Join us for our Open Evening at Leiths on Thursday 5th February 2026, 6:30–8:30pm, and discover how the Culinary Diploma can launch your career in food.
Laying the foundations for your future in food, the Core Certificate is the first of three accredited qualifications that form the Leiths Culinary Diploma.
Focusing on classic culinary technique, you’ll learn not just how but why. From fresh pasta to shortcrust pastry, from emulsion sauces to classic stocks, gain a grounding in cookery that will last you a lifetime.
Plus, choose from multiple entry dates and full-time, part-time and accelerated study options.
We’ve got the ingredients. You write the recipe.
Experience what makes the Diploma so special with a 1-to-1 tour of our Culinary School.
Watch Diploma-style demonstrations, meet the teachers and taste life at Leiths.
Our Admissions team love to answer your questions and offer course suggestions to suit your goals.
Sample culinary training Leiths-style with a hands-on class.
Made your decision? Book on a course here and start your future in food.
Six weeks of world-class teaching to gain an accredited qualification and lay the foundations for your future in food.
With recipes like Miso & Sake Pan-fried Bream and Mackerel Recheado, start building a contemporary culinary portfolio from week one.
Choose from full-time, part-time and accelerated study options to suit your schedule.
Develop your CV and start planning your future in food with industry insights from our in-house recruitment experts, Leiths List Connect.
Start your future in food today and complete your Core, Professional and Diploma Certificates when it suits you.
During these modules, you’ll learn the fundamentals of how to cook from scratch with confidence.
From knife skills to keeping clean and tidy during a busy service, this module is the essential foundation to any future in food.
Joint chickens, fillet fish and learn how to season and cook these classic ingredients.
Understand the interactions between flour, water, salt and yeast, forming a core knowledge of baking and bread.
From slow cooking to searing, learn how to extract maximum flavour from different cuts of meat and learn the fundamentals of preparing and cooking shellfish.
Perfect pavlovas, profiteroles and pralines as you whisk, fold and whip your way to understanding the precise art of desserts.
Create depth of flavour with plant-based ingredients and get an introduction to nutrition.
Learn how to apply for the Leiths Culinary Diploma.
Guidance for international applicants studying at Leiths in London.
Experience Leiths teaching facilities, and life in London.
Compare full-time, part-time, and accelerated study paths at Leiths.
Find key term dates and application deadlines for Leiths courses.
See what you’ll need for professional training at Leiths.
Explore Leiths tuition costs, payment plans, and funding options.
Discover available Leiths bursaries and how to apply.
The Leiths Culinary Diploma has multiple study options to ensure you can fit your learning around your schedule. Take a look at how the Core Certificate could work for you below.
6 weeks – 3.5 days per week with additional study at home. Daytime only.
4 weeks – 5 days per week, with additional study at home. Daytime only.
Find out more about the Diploma by joining our next open event, trying a Taste of Diploma cooking day or simply enrolling on one of our upcoming course dates.
The Diploma is designed to connect seamlessly with your future in food. Tailor your training with specialist module and integrated work experience options. Graduate with access to Leiths List Connect: the School’s in-house recruitment agency who position our Diploma community for the best opportunities in food.
With an established network spanning Michelin-starred restaurants, leading food brands and well-known test kitchens, Leiths List Connect links the Diploma community with top work experience and career opportunities. From The River Café to HelloFresh, Saturday Kitchen Live to UHNW private chefs, Leiths List gets you where you want to go.
Tailor your Diploma training to your future in food. Add specialist module options such as Food Writing, Marine Cookery or Artisan Breads that align with your postgraduate goals and complete integrated work placements with prestigious Leiths partner employers.
From TV shows to fine dining restaurants, viral TikTok videos to test kitchens, Diploma alumni work in every sector of the food industry. Whether you want to write cookbooks, develop products for supermarkets, edit food magazines or work in nutrition, the Diploma is where your future in food begins.
The Core Certificate is the first accredited qualification in the Leiths Culinary Diploma pathway. It provides foundational training in classic and contemporary culinary techniques, preparing students for professional level study.
It is designed for beginners, career changers, and committed home cooks who want structured, skills-driven training that can lead to professional opportunities.
You learn essential kitchen skills including knife work, fresh pasta, shortcrust pastry, classic stocks, emulsion sauces, meat and fish preparation, and a wide range of cooking methods used in professional kitchens.
The full-time option runs for six weeks. Part-time and accelerated formats are also available for students who need flexibility.
Yes. The Core Certificate is the first of three qualifications. After completing it you can progress to the Professional and then the Diploma Certificates.
You cook industry-relevant dishes such as Miso and Sake pan-fried bream, Mackerel recheado, and a variety of classic and modern recipes that build technical skill.
Yes. The course offers several entry points throughout the year along with flexible formats so students can choose a schedule that fits their availability.
Experience what makes the Diploma so special with a 1-to-1 tour of our Culinary School.
Watch Diploma-style demonstrations, meet the teachers and taste life at Leiths.
Our Admissions team love to answer your questions and offer course suggestions to suit your goals.
Sample culinary training Leiths-style with a hands-on class.
Made your decision? Book on a course here and start your future in food.
Does it get more Christmassy than a freshly baked mince pie? With our Culinary Diploma Director Lou’s mince pie recipe, handed down from her mother you’ll be feeling festive faster than you can say brandy butter.
Bruern Abbey is a mainstream independent school in Oxfordshire for students with SEND requirements and a Leiths Partner School. This is Bruern’s first year delivering the Leiths Level 2 Certificate in Culinary Skills. Last month, they received a very exciting visitor to open their new kitchens.
Try this easy-to-make Chicken Pie with Velouté Sauce & Puff Pastry Lid and serve with mashed potato and seasonal greens for a hearty winter warmer.
