Higher Diploma in Food Costing and Budgeting

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Food Costing and Budgeting is a UK Level 5 qualification of 15 to 18 months. Aligned with UKHospitality, Institute of Hospitality and HOSPA benchmarks, it addresses food costing as a commercial discipline covering recipe cost, menu-mix analysis, budget setting, forecasting and margin recovery.

By graduation you will be running costing exercises across menus, setting F&B budgets, presenting margin recovery plans to F&B directors, and delivering a Level 5 capstone. Credit transfer into a UK Bachelor's top-up is confirmed at enrolment.

Key Features

• Level 5 curriculum aligned with UKHospitality and HOSPA cost-management benchmarks.
• Applied labs on recipe costing, menu-mix and gross-profit management.
• Case work from restaurant groups, hotel F&B teams and contract caterers.
• Credit transfer into UK Bachelor's top-ups confirmed at enrolment.
• Sessions from practising F&B controllers and financial analysts.
• Three parallel delivery modes with named programme tutor support.

What You Will Learn

• Cost recipes to a repeatable UK standard.
• Run menu-mix analysis and read profit-per-cover.
• Set food, beverage and payroll budgets against revenue forecasts.
• Forecast covers, average spend and F&B revenue.
• Coordinate stock takes and wastage reviews.
• Design margin recovery plans for underperforming menus.
• Present F&B budgets to hospitality leadership teams.
• Deliver a Level 5 costing and budgeting capstone.

Who This Course Is For

• Sous chefs, kitchen managers and F&B supervisors with cost accountability.
• Restaurant managers responsible for margin performance.
• Catering managers and small food-business owners.
• Applicants articulating into a UK Bachelor's top-up in food business or hospitality.

Career Pathways

• F&B Business Development Manager
• Catering Manager
• Restaurant Operator
• Café Owner
• Food Business Analyst
• Bar Manager
• Sustainable Tourism Consultant (food-facing)

The LSCAHM careers service links Higher Diploma in Food Costing and Budgeting graduates with restaurant groups, contract catering operators, hotel F&B teams and specialist finance-facing hospitality consultancies across London.

Entry Requirements

• A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Advanced Diploma or comparable qualification.
• GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C or equivalent.
• IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
• One academic or professional reference from a general manager, head chef or F&B controller.
• Working professionals moving from commis chef, F&B associate or supervisor roles are welcomed.

Why Study at LSCAHM

LSCAHM is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts, with food costing taught alongside menu craft and hospitality operations.

Central London places UKHospitality, HOSPA and a live restaurant scene within a short tube ride of every classroom, giving Higher Diploma students constant exposure to the sector's commercial standards.

Apply for Higher Diploma in Food Costing and Budgeting

Applications for the Higher Diploma in Food Costing and Budgeting open across three intake windows a year. Complete a Higher Diploma at LSCAHM and articulate into a UK Bachelor's top-up in the same discipline, credit transfer is confirmed at enrolment. Enrol Now