BSc Honours Occupational Safety and Health Degree Top-Up

Overview & facilities

The programme is aimed at those wishing to pursue or develop a career in Occupational Safety and Health. The programme is accredited by the leading professional body, the Institution of Occupational Safetyand Health (IOSH) for Chartered Membership following completion of initial professional development (IPD) post qualification.

The degree exempts students from the professional exam requirements for Chartered Membership. Graduates also qualify for membership of the international Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) Thecourse is delivered by members of the Centre for Decision Analysis and Risk Management (DARM) who are actively engaged in research and consultancy within a range of risk related areas.

Why study Occupational Safety and Health at Middlesex

• Accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health 
• Expert lecturers from industry
• The use of specialist resources in our state-of-the-art laboratories
• Pre-accreditation available for direct entry to year 3 of the degree through existing study, professional qualification and/or experience
  

Content & modules

Modules

• Year 1

  Environmental and Occupational Dissertation (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to synthesise learning from the students undergraduate programme providing an opportunity for students to study independently and investigate a topic in depth. It fosters academic curiosity, an inquiry based approach, the employment and application of research skills thus facilitating the development of a higher level of theorising. Students will select a topic of personal interest they wish to study further and will manage their own learning during this module, with the support of an allocated supervisor for this period of independent study.

  Hazardous Agents in the Workplace (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  To educate participants in the legal, theoretical and practical aspects of identifying, controlling and managing a range of workplace hazardous agents.

  Managing Occupational Safety and Health (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  Address the criteria and methodologies for effective risk management in occupational health and safety management, and the contribution of proactive strategies and legislation to achieve this.

  Workplace and Work Equipment Hazards (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  Develop the skills required to inspect workplaces and work equipment and describe and review the causes of and methods of preventing or minimising the severity of accidents, fires and explosions with structures, plant, equipment and processes.

Download the course flyer

Download the course specification

Entry & applying

The BSc (Hons) is a top-up qualification allowing those applicants who can demonstrate appropriate learning at level 1 or 2 to access the 3rd year of a degree. Applicants are usually provided with some pre-reading material to ensure that they are adequately prepared for study at this level.

Students will require equivalent level 1 and 2 learning obtained through existing study e.g. BSc student who has completed year one and two of a degree course, Cert HE OHS Enforcement, NEBOSH Certificate with appropriate experience, Diploma in Nursing or other Professional Diploma.

Applicants may also have appropriate experience that can be recognised at level 2. Recognition and accreditation of learning (RAL) is available for those students who do not have evidence of level 1 or 2 learning but can demonstrate equivalent learning through other professional or work based activities and produce evidence of that work along with a persuasive statement of how the work has contributed to the students understanding of health and safety practice.

Entry requirements

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Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

There is currently a growing job market in occupational safetyand health. Many organisations both in the private and public sector employ health and safety advisors and managers to provide competent advice on all aspects of employee health, safety and welfare. Some graduate will eventually work in consultancy providing advice, assistance and training to a wide range of organisations.

Salaries vary according to qualification and experience. Starting salaries can range from £27- 30K, with senior professionals earning in excess of £50K.

Where do our graduates go?
Based on the data from respondents of the 2009-10 Destination of Leavers in Higher Education survey, six months after graduating 79% of BSc Occupational Safety and Health graduates were in a graduate job, with an average salary of £25,000.

Middlesex graduates from this group have been successful at gaining employment in the following roles:

Safety Officer, Care Coordinator, Union Representative, Health and Safety Manager.

For companies such as:

West London NHS, Central Middlesex Hospital, Watford Council, Tesco, London Underground, CLP Power, Sun Fook Kong Construction.