Building on the foundation of the NZ Certificate in Cookery (Level 3), this Level 4 programme further enhances and develops students' culinary skills.
At SIT, you'll benefit from well-equipped classrooms and passionate tutors dedicated to their craft. Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to run the Bungalow Restaurant on campus and are encouraged to participate in national culinary arts competitions.
This training aims to cultivate the flair and creativity essential for securing employment in the vibrant and dynamic culinary industry.
41 weeks full-time
2026 Semester 2: 13 July to 23 April
2027 Semester 2: 12 July to 21 April
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
Following on from the NZ Certificate in Cookery (Level 3), this Level 4 programme allows the enhancement and further development of students' culinary skills.
SIT's classrooms are well equipped and the tutors are very passionate about their craft. Students cook at four separate "pop up restaurants" on campus throughout the year.
This training will help develop the flair and creativity in the culinary arts deemed necessary to gain employment in this exciting and dynamic industry.
On completion of the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4), graduates will have the knowledge and skills to:
NZC401 Restaurant Service Operations
NZC402 Implement health, safety and security practices to ensure compliance with standard policies & procedures
NZC403 Food Costing
NZC404 Prepare and finish cocktail food (hot and cold food items)
NZC405 Prepare and finish cold larder products
NZC406 Prepare and finish complex sauces
NZC407 Prepare and finish complex fish and seafood products
NZC408 Prepare and finish complex pasta products
NZC409 Prepare and finish complex Meat and Poultry products
NZC410 Prepare and finish complex soups
NZC411 Prepare and finish complex pastry products
NZC412 Prepare and finish marinades, dressings, cold sauces, and dips
NZC413 Prepare and finish complex hot and cold dessert products
NZC414 Prepare and bake complex dough products
NZC415 Prepare and bake complex cakes and sponge products
This course aims to provide competent, professional employees for the hospitality sector who are able to work as chefs in intermediate positions producing complex dishes in a commercial kitchen.
Entry into the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4) will be granted to applicants who:
OR
All enrolments in the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4) are approved at the discretion of the Programme Manager in consultation with the Head of faculty and teaching staff, as required.
Special AdmissionNotwithstanding the above admissions categories, in exceptional circumstances, a mature aged applicant who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme (examples would include someone with experience within the hospitality industry or currently working in the industry) may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme, which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5 TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 530 (with an essay score of 4.5 TWE) TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14) Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2First for schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skill. OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 3 (Academic) b) Level 3 (Applied) Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36 Language Cert - B2 Communicator International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than pass in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve a minimum of 120 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4). The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4) full-time within 34 weeks.
Please note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.
Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm at SIT's Queenstown Campus.