Chef
Scheduled22 February 202719 May 2027
Monday to Friday, 8:00–14:00
- Apply by
- Visa decision uploaded
- Course starts
- Classes end
- Internship ends (about)
Confirmed in writing at least 30 days before the start.
Chef Academy, Terni, Italy
Become a professional cook in Italy
Qualification courses taught in Italian, with an optional internship in an Italian restaurant.
Three courses, one qualification recognised in the EU
Each course ends with a public exam and a professional qualification valid in Italy and across the European Union.
Fees include the International Service Package. Without it, each fee is € 1,000 lower. VAT exempt.
A qualification recognised by Italian law
Chef Academy is a publicly accredited school. You finish with a public exam and a qualification that has legal value in Italy and in the European Union.
EQF level 3ISO 9001:2015 quality systemRecognised by Worldchefs
Accredited by the Umbria RegionTEKNA s.r.l. - Chef Academy is a training body accredited by the Umbria Region (code 5222). Our courses are authorised by the Region and listed in its official training catalogue.
Recognised by lawYou receive a professional qualification certificate under the Decree of the Italian Ministry of Labour of 30 June 2015, which updates Law 845/1978. It is valid throughout Italy and in the European Union.
A public examThe final exam is held before a board appointed by the Umbria Region: a practical test, a written test and an interview.
Next start dates and deadlines
Apply before the deadline: you need time for the Letter of Offer, the deposit and your visa appointment.
Pastry Chef
Scheduled15 February 20276 April 2027
Monday to Friday, 14:30–20:30
- Apply by
- Visa decision uploaded
- Course starts
- Classes end
- Internship ends (about)
Confirmed in writing at least 30 days before the start.
Assistant Cook
Scheduled15 March 202713 May 2027
Monday to Friday, 14:30-19:30
- Apply by
- Visa decision uploaded
- Course starts
- Classes end
- Internship ends (about)
Confirmed in writing at least 30 days before the start.
Applying is free
You pay the deposit only after we have evaluated your application and documents, and you have accepted and signed your Letter of Offer.
Admission requirements
Three requirements, checked when we evaluate your application. Nothing else is required to apply.
- Italian at B1 levelAll lessons are in Italian. You prove it with a certificate, or in a short online interview with us.
- Compulsory schooling completedYou have completed compulsory education. A high school diploma (baccalaureate) is not required.
- At least 18 years oldThe course is open to adults only.
Preferential, not required
Studies, training or work experience consistent with the course, for example in a kitchen, a pastry shop or a hotel school. They count in the evaluation, but no previous experience is required: the course starts from the basics.
Admission is at our discretion
The admission decision is at the sole discretion of Chef Academy. Applications without a coherent profile or a valid motivation for the course are not accepted.
Evaluating your application costs nothing: you pay only if we accept you and you sign your Letter of Offer.
Join Chef Academy from abroad
One team follows you from your application to your first day in our kitchens. This is how it works.
Steps 1 and 2 are free: you pay nothing until you accept your Letter of Offer.
Apply online
By the apply-by dateFreeFill in the admission form and upload your passport and CV. Tell us why you chose the course. You need Italian at B1 level.
Receive your Letter of Offer
After the evaluationFreeWe read your application and send you the result by email. If you are accepted, your Letter of Offer sets out the course, the fees and the terms.
Confirm your place
When you accept the offer1st payment: deposit € 1,550Sign the letter, upload it and pay the deposit. It is part of the fee, not an extra.
Prepare your visa
After the depositDownload from your area all the documents Chef Academy issues for your study visa, then book your appointment at the Italian embassy.
Send us the visa decision
At least 30 days before the start2nd payment, with the visa grantedUpload the visa, or the refusal letter, in your area. With the visa granted, you pay half of the balance before you leave.
Arrive and start cooking
First week of the course3rd paymentWe help you with the residence permit, which you request within 8 working days. You pay the other half of the balance in the first week.
If your visa is refused
We refund € 1,050 of the deposit within 7 working days of the official refusal. Bank charges for the refund transfer are paid by the student.
Three payments
The deposit with the offer, half of the balance before you leave, half in the first week.
If we move the course
If a course starts more than 30 days later than planned, you can ask for a full refund.
What our students say
Since 2010 thousands of cooks and pastry chefs have trained with us. Read their reviews before you decide.
9,879students trained
1,595partner restaurants and pastry shops
151Michelin-starred partners
Videos
See Chef Academy in action
Classrooms, kitchens and courses: watch the academy before you apply. Some videos are in Italian.
Innovation Center: our main hall
The Chef course
The Pastry Chef course
Life at the academy
Hands-on in the kitchen
Our students at workFollow Chef AcademySubscribe on YouTube
Finish in a real Italian restaurant
After the course you can work in one of our partner restaurants. You choose three; some offer accommodation and a small allowance.
3 monthsChef course
2 monthsPastry Chef, Assistant Cook
Includedin the fee, optional
International Service Package
Help from the day you apply
VisaAssistance with your visa application.
AccommodationWe help you find a room near the academy.
Tax code and permitSupport with the Italian tax code and residence permit.
English materialsKey documents and teaching notes translated into English.
The package costs € 1,000 and is included in the full fee. If you do not need it, choose the lower fee. Accommodation itself is not included.
Study in the centre of Terni
Our kitchens are in the historic centre of Terni, in Umbria, in the middle of Italy.
50 minfrom Rome by train
10 minwalk from Terni station
5–6 hoursof class a day, Monday to Friday
Do I need to speak Italian?
Yes. All lessons are in Italian and you need a B1 level. You can prove it with a certificate or with an online interview.
Do I need experience in a kitchen?
No previous experience is required: the course starts from the basics. Studies, training or work experience consistent with the course are preferential in the evaluation. You must be at least 18 years old.
What do I get at the end?
A professional qualification issued by the Umbria Region (EQF level 3), recognised in Italy and in the EU, plus HACCP and workplace safety certificates. The qualification arrives at least 6 months after the exam.
What if my visa is refused?
We refund € 1,050 of the deposit within 7 working days of receiving the official refusal from the embassy. In any other case of withdrawal the deposit is not refundable. Bank charges for the refund transfer are paid by the student.
Is accommodation included?
No. With the Service Package we help you find a room near the academy; most students share an apartment.
Is the qualification recognised?
Yes. Chef Academy is accredited by the Umbria Region and the qualification is issued under the Decree of the Italian Ministry of Labour of 30 June 2015 (update of Law 845/1978). It has legal value in Italy and in the EU, at EQF level 3.
When do I have to apply?
Before the deadline shown in the calendar, about three months before the start. You need that time for the Letter of Offer, the deposit and the visa.
How long does the visa take?
It depends on the Italian embassy or consulate in your country. Book your appointment as soon as you receive our documents, and upload the decision at least 30 days before the course starts.
Do I need a high school diploma?
No. You need to have completed compulsory schooling, be at least 18 years old and speak Italian at B1 level. Studies, training or work experience consistent with the course are preferential, but not required.
When do I pay, and how much?
Applying is free. You pay the € 1,550 deposit only after we accept your application and you sign your Letter of Offer. Half of the balance is due once your visa is granted, before you leave, and the other half in the first week of the course. If your visa is refused, we refund € 1,050 of the deposit. Bank charges for the refund transfer are paid by the student.
For agencies
Are you an education or study-abroad agency?
Become a Chef Academy partner: free, with no fees for your students. You get official partner status, the Official Partner Agency logo, our presentations to download and a dedicated contact.
Ready to apply?
Send the admission form, your CV and a copy of your passport. We reply with your Letter of Offer.