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Meta title: Culinary School Abroad: Diplomas, Degrees, Costs | StudyU
Meta description: Culinary school abroad: school diploma or bachelor’s, who awards the degree, internships, entry rules and 2026–2027 fees at Le Cordon Bleu, CAA, Lyfe and BCC.
Last modified: 2026-10-01

# Culinary School Abroad: School Diploma or Bachelor's Degree, Internships and Costs

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There are two ways to train as a chef abroad. You can take a professional programme at a culinary school, usually six to nine months and ending in the school's own diploma, or a three-to-four-year bachelor's where the degree is awarded by a university or recognised by the state. Most schools do not require kitchen experience, but you must be at least 18 and meet a language requirement. In 2026–2027 Le Cordon Bleu's full Grand Diplôme costs $51,000 in Istanbul, $65,770 (£49,497) in London and $68,130 (€60,000) in Paris, while a year of the Basque Culinary Center degree costs $13,520 (€11,903). Working as a cook usually needs no licence, so choose a school for its kitchen hours and placements rather than for the name on the certificate.

| At a glance | What to know |
| --- | --- |
| Two routes | School diploma (6–9 months) or bachelor's (3–4 years) with a university degree |
| Age and experience | Le Cordon Bleu London and Paris: 18 or over, no kitchen experience required |
| Language | Le Cordon Bleu Paris: English B2 or French A2; Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland: IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 55 |
| Diploma price | Grand Diplôme: Istanbul $51,000, London $65,770 (£49,497), Paris $68,130 (€60,000) |
| Bachelor's price | Basque Culinary Center $13,520 (€11,903) a year, 2027/28; Institut Lyfe about $15,900 (€14,000) a year (ONISEP data for 2025; the school does not publish a 2026/27 rate) |
| Internships | Built into Swiss programmes; at Institut Lyfe, 12 weeks every year |

A professional bakery kitchen with ranges, combi ovens and stainless-steel worktables. Photo: Eric Polk / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Industrial_bakery_kitchen.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## Diploma, Grand Diplôme or bachelor's? {#section-1}

| Format | Length | What you receive | Who it suits |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Certificate or short course | 10 days to 11 weeks | school certificate for one module | people testing the field or adding a skill |
| Cuisine or pastry diploma | 6–9 months | school diploma, e.g. Diplôme de Cuisine | people who want to start working in a kitchen quickly |
| Grand Diplôme | about 9 months | cuisine and pastry in one programme | aspiring fine-dining cooks ready for an intensive course |
| Bachelor's | 3–4 years | a university degree plus several internships | future sous-chefs, managers and founders |

A short diploma is craft: technique, product and speed. A bachelor's adds management, food costing, team leadership and purchasing, and a degree that can lead to a master's. If restaurant or hotel management appeals more, compare with [hospitality management in Switzerland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-hospitality-management-in-switzerland).

## Who awards the qualification? Check before you pay {#section-2}

The key question is who awards the final document. On school websites "bachelor's" sometimes means the school's own diploma and sometimes the degree of a university that co-delivers the programme.

| School | Programme | Awarding body |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Le Cordon Bleu London | Grand Diplôme, Diplôme de Cuisine, Diplôme de Pâtisserie | the school |
| Le Cordon Bleu London | BBA Culinary Industry Management, 3 years | delivered jointly with Birkbeck, University of London |
| Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland | Swiss Diploma and intermediate awards | the school |
| Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland | Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Culinary Arts | University of Derby, UK |
| Institut Lyfe (formerly Institut Paul Bocuse), France | Bachelor Management International des Arts Culinaires | state-endorsed Bac+3 diploma, level 6 on France's RNCP register |
| Basque Culinary Center, San Sebastián | Degree in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, 240 ECTS | Mondragon Unibertsitatea |
| Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul | Grand Diplôme, cuisine and pastry diplomas; taught in English with simultaneous interpreting | the school, on Özyeğin University's campus |

Detailed profiles: [Le Cordon Bleu Paris](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-le-cordon-bleu-paris), [Le Cordon Bleu London](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-le-cordon-bleu-london), [Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-le-cordon-bleu-istanbul) and [Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-culinary-arts-academy).

## How admission works {#section-3}

Selection is gentler than at universities, but paperwork still matters:

- Age. Le Cordon Bleu London and Paris require all students to be 18 or over. Culinary Arts Academy recommends a minimum of 18 and makes it mandatory by the end of term three.
- Language. Le Cordon Bleu Paris asks for English at B2 or French at A2. Culinary Arts Academy asks for IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 55 or Duolingo 95+, and directs students below that level to its English foundation programme.
- Education. A school certificate matters little for short diplomas. Bachelor's programmes need a secondary-school diploma or equivalent; Institut Lyfe asks for the French baccalauréat or an international equivalent.
- Experience. Le Cordon Bleu London states that no prior culinary experience is required.
- Motivation. Expect an interview or letter about why you chose the profession.

Schools with several intakes a year mean you need not wait for September. Le Cordon Bleu Paris starts the Grand Diplôme on 5 October 2026, 5 January 2027 and 30 March 2027; London on 8 January and 2 April 2027.

## Internships and kitchen time {#section-4}

Kitchens teach faster than classrooms, so check how many hours you will actually spend cooking and where your placement will be.

- Switzerland. At Culinary Arts Academy the diploma is two terms plus an internship and the bachelor's is seven terms plus two internships. The employer approves each placement, so your CV and language matter here too.
- France. At Institut Lyfe each year ends with an internship of at least 12 weeks in France or abroad.
- Le Cordon Bleu. Teaching is built on chef demonstrations and practical classes in the school's kitchens. London and Paris also offer the Grand Diplôme with an Internship Pathway, a separate option with its own terms and price; the host restaurant approves each placement.

## What it costs {#section-5}

| Programme | Period | Fee | What is included |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul, Grand Diplôme | 33 weeks | $51,000 | knife set and two uniforms |
| Le Cordon Bleu London, Grand Diplôme | 2027 start | $65,770 (£49,497) | ingredients, uniforms, knife kit, learning materials |
| Le Cordon Bleu Paris, Grand Diplôme | 2026–2027 starts | $68,130 (€60,000) | $1,700 (€1,500) application fee, materials, Sabatier knife kit, uniform, events |
| Culinary Arts Academy, Swiss Diploma | 2 terms plus internship | $50,800 (CHF 42,400) | tuition, accommodation, meals, services; $2,400 (CHF 2,000) security deposit extra |
| Culinary Arts Academy, bachelor's | 7 terms plus 2 internships | $210,020 (CHF 175,300) for the whole programme | tuition, accommodation, meals, services |
| Le Cordon Bleu London, BBA | per year, 2026/27 | $24,580 (£18,500) | tuition only |
| Basque Culinary Center, bachelor's | per year, 2027/28 | $13,520 (€11,903) | tuition only |
| Institut Lyfe, bachelor's | per year, ONISEP data for 2025 | about $15,900 (€14,000) for international students | tuition only |

Always compare what a price covers. The Swiss figure looks high but includes housing and meals; Paris and London fees do not, and both cities are expensive. Applicants paying from Russia can read about legal routes in [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

## Which route fits you {#section-6}

| Your goal | Suitable format | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start working as a cook quickly | Cuisine diploma or Grand Diplôme | Le Cordon Bleu in Istanbul, London or Paris |
| Become a head chef and run a kitchen | Bachelor's with placements | Institut Lyfe, Basque Culinary Center, Culinary Arts Academy |
| Tight budget | Bachelor's in Spain or a diploma in Istanbul | Basque Culinary Center, Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul |
| Your own restaurant or food product | Bachelor's with management, then a master's | BBA at Le Cordon Bleu London, Culinary Arts Academy master's |
| Gastronomy as science and business | University gastronomy degree | [gastronomy programmes in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-gastronomy) |

## Visas and recognition {#section-7}

Each country's consulate and immigration service decides on student visas; the school issues the enrolment documents you need. Working as a cook usually requires no formal recognition of a foreign diploma, because employers judge skills and experience. Recognition matters only if you use a bachelor's degree for a master's or for a post that requires verified higher education. For Swiss budgets, see [the cost of studying in Switzerland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-switzerland).

## Common mistakes {#section-8}

- Paying for a "bachelor's" without finding out who awards the degree.
- Comparing prices without counting housing and meals: often included in Switzerland, not in the Paris or London Grand Diplôme.
- Choosing a school by name rather than by kitchen hours and placement terms.
- Arriving without the language: kitchens run fast, and instruction is in English or French.
- Expecting a diploma to lead straight to a head-chef role: the path runs through several years on the line.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Do I need kitchen experience to apply?

Usually not. Le Cordon Bleu London states that no experience is required, and Institut Lyfe admits bachelor's students on the basis of a school-leaving diploma or equivalent. The school decides on admission based on your documents and motivation.

### How long does culinary training abroad take?

A professional diploma takes six to nine months; Le Cordon Bleu's Grand Diplôme lasts 33 weeks in Istanbul and about nine months in London and Paris. A bachelor's takes three to four years: at Basque Culinary Center it is 240 ECTS over four years.

### Which is worth more, a Le Cordon Bleu diploma or a bachelor's?

For kitchen work, skills and experience matter more than the paper. A bachelor's makes sense if you plan to manage a restaurant, continue to a master's or work for companies that require a degree.

### Where is culinary school cheaper?

Among the examples here, Basque Culinary Center in Spain ($13,520 a year) and Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul (Grand Diplôme for $51,000 against $65,770 in London). Housing in San Sebastián and Istanbul is extra.

### Can I study in English?

Yes. Le Cordon Bleu London teaches in English; Paris teaches in French with consecutive English translation, which is why English at B2 or French at A2 is enough to enrol. Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul teaches in English with simultaneous interpreting. Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland asks for IELTS 5.5, Institut Lyfe runs bilingual and fully English bachelor's tracks, and Basque Culinary Center teaches its bachelor's in Spanish and English. Each school checks the language level itself.

### Do culinary schools offer scholarships?

Some do, in small numbers. Institut Lyfe, for example, offers excellence scholarships for bachelor's students. The school makes the award, so do not build your budget around one.

## Sources {#section-10}

- Le Cordon Bleu London: [Grand Diplôme — price, dates, requirements](https://www.cordonbleu.edu/london/grand-diplome/en), [BBA Culinary Industry Management with Birkbeck](https://www.cordonbleu.edu/london/culinary-industry-management-bba/en)
- Le Cordon Bleu Paris: [Grand Diplôme — price, dates, language](https://www.cordonbleu.edu/paris/grand-diplome/en)
- Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul (Özyeğin University): [programmes and international fees](https://lecordonbleu.ozyegin.edu.tr/en/admissions/admissions-process/), [language of instruction](https://lecordonbleu.ozyegin.edu.tr/en)
- Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland: [fees 2026](https://www.culinaryartsswitzerland.com/en/tuition-and-fees/index.html), [bachelor's — University of Derby award and entry requirements](https://www.culinaryartsswitzerland.com/en/program/bachelor-degree-in-culinary-arts/)
- Institut Lyfe: [culinary arts bachelor's (in French)](https://www.institutlyfe.com/niveau/bachelors/bachelor-management-international-des-arts-culinaires/), [scholarships (in French)](https://www.institutlyfe.com/admissions-et-financement/financer-vos-etudes/); ONISEP: [diploma status and cost (in French)](https://www.onisep.fr/ressources/structures-enseignement/auvergne-rhone-alpes/rhone/institut-lyfe-ex-institut-paul-bocuse/diplome-en-management-international-des-arts-culinaires)
- Mondragon Unibertsitatea / Basque Culinary Center: [degree fees 2027/28 (in Spanish)](https://www.mondragon.edu/es/grado-gastronomia-artes-culinarias/precios-becas-ayudas)

All sources checked on 1 October 2026. ECB reference rate of 30 September 2026: €1 = $1.1355, €1 = £0.85463 and €1 = CHF 0.9478 (£1 ≈ $1.3287, CHF 1 ≈ $1.1980). Amounts are rounded to $10.

If you want to work through your route, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the school makes the admission decision.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Le Cordon Bleu Paris](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-le-cordon-bleu-paris)
- [Le Cordon Bleu London](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-le-cordon-bleu-london)
- [Le Cordon Bleu Istanbul](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-le-cordon-bleu-istanbul)
- [Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland: Diplomas, Degrees, Fees and Admission](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-culinary-arts-academy)
- [Gastronomy in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-gastronomy)
- [Hospitality Management in Switzerland: Schools, Degrees, Fees and Paid Internships](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-hospitality-management-in-switzerland)

Updated: October 2026