Welcome to the applications portal for the life-changing scholarship for aspiring chefs,
launched by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, in association with Parmigiano Reggiano.

What should I prepare for the application?

• Your general details
• What you think the 5 skills are for an exceptional modern chef (5 keywords)
• Who you consider to be an inspirational figure in the industry and why (up to 100 words)
• A short written statement on what you think can be achieved by individuals and the hospitality industry as a whole to create a brighter future for the industry (up to 250 words)
• Why you think you should win the 50 Best Restaurants Scholarship, in association with Parmigiano Reggiano (max 50 words)
• A short video introducing yourself and why you're excited to apply for the scholarship (max 30 seconds, optional but strongly advised)

The prize

Three finalists will be invited to attend The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony in Turin on 19 June 2025, as well as embark on an exclusive trip to the birthplace of Parmigiano Reggiano in Italy, where they will receive a private tour and gain insight into the production of the world-renowned cheese.

The lucky winner of the 2025 scholarship, who will be revealed and hosted at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 ceremony in Turin, will also be invited to complete expenses-paid stages (internships) in two of the world’s most-renowned restaurants: El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, and SingleThread in the USA.

Applications for the scholarship are open from 17 - 31 March 2025.

The scholarship is open to aspiring chefs across the world over the age of 18 and with under three full years’ professional experience.

The selection process

The scholarship recipient will be selected after a three-stage judging process:

Round One: Applicants will be asked to introduce themselves and share their knowledge and ambition for the future of the hospitality industry, via an optional video and series of questions. The 25 successful applicants from Round One will be assessed by a panel of 50 Best judges, and informed in April 2025.

Round Two: The shortlisted candidates will design a sweet or savoury dish, that heroes Parmigiano Reggiano. The design must be accompanied by a recipe and series of photographs.

This stage will be assessed by a panel of 50 Best and Parmigiano Reggiano judges, to shortlist 5 applicants for interview. 

Round Three: The five selected candidates will be invited for an interview with representatives from 50 Best and Parmigiano Reggiano. Representatives from the stagiaire hosts, will be invited to review applications and offer their input.

Three finalists will be hosted at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 ceremony in Turin, where the ultimate winner will be announced.

Click here to read the Terms and Conditions

Got questions on how the 50 Best Restaurants Scholarship works? Or not sure on how to make your application shine?

Check out some of the most frequently asked questions here – or if you can’t find the answer you were looking for, drop a message at 50BestScholarship@wrbm.com

50 Best Restaurants Scholarship, in association with Parmigiano Reggiano