Best Culinary Arts universities and programs in the world
The cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking, and presentation, usually in the form of meals, are known as culinary arts. “Culinary artists” and “culinarians” are terms used to describe people who work in this industry, particularly in restaurants.
Culinary arts students today study a wide range of topics related to food. Butchery, chemistry and thermodynamics, visual presentation, food safety, and many other topics are covered.
A culinary arts bachelor’s degree is a three- or four-year academic qualification that prepares students for work in a certain industry or field of study. By enrolling in this course, you will not only develop the essential skills that every chef needs, but you will also be able to plan your own route toward a lifelong career doing what you love, learn to prepare a wide range of foods and cuisines, and manage people. Here are some additional facts about this program:
- A culinary arts degree is generally 3 to 4 years long.
- Expert chefs study food science, nutrition, and diet and are in charge of creating meals that are both visually and aesthetically pleasant.
- The average cost of a culinary arts degree can vary anywhere from $5,000 to $70,000 depending on the University and the area of study you have chosen.
- Some of the best Universities for Culinary Arts are Jiangnan University, Sao Paolo University, Cornell University, etc.
- Culinary science has grown in popularity, with the number of Personal & Culinary Services graduates in the field growing from 55,724 in 2018 to 62,485 in 2019 according to datausa.io
Duties of Culinary Artists
- Cooking food that is not only tasty but also beautiful.
- Frequently in charge of menu planning.
- In addition to following recipes for classic foods, they frequently make creative recipes and dishes.
- Obtaining, measuring, and weighing ingredients as well as cooking the dishes that are all part of food preparation.
- Supervising restaurant operations on a daily basis.
- The usage of a variety of culinary gadgets and equipment that is common when preparing different cuisines.
Popular degrees for pursuing a career in Culinary Arts
A Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts typically lasts four years and includes a thorough examination of the fundamental and advanced skills required for a career in the culinary arts. This program gives students a strong business foundation in addition to honing their culinary skills. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Professional Culinary Arts
- Bachelor in Gastronomy
- Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
- Bachelor in Hospitality and Culinary Arts
Students who want to work as chefs or other experts in the food industry should pursue a master’s degree. Some programs are geared toward specific cuisines, while others are more generic. In either instance, the coursework is typically focused on cooking while also including key theoretical components. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- MSc Wine & Gastronomy
- MSc Ferrieres
- Master in Food Design
- Master in Kitchen, Chef and Professional Chef
Specializations in Culinary Arts
The word “culinary arts” refers to a variety of jobs that involve preparing, cooking, and serving food and beverages. Here are the various specializations offered in this field:
- Bartender/Mixologist
- Line Cook
- Sous Chef
- Chef/Head Cook
- Baker/Pastry Chef
- Caterer
- Personal Chef
- Manager
And many more…
Duration of programs in Culinary Arts
| Country | Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree |
| the USA and Canada | 4 years | 2 years |
| UK | 4 years | 1-2.5 years |
| Australia | 3-4 years | 1-2 years |
| Others | 3-4 years | 2 years |
Career opportunities in Culinary Arts
Bachelor Degree Prospects
A bachelor’s degree holder in culinary arts begins as a chef trainee and progresses through roles such as chef, sous-chef, and/or Executive Chef. Another opportunity and essential aspect of the entire agriculture business is the food and beverage industry. The following are the various work opportunities available in this field:
- Food Scientist
- Chef trainee
- Cooks and Assistants Cooks
- Catering Manager
- Food Stylist
- Sous-chef
- Executive Chef.
Master Degree Prospects
Graduates with master degrees will be promoted significantly more swiftly than those without, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A Master of Culinary Arts prepares graduates for successful and gratifying careers. There are hard jobs with many of opportunities and many graduates of these schools have advanced far in the food sector. Here are several other jobs available as a master’s graduate in this field:
- Gourmet chefs
- Restaurant managers
- Bakers
- Head Chefs
- Restaurant owners.
Average salaries for Culinary Arts graduates
As a culinary artist, you’ll delve into the science of food preparation and styling. On both a conceptual and a detailed level, you’ll be participating in culinary research. Here are some salary examples for culinary graduates:
| Country | Average salary in USD*/year |
| Australia | $62,069/ year |
| UK | $21305-$60,000/ year |
| USA | $37,440-$80,000/ year |
| Germany | $25200-$60,000/ year |
| Canada | $50,000/ year |
(Source: Indeed.com)
*Note: All prices mentioned in the USD are for reference only. Exchange rates may vary from time to time and from country to country.
Top 50 universities in the world for Culinary artists based on subject rankings
| Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | University | Country | Bachelor’s Programs | Master’s Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NA | Jiangnan University | China | NA | NA |
| 2 | NA | China Agricultural University | China | NA | NA |
| 3 | NA | Wageningen University & Research | Netherlands | Click here | Click here |
| 4 | NA | South China University of Technology | China | NA | NA |
| 5 | 47 | Zhejiang University | China | NA | NA |
| 6 | NA | Nanjing Agricultural University | China | NA | NA |
| 7 | 37 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | USA | Click here | Click here |
| 8 | NA | University of Campinas | Brazil | NA | NA |
| 9 | NA | Nanchang University | China | NA | NA |
| 10 | NA | University of Sao Paulo | Brazil | NA | NA |
| 11 | NA | Ghent University | Belgium | NA | NA |
| 12 | NA | Northwest A&F University | China | NA | NA |
| 13 | NA | Huazhong Agricultural University | China | NA | NA |
| 14 | 31 | The University of Queensland | Australia | Click here | Click here |
| 15 | NA | University of Porto | Portugal | NA | NA |
| 16 | NA | KU Leuven | Belgium | NA | NA |
| 17 | NA | University of Copenhagen | Denmark | NA | NA |
| 18 | NA | University of Guelph | Canada | Click here | Click here |
| 19 | 12 | Cornell University | USA | Click here | Click here |
| 20 | NA | Beijing Technology and Business University | China | NA | NA |
| 20 | NA | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick | USA | Click here | Click here |
| 20 | NA | University of Valencia | Spain | NA | NA |
| 23 | NA | King Abdulaziz University | Saudi Arabia | NA | NA |
| 24 | NA | University College Dublin | Ireland | Click here | Click here |
| 25 | NA | National University of Singapore | Singapore | NA | NA |
| 26 | NA | University of Naples Federico II | Italy | NA | NA |
| 27 | NA | Jiangsu University | China | NA | NA |
| 28 | NA | University of California, Davis | USA | Click here | Click here |
| 29 | NA | Instituto Politecnico de Braganca | Portugal | NA | NA |
| 30 | NA | Aarhus University | Denmark | Click here | Click here |
| 31 | NA | University of Bologna | Italy | NA | NA |
| 32 | NA | Institut Agro | France | NA | NA |
| 33 | NA | Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University | China | NA | NA |
| 34 | NA | Jinan University | China | NA | NA |
| 35 | NA | South China Agricultural University | China | NA | NA |
| 36 | NA | University of Milan | Italy | NA | NA |
| 37 | NA | Technical University of Munich | Germany | Click here | Click here |
| 38 | NA | Tianjin University of Science and Technology | China | NA | NA |
| 39 | NA | University of Granada | Spain | NA | NA |
| 40 | NA | The University of Auckland | Australia | NA | NA |
| 41 | NA | Polytechnic University of Valencia | Spain | NA | NA |
| 42 | 25 | University of Florida | USA | Click here | Click here |
| 43 | NA | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | China | NA | NA |
| 44 | NA | Ocean University of China | China | NA | NA |
| 45 | 51-100 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | USA | Click here | Click here |
| 46 | NA | University of Parma | Italy | NA | NA |
| 47 | 46 | Washington State University | USA | NA | Click here |
| 48 | 29 | Michigan State University | USA | Click here | Click here |
| 49 | NA | University College Cork | Ireland | Click here | Click here |
| 50 | 35 | Purdue University – West Lafayette | USA | NA | NA |
Top universities in the USA for Culinary Arts
Students benefit from studying in the United States since they can explore a range of disciplines without having to declare a major within their first year. This allows pupils to choose a major or subject that they are actually interested about.
Culinary arts degrees are advantageous since they teach students about all aspects of the profession while also improving technical and employability skills. Students learn skills in fundamental courses that are taught in a classroom or online and then apply them at fine dining restaurants and other similar establishments. Here are some of the most popular universities in the USA for culinary arts:
| Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | University |
| 7 | 37 | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| 19 | 12 | Cornell University |
| 20 | NA | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick |
| 28 | NA | University of California, Davis |
| 42 | 25 | University of Florida |
| 47 | 46 | Washington State University |
| 48 | 29 | Michigan State University |
| 50 | 35 | Purdue University – West Lafayette |
Top universities in China for Culinary Arts
After completing an undergraduate or postgraduate academic program in China, a bachelor’s or master’s degree is given. If you are studying in China, a bachelor’s degree requires four years of full-time study and a master’s degree takes two years.
China is a sovereign state in East Asia, formally known as the People’s Republic of China. With a population of nearly 1.41 billion people, it is the world’s most populated country. Culinary arts is becoming increasingly popular in this country, and the following are some of the most popular universities:
| Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | University |
| 1 | NA | Jiangnan University |
| 2 | NA | China Agricultural University |
| 4 | NA | South China University of Technology |
| 5 | 47 | Zhejiang University |
| 6 | NA | Nanjing Agricultural University |
| 9 | NA | Nanchang University |
| 12 | NA | Northwest A&F University |
| 13 | NA | Huazhong Agricultural University |
| 20 | NA | Beijing Technology and Business University |
| 27 | NA | Jiangsu University |
| 33 | NA | Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University |
| 34 | NA | Jinan University |
| 35 | NA | South China Agricultural University |
| 38 | NA | Tianjin University of Science and Technology |
| 43 | NA | Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
| 44 | NA | Ocean University of China |
Top universities in Brazil for Culinary Arts
Students who want to study culinary arts in Brazil will have the opportunity to learn about both worldwide and local culinary skills. The students become highly qualified to pursue a profession in a variety of industries, including cuisine, tourism, and hospitality, at the end of the course.
Here are a few of the most well-known universities in the area:
| Shanghai Ranking | QS Ranking | University |
| 8 | NA | University of Campinas |
| 10 | NA | University of Sao Paulo |
Academic requirements for studying Culinary Arts
The easiest way to break into the world of exquisite food is to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree in culinary arts. You will be able to improve your cooking abilities and knowledge, learn about restaurant management and business, and be exposed to a variety of cuisines. Here are the various academic requirements for these degrees:
- TOEFL/IELTS results with the necessary scores as mentioned by the University.
- High School Diploma.
- Resume/CV.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Some schools may need you to take a variety of entrance exams.
- Recommendation letter.