Overview
- Degree awarded
- MSc (PGDip, PGCert exit awards), CPD
- Duration
- MSc 1 year full-time, MSc 2 or 3 years part-time
- Entry requirements
-
We require a good honours degree (Lower Second or above), preferably in a science discipline. In lieu of the usual entry requirements, extensive professional experience, coupled with evidence of further training or qualifications, will be considered.
- How to apply
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.
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSc | N | N | Y | Y |
| PGDip | N | N | N | Y |
| PGCert | N | N | N | Y |
Course overview
- Join the largest and longest standing programme of postgraduate occupational hygiene in the UK.
- Study at a University ranked No.1 globally for impact (THE).
- Follow a syllabus that is accredited by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) and approved by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) London and Royal College of Physicians (London and Ireland).
- Develop critical appraisal skills and the capacity to lead an occupational health team at a senior management level.
- Recognise, evaluate and control hazards in the workplace, including chemical, physical and biological agents.
- Study when it suits you with our full-time or part-time online blended learning courses.
Open days
Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days .
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2023, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MSc (full-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £14,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,750 -
MSc (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £14,000 (£5,600 per annum in year 1 and 2; £2,800 year 3)
International, including EU, students (per annum): 28750 (£11,500 per annum in year 1 and 2; Year 3 £5,750) -
PGDip (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £5,600 per annum
International, including EU, students (per annum): 11500 -
PGCert (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £5,600
International, including EU, students (per annum): £11,500
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
Students opting for MSc 1 year full-time or 2 year part-time course of study could qualify for a PGT loan from the UK government. Please see our university pages or contact admissions.
Students studying our MSc course over 3 years part-time may also be eligible for a postgraduate loan if there is no other suitable full time equivalent course available in the UK at the time of application. Please contact admissions for more information.
The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition and administration costs during your studies.
Please note: The fees do not cover any costs for travel, accommodation, professional exams, etc.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
A number of our students are sponsored by their employers or the governments of their home countries.
Additional expenses
The University permits applicants with comparable previous experience to submit an application for consideration of Accreditation Prior (Experiential) Learning (AP(E)L). The maximum AP(E)L is 15 credits to a PG Cert, 45 credits to a PG Dip and 60 credits to an MSc.
If your AP(E)L application is successful, the University charges £30 for every 15 credits of AP(E)L. The overall tuition fee is adjusted and then the administrative charge is applied.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Contact name
- Postgraduate Admissions Team
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 529 4563
- pgtaught.cbm@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/public-health-data/
- School/Faculty
-
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a good honours degree (Lower Second or above), preferably in a science discipline. In lieu of the usual entry requirements, extensive professional experience, coupled with evidence of further training or qualifications, will be considered.
English language
Specifically, we require a minimum of:
- IELTS : minimum 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing
- TOEFL: 90 internet-based (with 22 in each component)
See further information about requirements for your country .
If the language of instruction of your first degree was English, but you obtained the degree from a university of a non-majority English-speaking country, the English language requirement may be waived for applicants on our CPD programme provided written evidence is submitted.
English language test validity
Some English language test results are only valid for two years. Your English language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Other international entry requirements
International students should note that attendance in Manchester may be encouraged for the Practical Occupational Hygiene course during your course of study. This is to ensure you get the most out of the professional practical training.
Please contact the programme admissions team for confirmation of any on-campus events this academic year pgtaught.cbm@manchester.ac.uk
Relevant work experience
Other entry requirements
You will require regular access to a personal computer (Windows or Mac) with a stable internet connection. You should be confident in using the internet for web browsing, sending emails and using word processing software, such as Microsoft Word.
Application and selection
How to apply
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.
Advice to applicants
Your application form must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:
- copies of official degree certificates (with translations if not in English) if you have already graduated;
- copies of official university transcripts (with translations if not in English) if you have not yet graduated;
- proof of English language proficiency (if required).
Supporting documents can be uploaded with the online application form or sent directly to pgtaught.cbm@manchester.ac.uk
After applying, please do not submit documents in any other way without telling us first so we can provide you with the most efficient service.
Please make sure you include your University ID number on any correspondence and do not send any documents before you have submitted your application.
How your application is considered
Interview requirements
Deferrals
Re-applications
Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for the year of entry. In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved.
We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the university as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
Course details
Course description
Our online blended learning MSc in Occupational Hygiene course will equip you with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to work occupational hygiene and occupational health, culminating in an academic qualification accredited by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS).
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.
The course gives you the opportunity to apply your knowledge and develop experience in research methods applied to a problem of particular interest to you. In the dissertation component the emphasis is on developing your critical appraisal and analysis skills to demonstrate leadership and management of occupational health issues. Every student is allocated an experienced dissertation supervisor.
As a graduate of this course, you will have knowledge to recognise, evaluate and control hazards in the workplace, including chemical, physical and biological agents.
Certain aspects of the course also link closely to the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (London) curriculum giving you a unique opportunity to interact with students studying to be occupational physicians and develop professional links as an occupational hygienist.
Aims
The course delivers academic knowledge and practical training in occupational and industrial hygiene and health, aiming to develop a practitioner with:
- core skills and knowledge 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 the scope covered within occupational hygiene such as legislation, toxicological basis for standard setting, methods commonly used to evaluate hazardous agents, and related and overlapping health profession roles in occupational hygiene.
- an academic qualification that is accredited by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS);
- critical evaluation skills in occupational hygiene to prevent or minimise ill health in the workplace.
We will teach you the rudiments of research methods, critical appraisal and critical objectivity so that on a life-long basis you will apply your knowledge to assess for, and make, evidence based decisions.
Special features
You will be taught by occupational health academics, Chartered Occupational Hygenists and various chartered and medically-qualified professionals working in the field of occupational health. Our tecaching emphasises real world occupational health and hygiene issues, current and emerging controls, leadership and management.
Flexible online blended learning
Most of the course content is delivered online, enabling you to fit study around other commitments. On campus activities are offered during your study and are held in Manchester, but attendance is not compulsory. For certain units there are face-to-face sessions, including our on-campus Occupational Hygiene practical course. You will be notified of key dates at the start of the course.
Networking opportunities
You will have the opportunity to network and study with trainee occupational physicians, working closely with our MSc Occupational Medicine programme in some common areas of study.Additional course information
Explore Public Health at The University of Manchester
The teaching and research academics on MSc Occupational Hygiene work closely with the British Occupational Hygiene Society and most are members of the Society. The link gives more information on career development, events and networking.
As a University of Manchester student you can join the BOHS free of charge. We recommend joining the Society as soon as you register to benefit from the extensive events and activities offered each year.
As a student of occupational hygiene you can also join the Society of Occupational Medicine which is open to health professionals working in occupational health. The teaching team are also members of this Society.
Teaching and learning
The online blended learning course comprises specially commissioned online materials, together with interactive teaching and learning methods, delivered on the University's virtual learning environment, Blackboard.
You will learn from experienced occupational hygienists, statisticians, environmental exposure experts and occupational physicians.
Course units include online live and recorded lectures or seminars and online tutorial time, providing an opportunity to explore concepts and approaches to problem solving in discussion with both the tutor and your peers.
A learning structure with a recommended pace is in place for each unit. All units are assessed through assignment/examination.
All our lectures, seminars and tutorials are delivered online. Our Practical Occupational Hygiene course is delivered on-campus in Manchester each Spring. This is optional but we strongly recommend attendance. Students find this course highly beneficial. It is included in your course fee. Travel costs associated with visiting campus are not included.
Comments from our 2022 event:
“Excellent opportunity to connect with other health professionals. I’m a practical learner. I felt welcomed and included from the offset. A very enjoyable experience.”
“I found the practical session of the noise exposure measurement, thermal comfort and air sampling very real and useful. I also found the incorporation of statistics teaching at the workshop very helpful for my research. I was able to meet other students in the profession of occupational health.”
Once you are enrolled with us we will provide you with a timetable of our online welcome and seminar days, workshops, tutorials and assessment dates.
Discover more about The University of Manchester's online and blended learning here.
Coursework and assessment
Taught course units have a variety of assignments and examinations at intervals throughout the course.
Support is available from the course tutors alongside a comprehensive Reading List Online resource. You will have full student access to The University of Manchester Library, one of only five national research libraries with more than 4 million printed books, manuscripts and 50,000 unique electronic journals and 800,000 electronic books. With access to several hundred databases this is one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the UK.Course unit details
You will study in-depth the occupationally-related disease impacts and the practical occupational hygiene assessment, management and leadership factors important in occupational hygiene control and occupational health management.
Students are required to complete the following for the award of:
- MSc - you must complete 8 taught units (120 credits) and the Dissertation (60 credits) or 10 taught units (150 credits) and the Critical Review (30 credits) (Total 180 credits)
- Postgraduate Diploma - you must complete 8 taught units (120 credits)
- Postgraduate Certificate - you must complete 4 taught units (60 credits)
You can choose from a range of dissertation models to suit your work situation and interest. You will submit a proposal for review and discussion. When approved you are assigned an experienced dissertation supervisor.
PGDip and PGCert qualifications are available as exit awards only.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Exposure Control | POPH60161 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Occupational Exposure Assessment | POPH63182 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Methods and Data Analysis | POPH68802 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Understanding Physical Agents | POPH68821 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Health and Workability | POPH68842 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Fitness for Work (September) | POPH68861 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Foundation for Postgraduate Practice (September) | POPH68881 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Occupational Health Management | POPH68892 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Dissertation for Occupational Medicine and Occupational Hygiene | POPH69000 | 60 | Mandatory |
Scholarships and bursaries
For the latest scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.
Equity and Merit Scholarships are for academically excellent students who have the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in their home countries.
The awards are intended for those who cannot afford to study in Manchester without a scholarship. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and all applications are considered on their merit. We particularly encourage women to apply. To apply for a scholarship for this programme under this scheme you must be looking to study a part-time, distance learning master’s (three to five years duration).
The MSc Occupational Hygiene can be studied part time with a 3 year study option. There are 30 scholarships (20 for full-time study and ten for online study) available each year for a range of courses in engineering, environment, health sciences, development, education, textiles and law.
The scheme is open to applicants from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Facilities
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service .
CPD opportunities
Careers
Career opportunities
The MSc programme is designed for students who are working in a wide variety of roles and sectors. Our course will show you best practice in the evaluation, management and control of occupational health hazards for worker health protection and occupational health improvement.
We combine the academic and practical aspects of occupational hygiene and health to help your career development in occupational and industrial hygiene relevant to many sectors, including manufacturing and petrochemical industries, mining, aerospace, retail, hospitality and healthcare businesses.
Information on careers in Occupational Hygiene can be found via the British Occupational Hygiene Society.
Accrediting organisations
The MSc is accredited by the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS).
Students who successfully pass the MSc or PGDip (early exit point) are eligible to commence on the BOHS pathway to Chartered Membership of the FOH.
The MSc qualification exempts graduates from one element of the Chartered Membership assessment process.