Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hygiene

At the end of the program, students of the Graduate Diploma of Occupational Hygiene can:

1. Reflect critically on a complex body of discipline knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate an advanced level of Occupational Hygiene professional practice or scholarship.
2. Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise complex occupational hygiene ideas, concepts and theories in workplace situations.
3. Apply communication and collaboration skills to demonstrate high-level, independent judgement in professional occupational hygiene contexts.

Occupational Hygienists aim to identify, manage and control occupational and environmental hazards across all industries including advising organisations and local communities about the potential health impacts as a result of exposure to hazards. This course will enable you to develop skills as a technician in occupational hygiene, including in the practical aspects of identifying, evaluating, and controlling occupational hazards that could adversely affect the health of workers. You’ll learn about practical skills required to undertake the chemical, physical and biological aspects of occupational hygiene as well as occupational epidemiology, occupational toxicology and the theory of sampling design, depending on the electives chosen. You will apply communication and collaboration skills to demonstrate professional judgement in occupational hygiene contexts. If you’ve completed units in the Graduate Certificate of Occupational Hygiene, you’ll receive credit towards this course. The Diploma can be used as an entry pathway into the Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Occupational Hygiene 1: Chemical Aspects
• Occupational Hygiene 2: Physical and Biological Aspects.
• Occupational Hygiene 3: Control
• Occupational Epidemiology
• Occupational Hygiene Sampling and Study Design
• Occupational Toxicology.

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

Students are required to complete 120 credit points.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $26,400

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

26

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

25

Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor degree; or
• Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.

Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0)
• Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page for Band 4
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent)
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; OR
• Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page for Band 4.

If you have completed units of study in another Postgraduate course or have relevant professional experience, you may be eligible for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning (CRPL).

To assess your eligibility for credit, we first need you to apply for and accept an offer in your course of interest with us. You can then submit an Application for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning via your Student Portal.

Students in this course will undertake industrial site visits as part of the workshops for OHS6144, OHS6159 and OHS6162 so they can gain experience in undertaking occupational hygiene exposure assessments in a workplace.

Students are required to attend a 3-day workshop for each of the three (3) practical units (OHS6144, OHS6159 & OHS6162).