BA (Hons) Professional Culinary Arts (Top Up)

When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

This course offers you the knowledge and skills you'll need for a successful career in the hospitality industry.
You'll be given access to membership of the Educational Membership Scheme of the Institute of Hospitality, formally the HCIMA, giving you great opportunities to network and make industry contacts and joining in with local branch events.
You'll have demonstrations and guest lectures from key industry figures and be kept up to date with what's going on in the industry.
You'll gain all the extra benefits from getting recognised industry membership from the Institute of Hospitality.
You'll get the opportunity to go on a placement in the UK or abroad which will give you the work experience employers are looking for.
You'll have the opportunity to be mentored by people working in the industry, so you can be sure to gain up to date industry information.
You'll have the opportunity to go on a fantastic residential trip to gain wider knowledge of the international hospitality business.
You'll be taught by tutors with a high level of experience within different areas of the industry so they can pass their knowledge on to you.
You'll get all the support you need from your tutors and administration staff throughout your course and placement.
In our latest statistics the Hospitality and Travel and Tourism areas both gained a 50% achievement rate of Firsts and 2:1s. 87% of graduates are in work and/or study.

About the course

If you'd like to work as a manager in the hospitality industry, this course gives you the opportunities you need.
You'll develop excellent understanding of the industry, and you'll gain the business awareness, practical skills and creativity that employers are looking for.
You'll work on your planning, communication, problem solving, timing, team work and people management skills throughout the course.
The fine dining restaurant is run by our students, so you'll get hands on experience right from the start. There are many opportunities for additional experiential learning within our commercial facilities in order to develop your managerial or consultancy and research skills.
You'll develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills you'll need in this rapidly changing industry.
There is an opportunity to part study a module (Gastronomy) in France (subject to minimum numbers and an additional fee).
You'll have the opportunity to visit trade shows such as Hospitality and Hotelympia - a great place to network and meet key industry figures. Previous students have gone onto work in Gleneagles, Crieff hydro, Engineers Country Club (New York), Breadsall Priory and Stapleford Park.
More and more employers are coming onto campus to deliver guest lectures and where possible recruit our students (subject to interview). We're developing some very good links with the Hilton, Marriott, bespoke establishments and international venues.

Your career

The hospitality and food industries are expanding rapidly, so you can have good employment prospects in a wide range of areas in the UK and overseas when you graduate. These include hotels, restaurants, clubs, pubs, catering, transport and consulting.

The hospitality and tourism industries are very competitive and continually expanding worldwide, so there are many opportunities for managers who want to work in the UK and overseas. The Council for Hospitality Management Education reported that qualifications have a strong impact on the career development of managers in the hospitality industry, so this qualification will help your career progression in the industry.

When you've successfully completed this course, you'll have opportunities in a wide range of sectors and a variety of role options, including:

Hospitality management (hotels and restaurants)
Leisure (casinos and theatres)
Licensed retail (pubs, bars and nightclubs)
In-house catering (from takeaways to award winning restaurants)
Outside contract catering for events
Accommodation (from lodges to luxury hotels)
Functions, (weddings, conferences and marquee dinners)
Events, banqueting and conferences
Human Resources
Sales and Marketing
Operations Management.

There are also opportunities to continue study when you've completed your degree and you could continue on to our MA International Hospitality Management.

What our students say

"Gaining a professional qualification from Derby gave me the confidence I needed when first setting out in the real world of catering." Alan Hill, award winning Chef Patron at the Devonshire Arms, studied Professional Culinary Arts.

"When I decided to top-up my foundation Degree in Culinary Arts at the University of Derby Buxton into a full BA degree in 2009, I thought I had made the wrong decision - shouldn't I have been getting on with real life? However, the year has barely even started and I have already discovered so many great CV-boosting opportunities, commercial enterprises, welcoming tutors, and have had great encouragement and help in finding a job to support my learning with experience. I made the right decision; this IS real life." Matthew Draper, BA Culinary Arts, completed his FdA Culinary Arts in May 2009.

How you'll learn

You'll be taught by a combination of lectures, practical demonstrations, seminars, small group exercises, case study discussions, through videos and guest speakers as well as professional visits.

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed by written assignments, practical assignments, oral presentations, and group work.

Fieldtrips

You'll have the chance to go on a residential trip and day trips to trade shows, so you can improve your industry knowledge.

Work placements

We will assist you with your post study activities including job hunting. We do not guarantee and jobs but we will guarantee to help point you in the right direction. More and more employers are contacting us with placements and post graduate opportunities in the UK, Europe and USA.

Anything else?

Your course will include PDP and Passport Schemes, these are designed to enhance your employability by giving you the skills that employers are looking for.

PDP helps you reflect on your learning and plan for your development, making sure you develop the skills you need in the workplace. The Passport Scheme helps you to develop some general skills, and also specific skills to you subject area, so you're ready for work.

Start dates

If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:

September

If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:

September

UCAS code

D640

Fees

If you completed your foundation degree, DipHE, CertHE or HND in the 2011/12 academic year

You'll pay fees and receive funding under the existing fees system rather than the new 2012 system. You must continue studying in the same way ie if you were studying full time you must take this course as a full time course.

UK/EU students

Full time: £3,465 (in total)

International students

Full time: £9,975 (in total)

If you completed your course in the 2010/11 academic year or earlier

You'll pay 2012/13 fees and receive the new student financial support.

This is a resource intensive based course.

UK/EU students

Full time: £7,495 (each year)

International students

Full time: £9,975 (each year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.