1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Occupational Health (Online)

Course Outline

UCC’s MSc Occupational Health is a part-time programme delivered wholly online offering students a structured programme with a flexible mode of learning. The programme integrates occupational health and safety into a multidisciplinary perspective. It offers students the opportunity to study modern cutting-edge scientific concepts and research evidence on causation, prevention, and management of work-related accidents, injury, and disease. The programme incorporates the following subject areas which can be then applied to practice.

The format of the teaching is conducive to student networking and the sharing of knowledge and practical experience. In several modules, students will work with practical case studies and engage in project work, reflective inquiry, and discussion.

This 90-credit MSc in Occupational Health online programme meets the needs of the busy professional, offering a flexible, yet structured, approach to learning. The programme is designed to allow people to undertake their studies while working simultaneously with the intention to meet work, personal and academic requirements. This programme consists of 90-credit modules, 70-credit of taught modules, and a 20-credit research dissertation module. 

Students take modules to the value of 90 credits as follows:

Part I - Year 1

• EH6107 Principles and Practices of Occupational Health and Safety (Online) (10 credits)
• EH6109 Occupational Health and Safety Management in the Workplace (Online) (10 credits)
• EH6153 Quantitative Research and Epidemiology (10 credits)
• LW6109 Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Law (online) (10 credits)

Part I - Year 2

Core Modules

• EH6110 Risk Assessment and Implementation of Health and Safety Management Programmes (10 credits)
• EH6141 Psychosocial Epidemiology (online) (5 credits)
• EH6142 Risk Assessment and Management of Psychosocial Risks (online) (5 credits)
• AD6073 Training and Development Issues in Occupational Health (online) (5 credits)

Elective Modules (choose one module)

• EH6000 Introduction to Implementation Research and Practice in Public Health (5 credits)
• EH6130 Critical Appraisal of Publications for Research and Practice (5 credits)
• EH6140 Environmental Health: Principal Aspects and Burden of Disease (5 credits)
• EH6159 Health Promotion II (5 credits)

Part II

• EH6114 Dissertation in Occupational Health, Safety, and Wellbeing (20 credits)

Learning Outcomes/Objectives

• Demonstrate an awareness of occupational health from a multidisciplinary perspective including occupational medicine, epidemiology, psychology, public health, safety science, law, training, and development;
• Practice measures to prevent disease and injury, and to protect and promote physical and mental health, safety, and well-being in occupational settings with the application of the newest research evidence;
• Perform risk assessments and management in the workplace for both physical and psychosocial risk factors;
• Employ skills to critically appraise publications and statistics and stay up-to-date with the newest research evidence;
• Design occupational health and safety training and development programmes in line with organisational policy;
• Design and carry out an ethical piece of scholarly research and health and safety programme evaluation;
• Systematically search and select credible and accurate sources of information for Occupational Health and Safety practice and research;
• Demonstrate an understanding of a specialised area and develop critical personal reflection of experience to shape future professional practice and development;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major legal principles relevant to occupational health and safety, employment and the environment.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

This programme will be taught online over 22 months. As this is a structured Masters programme, students have to engage with their coursework consistently for the duration of each module.

Course Practicalities

The programme is a completed value of 90 credits. Each 10-credit module will be delivered over 8 weeks and 5-credit modules delivered over 4 weeks with one module being delivered at a time according to the pre-determined programme calendar. Each 10-credit module consists of an estimated student workload of 200 hours, and it is 100 hours for a 5-credit module. This consists of online: 

• Self-directed learning, required readings and subject investigation
• E-tivities (e.g. student quizzes and regular participation in discussion boards)
• Preparation of written and/or oral assignments 

Assessment

A range of continuous assessments is used across the modules. These may include essays, case studies, online presentations, quizzes, accumulative report writing, reflective journal, and e-tivities.

Who teaches this course.

The course is delivered by the School of Public Health staff in conjunction with the School of Law and the Centre for Adult Continuing Education at University College Cork.

Why Choose This Course

Why Study this Course?

Skills and Careers Information

• Graduates already working in OSH or Occupational Health can progress in their career and move to higher-level managerial positions (e.g. Health and Safety Manager, Health Promotion Manager, Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager),
• Graduates who changed their career can move into employed positions in different industries, common job titles: occupational health officer, safety officer, health & safety officer, health and safety coordinator, quality officer, occupational health promotion officer, occupational health and wellbeing officer, environmental health officer, health and safety adviser, environmental health officer and ergonomist. Some of these posts may require further qualifications,
• Graduates can also apply for jobs in regulatory agencies, e.g. as a safety inspector,
• Graduates can set up their own Health and Safety or Health Promotion Consultancy Business,
• Others may stay in their current position (e.g. as an HR manager, safety engineer, occupational health nurse) and apply their broadened knowledge). The MSc in Occupational Health also offers the opportunity to further engage in research in this area and to pursue a PhD.

Requirements

Candidates for the MSc programme in Occupational Health Online must meet one of the following criteria:

• A Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a relevant area, for example, a health-related field (such as Public Health, Nursing, Medicine, Environmental Health, Psychology/Behavioural Science, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy); a business-related field (such as Human Resource Management, Management and Law), engineering-related (such as Ergonomics, Systems Engineering) or science-related (such as Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science). Relevant professional experience or work placement is desirable in an area relevant to occupational health, safety, welfare and well-being practice and/or research;

          Or

• A minimum of an NFQ Level 8 Diploma/Higher Diploma in Safety, Health and Welfare (minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 1), from UCC or an equivalent qualification² from another Institution (NFQ Level 8 Diploma, minimum Second Class Honours Grade I) AND a minimum of one year's professional work experience¹ in an area relevant to Occupational Health, Safety, Welfare and Wellbeing practice and/or research;

          Or

• Applicants with a minimum of three years of professional work experience and/or evidence of continuous professional development/ training in an associated area¹ of Occupational Health, Safety, Welfare and well-being may be invited for an interview to satisfy the selection committee of their suitability for the programme, under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

¹Areas of relevant professional work experience include, but are not limited to fields such as Health and Safety; Environmental Safety; Safety Engineering; Health Promotion; Work Psychology; Ergonomics; Human Resources; Training and Development; Occupational Health Nursing; Health Science.

²Level 8 examples: Diploma/Higher Diploma/International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety; Diploma in Environment Management, Diploma in Health Promotion, Diploma in Learning, Development and Work-based Training.

Technical Requirements

To access and interact with the course content, assignments and assessments etc., students will require access to at least a PC/Laptop running current Windows or Mac operating systems. Students will need to have admin rights on their PC/laptop to download UCC-approved software. Common plug-ins will also be required. Students must have access to MS Office or an equivalent suite of applications. They must also have access to a modern standards-compliant web browser. UCC recommends either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

• 
  To engage productively and successfully with the content, basic technical computer skills such as familiarity with word processing, web browsing and email are recommended.

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

• Please upload your CV here.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2025