Professional Cookery HNC
Course code 122N
What is special about this course?
If you are an aspiring chef and would like to develop your skills and knowledge in professional cookery and kitchen management, the HNC Professional Cookery is a great place to start.
You will experience advanced, modern cookery techniques and look at food product development. The training environment is learner-centred and focuses on current industry standards.
Special features
- You can study full-time or part-time to suit your personal and professional circumstances
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above OR
- 1 A level at grade D or above OR
- Professional Chef Awards: Silver (incorporating SCQF level 5 Professional Cookery) or Gold (incorporating SCQF level 6 Professional Cookery) OR
- NC Hospitality
- Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply
- You may be invited to attend an interview
Year 1 - HNC
Mandatory units are:
- Food classification and purchase
- Food hygiene: intermediate
- Hospitality: financial and control systems
- Hospitality supervision
- Professional cookery: graded unit 1
Option units may include:
- Hospitality industry
- Industrial experience in the hospitality industry
- Management of human resources in the hospitality industry
- Pastry
- Patisserie
- Production cookery: cold kitchen
- Production cookery: hot kitchen
- Production cookery: sweets and desserts
Option units available may vary depending on study location, for more information contact your chosen campus.
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn by way of face-to-face lectures and tutorials in the classroom, and practical sessions in the kitchen and restaurants
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 1 year
- Part-time: 2 years
Where can I study my course?
- North, West and Hebrides - Dornoch; Fort William; Thurso
- Orkney - part-time study only
- Perth
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £1,285 | £1,285 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £86 | £86 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £7,110 | £7,440 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £474 | £496 |
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time per year | £8,775 | £8,925 |
| Part-time (per HN credit) | £585 | £595 |
Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
Additional costs
To participate in the practical kitchen activities, you will be required to purchase a branded uniform at the start of term, which will cost approximately £150.
What can I do on completion of my course?
On completion of your course in professional cookery you might want to consider employment at supervisory level such as sous chef or as a chef de partie.
Can I progress into further study?
You can progress to year two of our BA (Hons) Hospitality Management.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I started my student journey with UHI on HND Professional Cookery and it was the fact that world-renowned chefs Andrew Fairlie and Tom Kitchin had studied here that really made attracted me to the course.
My favourite thing about this university is the staff and lecturers. They made me feel special, cared for, and part of a larger community. I was known by my name, rather than feeling I was just a number. When things were tough, my tutors were always there to provide support, reassurance and steer me along the right path.
Denny studied Professional cookery at UHI Perth.
Apply for Professional Cookery HNC
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.