Europe is a continent with a rich culinary tradition, with each country having their own unique and delicious cuisine, which allows you to have first-hand experience with these traditions. The best part is Europe is home to some of the most prestigious culinary schools that welcome international students from around the world, and they have renowned chefs to back it up.
Some schools even go further to make their gastronomy programmes free for students. And there are still some very affordable universities in Europe for foreigners which gives less concern on IELTS.
Whether you’re a professional cook seeking to refine your skills or a complete beginner with a strong passion for food, there’s a European culinary school waiting for you. In this blog post, we didn’t only list the schools but also went further to provide some of their tuition fees to help in your decision-making.
Culinary Schools in Europe for International Students
1. Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland
- Tuition: Visit Page
- Language of Instruction: English
This is not just among the culinary schools in Switzerland for international students, but the school is ranked as the best culinary arts institute in Switzerland and the eighth best in the world. Their world-class programmes include:
- Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
- Master of Arts in Culinary Business
- Swiss Diploma in Culinary Arts
- Swiss Diploma in Pastry Arts
2. ALMA – The School of Italian Culinary Arts (Italy)
ALMA is regarded as the world’s leading international educational and training centre for Italian Cuisine and Hospitality. They provide different kinds of culinary courses for international students coming from more than 85 nations all over the world.
3. Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (Italy)
Just like the name, ICIF is among the culinary schools in Italy for international students that provide programs focused on regional Italian cuisine and specific culinary disciplines like pastry making.
Not to mention that the United States has an entire library of affordable culinary schools for foreign students.
4. Florence Culinary Arts School (Italy)
For more than 4 decades, FCAS has been providing cooking classes for international students which range from a few weeks to one year.
5. Accademia Italiana Chef (Italy)
This international culinary school structured their program to satisfy both beginners and experts and the school is founded on the 35-year experience of great Italian chefs.
6. University of Bologna – MSc in Food Science and Technology (Italy)
- Program Length: 2 years
- Tuition: visit the tuition page
In this programme, you’ll be focusing on different courses on food quality, functional aspects and innovative analytical aspects in terms of food characterisation and market orientation, etc.
7. Milan University Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (Italy)
- Tuition: Visit Fees Page
This faculty is the largest in Italy and the only one in the Lombardy area. This is one of the culinary schools in Italy for international students that provides a handful of culinary-related Undergraduate and Master’s Degree programs such as:
- Science and Technology for Sustainable Food
- Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Food science and technology
8. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Italy)
- Language of Instruction: English
- Program Length: Varies
This University provides several undergraduate and graduate food programmes for both domestic and international students, which are:
- Food Production Management (3 years)
- Food Processing: innovation and Tradition (2 years)
- Sustainable food systems ( 2 years)
- Innovation in Food Science and Technology ( 1 year)
9. Basque Culinary Center (Spain)
- Tuition: € 9,990
The Basque Culinary Center is among the culinary schools in Spain for international students that focus on providing world-class higher education, research, innovation and promotion of gastronomy and nutrition.
10. The Culinary Institute of Barcelona (Spain)
Due to the excellence of the CIB’s culinary programmes, students from more than 90 different countries come here to here to study each year, and CIB is ranked among one of the best cooking schools in the world.
11. Hospitality and Tourism School of Sant Pol (Spain)
Escuela de Hostelería y Turismo de Sant Pol provides different kinds of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts programmes to both domestic and foreign students. Some of them include a technical Degree in Gastronomy and Restaurant Service; a Master’s in Culinary Arts, Innovation and Kitchen Management, etc.
12. Fulda University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
This is one of the culinary schools in Germany for international students that don’t charge tuition fees for both domestic and international students, you only get to pay a semester fee of €290 per semester. Hochschule Fulda provides 3 different programs in Culinary arts which include:
- Food Technology (BSc) – 7 semesters, Taught in German and English
- Industrial Engineering Food (BSc) – 7 semesters, Taught in either German or English
- Food Processing (MSc) – 3 semesters, Taught in German
13. TU Berlin – Food Technology, M.Sc. (Germany)
- Language of Instruction: German
- Program Length: 4 semesters
- Tuition: Free
TU Berlin is among the free culinary schools in Europe for international students that only charge for semester fees, which can vary slightly from semester to semester. The program combines aspects of agricultural science, nutritional science, engineering sciences, and natural sciences into a single interdisciplinary educational approach.
14. TU Dresden – Food Chemistry/diploma (Germany)
- Programme Length: 9 semesters
- Tuition: Free
This is among the free-tuition European culinary education for global learners that corresponds in nature and examination requirements to the study programme of the State Examination.
15. University of Applied Sciences Rhine-Waal – Food Sciences (M.Sc.)
- Programme Length: 3 semesters of full-time studies
- Language of Instruction: German
- Tuition: free
This university only charges for enrolment fee for each new semester they register at the university. The Food Sciences M.Sc. programme views the various stages of food production and their complex integration into the entire value chain predominantly from a scientific perspective.
16. HAW Hamburg – Nutrition and Home Economics (B.Sc.) (Germany)
- Program Length: 6 semesters
- Language of Instruction: German
- Tuition: Free
This is another free Culinary institute in Germany for both domestic and international students that doesn’t charge tuition fees but a ‘semester contribution’ of €331 per semester. The B.Sc. in Nutrition and Home Economics course qualifies you for a professional career in nutrition and dietetics, providing nutritional advice and dietary education to people with and without health issues, or developing and testing foods, production equipment and procedures for the food and beverage industry.
17. Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences – Food Technology (B.Sc.) (Germany)
- Program Length: 7 semesters
- Language of Instruction: German
- Tuition: Free
In this program, you won’t only focus on the raw materials of food production, but you’ll also learn the technological aspects of production.
18. Technical University of Munich – Food Technology (Germany)
- Language of Instruction: German
- Tuition: Free for students from Germany, the European Economic Area (EEA) or equivalent states as well as from states with corresponding agreements, and some other students. €2,000 per semester for other students studying:
- B.Sc. in Food Chemistry (6 semesters)
- B.Sc. in Food Technology (6 semesters, German).
- 4,000 euros per semester for:
- M.Sc. in Food Chemistry (4 semesters)
- M.Sc. in Food Technology (4 semesters)
19. University of Hohenheim – Food Science and Biotechnology (Germany)
- Program Length: 6 semesters/5 Semesters (Fast Track)
- Language of Instruction: German
- Tuition: Free for EU/EEA countries and €1,500 per semester for other international students
This is one of the affordable culinary schools in Germany for international students that focuses on both the technical processes used to produce food and the biochemical reactions involved in processing raw materials.
20. Université de Paris-Saclay – Master in Nutrition and Food Science (France)
- Program Length: 2 year
Paris-Saclay University understands how challenging it can be to ensure the quality and safety of bioproducts (food, ingredients, cosmetics, etc.). That’s one of the reasons this program was created to optimize the development of these products.
21. Sciences Po Paris – Dual Degree with AgroParisTech (France)
- Program Length: 3 years
- Language of Instruction: French
- Tuition:
- €0 to €20,380 (French and European Students)
- €20,380 (Non-European Students)
This is one of the culinary schools in France for international students that focuses on training future engineers in the fields of life, food and environmental sciences.
22. École Supérieure d’Agriculture Angers (ESA) (France)
ESA is a science and technology school which offers general education in three areas: agronomy, the environment and food. ESA is also the leading international school in France in the field of agriculture and food.
23. Cork Institute of Technology – B.A in Culinary Arts (Ireland)
- Program Length: 3 years
- Fees:
- €3,000 (EU Students)
- €13,500 (Other International Students)
This is one of the culinary schools in Ireland for international students that follows study modules such as Culinary Arts Principles, Larder and International Cuisine, Food Safety, Creativity, IT, Management, Kitchen Design, Wine Appreciation, Operations and Business subjects, etc.
24. Limerick College of Culinary Arts (Ireland)
Limerick College of Culinary Arts provides a different range of culinary arts programs, all taught in English, which are:
- Culinary Arts – BA (3 years)
- Culinary Entrepreneurship – BA (Hons) (4 years)
- Culinary Arts – Higher Certificate in Arts (2 years)
25. Lund University – M.Sc. in Food Technology and Nutrition (Sweden)
- Program Length: 2 years
- Language of Instruction: English
- Full programme/course tuition fee:
- Free for EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland
- SEK 340 000 for Non-EU/EEA citizens
This culinary training institution for global learners is aimed at students who want to learn more about food and who want to work with innovative future foods, for instance as a part of the solution to major health issues such as malnutrition and obesity. Because non-EU/EEA citizens are the only ones to pay tuition fees Lund University provides Merit-based Scholarships to help outstanding international students reduce their fees.
26. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Sweden)
- Programme Length: 2 years
- Language of Instruction: English
- Tuition:
- Free for EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland
- SEK 68500 per semester for Non-EU/EEA citizens
SLU provides a 2-year M.Sc. in Sustainable Food Systems with a major in Food Science and a 2-year M.Sc. in Food and Landscape with a major in Food Studies.
The first programme is best for students who aim to become an expert in sustainable food systems and strive to take on challenges throughout the food chain. The latter is best for students who want to learn more about the relationship between food, people and places.
27. Uppsala University – Department of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics (Sweden)
Uppsala University is one of the culinary schools in Europe for international students that provides different kinds of food programmes which are all taught in Swedish.
- Bachelor of Social Science in Nutritionist program: free for citizens of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. SEK 45,000 per semester for others
- Bachelor of Science in Dietetics: SEK 45,000 per semester for non-citizens of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
- Doctoral programme in Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics
28. University of Turku – Master’s Degree Programme in Food Development (Turkey)
- Program Length: 2 academic years
- Language of Instruction: English
- Tuition: Free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries €12,000 / academic year.
This culinary institute in Turkey will provide you with in-depth knowledge of the composition, nutritional quality, sensory properties, and health effects of food.
29. Ege University – Food Engineering Department (Turkey)
The Food Engineering Department offers a multidisciplinary field of applied physical sciences which combines science, microbiology, and engineering education for food and related industries. Ege University provides food programs which include: Food Chemistry, Food Microbiology, Fruit – Vegetable Process Engineering, Food Quality Assurance, Cereal Process Engineering, etc.
30. Istanbul Technical University – Department of Food Engineering (Turkey)
The Food Engineering program provided by ITU is the first food engineering program offered in Istanbul and it’s a four-year program including almost 30% of total credits taught in English.
31. University of Copenhagen – Department of Food Science (Denmark)
- Tuition: Free for citizens of the EU/EEA, while EUR 8,390 per semester for others or Non-Nordic Countries
This is among the culinary schools in Europe for international students
that helps to maintain and develop both the gastronomy and food industry by researching food and sustainable processing that can optimize the culinary and sensory properties of food. It provides programmes like:
- Bachelor in food and nutrition (taught in Danish)
- Master of Science in Food Innovation and Health (English)
- Master of Science in Food Science and Technology (English)
- Master of Science in Biosolutions (English)
- Research in Gastronomy and Innovation
32. Aarhus University – Department of Food Science (Denmark)
- Tuition: Free for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens while other students will pay EUR 15,300 per year
- Language of Instruction: English
Just like some other European culinary education for global learners, we have listed, this department provides a Master’s degree programme in food, technology and nutrition.
33. Technical University of Denmark – Master of Science (MSc) in Food Technology
- Tuition: Free for EU/EEA citizens and those with Danish residence permits, while others pay 7500 EUR per semester.
This programme will teach you a lot about modern food production and profound knowledge of technologies associated with the production of healthy and safe food.
34. University of Helsinki – MSc Programme in Food Sciences (Finland)
- Program Length: 2 years
- Language of Instruction: Finnish, English, Swedish
- Tuition: 15,000 EUR per year for non-EU/non-EEA students studying in English
This programme is best for students always inquisitive to know what people will eat in the future, what they eat now, what is behind the good taste of food, how to improve the healthiness, safety, ecology and ethics of food and food processing, etc.
35. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria)
- Program Length: 4 semesters
- Tuition: Free for Austrian and EU/EEA citizens, while others will pay € 363.36 per semester. Third-country nationals will pay € 726.72 per semester
BOKU is a prominent public university with a strong focus on life sciences. They offer both a Master’s programme in Food Science and Technology and a Master’s programme in Safety in the Food Chain which caters for both domestic and international students.
36. University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
- Tuition: €363.36 per semester for EU and €726.72 per semester for non-EEA countries and non-EU-member states
This is one of the overseas culinary schools in Europe that provides a 4-year Bachelor’s programme in Food Technology and Nutrition where the first 2 years are taught in English and the remaining is taught in German. It also provides a 2-year Master’s in Food Technology and Nutrition which is taught completely in German.
Key Takeaway
You can see that this list of culinary schools in Europe for international students provides you with a lot of options in different countries, from classic French techniques to regional Italian cuisine. Remember choosing the right school depends on your specific goals and budget and don’t hesitate to reach out to schools directly and ask questions.
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