FAQ for Certifying Programs

Do I need to provide an English certificate such as IELTS to apply?

We do not require certification of English skills as part of the application. Candidates’ English levels will be judged based on their application documents and during the interview.
However, candidates who hold IELTS or other English test scores and or certification of French language skills (DELF, TEF…) are encouraged to send these with their application.  

Will there be an interview during the admission process?

Applications are reviewed by an admissions committee made up of program staff and chef-instructors.  
If the admission committee’s evaluation of the application is favorable, an interview will be organized with a member of the program staff or a chef-instructor. 
During the online interview, the interviewer will:
•    Aim to get a good understanding of the candidate’s motivations 
•    Evaluate the candidate’s level of English and French (if the candidate has indicated that he/she speaks some French)
•    Make sure that the candidate has a realistic vision of our program and a solid career plan

If I am accepted to the program but cannot attend the semester can I defer my admission?

Deferrals to the following semester are accepted on a case-by-case basis provided that the deferral request is presented at least 60 days before the program start, in writing, with an explanation of the reasons for the deferral.  
A deferral is possible once and for the following semester only.
A deferral requested less than two months before the program start can be possible if the circumstances are beyond the candidate’s control (at the discretion of the program administration).  Should the deferral request be turned down, the tuition deposit will not be refunded. 

If I confirmed my enrollment and paid the tuition deposit but later have to withdraw for personal reasons, can I get a refund ?
A partial refund will be granted to admitted candidates having to withdraw from the program, provided they present their request in writing at least 60 days before the program start and  have a valid reason for withdrawing.  Complementary supporting documentation may be requested by FERRANDI (e.g. medical certificate).
Candidates who withdraw from the program less than two months before the program start are not eligible for a refund of the tuition deposit. 

I have no previous experience in Cooking/Pastry/Bread Baking, can I still apply?

Previous experience in the field is not required to apply for the Intensive Professional Programs, as this training is geared towards beginners. However some exposure to the industry can be helpful to get an idea of what it means to work in the sector and to make sure that the candidate is making a sound decision.
Our Advanced Professional Programs are specifically designed for experienced candidates.  

If you need advice on the programs - we would be thrilled to guide you! Simply send us an e-mail with an outline of your culinary background: ferrandi-international@ferrandi-paris.fr

Can I apply if I don't speak French?

We do not require French language skills to apply.   
Candidates should be aware that:

• Speaking some French will make the transition to life in Paris a little bit easier
• French language skills are a requirement for some internships: some companies will not accept an intern who cannot express him- or herself in the French language
• FERRANDI Paris provides French courses as part of the Intensive Professional Programs from Beginner to Intermediate levels (up to B1), focusing on professional French
• You will not learn the language sufficiently through the French courses at FERRANDI only - especially if you have no knowledge of the language

I have a degree in Pastry/Cooking/Bread Baking, can I still apply?

As mentioned above, we offer an Advanced Professional Program targeted to experienced candidates, or individuals with previous culinary training.  
Deciding which program is more suitable depends on the candidate’s knowledge of French culinary and pastry techniques and recipes.  As a rough guideline :

• For the Advanced Professional Program in French Cuisine, this means : knife skills (vegetable cuts, turning vegetables, basic meat cuts, fish filleting), basic pastry (pie doughs, puff pastry, pastry cream etc), meat and fish cooking techniques (poach, sauté, grill, braise, roast, fry, sous vide  ...), sauces (emulsion, reduction, etc), cooking broths (based on meat, vegetables, fish and seafood), basic plating techniques as well as familiarity with kitchen safety and hygiene and use of professional equipment
• For the Advanced Professional Program in French Pastry, this means : mastery of basic doughs (pie, puff pastry, croissant, brioche, génoise, joconde, meringues, choux paste  …), creams (pastry cream, custards, Chantilly, diplomate, chibouste …), sugar syrups, caramels, nougats, basic sugar work ; assembly of typical French desserts (éclairs, basic tarts and entremets, loaf cakes, … ), chocolate (tempering, molding, sculpture, bonbons)

The above are simply guidelines.  For some candidates with previous experience it may make sense to take the Intensive Professional Program if their expertise is not specifically in French technique.  

I have worked as a Cook/Chef/Pastry Chef/Bread Baker, can I still apply?

We do accept experienced candidates, in particular on the Advanced Professional programs.  

See above for an outline of the skills required to be eligible for the Advanced Professional Programs. 

Does FERRANDI Paris offer scholarships or financial aid?

There are no scholarships or financial aid possibilities available at FERRANDI Paris.

How much is tuition and what is the payment schedule?

• Introduction Programs are between 2,000 and 4,500 Euros
• Intensive Professional Programs are 23,000 Euros
• Advanced Professional Programs are 13,750 Euros

A deposit representing 50% of tuition is required to reserve a space on the program once a candidate has been admitted. The deadline for the payment is stated in the admission packet.
The balance of tuition is due 30 days before the program start date.

Discounts are available to candidates who enroll in two programs!

• Intensive Professional Programs in French Cuisine + French Pastry
• Intensive Professional Programs in French Pastry + French Bread Baking
• Intensive Professional Program in French Cuisine + Advanced Professional Program in French Cuisine
• Intensive Professional Program in French Pastry + Advanced Professional Program in French Pastry

Visa

Students who are not citizens of the European Union must apply for a long term student visa (VLS-TS).  You can only apply for a VISA once you are admitted to the program.
Visa application procedures and requirements vary from one country to another.  Contact the nearest Campus France office or French Consulate for details on the application process.
The following website can also be useful for information on studying in France: http://www.campusfrance.org/en

Insurance

Students require insurance to cover the following:

• medical expenses
• accident 
• evacuation and repatriation 
• civil liability

Students may obtain this insurance in their home country or through private insurance companies in France but it must cover the 4 aspects listed above.
It is important to know that students enrolled in the Intensive Professional Programs or the Advanced Professional Programs are not eligible for French Social Security (Sécurité Sociale étudiant) which is only available to students enrolled in higher education (university).

For your information, FERRANDI Paris is a partner of LivinFrance - a support platform for international students. If you need any help regarding your arrival in France, your VISA, finding an appartment or opening a bank account, feel free to create your account on LivinFrance as a FERRANDI Paris student in order to access to this help freely: 

https://livin-france.com/ferrandi/register

Students who complete the Intensive Professional Program are eligible for the diploma if they:

• have an excellent attendance record
• have obtained passing grades

Paris Campus - FERRANDI does not have on-campus housing in Paris.  Our students rent or share apartments in Paris or opt for a homestay (renting a room with a French family).  
Dijon Campus  - We have student accommodation on our Dijon campus. The student residence is a 2-minute walk from the FERRANDI campus. For more information, visit the Les Estudines website.  

Admitted candidates will receive a list of qualified contacts to assist them with their housing search(real estate agents, companies specialized in student housing, ads from landlords, companies who offer homestays, useful websites …)
For daily, weekly or monthly rentals, you can also contact the Residhome apartment-hotel ,  just a 5-minute walk from the campus.  
We also have a partnership with LivinFrance, a company that helps international students in France find accommodation, apply for visas, open French bank accounts and more.  

Prices for accommodation can vary depending on several factors (location, type of housing, size etc.). Monthly rent in Dijon can be anywhere between €480 and €1000. We usually recommend a monthly budget of €1000.  
It is important to keep in mind that for many rentals, electricity, water, internet, phone service, security deposit, heating, property tax, will have to be added.  
A monthly budget of 1500 Euros is the standard to cover living (including rent) and personal expenses. 

Some French consulates or Campus France offices require proof of housing for the visa application. FERRANDI Paris can help you by providing a list of agencies and housing providers. In case you need a housing certificate for the VISA if you haven't find accomodation in France yet, you can get one with our partner LivinFrance (upon a fee).

For more information about your arrival in France click here  

For your information, FERRANDI Paris is a partner of LivinFrance - a support platform for international students. If you need any help regarding your arrival in France, your VISA, finding an appartment or opening a bank account, feel free to create your account on LivinFrance as a FERRANDI Paris student in order to access to this help freely: 

https://livin-france.com/ferrandi/register

Students are placed on internships by their chef-instructor. Assignments are made based on skill level, knowledge of French language and career plan.  

Students may indicate their preferences in terms of type of workplace (hotel, restaurant, pastry shop) and culinary style (classic, modern, prestigious …).  Chef-instructor decisions are final regarding internships. 

Interns are paid a monthly stipend of approximately 570 Euros (provided that the contract is signed for a period over 2 months). 
Internships must take place during the period of enrollment and may not be postponed.   It is possible to do the internship in France (Paris or the provinces) or in the student’s home country.  

Schedules and course syllabus

The course schedule and course syllabus will be provided on the first day of class.
Classes run from Monday to Friday (never on weekends, with the exception of some special events) on an alternating morning / afternoon schedule.  Morning weeks will begin at 7:30 or 8AM and end at 4PM.   Afternoon weeks will begin at 10 or 11AM and end at 7PM.  Generally there are 35 to 40 hours of class per week.

In some cases classes will begin earlier or end later, depending on the activity (restaurant service for Cuisine students, excursions and visits …).
National holidays, winter and spring break dates will be provided to admitted candidates during their first day of class.  

Can I work during the training?

It is possible to work on weekends. Students who hold a student visa are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.

However, we do not recommend that students work during the training. Scheduling a part-time job around the course schedule on weekdays is often difficult.  

Note that speaking French is often a requirement to find a job in Paris.

What is the "CAP" and it is important to have it?

The CAP ("Certifcat d’Aptitude Professionnelle") is a vocational degree delivered by the French Ministry of Education.  It is the first basic level of qualification for many manual fields, including cooking, pastry and restaurant service. It is roughly equivalent to a professional (or technical or vocational) High-School Diploma.
The CAP is easily recognizable for a French professional as it is most likely the degree that they hold.  

Holding a CAP is not necessary to work in the culinary field internationally.  In France, it is necessary to hold one to open a business in French pastry and boulangerie (bread baking), but not to open a restaurant. 
It is important to know that to obtain a CAP an international candidate must pass a series of exams, both professional and general (math, science, etc), all in the French language. Exam registration takes place in during October/November for the annual exams that take place in May/June.

Can I apply for the FERRANDI Bachelor or the CAP after the Intensive Program?

If you speak good French (level B2 minimum), you can:

 Register for the CAP exams as a “candidat libre” in order to receive the CAP ("Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnelle”) diploma if you get passing grades (note: registrations for CAP exams takes place each year in October/November (online procedure) and the CAP exams takes place in May/June (one session per year) 
Apply for admission to the FERRANDI Bachelor;  graduates of the Intensive Professional Program in French Pastry or French Cuisine can apply for admission to the second year of the 3-year program, however spaces are very limited 
International candidates who speak fluent French can apply directly to the Bachelor program or the CAP for Adultes (provided they are over 25 years old).

What is the difference between the CAP and the Intensive Professional Programs?

Both of these programs are designed for beginners and both cover the basic recipes and techniques depending on your speciality (Cuisine, Pastry or Boulangerie - Bread Baking).

The CAP program is designed specifically to prepare students for the CAP exams.  The program will focus on the skills and competencies required for the professional aspects of the exams (history, geography, french, maths and the technical aspects of the specialty you choose...)
The Intensive Professional Programs cover only the technical aspects of the speciality a bit further and include extra content that is not mandatory in the CAP curriculum, such as wine appreciation, language course,  professional visits, demonstrations, etc