Looking to boost your career in occupational health and safety management? This convenient online, two-year part-time MSc/MRES is for you.
Within this unique course, developed with and supported by NEBOSH, you’ll deal with real workplace challenges and your dissertation will be grounded in your professional experience. Tailored to meet employers' needs, your key modules include advanced health and safety risk management and corporate social responsibility in health and safety management.
Choose either a structured MSc or research-focused MRes, whatever works best for you.
This course is accredited by
About this course
Ready to progress your health and safety management career? This part-time distance learning course offers opportunities through two distinct pathways: MSc and MRes.
As an MSc student, your journey involves completing taught modules during the first year and the first semester of the second year, ending with a six-month research dissertation.
Or choose the MRes pathway to put the emphasis on research methodology modules, paving the way for a 12-month, 120-credit research project centred around workplace-related topics in your field.
Our core modules will provide you with valuable skills in research methods, literature review, and research project design. MSc students will delve into fundamental subjects including advanced health and safety risk management and corporate social responsibility in health and safety management.
You’ll have the flexibility to select supplementary modules in areas such as disaster management, safety assessment, flood risk, and mental health at work, so your Masters can match your interests.
You’ll be following in the footsteps of people from diverse organisations, including BAE Systems, the oil and gas industry, emergency services, NHS, and renewable energy.
Module options
For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits. The modules listed below cover both the MSc and MRes pathways for this programme. Our academics will help guide your choice of modules depending on whether you wish to graduate with an MSc or MRes degree.
Filters
Research Methods (NEBOSH Programmes)
This module looks at various methods used to collect and analyse data in research projects. You'll explore the uses, advantages and disadvantages of the methods and choose the most appropriate for your main research project.
compulsory
20 credits
Literature Review
Topics include the purpose of reviewing the literature in research, practicalities of carrying out a literature review and writing a literature review in a suitable format.
compulsory
20 credits
Advanced Health and Safety Risk Management
Topics include the content, structure, scope and implementation of ISO 31000:2009 and BS 31100:2011, as well as the role and importance of leadership in health and safety management.
compulsory
20 credits
Corporate Social Responsibility in Health and Safety Management
Study the principles of social responsibility and transparency. And consider the balance between accountability, ethical behaviour, stakeholder interests and the rule of law. You'll also examine customer and supplier relationships, and employment relationships.
compulsory
20 credits
Designing Research Projects
Examine what's required in writing a research proposal. You'll explore how a research problem is formulated, constructing relevant hypotheses, evaluating alternative research methods for suitability and how to create a suitable research design.
core
20 credits
MRes Research Project
You'll carry out a 6-month research project on an agreed topic based at your workplace and write a research dissertation to a professional standard.
core
120 credits
Advanced Disaster and Emergency Management and Continuity Management
Develop an understanding of the potential impact of a disaster on an organisation and methods of managing disasters and emergencies. You'll study historical development, definitions and institutions; law, guidance and sources of information; major incident investigation and public inquiries; and management of disasters and emergencies.
optional
20 credits
Safety Case Production and Assessment
Topics studied on this module include the purpose of the safety case, safety analysis techniques, safety case production and safety case structure.
optional
20 credits
Flood Risk Management
Explore the different types of flooding, the impact of flooding on people and property, and flood defences such as land use management and sustainable drainage systems, working with natural processes, channel works, banks, barriers, pumping stations and managed realignment of banks.
optional
20 credits
Our academics
Our staff are at the forefront of research with connections to policymakers and industries that can drive real change.
They’re out there studying the latest solutions to climate change and other environmental challenges, and they bring this knowledge to you through research-led teaching.
Steve Pace
Specialist Course Director
Steve is a Chartered Member of the Institution for Occupational Safety and Health and has been our Specialist Course Director since 2000, overseeing the Institute for Chemistry's suite of health, safety and environmental management courses.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
Either an Bachelors degree (2:2) or international equivalent in a relevant area such as Health & Safety or Environmental Management, or at least one of the following:
- NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or Environmental Management
- NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or Environmental Management or equivalent
- A professional qualification in health and safety management that satisfies the criteria for GradIOSH membership of the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety. Examples include the NCRQ Level 6 Diploma in Applied Health and Safety, the City and Guilds National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications Level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice, The British Safety Council Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health. The full list of qualifications accredited by IOSH to GradIOSH standard can be found on the IOSH website.
- Practitioner membership (PIEMA) of the Institution of Environmental Management and Assessment or higher.
Applicants should be practising health, safety and/or environmental professionals or be employed within an industrial or commercial environment and able to show that they can undertake health, safety and environmental based assignments and a research project at their workplace.
In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.
Typical offer
2:2 in a relevant subject area
Either a Science or Health and Safety management or Environmental management based Bachelor degree (2:2) or international equivalent. Or a NEBOSH (Level 6) Diploma.
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Scholarships
We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They're awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those eon lower incomes.
Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don't pay a penny back.
See more Scholarships
We offer a range of scholarships and awards to students at the university to help with their financial load.
To view all of our scholarships and determine whether you're eligible, please visit our Scholarships and Awards page.
Our facilities
Future prospects
On completing this course you’ll have the knowledge and skills to provide professional strategic advice and lead and promote health, safety, and environmental performance in your workplace.
Because we're known for offering one-of-a-kind NEBOSH courses, both the university and our graduates have a great reputation among professionals in the Humber and Yorkshire region.
Take your career to the next level
Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.
Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.
Not ready to apply yet?
We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.
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All modules on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.