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Study Guide: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management in Malaysia
Do you love the art of cooking and dream of running a great restaurant? Or does managing and catering an event for 1500 people sound appealing? If you are wondering which path better suits you, what you're really mulling over are the differences between a culinary arts program of study and a degree in hospitality management. While both prepare you for working in similar places of employment, the jobs that each degree qualifies you for are different.
WHAT IS CULINARY ARTS?
Culinary Arts involves is the science and art of menu planning, meal preparation, and food service management. Whether you are preparing food for a niche French café or an event for 500, there are basic skills you will need to be efficient when handling various types of foods and preparing dishes for your customers and patrons.
Within the field of Culinary Arts, there are various fields, which are:
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Culinary arts: Deals with preparing different food and cuisine, with some exposure to pastry and baking.
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Pastry and baking: Specialises in the professional preparation of pastries, cakes and baked goods, sometimes known as patisserie.
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Culinary management: Deals with managing F&B and kitchen operations, with some exposure to basic culinary arts.
WHAT IS HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT?
Hospitality Management is the study of hospitality industry such as overseeing the administrative task of a hotel and improving guest experience in Malaysia. Students will be taught on skills to effectively and efficiently carry out the relevant roles they are assigned with such as overseeing the reception desk, managing restaurant operations, management, and many more at the workplace.
Within the field of Hospitality Management, there are various fields, which are:
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Food Service Management: Relates to operations for a Food and Beverage (F&B) business, involving areas such as planning and purchasing supplies, food hygiene and production, and food service delivery.
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Event Management: Involves planning, managing and executing large scale events, such as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, formal parties, concerts & conventions.
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Accommodation & Hospitality Management: Relates to the handling of accommodation establishments, such as hotels and resorts. It covers areas such as reservation, housekeeping and guest service.
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Tour & Travel Management: Relates to the management of travel and tour industries, such as airline and cruise, as well as holiday tours.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO STUDY CULINARY ARTS & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT?
These are the general entry requirements to pursue a degree in Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management in Malaysia. Entry requirements for some universities may be higher, so do make sure you check the details carefully.
SPM/O-Level:
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A pass with minimum of 5 credits (applicable to STPM, Government Matriculation and Pre-University programmes)
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A pass with minimum of 3 credits (applicable to diploma qualification)
PATHWAYS TO STUDY CULINARY ARTS & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
This is the general pathway to study culinary arts & hospitality management after completing your SPM or IGCSE.
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Step 1: Complete STPM/UEC/Pre-university programme for 1-2 years. You can also opt to be enrolled in diploma programmes in culinary arts & hospitality management for 2 years.
Step 2: Once you graduate with a diploma, you can choose to go straight to the workforce.
Step 3: If you want to pursue a culinary arts & hospitality management degree, enrol in a 3-year degree programme.
Step 4: Once you've completed your degree, you can choose to go straight to the workforce.
WHAT WILL YOU STUDY IN CULINARY ARTS & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT?
A degree in Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management is generally 3 years long.
(a) Culinary Arts Degree
As part of a culinary arts programme, you will learn various subjects that will hone your culinary skills. From food preparation to kitchen service and restaurant operations, you will develop the knowledge and skills needed for a successful culinary career!
Here are some of the subjects that you may learn in Culinary Arts:
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Food and Beverage Services
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Essential Cuisine Techniques
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Kitchen Operations and Management
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Food Hygiene and Sanitation
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Patisserie and Baking
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Revenue and Profit Management
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Menu Design and Creation
In most universities and culinary schools, you will usually be required to undergo an internship or industrial training as part of your studies so that you can gain hands-on experience in the industry. This is your chance to shine, as you could very well land a job even before you graduate!
(b) Hospitality Management Degree
In a Hospitality Management degree, you will be taught various subjects in order for you to be able to manage the different aspects of service and operations in a hospitality industry.
Depending on your area of specialisation, here are some of the topics that you may learn:
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Food & Beverage Management
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Housekeeping Management
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Business Communication
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Principles of Accounting & Marketing
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Hospitality and Tourism Law
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Financial Management for Hospitality & Tourism
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Kitchen and Front Office Operations and Management
Hospitality & Tourism degrees usually include a semester where you undergo compulsory internship or practical training at top establishments, such as hotels & fine dining restaurants.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A CULINARY ARTS & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT DEGREE?
Mostly the same places hire graduates of culinary arts and hotel management. However, the areas of work available for culinary arts graduates are limited as compared to hotel management. A hotel management graduate can be hired to work in most of the job profiles available in the hotel industry, but a culinary arts graduate mostly stays in kitchen and restaurant operations.
Those with a culinary arts qualification can seek employment in the F&B and hospitality industry. Here are some careers that you can pursue upon graduating:
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Commis Chef
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Station Chef / Chef de Partie
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Sous Chef
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Executive Chef / Chef de Cuisine
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Pastry Chef
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Food Marketing Consultant
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Food Service Manager
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Restaurant Manager
Completing a degree in Hospitality Management will prepare you for a career in various sectors, including food & beverage, event management, hotels & resorts and travel. Here are some jobs that are related to Hospitality Management:
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Catering Manager
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Cost Control Manager
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Travel Destination Brand Manager
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Entertainment Manager
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Event Planner
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Food & Beverage Manager
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Food Service Manager
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Hotel Manager
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Purchasing Manager
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Restaurant Manager
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Training Manager
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Travel Consultant
WHERE CAN YOU STUDY CULINARY ARTS IN MALAYSIA?

Taylor's University Lakeside Campus
Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Bachelor of Culinary Management (Hons)
Intakes: January, March & August
Annual Fees: RM36,886
Duration: 3 years
WHERE CAN YOU STUDY HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA?

MAHSA University
Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia
Bachelor of Hospitality Management (Honours)
Intakes: N/A
Annual Fees: RM28,206
Duration: 3 years