Would you like to improve your creativity and take your culinary skills to the next level? Designed for culinary professionals, this high-level specialization program will give you the best tools to move up the gastronomy ladder quickly.
Admission
Mid-January to March
September 15 to November 1
Course start date
August
January
Duration
9 months full-time (1 060 h)
Format
In-person
Schedule
Full-time
Language of instruction
French
Compulsory internships
Yes
Diploma
Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS)
Overview
A logical continuation of the DVS in Cuisine, the Cuisine supérieure program is designed for cooks who wish to specialize in gourmet cuisine. Top instructors, the finest equipment and ingredients as well as the chance to perfect your skills in France in a starred restaurant: Cuisine supérieure offers only the best!
Program key elements
- High-end culinary specialization program for culinary professionals
- Access to the Québec’s finest local products
- Master classes with renowned chefs
- Visit of local producers and artisans
- A 3-month internship, in France, at a Michelin-starred or Relais & Châteaux establishment
- Enrichment course in culinary creativity
- Experienced and passionate instructors
Lift your culinary bar and reach new heights!
What you will learn
Creativity, know-how, precision
Program structure and courses
Duration and schedule
- Program starting in the fall and winter of each year
- Spread over 9 months full time (1 course session, 1 3-month internship and 1 synthesis activity)
- Includes a total of 1 060 hours, including 552 hours of coursework and 508 hours of compulsory internships (ministerial program totalling 525 hours)
- Daytime courses and practical applications in the evening
- Schedule, dates and course order are subject to change.
- The ITHQ reserves the right to cancel a course or program if there are insufficient registrations to justify its offering. In such cases, program and registration fees will be refunded in full.
Hands-on experience
Compulsory internships:
- 2-week unpaid internship (68 h) in a recognized Québec establishment
- 3-month unpaid internship (440 h) in France, within the brigade of a Michelin-starred or Relais & Châteaux establishment (room and board is usually provided)
Practical applications:
- Realization of 2 major gastronomic events
- Participation in culinary competitions and various gastronomic activities
- Three-week synthesis activity at the ITHQ, including a week of visits to various producers
-
Internships are compulsory to obtain the ITHQ Signature certificate.
Important information about the internship in France
- Due to the visa requirements for internships in France, applicants must be between 18 and 35 of age at the time of their internship. If you are over 35 years old, you will have to do your internship in Canada rather than in France. For more information, consult the Consulat général de France website.
- International students are responsible for taking the necessary steps to obtain their French visa, if required.
- Departure for the internship in France:
- Fall session: departure in January
- Winter session: departure in May
Diploma
- Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS) in Cuisine du marché from the Ministère de l’Éducation
- ITHQ Signature certificate in Cuisine Supérieure
All students are required to follow certain basic rules regarding professional image.
Admission
Admission application periods
Québec and Canadian applicants
Mid-January to March 1 (course start date in August)
September 15 to November 1 (course start date in January)
International applicants
November 2 to February 1 (course start date in August)
March 2 to June 1 (course start date in January)
Admission requirements
To be eligible for this program, you must:
- Have a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in Cuisine or have received an equivalent training AND have cumulated at least 500 hours of relevant and recent cooking work experience in a high-end restaurant environment, acquired through an internship or paid employment.
OR
- Have a combination of sufficient training and relevant work experience, including at least 2000 hours of relevant and recent cooking work experience in a high-end restaurant, gained through an internship or paid employment.
You must also:
- Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written French: refer to the Required language proficiency page for more details.
Selection interview
If your application file is eligible, you will be invited to a selection interview, which will take place either in person or remotely, depending on your place of residence.
In-person interview dates for Canadian applicants:
- Programs starting in Winter 2025: Wednesday, November 27 and Thursday, November 28, 2024
- Programs starting in Fall 2025: Wednesday, April 9; Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11, 2025
Required documents
- Applicants must ensure that they meet the program’s admission requirements before submitting their application.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
- For your admission file to be considered complete, it must contain a copy of all the official documents required by the ITHQ in accordance with your status, as listed below.
- These documents must be legible and saved in PDF format. Documents in a language other than French or English must also be accompanied by a certified translation into French or English.
- Important notice! Some documents required by the ITHQ may not be requested automatically on the admission platform. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that all the documents on the list in accordance with your status have been uploaded to your file before submitting your application.
Important
The ITHQ will accept only one application per applicant for its vocational training programs. Although the SRAM admission platform allows you to submit up to 3 applications, only your 1st choice of program will be considered. Your 2nd or 3rd choice will automatically be rejected.
Application based on studies
- Transcript (achievement record) of the DVS in Cuisine
- Diploma obtained in Québec
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
Application based on relevant work experience
- Secondary or post-secondary education transcript (achievement record)
- Diploma obtained in Québec
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
General documents
- Birth certificate
- Proof of language proficiency in French (language test result or proof of exemption)
Application based on studies
- Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Cuisine for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 10, 11 and 12)
- Diploma obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
Application based on relevant work experience
- Complete transcripts from grade 10, 11 and 12.
- Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
- Diploma(s) obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
General documents
- Birth certificate
- Proof of language proficiency in French (language test result or proof of exemption)
- Canadian citizenship certificate OR permanent resident card
- Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), if applicable
Application based on studies
- Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Cuisine for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Diploma obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
Application based on relevant work experience
- Complete transcripts of or the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
- Diploma(s) obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
General documents
- Birth certificate
- Proof of language proficiency in French (language test result or proof of exemption)
Application based on studies
- Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Cuisine for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Diploma obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
Application based on relevant work experience
- Complete transcripts of the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
- Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
- Diploma(s) obtained
- Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program
Costs and financial aid
Program fees
Use the program fee calculator to find out about the costs of this program.
Financial aid and scholarships
Looking for financial support for your study project? Find out about the different options available to you.
Future prospects
A profile in high demand
Candidates trained in high-end gastronomy continue to be in high demand in the job market. There has also been a significant improvement in the working conditions and wages offered by employers. With this specialization, you will not only be able to access positions in Québec’s most renowned establishments, but also abroad.
Careers to discover
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