Choose Award
Duration

1.5 years FT / 2.5 years PT

Placement

3 or 6 months (optional)

Entry

September, February

Fees

View Fees

Birmingham College of Food
Choose Award
Duration

1 year FT / 2 years PT

Entry

September, February

Fees

View Fees

Birmingham College of Food

Global reputation within the industry for food-related degrees

Optional work placement to enhance your career progression (MSc only)

Start in February 2025
This course is also available for February entry, so if you're looking to start your studies sooner, why not apply for February 2025?

 

Managing professional culinary enterprises is an exciting challenge. Blending artistry, technique and creativity with the demands of management and business requires a unique range of abilities. Our Culinary Arts Management postgraduate course will arm you with this advanced skill set, driving you towards a dynamic career in the culinary environment of the hospitality industry.

University College Birmingham is internationally renowned for food and hospitality training, and our course will enhance your knowledge of classical culinary technique and how to adapt it to the modern international culinary environment. Innovation, recipe and food product development will form key components of your study, while you’ll also learn how to meet changing consumer demands and research trends, as well as the challenge of managing culinary operations as profit centres.

Not only will you be supported on campus by our vastly experienced lecturers and our outstanding kitchen and food development facilities, but our master's course also gives you the chance to prove your culinary skills and knowledge in the industry through an optional placement for up to six months, setting the foundations for your career in senior management.

Former College of Food student Dan Lee (Pictures: Shine TV)

Student stories: MasterChef champion Dan Lee

By studying at our Birmingham College of Food, you can follow in the footsteps of ex-student Dan Lee, champion of MasterChef: The Professionals 2021.

Dan was dubbed a "star in the making" by the show's judge and Michelin-starred restaurant owner Marcus Wareing. He was also joined in the latest series by final year Culinary Arts Management BA (Hons) degree student Yasmine Selwood, who reached the quarter-finals.

There have been a string of other students from our food courses to have featured on the hit BBC TV show too, including 2017 semi-finalist Leo Kattou of Michelin-starred Simpson's Restaurant in Birmingham, as well as 2011 finalist Claire Hutchings.

Discover more about Dan and our other MasterChef stars:

Read more

Why should I choose this course?

  • WORK PLACEMENT (MA only) – Take up our optional three-month or six-month placement on successful completion of the taught part of the course and get your foot in the door within the food and hospitality industry
  • EXPERT TUITIONDraw from our lecturers’ wealth of experience and keep up-to-date with the very latest industry developments and academic research
  • EXCELLENT FACILITIESDevelop and apply your skills within our industry-standard kitchen and restaurant facilities on campus
  • AWARD-WINNING UNIVERSITY – Study at the highest-ranking university in the region according to student choice (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023)

Our facilities

University College Birmingham is renowned for its outstanding food industry training facilities. As a student on our Culinary Arts Management master’s degree or postgraduate diploma, you will have access to our professional standard kitchens, award-winning restaurant and state-of-the-art food development facilities.

Course breakdown

  • Postgraduate

Core Modules

Culinary Artistry - Contemporary Principles

In this module, you will learn about the principles of culinary artistry in a contemporary context and real life applications within the wider gastronomic landscape and potential market opportunities. A special emphasis is placed on building professional competency to support a sustainable culinary environment through strong focus on healthier cooking techniques, smart working approach and utilising modern technologies. This culinary insight will allow you to explore the relationship between classical cuisine and modern kitchen management, leading to informed recommendations and commentary as to the future direction of culinary artistry in a range of contemporary commercial settings.

Culinary Innovation and Product Development

Let your creativity flow in designing and developing new, exciting, and innovative food products, based on a brief from a real life industry scenario - from the initial idea to the market launch. This module will provide you with a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of all the essential technical processes and theoretical models of commercial new product development. An additional learning focus will include healthier alternatives, considering consumer allergens and special diets e.g. vegan/vegetarian and free-from products.

Culinary Management Project

This module provides you with the opportunity to lead and manage the process of project management to a specific food and beverage environment. This will involve planning, coordinating and executing a project. It involves analysis of the project proposal and development activities for either a client organisation or to the context of a case study.

Managing Across Cultures

Today's global hospitality industry requires employees to have an understanding of management and leadership across cultures, so you will explore the issues surrounding this while assessing the move away from local cultures to a more cosmopolitan environment. You will examine the management styles, motivation techniques and leadership theories as well as any complexities and contradictions that may occur.

Managing Profitable Food and Beverage Operations

You will focus on developing an understanding of the operational aspects of the restaurant and bar sector by evaluating and applying management concepts, models and techniques. You will look for innovative ways to improve outputs whilst considering any contemporary issues and how they may impact on this sector of business. By analysing and evaluating a range of business scenarios, you will seek to deliver efficiency and profitability.

Masters Research Project

This module introduces students to the disciplines and techniques required for critical appraisal of complex data and industry practice; creating research designs and accompanying research techniques; building theoretical frameworks, and the scheduling and execution of a research project. The module will develop students' skills and expertise in the essential research tools they will need for both successful Postgraduate study and as leaders in their chosen service industry sector.

Revenue & Performance Analysis

In this module, you will develop a critical perspective of the long and short term decisions faced by senior managers. You will develop a rich understanding of the business and economic environment. You will learn how to analyse financial data to create value for senior stakeholders. In doing so, you will apply a range of financial methodologies that will advance your capability to make realtime-decisions in a professional environment.

Optional placement module

Postgraduate Work Placement

The Postgraduate Work Placement module provides you with the opportunities to further develop practical skills, relate theory to practice and to gain a sound base of experience. In addition, the module seeks to develop 'life skills' to assist you in progressing towards a career in management. The placement period offers you the opportunity to experience work in the hospitality industry and to gain academic credit for your learning. It is important therefore that you are given the opportunity to work in an organisation which is both appropriate to their needs and has a professional approach towards training and development. Your needs and any previous experience are taken into consideration, when introducing you to a suitable employer. The staff in the hired@UCB suite will draw on their extensive experience to ensure that the objectives are met as fully as possible.

The modules listed above for this course are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date and informed by industry as well as the latest teaching methods. On occasion, we may need to make unexpected changes to modules – if this occurs, we will contact all offer holders as soon as possible.

Entry requirements

Academic

MA Culinary Arts Management: A grade classification of 2:2 or above is required in one of the following subject areas: Culinary Arts Management, Hospitality Management, Food Nutrition and Preparation, Food Innovation, Food Technology or Professional Cookery, or international equivalent.

PGDip Culinary Arts Management: A grade classification of third class is required in one of the subject areas above, or international equivalent.

If you do not have a degree in one of the subject areas above, we also offer places based on work experience – please review the section below.

Work-based

We also consider applicants who are currently employed and wish to apply to University College Birmingham.

To apply, you must have 5 years of relevant managerial work experience, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the sector for the subject matter you are interested in pursuing.

A reference detailing your roles and responsibilities from your line manager and a meeting with the programme team will usually be scheduled prior to a place being offered.

International students

For academic and English entry requirements for EU and international students, please visit the Country Specific Information page.

Please note: As an International Student, when choosing optional placement, a visa extension may be required.

Additional

If your degree is not related and you do not have relevant managerial work experience, please contact Admissions so that we can discuss your application on an individual basis before you apply.

If you have any questions, please complete our enquiry form:

Enquiry Form

Key information

Teaching and assessment

Note: Indicative information only – actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction. 

Teaching 

Example of a typical teaching week (up to 12 contact hours): 

  • Large group teaching – 10 hours (in lecture rooms/specialist kitchens) 
  • Smaller group teaching – 1 hour
  • Tutorials – 1 hour 
  • Subject advice sessions – 1-3 hours 

You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time. 

Assessment

Estimated breakdown of assessment for this postgraduate course:

  • Coursework – 68%
  • Practical assessment – 22%
  • Written examinations – 10%

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.

Timetable

We understand that you need to balance study with work, so wherever possible your lessons will be timetabled into 2-3 days a week for full-time and one day a week for part-time study.

Tuition fees for international students

If you are an international student (or have been fee assessed as an international fee payer) and enrolling on a full-time postgraduate degree course in 2024/2025, the fee for the academic year will be £15,000. If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year or £250 for a half-year placement.

In 2025/26, the tuition fee for [Band 3] courses will be £20,750 for the academic year. 

View fees for international students

Unibuddy Community - meet other students on your course

Starting university is an exciting time, but we understand that it can sometimes feel a little daunting. To support you, you will be invited to join our Unibuddy Community, where you can meet other students who have applied for the same course at University College Birmingham, before you start studying here.

As soon as you have been made an offer, you will be sent an invitation email to complete your registration and join the Unibuddy Community. For more information, check out our Unibuddy Community page.

Percentage
70%

of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them

Work placements

Work placements are vital for gaining real-life experience and for building your confidence and skills before you finish your course – and they may even lead to a job when you graduate.

Our MA Culinary Arts Management course features an optional three-month or six-month placement on successful completion of the taught part of the course, with opportunities in the UK or overseas. You are required to secure your own placement with the support of our experienced HIRED team.

Note: Students on the PGDip course, or those planning to top-up from a PGDip to a master's degree, will not be eligible for a placement during the course.

I wanted a qualification that would prepare me for the real world. University College Birmingham seemed like the best place for that. One of the best things is learning directly from brilliant chefs in an environment that allows you to gain real insight into what it’s like to work in industry.

Nur Amirah Culinary Arts Management MA / PGDip

Career opportunities

The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.

Sous chef

Average salary: £30,000 - £40,000

Head chef

Average salary: £35,000 - £50,000

Catering manager

Average salary: £22,000 - £45,000

Product development chef

Average salary: £25,000 - £40,000

Restaurant manager

Average salary: £22,000 - £40,000

Food business owner/restaurateur

Variable

HIRED

We are here to support your career goals every step of the way. 

Find out more

Garima’s Story

A celebrity in India, Garima wanted to study for her master’s at a university with “the best culinary courses in the world”.

Read Story

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