Mar 05, 2026  
PUBLISHED 2026-2027 Credit Catalog 
    
PUBLISHED 2026-2027 Credit Catalog

Culinary Arts

Location(s): In Person (Main Campus)


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Join one of Canada's top culinary schools and build your bold culinary career. Guided by expert chefs, you’ll gain hands-on training in foundational cooking, global cuisines, patisserie, garde manger, and culinary management. Whether you aspire to be an executive chef, sous-chef, food stylist, or work in hospitality, this two-year diploma program provides the skills and professionalism to succeed.

With small class sizes, upgraded facilities, and real-world experience, you’ll develop both culinary expertise and essential professional skills like teamwork, communication, and financial management. You’ll also have the chance to showcase your talent in capstone courses and pursue Red Seal certification.

Hands-on production environment

Our focus is simple: real-world experience. Over two years, you’ll spend the majority of your time in culinary labs, mastering practical skills under expert guidance. Expect approximately 20 hours a week dedicated to homework and review — because excellence requires practice.

You won’t just learn behind the scenes — you’ll showcase your creations in SAIT’s gourmet outlets, including the renowned Highwood Kitchen + Bar, the Culinary Campus International Market and our downtown Tastemarket Canadian Kitchen. It’s your chance to shine and serve guests in professional settings.

Professional paid internship and study tours 

Between your first and second year, you’ll gain a minimum of 320 hours of hands-on experience through a paid internship, applying your skills in a professional kitchen while building industry connections that can launch your career.

Want to take your learning global? Join an international study tour to culinary destinations like France, Australia, Thailand, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, where you’ll explore world-class cuisines and cultures.

Global recognition

Compete in local and international culinary competitions to launch a global career. Our students have earned top rankings in events worldwide, and alumni have appeared on Top Chef Canada.

Traits, skills and aptitudes


Culinary professionals are known for being creative, methodical, and innovative.

To thrive in this field, you’ll need: 

  • a passion for food and global cuisine 
  • artistic flair and a creative mindset
  • stamina and good health for a fast-paced environment
  • a keen sense of taste and smell
  • precision and coordination for detailed work
  • strong math and organizational skills
  • a sharp memory for details
  • excellent communication and teamwork abilities
  • the ability to stay calm under pressure
  • to be comfortable standing for long periods
  • flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and irregular hours
  • respect for food safety standards.

You should enjoy planning menus, leading teams, and mastering culinary tools and techniques, because in this career, every detail matters. 

If this sounds like you, this could be your perfect fit.

Accreditations, designations or certifications


This program follows the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) curriculum for all three technical training periods for Cooks.

Here’s how it works:

  • After year 1: Challenge the first-year provincial exam.
  • After year 2: Challenge the second-year exam (once you’ve passed the first-year exam).
  • After passing both the first-and second-year exams, you can challenge the third-year exam at any point during your program.

For more information about the Cook apprenticeship, including registration details and required on-the-job training hours, visit tradesecrets.alberta.ca.

Credential


After successfully completing this program, you’ll receive a SAIT Culinary Arts diploma.

Program length


2 years

Accepts international applicants - not-PGWP eligible


This program is open to international applicants; however, program availability may be limited. This program does not meet the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program

Related careers


Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.

Potential careers (NOC):

  • Restaurant and food service managers (60030)
  • Food service supervisors (62020)
  • Chefs (62200)
  • Cooks (63200)
  • Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations (65201)

Admission requirements - Applicants educated in Canada


All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet all the following requirements or equivalents:

  • at least 50% in English Language Arts 10-1, English Language Arts 10-2 or Humanities 10, and
  • at least 50% in Math 10C or Math 10-3.

SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission for applicants educated outside Alberta.

Admission requirements - Applicants educated outside of Canada


All applicants who were educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English language proficiency and provide proof they meet the program admission requirements with an international document assessment. Find accepted educational documents and assessment options

SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.

Program outline


The Culinary Arts diploma requires 73.5 credits (25 courses) to complete.

The program spans two years, with two semesters each year.

Suggested schedule of study


Progression


You must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better each semester and pass the prerequisite courses to progress through the program.

To qualify for graduation, you must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Review our grading and progression procedure > 

Books and supplies


Books and supplies range from $900 - $1,100. You will need to purchase these in your first week.

This is a bring-your-own-device program with standard computer hardware and software requirements. The cost of your device is in addition to the costs of books and supplies mentioned above. Refer to the specific requirements on our Computers and Laptops page.

Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore’s website. The booklist will be available close to your start date. Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn’t receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you’re in luck; no textbook purchase is required for that term.

Required equipment/tools

You must purchase a professional knife kit, which is approximately $500. You will receive an email one month prior to your start date with the option to purchase the kit by credit card through a dedicated website.

Required uniform

One of your first steps to becoming a Culinary Arts student is to make sure you have the required attire on your first day of class and dress appropriately throughout the program.

Your uniform includes:

  • Hairnet (all hair must be tucked into your hairnet)
  • Chef’s hat
  • Chef’s whites
  • Name tag
  • Waist apron
  • Chef’s pants
  • Professional non-slip chef shoes or clogs

Jewelry, including rings, bracelets and dangling earrings, is not to be worn in class. Wedding bands, stud earrings and watches are acceptable.

Your Chef’s jacket, waist apron and pants are required with an annual laundry fee of $250 (included in your tuition).

Your chef’s hat and hairnets (included in the tool kit) are available from the Culinary Campus International Market.

Wearing your uniform to class is mandatory.

Internship fees

You can begin your internship in the second semester of the program. The internship fee is already included in your tuition and is required for all students at this stage.

Optional study tour

There is an optional international study tour between the first and second years. If you are interested, please budget approximately $3,500.

Hospitality and Tourism program advising


For any questions or to set up an advising appointment, please contact our School of Hospitality and Tourism.

Phone: 403.210.4343
Email: hospitality.info@sait.ca

Program outcomes


  1. Technical skills: Demonstrate technical competency in a variety of production-based environments in professional cooking.
  2. Menu creation: Craft high-quality menu items utilizing professional cooking skills, techniques, and artistry.
  3. Recipe creation: Create recipes to meet client preferences and dietary restrictions.
  4. Food and beverage foundation: Apply foundational food and beverage knowledge.
  5. Meat portion cut/meat processing: Prepare cuts and portions for meat production.
  6. Emerging technologies: Demonstrate knowledge of current and emerging culinary trends and technology.
  7. Equipment safety: Operate and maintain equipment efficiently and safely.
  8. Health and safety regulations: Adhere to the professional cooking industry’s current health and safety regulations.
  9. Culinary management - demonstrate competency in culinary management.
  10. Financial foundation: Apply financial tools and principles to product costing and viable day-to-day culinary operations.
  11. Brand development: Demonstrate social media competency to build personal and professional brand.
  12. Culinary operation foundation: Apply foundational knowledge in sustainability related to culinary operations.
  13. Professional communication: Adapt professional behaviour and respectfully communicate with people of diverse backgrounds and points of view.
  14. Customer service: Demonstrate a hospitality mindset focusing on guest experience and problem-solving with the guest’s needs in mind.
  15. Client experience: Support a healthy lifestyle by adopting effective strategies to balance demanding industry needs with personal values and priorities

Graduate outcomes


A. Safety - awareness of safety standards relevant to the workplace.

  • Safety awareness

B. Responsible leadership - personal, ethical and respectful behaviour within the workplace and global community.

  • Teamwork and multi-disciplinary collaboration
  • Self-initiative
  • Ethical reasoning and action
  • Global awareness
  • Sustainability

C. Communication - the exchange of information professionally and effectively.

  • Language skills
  • Interpersonal skills

D. Information literacy - the strategies used to become informed, from recognizing an information need to accessing and evaluating information and using it effectively and ethically.

  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Quantitative literacy
  • Technological literacy

E. Technical knowledge, skills and abilities - technical competence specific to the discipline or industry.

  • Specialized technical skill set

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