Chefs
Up to £38,983 /year
Chefs plan menus and prepare, or oversee the preparation of food in hotels, restaurants, clubs, private households and other establishments.
Admissions
Entry Requirements
What You'll Need
- 4+ GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English
- Successful interview with our team
- Initial assessment in Maths and English
- A genuine interest in professional cookery
If you need to continue working on GCSE Maths or English, support is built into the timetable.
Explore Related Courses
Other courses you might be interested in:
Level 1 Level 1 Introduction to Culinary Skills
Level 2 Level 2 Certificate in Culinary Skills CG
Level 2 Level 2 Diploma in Professional Food and Beverage Service
View all Catering and Hospitality courses →
What You'll Learn
This was the headline that resonated most with our students — and it’s the truth. Your tutors have worked in professional kitchens, trained with Michelin-star chefs, and coached students to national competition level. When they teach you to break down a carcass, build a sauce, or plate a dish under pressure, you know it’s how it’s actually done in the industry. That matters. Students say it’s the single biggest thing that makes this course work.
You’ll work through the core disciplines: meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, stocks, sauces, pastry, and desserts, developing your technique, speed, and consistency. But it’s not just about cooking. You’ll build your understanding of food safety, kitchen management, menu planning, and working under pressure. And you’ll cook for real customers in our Waterfront Restaurant, including themed nights, dessert clubs, and industry events. The workload is demanding. Students are honest about that. But they also say it’s the thing that made them better.
Core kitchen skills
- Prepare and cook stocks, soups, and sauces
- Prepare and cook meat and poultry
- Prepare and cook fish and shellfish
- Prepare and cook vegetables and salads
- Produce hot and cold desserts
Professional standards
- Food safety in catering
- Health and safety in the kitchen
- Healthier foods and special diets
- Kitchen operations and workflow
- Prepare and cook rice, pasta, grains, and eggs
How You're Assessed
Assessment Methods
Coursework
Written assignments, research projects, and case studies that let you explore topics in depth.
Practical Assessment
Hands-on tasks and practical demonstrations in realistic working environments.
Career Destinations
Where This Course Takes You
Bakers and Flour Confectioners
Up to £30,656 /year
Bakers and flour confectioners prepare and bake dough, pastry and cake mixtures and make and finish flour confectionary products by hand.
Cooks
Up to £22,683 /year
Cooks prepare, season and cook food, often using pre-prepared ingredients, in clubs, private households, fast food outlets, shops selling food cooked on the premises and the catering departments and canteens […]
Catering and Bar Managers
Up to £35,027 /year
Catering and bar managers plan, direct and co-ordinate the catering and bar facilities and services of licensed premises, factories, shops, theatres, educational premises and other establishments. They also manage outside […]
Your Progression Pathway
- Level 1 or GCSEs
- Level 2 Level 2 Diploma Professional Cookery
- Employment or further study
Life on the Course
See What It's Really Like
Our Facilities
Cook for Real Customers from Day One
Our training kitchens are professional environments, using the same equipment and standards you'll find in working restaurants. And our Waterfront Restaurant gives you something many colleges can't: the experience of cooking for real, paying customers.
Professional Training Kitchens
Industry-standard equipment, combi ovens, blast chillers, professional workstations
Waterfront Restaurant
AA Rosette-awarded and open to the public. You'll cook and serve real dishes during themed nights and events
Competition-Ready Facilities
Our kitchens have hosted WorldSkills UK training camps. The standards here match national competition level
Professional Kitchens
Student Voice
“
I gained skills, confidence, and insight into professional kitchens. I enjoyed teamwork in the dessert club, and now I plan to start my own bakery after studying at Doncaster College.
For Parents & Carers
Supporting Your Child's Journey
Qualifications That Count
These are nationally recognised qualifications with real academic weight. Your child will develop practical skills and knowledge that employers and universities genuinely value.
See the full unit listGCSE Support Built In
If your child needs to resit GCSE English or Maths, it's built into the timetable — not bolted on as an extra. They'll get structured support alongside their main course.
About student supportFinancial Support Available
Bursaries are available, and free meals are provided for those who qualify. If cost is a concern, there's help — and it's straightforward to apply.
Financial support infoTutors With Real Experience
Our tutors bring real industry experience into the classroom. They teach what's actually used in the workplace, and students consistently say this is what makes the course work.
Our facilities For Careers Advisers
Quick Reference Guide
Level
Level 2
Duration
1 year full-time
Study Mode
Full-Time
Entry
4+ GCSEs at grade 4, including Maths & English
Assessment
Coursework + Practical Assessment
Progression Routes
Route A: Level 2 Professional Cookery → Level 3 Kitchen & Larder or Level 3 Patisserie & Confectionery → Employment or HE
Ready to Train as a Professional Chef?
Applications for September 2026 are open. Apply online in 10 minutes.
Questions? Call free 0800 358 7575 or email dcinfocentre@don.ac.uk