Alumni Success Stories

Throughout my studies, the faculty was by my side, always willing to help. The level of the courses was very high. The most important asset they gave me is discipline. A necessary and extremely important element when working in the kitchen.

I will not forget our trip to Austria, where we got to know gastronomy from a different perspective. For me, it was a life-changing experience. As was participating in competitions and charitable events.

Everything I’ve become, I owe to Intercollege. I owe not only my professional journey to it but also the formation of my character. I highly recommend Intercollege for Culinary studies!

In my search for a culinary arts programme, I asked the opinion of culinary professionals and chefs. All of them told me the best about Intercollege, so I decided to enroll myself there.

The College’s high-quality classes, in-depth lectures and professionalism of its instructors impressed me since the very beginning. The importance of using fresh, quality ingredients is something that also stood out, making the cooking classes an exceptional experience for me.

Looking back, I can definitely say that I learned from the best, and that Intercollege gave me the knowledge and tools to help me become the chef I was dreaming of!

My love for cooking prompted me to interrupt my Architecture studies in England and enroll at Intercollege, starting a wonderful journey there!

The practical experience in the kitchen was exceptional. The atmosphere in the class was very warm and cordial, as were our relationships with the instructors, even after we graduated.

The competition in Thessaloniki, Greece, where we had to present everything we had learned in previous years, was a unique experience for me!

The memory of my first interaction with the Intercollege kitchen facilities and the competitions I took part across Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia, and Dubai remain etched in my mind. In one of these competitions, I even had the honour of being named Young Chef of the Year in 2008, and Chef of the Year in 2017, by Time Out magazine.

Throughout my studies, I had the opportunity to cultivate my professional experience through practical training and in my concurrent work in the industry. I have worked at Michelin star restaurants and as head of kitchen and at the Skinny Fox restaurant, awarded as the best restaurant in Cyprus in 2017. I was also a member of the Cyprus National Cooking team.

What I still carry with me today are the strong foundations I gained during my classes, and the discipline instilled in me by my teachers, which continuously helps me improve.

I found out about Intercollege through friends who suggested that I pursue a Diploma in Culinary Arts. The College and the professors instilled in me the critical thought, and throughout my studies, they taught me to adopt a human-centric approach.
From the age of 22, I worked for several years in the culinary field. At the age of 34, I decided to pursue the Degree in Culinary Arts, decision that led me to experience the combination of student and working life. During my time at Intercollege, both in the Diploma and Degree programmes, I participated in various cooking competitions. My participation in the International Culinary Competition of Southern Europe was a unique experience that I cherish to this day.

Intercollege provided me with the necessary foundations to pursue my dreams. It provided me with the self-confidence and all the valuable knowledge that continues to guide me every day.

The relevant course and the way in which pastry making was taught made me love this art even more than I did before. As a result, upon my graduation, I decided to start my own cake boutique.

My relationship with the professors was excellent. Professors and students together, we formed a strong team.

Balancing work and studies was challenging, but I always managed. I also participated in various culinary and cooking competitions with outstanding results, gaining experiences that I will always cherish.

My passion for cooking took shape when I found out that Intercollege had launched a Culinary Arts programme.

My innate talent received a solid foundation as the classes were taught by professional cooks.
During the course, executive chefs were visiting to offer specific seminars. During one of them, the instructor emphasized the fact that a good cook must taste everything so as to be in a position to understand all the flavors. This is the way I go about until today.

My student experience was unforgettable.

My dream to study cooking became a reality, at Intercollege.

I was a student at the Paralimni Technical School, when my teacher, Giorgos Kyprianou suggested that I study to become a chef. He gave us a lecture about the profession of being a chef, which got me very interested. It was like a sign that I should pursue this career.

At Intercollege I was taught the fundamental principles of Culinary Arts, and I enjoyed a great student experience.

Simultaneously to my studies, I worked in the field of culinary arts, so whatever I was learning in the classroom and in the labs, I could apply in my everyday working life. My participation in competitions in Cyprus and abroad were unforgettable, as well as the many awards I received.

The relationship with the faculty remains excellent to this day. My studies at Intercollege helped me grow as a human being as well as a professional.

My studies at Intercollege were a great experience. I was a member of a particularly student-friendly community. The professors looked closely after us, and, step by step they gave us the foundations to be able to join the industry.

The fact that we were able to work and study at the same time is a huge benefit.

I will never forget the competitions, the practical training and the bonding we had as a team.

Three months into my studies, I was able to enter the labour market.

It is worth noting that I maintain excellent relations with my instructors to this day.

My studies at Intercollege changed my whole life. New paths opened up for me, I gained new perspectives on the profession and achieved discipline.

What I will remember most is my participation in the Erasmus+ programme, where I had the opportunity to work in Modena, Italy. From the classroom and the cooking workshops of Intercollege I found myself in the kitchen of the famous Osteria Francescana, which had been awarded three Michelin stars and had been twice chosen as the best restaurant in the world, alongside the multi-awarded chef Massimo Bottura, the “Poet of Italian Cuisine”.

I began my studies at Intercollege during its first year of operation.

The lessons were quite demanding and disciplined.

My experience and my studies at Intercollege have been invaluable. The fact that I had the opportunity to find a job alongside my studies was paramount to me.

I will never forget the long hours of studying, as well as the early hours of the day, at home, with my fellow students after work.

My professional path changed a lot through my studies at Intercollege.

My education at Intercollege was sufficient and very helpful to build solid foundations for my following professional steps.

The overall experience of my studies was pleasant and consisted of friendship and a good student life.

I will always remember the Four Seasons internship, which laid the foundation for my overall career

I love what I do, and I wanted to pursue studies in the culinary field. Intercollege helped me a lot in this direction. This is the reason why I maintain a good relationship with my professors to this day.

The lessons were very interactive and encouraged me to flourish. I will always remember my participation in cooking competitions, the many charities and other type of events we participated in as students.

Intercollege provided me with a culinary education that positively changed the way I go about my profession.

During my studies, I discovered many interesting aspects of myself. At the beginning, I was challenged by the first steps I had to take, but I soon realised that the study and the practical training were the foundations for my success and the key to my entrance in the professional world.

The experience with my fellow students was very pleasant. In addition to the shared education, we enjoyed our time outside of classes and formed strong bonds with each other.

One of my favourite classes was Pastry. The course was interesting, and I really enjoyed it. The lectures by my professors gave me inspiration and guided my way of thinking.

Overall, my studies at Intercollege gave me the key to open the door to my professional career and allowed me to realise new opportunities in the catering industry.

I was informed about Intercollege during my studies at HHIC (Higher Hotel Institute of Cyprus) and its impressive facilities were a crucial factor in my decision to choose this college for my studies.

The classes were very interesting, and my overall educational experience was very positive. Although several hours of studying and practical training were required to achieve the objectives of the programme, the teachers were always willing to provide us with help and support.

A particularly memorable moment was the competition in Istanbul at Euroskills 2006, which will undoubtedly remain etched in my memory. I am currently working at the Four Seasons Hotel, a high-end hotel in Nicosia and this achievement is the result of my studies at Intercollege.

I am a graduate of HHIC (Higher Hotel Institute of Cyprus), from where I found out about Intercollege.

I had a great time during my studies and gained many educational experiences. I also gained a lot of useful knowledge and had excellent relationships with my professors. The internship I carried out contributed significantly to my professional development.

Everything I learned then helps me in my employment today. The knowledge and skills I gained at Intercollege were a valuable tool for achieving my professional goals.

When I decided to study Culinary Arts, I visited Intercollege and spoke with Nikolas Orphanides, coordinator of its programmes of study. I appreciated the approach, the state-of-the-art facilities – significantly superior to the rest of the institutions – and so I made my decision to study there.

My student experience was very good. I participated in many competitions and charity events. As part of the Erasmus+ programme, I went to Spain, where I gained invaluable experience and knowledge working at the Michelin Star Awarded restaurant Mugaritz. A restaurant which is among the best restaurants in the world.

The knowledge and skills I obtained at Intercollege, as well as the quest for the high standards taught to us by our professors, will accompany me for a lifetime.

I chose to study at Intercollege where the level was indeed very high and with the knowledge our professors and instructors gave us, both in theory and practice, I leveled up in many areas.

I had a great student life with my fellow students and teachers, with whom I maintain a good relationship to this day.

I graduated from Intercollege full of knowledge, experiences and skills that accompany me to this day in my professional life.

I learned about Intercollege from the dozens of successes and awards of its students and graduates.

To this day I search my old books and notes and look back to seek for solutions and ideas. I met wonderful people during my studies at Intercollege and I still maintain a very good relationship with my professors.

Because we loved what we were studying, we helped each other, and constituted a very strong team all together.

Among the nice experiences is my participation in a competition where I even got a silver prize. My studies allowed me to mature me as a person, as a character and as a professional. And I owe all of this to Intercollege.

At Intercollege I spent two excellent student years. With the knowledge and experience I gained, I am now an instructor in the Technical Education School of Cyprus.

I maintain excellent relations with the professors to this day. I will always remember the lectures, the field trips but also the countless hours in the state-of-the-art laboratories and amphitheatres, my fellow students, and the internships in various hotels.

I found out about Intercollege from my teachers at school. They strongly recommended it for the quality of the facilities but also the knowledge and skills it offers. And they were right.

I had the most amazing student life, which I remember to this day. My relations with our professors and my fellow students were and remain excellent.

The experiences from my participation in the cooking competitions, the teamwork, and the special culinary trip in Austria, were all a source of precious knowledge. Our professors were there by our side to help and advise us in every step of the way.

My wonderful journey at Intercollege cultivated my discipline and opened the way to better jobs alongside my studies.

The competitions, the presentations as well as the internship I did through the Programme ERASMUS+ at the internationally renowned restaurant Core in London, were great experiences.
During this time, I had the opportunity to participate in the 12th Southern European Cooking Competition where I won the title “Best Southern European Chef 2023”.
For the last 15 years I have worked in award-winning restaurants with Michelin stars in England, Japan and France.

The foundations that I have obtained after working for so many years in the world of cooking, combined with the continuous study of the subject I love, open new horizons in my professional life continuously.

My friends suggested Intercollege to me, and they were right.

During my studies there, I was titled as Best Pastry Chef Cyprus 2012, as well as Best Pastry Chef Southern Europe 2013. I was a member of the Cyprus national culinary team and a Gold Medalist in the Culinary Olympics in 2008.

The professors and the instructors taught me many precious things. What I keep to this day is the discipline.

My father is a Chef, and since I enjoyed observing him cook I wanted to do it myself. My student life was very nice alongside my fellow students and teachers.

I took part in many competitions and won many awards, the most important being the EUROSKILLS Young Chef of the Year during the HoReCa Gastronomia Expo 2021. With this title, I represented Cyprus at the Pan-European Skills Competition Euroskills 2023 in Gdansk, Poland and won the Medal of Nation Award.

At Intercollege, I built the strongest foundations for a great professional career.

Intercollege was recommended to me by my friends. High-level courses and comprehensive classes that prepare students for a successful career. My experience was excellent – ​​I would choose it again.

Student life in Nicosia has nothing to envy from that of the other cities of Cyprus, even compared to the student life in another country. The facilities are state-of-the-art and all amenities are provided in the student campus that has been created in the area. I will never forget experiencing the proclamation of the Culinary Arts Department as the best school in Southern Europe, in 2017.

The professors and staff of the school made me a better person with their approach, professionalism, and respect. They gave me all that was necessary for my successful career that followed.

My professors/instructors became friends and colleagues after I graduated. This is perhaps the greatest success of the programme! After completing their studies, students continue to have friendly and professional lifelong relationships with their professors.