MSc Occupational Hygiene

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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.

Your application form must be accompanied by the following supporting documents:

• two references on letter headed paper, signed and dated within six months of your application. We do not contact referees directly;
• official degree certificates (certified translation if not in English);
• official university transcripts (certified translation 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 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).

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.

Every student is allocated an experienced dissertation supervisor.

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. In this component the emphasis is on developing your critical appraisal skills and your capacity to demonstrate leadership and management of occupational health issues.

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.

The postgraduate course in Occupational Hygiene 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 (e.g. 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 course 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 part-time course comprises a blend of specially commissioned written materials, together with interactive teaching and learning methods, delivered on the University's virtual learning environment, Blackboard.

Some of the course unit 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. All units are assessed through assignment/examination.

Various seminar days are provided during the course. During your first year, Unit 1 and Unit 2 require attendance in Manchester for a practical seminar day and unit assessment. Unit 3 and Unit 4 are delivered with additional online tutorials supported by field specialists in occupational hygiene.

Units 5-8 are completed in Year 2 with attendance for assessment and practical field work.

Progression to MSc requires the completion of a 15000 word dissertation and attendance at a 3 day Dissertation Workshop.

Once you are enrolled with us we will provide you with a full calendar of seminar days, workshop and examination dates for the duration of your course. These will be easily accessible to you via the My Manchester.

You will require regular access to a modern personal computer (Windows or Mac) with a stable internet connection. You should be confident in using the internet for web browsing and sending emails and also using word processing software, such as Microsoft Word.

Discover more about University of Manchester online and blended learning .

All Postgraduate Certificate (Year 1) and Postgraduate Diploma (Year 2) taught course units have examinations held in Manchester or one of its Global Assessment Centres at intervals throughout the course.

The MSc (Year 3) commences with a three day residential course in September and culminates with the electronic submission of your completed Dissertation.

Our course 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 course 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.  

Information on careers in Occupational Hygiene can be found on the website of the British Occupational Hygiene Society .