Find Out What you will Learn in a Diploma in Culinary Arts at Private Universities & Colleges in Malaysia
The culinary industry is ideal for students who possess a flair for creativity, desire to please peoples’ palates, provide solutions, able to handle pressure, entrepreneurs and a passion for cooking. Students who are sure of pursuing a career in this exciting and rewarding field may go for the Diploma in Culinary Arts at a Private University in Malaysia. It is important to go for a recognised and accredited Diploma programme in order to pursue your degree later on or to find work overseas.
The Diploma in Culinary Arts programme at a top Private University will enhance your supervisory, technical and personal skills. It will also broaden your creativity, as communication and problem-solving skills are essential in the culinary arts industry. It is designed for those who have chosen to pursue an exciting career in culinary arts. This unique skills-driven programme takes you through key stages of classical and international cuisine preparation, garde manger, butchery, patisserie and bakery. In addition, students will also learn about the business part of culinary arts with subjects like marketing, accounting, and entrepreneurship.
The culinary arts programme begins with an orientation level course where you are introduced to topics such as basic culinary, kitchen hygiene, nutrition, baking, pastry, kitchen layout and design. After mastering the basics, the programme will then focus on advanced-level food preparation which includes, cooking and plating whole dishes and pastries to perfection.
To succeed in the Food & Beverage industry, the first step after secondary school is to go for the Diploma in Culinary Arts at a reputable private university.
Studying Culinary Arts at Top Culinary Schools in Malaysia

Fu Wei, Diploma in Culinary Arts Graduate from YTL International College of Hotel Management
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 schools 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.
The Diploma will equip students who wish to pursue culinary arts with fundamental skills in culinary arts and strong product knowledge, as well as the ability to perform and organise food production.
In addition, students will be equipped with technical skills in kitchen setup and organisation, food product knowledge, patisserie and artistic skills. They will also be exposed to different cooking techniques in Western and Asian cuisine, training students to be experts in the field of hot cooking, pastry, baking as well as butchery and garde manger.
At the end of the Diploma programme, they would have been trained to achieve a high degree of professionalism and to focus on the quality of the product and customers’ expectations.
What to Expect when Studying a Diploma in Culinary Arts Course?

Wei Kang,
Culinary Arts Graduate from UOWM KDU
The Diploma in Culinary Arts programme at a top Private University will enhance your supervisory, technical and personal skills. It will also broaden your mind-set to ‘think out of the box’, as communication and problem-solving skills are essential in the culinary arts industry.
Furthermore, the Diploma in Culinary Arts course is designed for those who have chosen to pursue an exciting career in culinary arts. This unique skills-driven programme takes you through key stages of classical and international cuisine preparation, garde manger, butchery, patisserie and bakery.
Students will also learn about the business part of culinary arts with subjects like marketing, accounting, and entrepreneurship.
The culinary arts programme begins with an orientation level course where you are introduced to topics such as basic culinary, kitchen hygiene, nutrition, baking, pastry, kitchen layout and design. After mastering the basics, the programme will then focus on advanced-level food preparation which includes, cooking and plating whole dishes and pastries to perfection.
At the same time, you will learn to develop your professionalism in producing world class cuisine. You will gain valuable insights into the industry’s latest trends and skills to create consumable masterpieces. This combination will make you a much sought-after professional in this industry.
What are the Entry Requirements for a Diploma in Culinary Arts Course?
Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels 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.
- SPM – Minimum 3Cs in any subject with passes in BM and Sejarah
- IGCSE/O-Levels – Minimum 3Cs in any subject
- UEC – Minimum 3Bs in any subject

What is the Education Pathway to be a Chef after Secondary School in Malaysia?
Duration
A Diploma in Culinary Arts will take you 2.5 years to complete including an internship.
Internship
Students will undergo a 16-week internship in the kitchen and restaurants to develop practical and relevant skills.
Assessments
The assessments for a diploma 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

Zi Jun & Yung Cong, Diploma in Culinary Arts at YTL International College of Hotel Management
When choosing a diploma 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. Students should be wary of colleges or academies offering “diploma” courses awarded by unknown UK, USA or Australian universities that’s not accredited by MQA.
Upon completion of these diploma programmes, you will not be able to continue on to degree programmes at Malaysia’s universities.
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.
PTPTN Loan Available for Diploma in Culinary Arts Courses
Students may apply for the PTPTN Loan for Diploma courses. There is no PTPTN Loan for Foundation & External Pre-University programmes.
The PTPTN Loan is offered by the Malaysian government to help students in their Diploma and Degree studies at private universities and colleges. The Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional, is an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Education that provides educational financing for students.
The amount of loan that students can apply for will depend on the household income. This means the income of both parents combined.
|
Education Level for Private Universities or IPTS |
Household Income | ||
<RM4,000MAKSIMUM(RM) |
<RM8,00075%(RM) |
>RM8,00050%(RM) |
|
| Diploma | 6,800 | 5,100 | 3,400 |
The PTPTN loan is divided into three categories – full, partial and tuition fees only. The amount of the loan is determined by the applicant’s monthly household nett income and number of dependants.
| Category of Education Funding | Monthly Household Nett Income (RM)* |
|---|---|
| Full | Not exceeding 4,000 |
| Partial | More than 4,000 but not exceeding 5,000 |
| Tuition fees only | More than 5,000 |
Sample of Subjects that you will Study in a Diploma in Culinary Arts at a Private University

Ying Kit, Diploma in Culinary Arts
Students will take 30-35 subjects in the diploma and it is a mix of Assignments, Coursework, and written examination percentage. Generally, students will take about 5-7 subjects including MPU subjects a semester. Students are required by the government to take about 3-4 MPU subjects during their diploma studies. You will need a Minimum of 90 Credits or 30 subjects to Graduate.
- Culinary Essentials
- English
- Entrepreneurship Studies
- Food Nutrition, Sanitation and Hygiene
- Food Services Operations
- International Cuisine
- Introduction to Hospitality Operations
- Introduction to Patisserie Skills
- Language studies like French, German, Italian, etc
- Menu Design and Development
- Principles of Garde Manger
- Personal Development Planning
- Advanced Bakery and Pastry Arts
- Advanced Butchery
- Chocolates and Confections
- Classical French Cuisine
- Commodity Cooking
- Culinary Artistry and Design
- Food, Beverage and Labour Cost Controls
- Molecular Cuisine
- Fundamentals of Food & Beverage
- Patisserie & Bread Confections
- Essential Cuisine Techniques
- Fundamentals of Marketing
- Business Mathematics
- Food & Beverage Service
- Asian Desserts & Breads
- Cuisine of Asia
- Business Accounting
- Ergonomics & Work Environment
- Plated Desserts & Artistic Skills
- French Cuisine
- Foodservice Business Plan
- Advanced Cuisine
- Principles of Purchasing
What are the Facilities that you should Look for in a Top Culinary School?
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.
What is the Education Pathway after Completing the Diploma in Culinary Arts?

Desmond, Culinary Arts at KDU University College
Students who have completed the Diploma in Culinary Arts may choose to work after graduation. Those who want to continue on to degree may do so at the same school or transfer to another private university.
Most diplomas can be transferred to another college or university into the Year 2 of the relevant culinary degree programme.
To transfer your credits into another university, you will need to submit the following documents for exemptions:
- Transcripts from your current college or university
- Course outline for all the subjects taken
- Letter of completion or Diploma Certificate
- Copy of SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels Certificate
