Diploma in Culinary Arts
Sunway College Johor Bahru · Johor Bahru, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Diploma in Culinary Arts programme equips aspiring culinary professionals with both hands-on kitchen mastery and essential management skills.
In Year 1, you build culinary foundations through modules such as Culinary Kitchen Operations and specialised training in subjects like Pâtisserie, supported by business-related learning; in Year 2, you develop culinary creativity and leadership with Contemporary Cuisine and Culinary Artistry, and complete an internship for real-world experience.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Culinary Kitchen Operations l and Culinary Kitchen Operations ll build core cooking techniques and practical kitchen competency.
- Pâtisserie and Viennoiserie and Boulangerie develop foundational pastry and bakery production skills.
- Food Safety and Sanitation supports safe food handling and hygiene practices.
- Food and Beverage Operations l and Food and Beverage Operations ll introduce service operations fundamentals.
- Purchasing and Cost Control and Principles of Marketing support industry readiness for culinary workplaces.
- Contemporary Cuisine and Culinary Artistry develop creativity, advanced culinary execution, and presentation.
- Classical French Cuisine strengthens professional culinary foundations and technique depth.
- Hospitality Management and Business Environment introduce the wider hospitality context and business planning.
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Principles of Accounting prepare students to lead and manage culinary ventures.
- Communication Skills supports professional communication for kitchen and customer-facing roles.
- Internship (20 weeks) connects classroom learning to real-world practice in top kitchens or restaurants.
- Learning outcomes focus on applying culinary skills in operational environments and developing workplace readiness for professional roles.
- This internship supports career pathways into chef and culinary operations roles.
Curriculum
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | credit hours | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 11 | Beverage Studies | ||
| Business English l | ||||
| Business English ll | ||||
| Culinary Kitchen Operations l | ||||
| Culinary Kitchen Operations ll | ||||
| Food Safety and Sanitation | ||||
| Food and Beverage Operations l | ||||
| Food and Beverage Operations ll | ||||
| Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Industry | ||||
| Pâtisserie | ||||
| Principles of Marketing | ||||
| Purchasing and Cost Control | ||||
| Viennoiserie and Boulangerie | ||||
| Year 2 | 10 | Business Environment | ||
| Classical French Cuisine | ||||
| Communication Skills | ||||
| Contemporary Cuisine | ||||
| Culinary Artistry | ||||
| Hospitality Management | ||||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship | ||||
| Principles of Accounting | ||||
| Internship (20 weeks) |
Career outcomes
- You can graduate prepared for roles such as Chef de Cuisine / Executive Chef, Pastry Chef, and Banquet Chef through hands-on culinary training plus professional kitchen placement.
- The program builds job-ready pastry and bakery production skills that position you for pastry-focused pathways like Pastry Chef and food-art/stylist roles.
- You develop industry and workplace readiness through modules like Food Safety and Sanitation and the Food and Beverage Operations sequence used by hospitality kitchens and teams.
- You gain practical, employer-relevant experience through the 20-week internship in top kitchens or restaurants, helping you transition faster into professional roles.
- With business-focused modules such as Purchasing and Cost Control and Introduction to Entrepreneurship, you are better positioned for leadership paths including F&B manager and restaurateur track opportunities.
- You can pursue diversified career options across hospitality, fine dining, and food innovation sectors based on the program’s blend of culinary craft and management capability.
Employability rate
Internationally trained graduates of culinary arts pathways in Malaysia typically see an employability rate of around 78% and an unemployment rate of about 22%, reflecting steady hiring for kitchen and hospitality roles alongside competition for entry-level positions.
Together, these figures suggest that your best career stability comes from building strong practical skills during training and internship experience.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| School-leaving qualification (foreign qualifications accepted) | International applicants: a pass in a recognised school-leaving qualification such as SPM/SPMV/O-Level with a minimum of 3 credits, or UEC with a minimum of 3 Grade Bs. The university also states that any other qualifications will be considered on a case-to-case basis. |
| APEL.A (recognition of prior learning) | International applicants can be considered using APEL.A via an APEL.A Certificate (APEL T-4) for Recognition of Prior Learning, if eligible under the university’s APEL.A process. |
| Other qualifications | If your qualification is not listed (for example, a different school-leaving system), the university states it will consider other qualifications on a case-to-case basis. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Culinary and hospitality-related foundation | Not specified | The programme lists Year 1 and Year 2 modules (for example Culinary Kitchen Operations, Pâtisserie, Contemporary Cuisine, and a 20-week internship) but it does not publish a formal module-matching matrix for international applicants on the programme page. |
Language requirements
International applicants must meet the programme English language requirements. If your qualification’s medium of instruction is not English, you must provide English evidence that meets the stated requirement.
IELTS Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated annual course fee | MYR 33000 / total program | RM33,000 for international students (estimated annual course fee for Year 2026 as published on the program page). |
Proof of financial resources
International students should be prepared to show proof of funds for tuition and visa-related processing. The university will provide enrolment and student pass/visa processing fee requirements as part of the admission process after eligibility confirmation.
- Enrolment fee and student pass/visa processing fee details provided by the university after eligibility is confirmed
- Evidence of sponsorship, scholarship, or study loan funding if your studies are financed by a third party
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | February - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | February - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | February - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Submit your international application and documents
Complete the International Student Application Form and prepare the required documents, including your passport copy, academic transcripts/examination results, school-leaving/completion certificate, and English language evidence. Upload certified copies where required and ensure your information is complete to avoid delays. If any document is missing or later requested, respond within the stated timeframe from the International Office.
Receive an offer (Letter of Acceptance) and confirm eligibility
After the university reviews your complete documents and required fees, they issue a Letter of Acceptance if you meet the academic entry requirements for the programme. The university then submits your application and documents to EMGS for student pass approval and processing. If your submission is incomplete, the International Office may request further documents as part of evaluation.
Process the Student Pass and obtain the Visa Approval Letter (VAL)
Once EMGS approval is obtained, a Visa Approval Letter (VAL) is issued by the process. You must enter Malaysia before the VAL validity period expires, as the university notes that entry must be done within the validity. The university also states that with effect from February 2014, international students must apply for a Single Entry Visa (SEV) prior to travelling via the Malaysian High Commission in their home country.