CULINARY ARTS:

Why choose our Professional Culinary Arts course?

The Professional Culinary Arts Course by MD Academy prepares skilled professionals in the culinary, catering, and/or food and beverage industry for a quick and frictionless entry into the job market.

• 20+ years of experience in training highly qualified professionals.
• Issuance of an officially recognized Certification of Professional Skills that is valid throughout Italy and in Europe.
• Guaranteed apprenticeship in the best facilities and institutions in the area, with a high employment rate.
• Real job opportunities thanks to our relationship with a network of companies actively looking to hire.
• You can count on our teachers and staff for all support regarding your studies and/or bureaucratic procedures.

Why choose MD Academy as an Accredited Training Institution?

MD Academy is a Training Institution founded in 1999 and Accredited by the Region of Lombardy with registration number 264. It offers highly professionalizing training courses that provide students with the professional skills and knowledge necessary to perform efficiently and effectively. Our Academy's strength lies in our direct relationship with local businesses: we introduce our best candidates to a network of over 800 companies.

Real job opportunities.

Italy is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world; therefore, restaurants, pizzerias, hotels, cafés, bakeries, patisseries, etc. are constantly looking to hire. In 2022, Italian companies operating in the restaurant and catering field have hired more than 755 thousand new employees. At the same time, more than 64% of companies in said field have encountered difficulties in finding enough employees for their activity. The restaurant and catering market overall has provided the most job offers in the past year (source: Confcommercio Annual Report – 2023).

Study and work at the same time.

We highly encourage our international students to work part-time while learning with us. For this reason, our course schedules are specially designed to leave students with enough time to balance both aspects. Many of our learners easily find a side job thanks to our relationship with a network of companies looking to hire. Lombardy is the most financially advanced and productive administrative region of Italy, with an abundance of job offers across a multitude of fields.

How do I know if this is the right course and career for me?

Here are a few questions you should ask yourself that can help you determine whether you should work in the Catering and Restaurant field:

• Do you already have an interest in experimenting in the kitchen? If you find yourself trying new recipes and cooking meals for friends and family as a hobby, it is probably a good indicator you will enjoy working in a professional kitchen.
• Do you enjoy being part of a team? This is a crucial part for most people in this line of work. You will probably find yourself working in close contact with other assistant cooks, cooks, bakers, waiters and so on. Good communication skills in a professional kitchen are essential.
• Are you flexible and versatile in the workplace? Professional kitchens in Italy and Europe will likely ask you to assist in different tasks, such as waiting tables or helping with prepping before opening. You won't be relegated to one task. This is all part of the teamwork spirit.

Here is how it works

Our training programs last approximately 1 year. Want to know what studying with us in Italy for a year looks like?

IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY, BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL

• Since all our courses are taught in Italian as of now, knowing the very foundations of the language (level A1) is required before you start your training (there will be an official exam, which is mandatory for all our international students looking to come to Italy). This is why we offer online Italian classes for beginners, taught by experienced native-speaking teachers. We highly recommend you sign up and get your Certification of Skills today!
• If you want to come to Italy to study with us, you will need a student visa. Please read more about it here (https://italiancampus.mdacademy.it//apply.php).

• Arrival Week: you will have a few days to get used to the time zone, unpack, and explore the area. This is the ideal time to get familiar with the official course timetable.
• First 5 Weeks (approx.): these will be dedicated to studying Italian (20 hours per week), with the aim of getting you to level A2. This will allow you to communicate in everyday situations and use basic vocabulary, as well as understand simple conversations. After the 6th week (approximately) you will keep studying Italian with our teachers, with the aim of reaching level B1. We recommend you also sign up for our B2 courses: an upper-intermediate knowledge of the language will be a great addition to your CV.
• Course-specific Training: starting from approximately the 6th week, classes specific to your chosen course will start. You will be studying for a maximum of 28 hours per week total.
• Apprenticeship: starting from approximately the 35th-40th week, you will start your apprenticeships (20 hours per week). You will still come to class at the academy in the meantime, and you will get the chance to share what you've learned during your apprenticeship.
• We can help you find a part-time job: we can help you find a part-time job (for the duration of the program), thanks to our direct relationship with a wide range of companies, for an additional fee. This will allow you to earn some extra money for your stay in Italy.
• Final exam: after completing your apprenticeship, you will be examined by an internal commission appointed by MD Academy. Upon successfully passing the exam, you will receive a Certification of Professional Skills.