GRADUATING FROM THE ICA IS GUARANTEED TO SECURE THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER CULINARY EMPLOYMENT.
At the ICA we train students to become true professionals who challenge conformity and present the food world with fresh and inspiring ideas.
Our philosophy is simple – we believe in excellence in every aspect of the traditional culinary arts. The ICA offers specialised chef and lecturing faculty resources and our custom designed training kitchens boast only the most sophisticated modern equipment. The extensive curriculum is based on classical French gastronomy principles and our course objectives are driven and endorsed by the industry.
We offer a choice of three different course programmes, each with its unique advantages. When enrolling at the Institute of Culinary Arts, students are not just signing up for a cooking course. They are embarking on a journey that will expand their culinary horizons far beyond the kitchen. Students at the ICA aren’t just taught to excel in a kitchen – they’re equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a global culinary environment.
This is where your journey with ICA begins – by realising that a culinary education is about more than just learning to cook. It’s about discovering new career possibilities, challenging yourself creatively, and developing a philosophy that will guide your professional life within an industry that remains highly competitive, yet richly rewarding.
The ICA 2-year course provides students with the fundamentals of cooking plus essential theory and practical training to succeed in the ever-evolving world of culinary arts in cooking, but with a special interest and advanced skills in fine pâtisserie. With a strong focus on both classical techniques and modern skill sets, this program empowers students to develop their own unique culinary voice while fostering creativity, precision and passion for their art. Graduates are well-prepared to pursue careers in top-tier, professional kitchens of renowned establishments worldwide or venture into starting their own, centred around their particular culinary niche. This is a course for the individual with patience and precision.
The advanced 3-year programme at the ICA is meticulously designed to cultivate world-class chefs, equipping students with both advanced culinary techniques and extensive, hands-on industry experience.
This rigorous curriculum includes comprehensive training in advanced cooking methods, professional pâtisserie, and critical trade-related subjects like Supplier Relations, Manageability, and Business Management & Entrepreneurship in Hospitality.
Accredited and internationally recognised, the ICA advanced diploma not only provides full chef qualifications but also offers the business acumen necessary to excel in the global culinary industry. With a blend of culinary expertise and extensive industry knowledge, ICA prepares students on this programme to thrive as influential and innovative chefs in the global hospitality field.
ICA’s flagship 3-year Diploma programme with specialisation options offers students a well-rounded culinary foundation in advanced cooking and pâtisserie, with an additional opportunity for specialised study in their final year. In addition to mastering chef qualifications, students choose one of three fields for an in-depth specialisation, enhancing their skill set and career versatility. These fields include Media Communication, Product Development, and Professional Wine Studies & Event Coordination.
This innovative programme, the only one of its kind in the world, allows students to pursue careers beyond traditional kitchens, opening doors to exciting fields such as food media, product development for global food brands, event co-ordination, and the world of fine wines. With ICA’s comprehensive curriculum, students graduate not only as skilled chefs but as multi-talented professionals, ready for diverse roles in the broader culinary and hospitality industries, essentially obtaining an additional qualification into which they can grow.
Industry placement blocks 1 and 2 in top restaurants under expert guidance of chef mentors
SPEC. FIELD INDUSTRY TRAINING
Dedicated specialisation industry training block in chosen field, learning from professional mentors, specialised in their field.
AWARD WINNING INSTITUTE
WHY THE ICA
30 YEARS OF TRAINING EXPERTISE
CULINARY EXCELLENCE
We devote a large portion of our tuition to practical training, as this provides students with a solid foundation and the freedom to explore new techniques and trends. Students spend between 20 to 24 hours per week on intensive practical training, conducted under an impressive student/lecturer ratio of 6:1.
The ICA is recognised as the leading training facility of its kind in South Africa and our students are known to set the industry standards. Our highly regarded training partners are both locally and internationally acclaimed, and we’ve proven our flair at numerous prestigious culinary events and industry competitions.
The ICA is also the proud recipient of the 2021 World Culinary Awards title of Best Chef Training Institute in Africa, the 2004 (Afrikaanse Handels Instituut) AHI Old Mutual Business of the Year award, the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) Award of Excellence 2007, an International City & Guilds Centre of Excellence 2016/2017 Award, an International City & Guilds Medal for Excellence for Tutor of the Year (Senior Chef Lecturer, Merizle Mitrovich) 2016 as well as having more ICA-trained chefs listed in South Africa’s Best Restaurants Lists than any other trianing facility in the country.
Proud Associations
ACCREDITATION & AFFILIATIONS
In accordance with the ETQA Regulation R1127 of the South African Qualifications Authority Act number 58 of 1995 ( SAQA Act No. 58 of 1995) Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA), the Institute of Culinary Arts is an accredited provider (Provider Accreditation Number: 613/P/000254/2014).
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) has set policies to acredit Skills Development Providers (SDPs). This is to ensure that education and training in occupations and trades offered in the country is credible and valid. This is in accordance with the Skills Development Act (SDA), (Act No 97 of 1998) Chapter 6C as well as the Continuing Education and Training Act (Act 16 of 2006).
Qualifications and curricula from Highfield International are offered at the ICA with additional learning, skills and industry-driven standards for all courses. The ICA is proud to be associated with several outstanding institutions that support the upliftment, training and excellence of culinary standards in our industry.
Future Aspirations
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERe
CAREERS
Many diverse and exciting career opportunities have opened up within the culinary arena in recent years. Greater recognition is given to the professional status of cheffing and presently more chefs enjoy the rich rewards of the profession.
The expectations and demands on highly energetic and creative chefs of earlier years have increased to include management, administrative and strategic planning skills particularly at senior level. We encourage prospective applicants to also consider the opportunities that lie beyond the cooking and pâtisserie kitchen.
Awaken your culinary senses to the adventure of new careers in culinary retail, franchising, the wine industry, tourism, food media and publishing, new business developments or product development. The opportunities are endless.
The ICA is ideally situated, being only 10 km’s from Stellenbosch town centre in the heart of the Western Cape Winelands. The campus is a mere hour’s drive away from pristine beaches and the bustling Cape Town metropolis and in close proximity to some of the country’s most beautiful nature trails for hiking, mountain biking and various other outdoor activities.
Being situated on a private smallholding, the ICA purposefully decided not to offer accommodation on campus. We realize that student-life only happens once and therefore recommend that students find accommodation in the greater Stellenbosch area (either in town or even on the surrounding farms and wine estates) to enable them to participate in the broader, popular social life that is synonymous with Stellenbosch.
Allocated student parking and 24 security services are included on campus.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There is no closing date for applications, but – because the ICA accepts only a limited number of carefully selected applicants per year – we do suggest sending in applications as soon as possible to stand a chance at becoming a part of SA’s most exclusive, most highly awarded chef school.
The ICA selection process is done on an individual basis. Your application will be carefully considered based on your academic performance, previous industry experience (if any) and suitability to the course and the industry. Applicants are selected on the basis of the above-mentioned criteria, rather than just a minimum requirement.
The ICA is a registered higher education institution, and you will therefore be able to get a student loan should you wish to study at the ICA. As a private education institution, the ICA has occasional bursaries available to South African students already registered at the ICA – this is made possible through the generous sponsorship of private benefactors, and is not offered as a standard.
Absolutely. Though academic performance is a key aspect, there are a number of things we look at when considering your application. This is also an especially important reason why we conduct a personal interview.
No – as long as you have the passion!
The ICA offers a choice of three full-time courses. Through careful selection & personal attention to each application through screening and an interview process, we can determine not only whether you are suited to the industry as a whole, but which course you should take to optimise your abilities.
You need very little to get started. You can simply satisfy the application requirements but for your benefit, there’s nothing better than a campus visit during your school holidays if you are out of town. Make an appointment to see our students in action and receive a private campus tour or book for one of our exclusive Open Days!
Proof of payment of R600 non-refundable application fee
Certified copy of NSC (National Senior Certificate) or international equivalent with an average APS of 4 (50%). If not obtained yet, the most recent Statement of Results. Certificate to be submitted as soon as received.
Certified copy of latest school results.
2 x Reference letters (certified copy or original)
Curriculum Vitae
Certified copies of other qualification/s or certificate/s
1 x Colour passport size photograph
Certified copy of ID / Passport
Short motivational letter in your own words, stating the reason/s why you are considering a career as a professional chef in the hospitality/food industry or related fields.
Regardless of which course you are following in your first year, you can expect no less than 16 hours practical hands-on training and 8 – 10 hours theory classes per week.
The ICA have maintained a close working relationship with the finest chefs and industry mentors, independent and boutique restaurants, hotels, caterers, food magazines, events companies and product development partners for many years. We therefore pair students to their best suited establishments for placement blocks away from the ICA under the expert guidance of carefully selected mentors. Here they apply their skills learnt and receive industry training at the hands of our country’s leading professionals.
The demand for skilled and qualified chefs has grown so dramatically throughout the world that we have seen our very own students snatched up in the most diverse fields. From working alongside Michelin-starred chefs and sharing demonstration stages with the best chefs in the world, to Product Developers, Media Communications and Food Styling experts, Culinary Consultants, Event Coordinators and Managers, Wine and Sommelier Specialists both locally and abroad, the possibilities are endless. ICA-qualified alumni are sought after the world over. Just remember the broader your foundation training the further you’ll go!
LEARN FROM THE BEST
READY TO JOIN THE ICA?
We believe, "to be the best, you need to learn from the best". So why not join the ICA and train with an award winning and Internationally rated the BEST chef school in Africa & one of the top three in the WORLD. The training ground for highly skilled world-class chefs. Our comprehensive and specialised training is based on classic gastronomic principles, coupled with innovative thinking and creative flair.
The Institute of Culinary Arts (ICA) is South Africa's leading Chef School and in the top 3 in Africa. Learn from the best with ICA and start your culinary journey.
