Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Do you want to boost your career prospects by studying for an occupational health, safety and environmental management Master's degree alongside your current job?
Whether you want to progress your career as an Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Practitioner or specialise in managing HSE in fields such as construction, nuclear or oil and gas, this MSc Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management through the Learning at Work Masters course gives you the skills, knowledge and confidence to fulfil your ambitions.
Because the course is work-based, you need to already be in a full-time, part-time or voluntary role. If you don't have an undergraduate degree, you could still do this postgraduate course if you have several years experience in a responsible position or you have high-level skills through experience that isn't reflected in your qualifications.
You can tailor the course to match your professional and personal aspirations and your employer's objectives. You'll be able to schedule your studies around your existing commitments, and to take advantage of flexibility in the submission deadlines for your work-based projects. As there are no residential requirements, you can study wherever is most convenient for you.
You'll get to put the skills you learn to work instantly in your job, contributing to the success of your company. When you complete the course, you'll improve your career prospects and have the skills and knowledge to perform more effectively in your job.
This course is a fixed 3-year course, which means the course will last for 3 years with no flexibility in extending or shortening the course. This course allows you to apply for a postgraduate loan if you are based in England. Should you wish greater flexibility and the opportunity to apply for Recognised Prior Learning, please take a look at our flexible MSc.
Approved by:
Students who successfully complete these courses automatically qualify for GradIEMA (Graduate) professional status which is recognised in the marketplace. Students can also fast track to PIEMA (Practitioner Status) once completed a work based competence assessment.
On this course, you'll:
- Choose topics that match your personal and professional goals, as well as your employer's objectives
- Develop your ability to analyse problems, research and propose solutions, and make sound professional judgements when faced with the organisational, financial and management aspects of a business
- Take part in work-based learning (WBL) projects enabling you to gain new learning in the context of your role, which ensures that the knowledge you develop is relevant to your employer's business
- Get an optional 1-day induction in Portsmouth at the start of the course
- Develop your learning plan with the University and your employer, so you can make an effective contribution to your workplace as you learn
- Have full access to our student support services and community including study support, sports and recreation facilities, and the Students' Union
- Tap in to our Library's electronic resources, which you can access from anywhere with a Web connection
- Choose a Workplace Mentor to support your learning – someone at work who can offer advice, guidance, and moral support
- Have support from an academic tutor specialising in your area of study and a University learning manager who oversees your programme
- Use online tutorials and lectures to help you with study skills, including your analytical and writing skills
Contact us
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- A degree or equivalent. Other qualifications such as HNDs and Foundation degrees, supported by several years of relevant post-qualification experience in responsible posts, may also be acceptable.
- Applicants are usually working at a professional level.
- Appropriate experience and proven aptitude in health and safety, a certificated professional/vocational qualification or an undergraduate degree or equivalent.
- If you do not hold a level 6 qualification you may be required to present evidence of your ability to study at level 6.
-
Applicants may be asked to attend an online interview.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Qualifications or experience
- A degree or equivalent. Other qualifications such as HNDs and Foundation degrees, supported by several years of relevant post-qualification experience in responsible posts, may also be acceptable.
- Applicants are usually working at a professional level.
- Appropriate experience and proven aptitude in health and safety, a certificated professional/vocational qualification or an undergraduate degree or equivalent.
- If you do not hold a level 6 qualification you may be required to present evidence of your ability to study at level 6.
-
Applicants may be asked to attend an online interview.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Costs and funding
Tuition fees
To achieve a postgraduate Master's degree, you need to accumulate a total of 180 credits. Tuition fees may be subject to annual increase.
January 2025 start
All fees subject to annual increase.
UK / EU / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / International students: £12,000 a year
September 2025 / January 2026 start
All fees subject to annual increase.
UK / EU / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / International students: £12,200 a year
We'll apply an even yearly split to your course fee, over the three academic years. If you want us to consider an alternative schedule of payments, please contact us before the course start date.
If you're an armed forces student in receipt of funding, e.g. ELCAS, any documentation must show the correct start date and tuition fee. If not, we can't accept it and you'll have to pay the course fee yourself.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
If you choose to study online modules you may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module. Most texts are available online through the library.
How you'll study
On this Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management Master’s degree, you’ll work with our Learning at Work team and your employer to arrange a programme of study that reflects your existing experience, your personal and professional goals, and your current employment situation. This makes up your Learning Contract.
Through a sequence of work-based learning projects, you’ll develop your ability to analyse a problem and deliver a professional solution, with support from a workplace mentor, academic tutors, online lectures and a suite of virtual learning tools hosted by the university. You don’t need to attend the campus if you don’t want to, but you will have an invitation to an induction day and to make use of student facilities here in Portsmouth.
Your learning contract
Your study will include up to three elements:
- Learning Management: You'll set out a plan to shape your learning, and prepare for the research reports you'll produce.
- Work-based learning (WBL) projects: You will do at least one mandatory 60 credit project, where you’ll practise new skills and develop your knowledge alongside your current role. This project won't involve activities you do in your day-to-day job, as it will need to involve new learning for you - but will be relevant to your career, and your own professional development here can support the goals and objectives of your organisation.
- Learning modules: You will study some core modules and may also have the option to study additional modules, which will involve studying in a more formally-structured manner. Please contact learningatwork@port.ac.uk to discuss the choice of modules available.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Course duration
This course is a 3-year fixed course. You'll study the full 180 credits. You'll study the modules and work based project(s) alongside your day job.
Learning support
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Extra support
To help you juggle this course alongside your work and home life, you'll get extra support from:
- a Workplace Mentor chosen by you – someone at work who can offer advice, guidance, and moral support
- an Academic Tutor specialising in your area of study
- a Learning Manager who oversees your programme
Teaching
How you're taught will depend on which modules you take and the work-based learning projects you do.
Most of the course is delivered via our interactive virtual learning environment. With access to all the study material you’ll need, discussion forums, and the chance to connect with peers and lecturers via chat sessions, you’ll have plenty of academic support and heaps of resources.
How you're assessed
The way you're assessed will depend on which modules you take and the work-based learning projects you do.
Support while you study
Types of support
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
To help you juggle this course alongside your work and home life, you'll get extra support from:
- a Workplace Mentor chosen by you – someone at work who can offer advice, guidance, and moral support
- an Academic Tutor specialising in your area of study
- a Learning Manager who oversees your programme
Apply
Before you apply for this course, please contact learningatwork@port.ac.uk to discuss the content of your programme of study. Read our information about the application process to find out more.
Ready to apply?
When you're ready to start your application, choose your start date.
You can study this course starting in either September or January each year. To apply for the upcoming courses, please follow the links below:
January 2025
If you’re interested in applying for a later entry point to this Master’s, please email us on learningatwork@port.ac.uk and we'll contact you when your application period opens - that is, at the end of October for a January start course, or at the end of February for a course that begins in September.
You can study this course starting in either September or January each year. To apply for the upcoming courses, please follow the links below:
September 2025
January 2026
If you’re interested in applying for a later entry point to this Master’s, please email us on learningatwork@port.ac.uk and we'll contact you when your application period opens - that is, at the end of October for a January start course, or at the end of February for a course that begins in September.
If you'd like to discuss this course with us, you can join one of our weekly online sessions with a Learning at Work admissions officer. Contact learningatwork@port.ac.uk for details on joining.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.
Information for international students
At Portsmouth, we welcome students from more than 150 countries across the globe. However, please note that this learning at work course is not eligible for a student visa.
Recognition of work-based and distance learning courses
Our Learning at Work degrees at levels 6 and 7 are approved by the University under its powers to award degrees. They comply with the Office for Students (OFS) and Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) standards in the United Kingdom.
These qualifications are generally recognised internationally but as with distance learning type courses, each country will have its own regulations and rules on work based and distance learning education. You should check with the qualification recognition authority in the country you reside in or intend to use the degrees to secure employment, that the Learning at Work degrees are recognised by them before you commit to studying with us.
We also strongly recommend you check that your employer recognises the value of our work based/distance learning courses. Some countries, including Singapore, state the 'value of the qualification is subject to the employer'.
We are currently unable to offer our courses to applicants who are nationals of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.
If you're not a national citizen but are working or living in these countries, you can enrol onto our Learning at Work courses. You'll need to sign an Applicant Declaration Letter to confirm you understand that the University of Portsmouth won't accept any liability issues you may have with the recognition of your distance learning course, with your government or employer.
If you’re a national or foreign national in India or China, you can enrol onto our Learning at Work courses. You'll need to sign an Applicant Declaration Letter to confirm you understand that the University of Portsmouth won't accept any liability issues you may have with the recognition of your distance learning course, with your government or employer.
We're unable to accept enrolment from nationals or foreign nationals from Oman.