University College Birmingham - Undergraduate Open Day Event
21 Mar 2026, 10:00
Birmingham

OVERVIEW
If you want a qualification that will really open doors in the food industry, our Culinary Arts Management foundation degree course is the perfect choice for you. From Michelin-starred restaurant owner Brad Carter to Raymond Blanc Cookery School senior tutor Rebecca Boast and a string of stars on the BBC’s MasterChef TV series, University College Birmingham students have enjoyed stellar careers after graduating from this course – and you can follow in their footsteps.
Whether you want to be executive head chef at a 5-star hotel, manage a high-profile restaurant kitchen or create new products as a development chef, our flagship culinary course will give you the skills, knowledge and experience you need. From our incredible professional training kitchens and our award-winning Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food to our cutting-edge Food Science and Innovation Suite and our expert chef lecturers, there is no place better for you to perfect your culinary skills.
As a key part of the course, you will complete a one-year work placement with extensive opportunities available in the UK and overseas. You will also have the chance to gain additional awards such as food hygiene certification, while we have a vast quantity of industry contacts to provide you with opportunities for further work experience, expert masterclasses and culinary competitions.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
Work placement – Boost your employment prospects through a paid one-year placement in the culinary arts industry, with opportunities around the world
Practical application – Take on opportunities such as working at Michelin-starred restaurants (e.g. Simpsons, Carters of Moseley), supporting product development with major firms like Mars or working in our outstanding campus restaurant
Competitions – Prove your abilities in a range of industry competitions – you could follow in the footsteps of our past winners at Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or (five-time winners), Zest Quest Asia (two-time champions), BCF Young Chef of the Year and many more
Enrichment – Enjoy a variety of visits and masterclasses by celebrated chefs and food industry experts
FACILITIES
University College Birmingham is renowned for its outstanding food industry training facilities. As a student on our Culinary Arts Management course, you will have access to our professional standard kitchens which are used regularly for prestigious competitions, as well as our Food Science and Innovation Suite which features the latest food testing and diagnostic technology, state-of-the-art development kitchen facilities and a bespoke sensory evaluation room.
In addition, we have an AA Rosette Highly Commended restaurant on campus – Restaurant at Birmingham College of Food – which is open to the public and will arm you with hands-on skills, from serving fast food to silver service.
PLACEMENTS
Our course features a one-year paid placement during your second year, during which you will not incur any tuition fees. Opportunities are available in the UK or overseas.
Employers we have worked with include White Barn Inn and Spa (Maine, USA), The Savoy (London), Gleneagles (Scotland), Celtic Manor (Wales), The Landmark (London) and Ashford Castle (County Mayo, Ireland).
CAREERS AND PROGRESSION
Examples of careers you could pursue following this course:
Head chef
Sous chef
Food business owner/restaurateur
Catering manager
Product development chef
Culinary arts lecturer
Upon completion of the foundation degree, you can also progress onto the final year of our full BA (Hons) degree.
This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.
Course optionsDiscover what it's like to study Culinary Arts Management with Professional Placement at University College Birmingham: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.
This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Choose a specific option to see funding information.
Course optionsSummer Row
Birmingham
B3 1JB
Email:admissions@ucb.ac.uk
Phone:0121 604 1040
Email:international@ucb.ac.uk
Phone:0121 232 4447