
  • Able to obtain jobs worldwide easily
  • Able to get extra points in the application for Permanent Residency (PR) status in certain countries like Australia, UK, USA or Europe
  • Able to network with people from all levels

Nature of the work for chefs in Malaysia

  • Long hours
  • Weekend work may be required
  • High pressure at peak periods
  • Service oriented – provide a high level of services
  • Customer emphasis – able to cater and adapt customer’s needs and requests
  • Dynamic – on-the-go
  • Able to adapt to changes and stress

It is important to choose an outstanding culinary arts college or university in Malaysia that has years of experience or that can provide you with excellent exposure to the industry. The best colleges and universities in Malaysia in culinary arts can help prepare you with the necessary knowledge and skills for a successful career.

What Facilities will I use for Culinary Arts at the University or College in Malaysia?

I was confused which university to go to. EduSpiral met me to take me around to tour the universities as well as explain about the course in detail. This helped me to make the right choice. Desmond, Culinary Arts at KDU University College
I was confused which university to go to. EduSpiral met me to take me around to tour the universities as well as explain about the course in detail. This helped me to make the right choice.
Desmond, Culinary Arts at KDU University College

It is important for the college or university to have the necessary culinary arts facilities so that you can gain the necessary skills in your culinary education. The university or college doesn’t necessarily need to have all the facilities needed but should have the basic ones.

Students should ensure that the Culinary School has a complete infrastructure with state-of-the-art facilities which may include lecture theatres, classrooms and seminar rooms, conference room, learning and resource centre for their academic lessons.

Culinary facilities should cover fully equipped preparation, production and pastry kitchens, bakery, culinary studio, culinary theatre, show kitchen, fine dining restaurant, oenology laboratory and chocolate and sugar artistry laboratory among others.

  • Fine dining restaurant – Built to mimic a true fine dining restaurant, students are given real practice
  • Training restaurant – Training Restaurant – students run everything from scratch while serving real customers and countering real-time situations.
  • Preparation kitchen
  • Production kitchen
  • Bakery, pastry or patisserie kitchens
  • Butchery Kitchen – students learn and master the techniques and skills to create various deli products.
  • Atelier – Hot Kitchen
  • Garde manger kitchen
  • Artistry kitchen – students are trained to master the most delicate of arts.
  • Molecular Gastronomy Lab
  • Sugar artistry laboratory
  • Chocolate Room
  • Culinary Lecture Theatre – Top notch facilities equipped in the theatre allows for in-class demonstrations.
  • Ice Carving Lab – students are taught first hand on the art of ice carving.
  • Wine Laboratory (oenology laboratory) – Students are given a holistic education complemented with our state-of-the-art facilities inclusive of a wine tasting lab.

6 thoughts on “Top 10 Culinary Schools in Malaysia 2026

  1. After i graduated in diploma culinary arts, the chances to grab our carrier is better? Even in diploma only?

    1. If you learnt the skills well in culinary arts in diploma and is talented then your career would be good

    1. If you have at least 3 credits in SPM, and you love to cook, then you can consider studying culinary arts. If you have a passion for food, love to cook for friends and family. Like to come up with new dishes and try new recipes, then culinary arts is for you. For more information, you may whatsapp me at 01111408838

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