To whom
These study programs (conducted in English) are designed for applicants who are citizens of Finland or another EU/EEA country and who are interested in becoming either professional Cooks or Waiter/Waitress, and who wish to learn more about Finnish and Scandinavian food culture.
Requirements
The applicant needs to be
- be at least 18 years of age when the studies start. There is no upper age limit.
- have at least education equivalent to Finnish basic education of nine years.
- sufficient English language skills.
Application process, start date and duration
Application period: 19 December 2025 – 9 January 2026.
Selection process: All eligible applicants will have online interview via Microsoft Team. The student selection is made based on those interviews.
Start of studies: 4 August 2026.
Costs and duration of studies
The study program is free of charge for citizens of EU and EEA countries.
The duration of studies is approximately two years, in accordance with your Personal Competence Development Plan (PCDP). Studies are full-time and mainly daytime studies.
Programme description and implementation
The qualification consists of Vocational Units (145 competence points) and Common Units (35 competence points).
Here is more information about the structure of the qualification.
During your studies, you will work in our teaching kitchens as well as in the school restaurant, Silveria. You will also gain experience in various restaurant kitchens during workplace learning periods.
The vocational units are taught on campus in daily contact lessons, excluding holiday periods. The training emphasizes practical skills and real work tasks in the field. Workplace learning takes place in a variety of restaurants in the Vaasa region or elsewhere in Finland. International exchange opportunities are also available.
The courses of Common Units are mainly completed as independent Moodle-based online studies.
Instructions for filling out the form
Add first your personal information. In the Additional information section, enter information about the study program you are applying to (Cook or Waiter/Waitress).
Additional information
Guidance counsellor Sari Tuovila, sari.tuovila@vamia.fi, tel. 040 764 7562.