MSc Occupational Hygiene

Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days .

Please apply via our online application form . See the application and selection section for details of the supporting documents we require.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

• Two references on letter headed paper, signed and dated within six months of your application. We do not contact referees directly.
• Official degree certificates (with translations if not in English).
• Official university transcripts (with translations if not in English).
• A personal statement explaining why you want to do the course.
• Full CV including voluntary experience.
• If English is not your first language, we require proof of your English language ability. If you have already taken an English language qualification, please include your certificate with your application. We may be willing to consider your application without this document, but if we choose to make you an offer, the conditions will include IELTS (or equivalent qualification).

Supporting documents can be uploaded and submitted with the online application form, or if this is not possible, be sent directly to  pgtaught.cbm@manchester.ac.uk . We are unable to consider your application if you have not provided all of the necessary documents listed above.

You must include your University ID number on any correspondence and do not send any documents before you have submitted your application.

Our part-time blended learning MSc Occupational Hygiene course will equip you with a wide range of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to work in areas related to occupational hygiene, culminating in an academic qualification accredited by the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene (FOH) within the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS).

As a graduate of this course, you will have knowledge necessary to recognise, evaluate and control hazards in the workplace, including chemical, physical and biological agents.

In the taught component of the course, the emphasis is on acquiring a thorough understanding of the theoretical principles and research methodologies underpinning the topic covered by each unit.

Emphasis is placed on the development of your critical appraisal skills and your capacity to lead an occupational health team at a senior management level.

Completing the MSc dissertation is an opportunity to apply your knowledge and develop experience in research methods applied to a problem of particular interest to you.

Every student is allocated an experienced dissertation supervisor.  

The Postgraduate Diploma programme delivers academic and practical  training in occupational hygiene and health, aiming to develop a practitioner with;

• an appreciation of the skills necessary to recognise, evaluate and control hazardous substances in the workplace, encompassing hazards such as chemical, physical (eg. noise, radiation), biological and ergonomic agents;
• knowledge of to the wide variety of aspects covered within the occupational hygiene discipline such as legislation, toxicological basis for standard setting, methods commonly used to evaluate hazardous agents, and related and overlapping health profession roles in worker health protection;
• an academic qualification that is accredited by the Faculty of Occupational Hygiene (FOH) within the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS);
• a level 7 academic and practical experience on which to build and extend your knowledge of occupational hygiene  and health throughout your career.

The Master of Science programme aims to;

• encourage  critical evaluation of  occupational hygiene and exploration of other philosophical and practical approaches to minimising ill health in the workplace;
• develop powers of critical appraisal, analytical thinking and logical argument.

The course comprises a blend of specially commissioned written materials in electronic format (PDF), together with interactive teaching material, all delivered via the University's virtual learning environment, Blackboard.

Each module includes online tutorial time, providing an opportunity to re-address concepts and approaches to problem solving in discussion with both the tutor and your peers.

In Year 1, you are required to attend in Manchester for a one day seminar associated with Module 1 in month 3, and the same for Module 2 in month 5 and for one exam day in month 10.

You are allocated to tutorial groups for Modules 4 to 8, each supported by a specialist in occupational hygiene. Tutorials are delivered via telephone or web conference.

In Year 2, you are required to attend in Manchester for a four-day practical course in month 5 and for one exam day in month 10.

In Year 3, you are required to attend a three-day MSc dissertation course held at the University in month 1.

All examinations are held at the University.

Some components of the course are held jointly with students on our MSc Occupational Medicine course.

You can view  sample study materials  and  MSc abstracts and papers .

All taught course units will be assessed via examinations held at university assessment centres at intervals throughout the course, and the third year will be assessed via electronic submission of your completed Dissertation

Assessment is by eight examination papers, one per course module. The first will be taken at Seminar 1 (Year 1, month 3) and the second at Seminar 2 (Year 1, month 5). The remaining Year 1 assessments will be taken in month 10. For Year 2, assessments will be held in month 5 and 10.

If you wish to proceed to the MSc, you are also required to complete a third year, during which you will attend a mandatory three day residential course (in month 1) and prepare a dissertation.

Our programme will show you best practice in the evaluation, management and control of occupational hazards for worker health protection  and workplace health improvement.

This is a highly desirable skill set and Occupational Hygienists are employed in a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing and petrochemical industries, mining, aerospace, retail, hospitality and healthcare businesses.

Our programme combines the academic and practical aspects of worker health protection to enable you to contribute during your career to the development of occupational hygiene practice and workplace health improvement.