10 Best (And Tastiest) Places for Culinary Study Abroad
Learn the where’s where of culinary schools abroad! ☆
Everyone eats—but not everyone cooks—which makes culinary study abroad an excellent (and delicious!) way to learn a new skill while preparing yourself to take any number of positions in the food world. Culinary arts study abroad will not only help you gain valuable experience in relevant, beautiful, and exciting places, it will also allow you the opportunity to contribute to important food-based movements ranging from urban farming, to the development of sustainable supply chains, to plant-based cooking alternatives, to dairy and meat.
But how do stack up the possible destinations to study culinary abroad? Should you focus your search on the best culinary schools in Europe—or is Asia more your style? Is one better, tastier, cheaper, more robust than another?
Read on to learn the best places to earn some serious street cred in the kitchen. Learn the tastiest places to attend culinary schools abroad!
Why should you consider culinary arts study abroad?
When you choose a study abroad culinary program, you’re taking the first step toward finding meaningful work in a traditional, craft-based field that will always be in demand—but you’re also contributing to an industry that has grown (and is still growing!) to include new technologies. You can learn classic techniques (like sauce-making in France) while also responding to the growing consumer demands of an international foodie culture (like injera bread in Ethiopia or plokkfiskur fish in Reykjavík).
But, perhaps even more exciting than learning how to make six different types of artichoke foams, studying wine in France, or exploring the invention of ever-new and ever-different kinds of poutine is the impact you can make when you consider culinary programs abroad. The influence of the study and practice of the culinary arts goes far beyond the characteristics of exceptional food and flavor. Study abroad culinary arts programs are becoming even more important to global health as we work to figure out how to feed a global population scheduled to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
Employment in food systems is expanding globally, and the world needs more trained chefs, including those focused on innovation and wellness. With this in mind, let’s explore some of the best opportunities for you to learn a new skill during your culinary study abroad program in places that will provide you important hands-on experience in extraordinary areas across multiple continents.
The top 10 places to study culinary arts abroad
1. North America: The United States
The United States has a wide variety of food science study abroad programs, and there are several schools to choose from in every state. For example, if you’re interested in green culinary practices, vegan living, integrative health trends, farm-to-table cooking, or if you want to specialize in international wine studies while living in the United States, your exploration into culinary programs abroad should include North American states like California.
Whether you find yourself making carne asada tacos in Southern California’s San Diego, perfecting sourdough bread in the Bay Area’s San Francisco, or preparing garlic ice cream (not-so-surprisingly yum!) at a garlic festival in Northern California, the Golden State will give you plenty of reasons to dig in and grab your culinary apron!
2. Central America: Oaxaca, Mexico
There is nothing quite like getting to watch corn turn into tortillas through the complex process known as nixtamalization—except for being able to participate in the process yourself! If you enroll in any number of the incredible programs for study abroad culinary arts students, you will learn to make everything from seven different styles of delicious molé sauces, to handmade tamalé, to the well-known, traditional Oaxacan chocolate drinks; you might even get to prepare roasted chapulines (grasshoppers) as a crunchy, salty, protein-rich snack.
In culinary circles, Oaxaca is known worldwide as an international center of regional cuisine. For a culinary study abroad student, it’s a great place to experience traditional Mexican foods with an exciting (and delicious) indigenous influence in a climate as varied as the subtle differences between each of those traditional molé sauces you’ll make!
3. South America: Peru
Peruvian cuisine is known worldwide for the freshness of its raw ingredients and the influence of geographical differences that impact everything from planting to harvest. As a country with much coastline and access to the Amazon and Andes, the kinds of foods you would cook as a student in a culinary arts study abroad program could include anything from legumes and spices, quinoa, potatoes, and plantains to fresh seafood, chicken, and pork.
If you’ve never had the delicious Chicha Morada, you’re in for a real treat! Known for its antioxidant qualities, this delicious drink is a national favorite, made from the special corn that grows in the Andes, plus pineapple pieces and spices. If you enroll in a culinary study abroad program in Peru, you can toast your culinary colleagues in celebration of getting your toque!
4. Europe: France
If you want to study classic culinary technique, there might not be a better place on Earth to pursue your study abroad culinary arts degree than in France. Whether you choose the city of Paris or the wine country of Bordeaux, a culinary degree from France will prepare you for any cooking position you might undertake. Not to mention, you’ll impress future employers with your ability to adhere to the strict French style of apprenticeship under demanding chefs in traditional, hierarchical kitchen environments.
Home to so many of the culinary greats, the history of recorded French cuisine goes all the way back to the 14th century. If learning your gastronomy, history, and classic technique is part of your plan, then a French study abroad culinary program could be the perfect way for you to differentiate yourself from the crowd, all while picking up some essential French phrases, common to the kitchen (starting with Oui, Chef!).
5. Europe: Italy
Some of the best culinary schools in Europe can be found in Italy. Imagine yourself making pasta from scratch and perfecting your sauces, or baking ciabatta to eat fresh with warm olive oil and balsamic vinegar, alongside chunks of salty parmesan cheese. The highly-regional, freshly-made Italian repertoire focuses on simple ingredients cooked to perfection.
Northern Italian culinary study abroad programs might teach you how to make a variety of creamy sauces to go alongside cured or stuffed meats; southern Italian culinary programs abroad will likely encourage you to perfect your tomato-based sauces to serve along with some freshly caught seafood; and Sicilian chef instructors will teach you about Arabic influences, including saffron and dried fruits. No matter where you study food abroad in Italy, the results will be fantastic!
- What to eat: Pizza margherita, risotto, carbonara, truffles, espresso
- Recommended study abroad program: CISabroad
6. East Asia: Japan
Traditional Japanese cooking techniques focus on skill, simplicity, and harmony. If you want to learn how to do Japanese home-cooking, or if you’re interested in learning all the techniques and components of a traditional kaiseki dinner, culinary programs abroad in Japan will teach you the cooking skills and cultural knowledge you need to begin your culinary career with a specialization in Japanese cuisine.
Japanese programs focus on mastery of skills over time. An ideal course of study for someone who wants to immerse themselves in Japanese culture, the study abroad culinary programs in Japan will help you achieve your goals while also sharing insights about this highly-focused aspect of international cuisine.
7. South Asia: India
The options for study abroad culinary arts programs in India are incredibly diverse! From classical cuisine and regional Indian confectionary programs in places like Hyderabad, to farm-based programs in Kerala and Bangalore-based vegetarian cooking schools, the culinary programs in India are as varied and regionally-unique as the landscape itself.
If you’re looking to integrate Indian cooking (and culture!) into your culinary arts study abroad curriculum, you’re going to find a very wide selection of programs to choose from. India also has a very strong reputation in the hospitality and tourism world, so if you’re hoping to add additional study programs (including hotel management, banquet preparation, or catering work), you will also be able to add those skills as part of your study abroad culinary arts program in India.
8. North Africa: Morocco
Once you arrive in Morocco and treat yourself to a refreshing glass of Moroccan mint tea, you will understand why this area of the world is so well-known for its incredibly complex flavors and fresh ingredients. There are culinary study abroad programs in this part of North Africa that cater to meat-eaters, seafood fans, and vegetarians alike, and there is an abundance of available information and training about the incredible Moroccan spice trade to complement the culinary training available here.
You can participate in hotel-based culinary arts study abroad programs, where your cooking instructors come to your location and you learn your crafts from trained instructors in the comfort of your own hotel space. There are also excursions into lesser-visited locations where locals will teach you how to take a very hands-on approach to food preparation (including skills like butchering or seafood harvesting, should you want to get that involved).
9. South Africa: Cape Town
The food produced in Cape Town is a direct reflection of South Africa’s complicated history. With influences from numerous cultures, there have been some dominant dishes for which this part of Africa has been known dating back to the height of the 17th-century spice trade. In present day Cape Town, you can find ultra-modern restaurants, local markets bursting with fresh seafood and produce, and home-cooking workshops.
Students can also find study abroad culinary programs that offer direct access to indigenous foods like chakalaka (a spicy vegetable relish served with bread) or samp and beans (a porridge made from beans and a coarsely ground Indian corn). If you’re looking to study modern cuisine, you can do that here, too; and if you’re looking to explore the historical foods of South Africa and learn more about the influence of trade on communities, there’s plenty of information on that as well. You’ll be making lekker (great) food in no time!
10. South Pacific: Australia
Choosing to pursue a culinary arts study abroad program in Australia means access to small one-on-one courses with specialized chefs, full-scale, multi-term degree programs, and everything in between. One of the biggest draws for chefs who want to work with food in Australia is the heavy focus on sustainability, responsible harvesting of seafood, and a strong (even massive!) focus on food system transformation.
If learning to cook while also working to change the food world for the better is part of your overall plan, be sure to check the wide variety of high-impact, high-skill programs that you can choose from when you pursue a study abroad culinary program; cities like Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane (just to name a few) will be your Mecca. Don’t forget to check out neighboring New Zealand when in Australia, especially if you’re interested in gastronomy, agricultural technology, and food innovation!
[View ALL Study Abroad Programs in Culinary Arts]
Here’s how you can book study abroad programs in culinary arts
Don't pack your fork and knife juuuust yet. There are a few items on your study abroad to do list you should check off first.
- Decide where to go. Figuring out where to study food abroad isn’t easy. The gorgeous, gluten-free rice terraces of Vietnam? Somewhere in London? Or are you ready to pursue study abroad in pastry arts in France? Don't let anything hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
- Choose from the best study abroad programs. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and your ease of getting credits. Some schools or providers may even provide contact info for student ambassadors or past international students if you want the REAL dirt. Here’s our guide to choosing between study abroad programs.
- Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge in travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Do your research to have an idea of how much your study abroad program will cost. Check out scholarships for study abroad too!
- Talk to your home university. Getting all your ducks in a row is largely dependent on what your home university requires. Talk to a study abroad advisor or the equivalent at your university to see what choices are available to you.
You’re ready to study abroad in culinary arts!
No matter what kind of cuisine you want to cook, and no matter what kind of impact you want to make on the food system, you will be able to find a culinary study abroad program that will prepare you to advance your career while adding to your knowledge and experience in the culinary arts.
Whether you want to eat pasta you made from scratch in Italy, learn to properly prepare sushi in Japan, make curry in India, or drink wine in Bordeaux, you can find opportunities for all those things—and so much more—by investigating culinary programs abroad.
Your study abroad culinary arts program will open the doors to competitive restaurant opportunities and prepare you to solve pressing problems impacting the food system. It will make you a stronger chef with improved leadership qualities and relevant cultural connections. So pack your appetite (and your side-towel), and make it happen!
Get Matched with 5 Study Abroad Programs in Culinary Arts for FREE
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