Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management MSc

Why choose Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Management MSc at Middlesex?

The International Labour Organisation estimates that there are over a million work-related deaths and over 100 million workers affected by accidents or ill health each year. Companies are realising the importance and the financial benefits of protecting their employees.

This degree focuses on developing and implementing a safety culture through various approaches, such as process, behaviour-based safety, management systems, and adaptive systems. You will develop legal and technical knowledge so that you can lead workplace risk management processes. You will also gain skills in environmental assessment, which are highly valued by employers in health and safety roles.

The course is taught by a mix of academics and industry practitioners, leveraging our strong industry connections and professional body affiliations.

Whether you have experience in the field or are new to occupational health and safety (OH&S) roles in your organisation, this occupational health and safety and environmental management degree will enhance your understanding and prepare you for leadership safety and health workplace risk management roles.

The MSc course will integrate your industry experience and help you to develop policies, implement interventions, and improve your negotiation, advocacy, management, leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Both assessment and your project is designed to be undertaken in your workplace to give you an individual assessment opportunity.

All course tutors are practising consultants with strong ties to professional bodies, ensuring that you learn the latest developments and practices. You are encouraged to undertake an industry-based study for your project.

What you will gain

This Health and Safety master's degree course is designed for both experienced occupational health and safety (OH&S) professionals and those with workplace experience.

Fusing your existing experiences with theory the course gives you the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed for a successful career in occupational health and safety. You will develop a critical and creative mindset towards professional practice, enabling you to solve problems and prioritise solutions effectively.

You will also gain the ability to independently select, apply, and evaluate various inspection and investigation techniques. With this knowledge, you will confidently make decisions and recommendations in complex occupational health and safety and environmental (OHSE) situations.

As a student, you will gain valuable experience by accessing:

• The Barbour Index – a leading source of health and safety information in the UK
• Our excellent facilities include a specialised laboratory for environmental and occupational safety, providing access to monitoring and other equipment.

Changes from September 2025

Our offering will be, in effect, a new programme titled MSc Strategic Leadership in Occupational Safety and Health. This is a now a professional practice award designed for those with Level 6 knowledge (BSc or NEBOSH Diploma) of Safety and Health Management. The project and assessment are practice based using student’s workplace environments. Entry criteria depends on the candidate’s individual circumstances and includes:

• Minimum 2:2 or better bachelors award demonstrating an ability to study at Level 7, plus,
• Evidence of Level 6 qualification in Health and Safety or a portfolio, demonstrating an appropriate understanding of Risk Management Processes in their chosen industry with relevant experience,
• Confirmation that the candidate is able to access a workplace during their studies
• An overall score of IELTs 6.5 and above 6.0 with all components where required

Study is best undertaken part time, only requiring 6 days on campus per term (36 Hours) (plus an induction before the first module) plus 12 hours per term engagement on line. Students will also have a Personal Academic Advisor.

As well as the final workplace project the programme will comprise 4 Modules:

• Strategic Risk Management (including Business Continuity and Emergency Management)
• Leadership, Change and Project Management
• Healthy Workplaces and Industrial Hygiene
• H&S Practice; Operational Risks and Technology

At master’s level we l help you develop the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

• decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations, and
• the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development

If students are considering a career in Environmental Management we would suggest you consider our Sustainability and Environmental Management MSc offering.

About your course

In this course, you will learn about the importance of organisational culture and how management and leadership strategies can improve safety performance. We will also cover risk communication, risk decision-making, hazard analysis, risk assessment, risk modelling, and determined risk acceptability.

You will gain practical knowledge of workplace hazards, such as chemicals, physical factors, and biological agents, and how they can act together to affect safety and health.

You will explore the main components of environmental management systems and their role in pollution prevention working with legislation, and environmental regulators.

Finally, you will create and develop your own case study on the risks associated with common commercial and industrial processes and the concept of Best Available Technology (BAT) in industrial environmental management and control.

To find out more about this course, please download the MSc Strategic Leadership in Occupational Safety and Health course specification (PDF).

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

How can the Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Management MSc support your career?

This course will equip you for a range of roles in areas such as occupational health, occupational hygiene, environmental management, risk management and consultancy, both in the UK and abroad.

You will be encouraged to seek and take up employment opportunities during your studies to view job roles from the occupational health and safety perspective. We will build on your experiences to embed a more comprehensive understanding of safety practices.

Career paths

Some of the roles our graduates have gone on to work as health, safety and environment advisor, or within a specialist consultancy or as a self-employed practitioner.

Previous students have worked for Transport for London, Ferrovial, St Georges, NHS trusts, Local Authorities, Government agencies, Universities, Human Factors (ergonomics) and facilities management.

MDXworks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:

• The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023.
• A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.

Start-Up accelerator programme

We can help you bring your business idea to life with our MDXcelerator programme which includes masterclasses with high-profile entrepreneurs, workshops, mentoring opportunities and competitions to secure seed funding.

Global alumni network

You’ll be studying with students from 122 countries who’ll become part of your personal global network. You'll learn how to work with a global mindset and make invaluable connections on your course for your chosen industry.

Fees and funding

The fees below refer to the 2025/26 academic year unless otherwise stated.

UK students

Full-time students: £10,700
Part-time students: £71 per credit
Part-time students: £35 per dissertation credit

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide

For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.

The fees below refer to the 2024/25 academic year unless otherwise stated.

International students

Full-time students: £17,100
Part-time students: £114 per credit
Part-time students: £57 per dissertation credit

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part-time study are shown here as a guide

For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.

The following study tools are included in your fees:

• Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
• Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
• Free printing for academic paperwork
• Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

• The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
• The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
• The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
• The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
• Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Help from your employer

Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.