Your application is reviewed against the documents you upload to your Quarterdeck profile. Document requirements vary by track.
Common to all applicants
Passport scan: required for booking confirmation and travel logistics. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.
Cover letter: a short note on why you want to do Culinary Academy, what you cook, and what you want to take from the week.
Career-track applicants
If you are using Culinary Academy as a step toward paid chef work after the course, you must demonstrate substantive professional kitchen experience or formal training at the application stage. Upload:
CV or résumé detailing your kitchen and hospitality experience (venues, roles, dates, dish range)
Formal training certificates where you have them: culinary school diploma, apprenticeship completion, food hygiene certificate, etc.
References: at least one professional reference from a previous kitchen or hospitality role, with contact details
Optional but useful: photos or a portfolio of dishes you have cooked, especially under service conditions
Personal-interest applicants
If you are applying for personal interest with no career intent, the documentation bar is lower. Upload:
A short cooking biography: what you cook, how often, who you cook for, what you want from the course
Photos of recent dishes if you have them. They help us with cohort fit.
You do not need professional references or formal training certificates for the personal-interest track.
After acceptance
Closer to your course start date, you will be asked to upload:
Travel insurance proof with medical cover
Visa documentation where applicable
How and where to upload
All documents go through your Quarterdeck profile under the documents section. The upload form accepts PDF, PNG, and JPG files. If your file is in another format (Word, Pages, etc.), save it as a PDF first. If your file is too large to upload, contact info@quarterdeck.co and we will help.