Who is this course for?  

The MSc/HDip on Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety is designed for individuals from science, engineering and nursing related academic and professional backgrounds who are eager to gain employment in this field. The programme’s objective is to provide you with a high-quality qualification in the multidisciplinary area of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), enabling you to take on managerial responsibilities within industry, or work with a regulatory agency or consultancy. The minor research thesis may be completed at the student’s place of work or in collaboration with University of Galway-based researchers. Whether you are a recent graduate or a working professional this programme offers you the skills and expertise to succeed. 

What will I study?  

The full-time programme comprises of taught modules and a minor dissertation. The course may be taken as a full-time degree taken over a twelve-month period (September to August) OR as a Part-Time Degree taken over a twenty-four-month period. The year is divided into two teaching semesters (September to December and January to April). The summer period (year 2 in the Part-Time programme) will be used to complete a minor dissertation.  

Core modules: 

• Occupational Health and Wellbeing
• Exposure Science 
• Safety and Risk Management 
• Legal Studies (EHS)
• Research Methods 
• Physical Ergonomics 
• Research Thesis - MSc students only 

Optional Modules may include: 

• Information Systems Ergonomics 
• Environmental Engineering  

• Longest running course in its field in Ireland. 
• Internationally recognised and professionally accredited.
• High employability rates as there is a continuous demand for OEHS specialists.
• Scholarships are available - please visit the website!
• This multidisciplinary course is taught by a staff from Science, Health Promotion, Engineering and Law who are subject experts.
• Invited Guest lecturers, both University staff and external practitioners deliver lectures and seminars to our students all of which are highly relevant. They introduce different perspectives and experience of real world professional OEHS practice. 

Our MSc/HDip in Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety has international accreditations and thus opens the door to exciting careers, not just in Ireland but all over the world.  

There is a continuous demand for our graduates as all organisations have legal duties and regulatory requirements with which they must comply. 

With a focus on real-world application, industry-relevant modules, and opportunities for internships and placements, this post graduate programme prepares you for a wide range of careers in Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety. 

Our graduates fill key posts as EHS professionals and Managers, Occupational Hygienists, Ergonomists, Health and Safety Engineers, Consultants and Advisors across a range of sectors including, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, healthcare, construction and consultancy as well as regulatory and public bodies. 

Recent graduates have gone on to work in (for example) : 

• Medtronic
• Boston Scientific
• Pfizer
• Merit Medical
• Creganna
• Aerogen
• Uisce Eireann
• Iarnrod Eireann
• Health & Safety Authority
• Google 

Accrediting Body 

The MSc/HDip Occupational Health and Safety is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Students can access IOSH Student membership for the duration of their studies and make the most of its member benefits including mentoring, networking, and CPD resources. On successful completion, they will meet the academic requirements for Certified (CertIOSH) membership. Certified membership is the gateway to Chartered status. As IOSH is the only organisation in the world that offers Chartered membership to occupational safety and health practitioners, this can help you achieve the highest professional standards and gain international recognition.

This programme is accredited by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS). Degree accreditation by BOHS recognises programmes that prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills required for good practice in the occupational hygiene profession. The accreditation criteria require the programme to meet specific learning outcomes. Degree accreditation by BOHS provides eligibility for Associate Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene and following a qualifying period of professional experience, provides access to the pathways to Licentiate or Chartered Membership by entitling the graduate to certain exemptions. 

This programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), Category 2 approved. This is a recognised post-registration qualification awarded to a registered nurse or a midwife in Ireland. 

Graduate Opportunities  

There is continuous demand for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) graduates nationally and internationally. The employment record for our graduates is excellent. Our graduates fill key posts as EHS professionals and Managers, Occupational Hygienists, Ergonomists, Health and Safety Engineers, Consultants and Advisors across a range of sectors including, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, healthcare, construction and consultancy as well as regulatory and public bodies. 

International Opportunities 

On successful completion of the programme graduates will meet the academic requirements for certified IOSH (CertIOSH) membership which is the gateway to Chartered Membership. IOSH is the only organisation in the world that offers Chartered membership to occupational safety and health practitioners so this can help you achieve the highest professional standards, gain international recognition and access to global careers. 

• Dr. Marie Coggins
• Dr. Vicky Hogan
• Ms. Deirdre Callanan
• Mr. Enda Fallon
• Dr. Martina Kelly
• Dr. Miriam Byrne
• Dr. Lisa Pursell
• Ms. Joan Walsh
• Prof. Mark Healy 

The MSc/HDip in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety is designed to develop students’ proficiency across the multiple inter-related domains required for professional practice in the field of occupational and environmental health & safety, with a specific focus on real-world application and the development of personal and professional skills. The learning experience includes diverse approaches, combining theoretical knowledge with practical implementation to prepare students for professional practice. 

The programme combines innovative teaching methods with practical, hands-on learning to ensure a comprehensive educational experience. You will learn through a mix of lectures, tutorials, laboratory practical’s, guest speakers and workshops led by experts in the field.  

Group projects and Laboratory work will enhance your teamwork and communication skills, while individual assignments and the final dissertation will help you develop independence and critical thinking.  

So, multiple approaches are taken to teaching and assessment applicable to the different subject areas and to introduce variety. 

How will I learn?

1. Multi-disciplinary approach -This method uses input from several academic disciplines to integrate safety, health, law, science, management and engineering, allowing students to pursue a broad range of occupational health and safety careers. 
2. Multiple teaching techniques - Students engage in a combination of traditional lectures, small-group teaching, problem-based learning and self-directed learning.
3. Practice based learning -Students engage in laboratory practicals to apply their theoretical knowledge to practice. 
4. Self-directed learning - Students will complete project work in teams and individually. 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

Throughout the programme, your progress is assessed through various coursework and exams, including laboratory reports, essays, presentations, and group assignments. Continual assessment exercises and assignments during both semesters, most based on practical scenarios, help students to reinforce their learning and apply the principles.

1. Continuous Assessment - Regular coursework, including lab reports, essays, presentations, in-class tests and project work. Students receive regular feedback on their progress. 
2. Examinations - Written exams take place before Christmas and in May. Written exams evaluate proficiency in the taught modules.
3. Minor Dissertation - master’s students will complete a minor research dissertation over the summer which is 30 credits. The project will be focussed in their preferred disciplinary area. These projects may be designed by the students based on their specific interests, be part of current research or company-based projects if available.

Course queries: 

joan.walsh@universityofgalway.ie   

Programme Director(s):  

Joan Walsh 
Occupational Environmental Health & Safety Lecturer 
School Natural Sciences 
College of Science and Engineering  

E: joan.walsh@universityofgalway.ie 
T: 091 492495

Graduates of the MSc/HDip in Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety will be able to:  

• Acquire a detailed knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety and how it is created and informed by practice, regulation, and research.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the benefits of Health and Safety strategy, policy and culture in an organisation, as set out in the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health professional learning objectives.
• Critically evaluate the broad published literature and guidance around multi-factorial environmental occupational health and safety issues and make recommendations for managing these issues.
• Effectively communicate, both written and orally, in relation to Environmental Health and Safety across the organisation and to external bodies e.g., regulator, auditors, sub-contractors etc.
• Demonstrate competence in a range of specialist methodologies and skills required to anticipate, identify, assess, analyse, and control risks to the worker and the environment arising from a broad range of work activities.
• Be competent to develop, lead, implement and manage active, reactive, and proactive monitoring systems for health, safety, and environmental matters at work.
• Develop an awareness of what constitutes ethical behaviour and understand the requirement for ethical behaviour in their career. Reflect on and be accountable for own work practices and recognise their impact on others.
• Select, justify, and apply a range of specialist and novel research tools and methodologies to collect, analyse and synthesise data to contribute to the creation of original research and scholarship in the field of Environmental Health and Safety.

HDip: The minimum entry requirement is a BSc (general) level 7 degree or the possession of a primary degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the College of Science and Engineering for the purpose of this Diploma (e.g., RGN). Final selection may be made on the basis of an interview.  

MSc: The minimum entry requirement is an Honours BSc level 8 degree, or its equivalent in an appropriate discipline, as determined by the College of Science and Engineering. Students without an adequate academic background but with relevant work experience may be required to attend for interview. 

As both programmes are Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) Category 11 approved courses, nurses applying to undertake either programme must be registered with the NMBI and have a valid cert and PIN (personal identification number). 

Academic entry requirements standardised per country are available here.  

English Language Entry Requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 5.5 in any other band) or equivalent.  

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.  

Supporting Documents

You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application. You can check here what supporting documents are required for this course.  Nursing Graduates should also upload their NMBI cert and PIN. 

You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Please review the entry requirements set out in the section above.  

You will be required to upload supporting documentation to your application electronically. See the section above on entry requirements for further information on the supporting documentation required for this course.  

Closing Dates 

For this programme, there is no specific closing date for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotes will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle.  

Notes 

• You will need an active email account to use the website and you'll be guided through the system, step by step, until you complete the online form.
• Browse the FAQ's section for further guidance.  

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition (2025/26).  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Note to non-EU students: learn about the 24-month Stayback Visa here. 

Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship

This scholarship is valued at €1,500 for EU students applying for full-time taught master's postgraduate courses. You will be eligible if: 

• You have been accepted to a full-time taught master's course at University of Galway,
• You have attained a first-class honours (or equivalent) in a Level 8 primary degree.  

An application for the scholarship scheme is required (separate to the application for a place on the programme). The application portal for 2025 is now open and available here. Applications will close on the 30th September 2025. Full details available here.  

Global Scholarships
University of Galway offers a range of merit-based scholarships to students from a number of countries outside of the EU. Visit here for schemes currently available.  

Application Process 

Students applying for full time postgraduate programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Our application portal opens on the 1st October each year for each the following September.   

Further Information 

Please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.