Entry requirements
- Completion of Level 1 Certificate in Food and Cookery Skills
- Relevant qualifications and work experience may be considered.
On the Level 2 Certificate in Food and Cookery Skills, you’ll take your culinary abilities to the next level. Building on the basics, you’ll work in a professional kitchen environment, learning how to prepare and present complex dishes and multi-course menus to industry standards.
You’ll explore advanced cooking techniques, including sauce-making, pastry work, and precision knife skills, while gaining confidence in timing and coordination for larger-scale service. The course also introduces menu planning, costing, and portion control, giving you insight into the business side of food.
Practical sessions are at the heart of your learning, supported by demonstrations from experienced chefs and opportunities to experiment with seasonal and local produce. You’ll also develop teamwork and communication skills essential for working in a busy kitchen brigade.
By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills and confidence to create dishes that not only taste amazing but look professional, preparing you for progression to Level 3 or entry-level roles in the hospitality industry.
Everything you need to know before applying to this course.
Level 2 Certificate in Food and Cookery Skills
If English is not your first language, please view the specific English language requirements for this course.
If you are studying a full-time non-advanced course (below HNC level), you may be entitled to funding.
You can apply for a full-time course online or using a paper form.
Open Days are a great way to find out more about this course and what it’s like to study at NESCol. You will see facilities, meet lecturers and get a feel for life as a student.
Our next Open Day will take place on Saturday 14 March from 10am – 2pm.
NESCol can provide extra support to students who have additional support needs, including:
You may be eligible for additional funding to support the cost of living, including travel costs, cost of materials, and childcare.
Find out more about the types of funding and whether you are eligible here
You may be eligible for College transport to Fraserburgh Campus from a number of locations. Please contact collegetransport@nescol.ac.uk for more information.
Whether you wish to progress in your studies or enter the world of work, North East Scotland College has excellent progression opportunities, with links to several universities across Scotland and strong relationships with industry employers.
Employment opportunities are widespread in the hospitality and catering industries with roles available in fine dining, hotels, restaurants, commercial catering and tourism. Future employment roles could include:
North East Scotland College offers hundreds of courses each year, apply for one now.
You can apply for a place on this course by completing an online application form, which you can access using the ‘Apply Online’ button. Once submitted, this will be processed by our Admissions team.
Alternatively, you can complete a paper application and send it to us.
If you take up a place on a College course, at the start of the course you will be asked to complete an enrolment form. In completing the form and/or taking up a place on a College course, you will enter into a contract with the College and be bound by the North East Scotland College Standard Terms and Conditions of Study. Copies of the Terms and Conditions are available for inspection on notice boards and at various locations throughout the College, at the College Reception, on the College website: nescol.ac.uk, or can be obtained on request from the Student Funding and Admissions Manager, North East Scotland College, Aberdeen City Campus, Gallowgate, Aberdeen AB25 1BN. Please note that courses are offered subject to (a) there being sufficient numbers of enrolments and (b) the availability of resources. The College reserves its right (i) not to run courses where the number of students is considered insufficient or where resources are unavailable and (ii) in certain circumstances, to refuse admission to an individual applicant.