Master of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate evidence-based knowledge and skills that meet the competency standards required by professional accrediting bodies and certification organisations.
2. Research, analyse and apply established theories to knowledge and practice in the discipline of OHSE in an Australian and International business context.
3. Master and apply high-level practice skills in the discipline of OHSE with reference to legislation and industry standards.
4. Apply professional and community ethical and legal standards to practice.
5. Critique, analyse and apply twenty-first-century communication and sophisticated, professional management skills.

This degree provides you with advanced technical competencies in occupational health, safety and environmental management theory and practice. The twelve units will prepare you for a management-level position in the industry. 

By studying this fully online course you’ll gain the educational requirements to seek certification as an OHS professional and you may be eligible for a discounted membership to the Australian Institute of Health and Safety. The course is fully accredited by the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board (AOHSEAB). 

The Master of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management delivers distinct, but integrated, units taught by practitioner academics, so you can develop your skills with true industry perspective. All our units are embedded with the United Nations sustainable goals and you will have flexibility in your choice of electives, including an option to undertake a research project under supervision.

A graduate certificate and graduate diploma in occupational health, safety and environmental management are available as awards for this course.

Recommended study pattern

All Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management students are advised to start the degree with the introductory subject OHSE601 Principles of OHSE Management.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management student must complete a total of 120 credit points - 90 from specified units and 30 from elective units.

Exit points

A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available as exit awards from the Master of OHSEM.

The Graduate Diploma and Masters of Occupational Health Safety and Environmental are programs that are accredited with the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board. This means students who graduate from these degrees will be deemed to have met the OHS qualification content requirement for Certification at the OHS Professional level (administered by the Safety Institute of Australia).

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

Indicative total fee $39,483

The amounts shown here are 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.

Australian Catholic University – So much more

An Australian Catholic University (ACU) education is grounded in the Catholic understanding of faith and reason working together in the pursuit of knowledge, promotion of human dignity, and advancement of the common good.

ACU aims to transform lives and communities. Students are challenged to look beyond the classroom, solve real-world problems, develop their own search for meaning and cultivate strong professional ethics. They are invited to stand up for people in need and causes that matter.

Opportunities for personal and professional growth are critical to ACU. It is a university of service – so much so that it is built into the curricula. All ACU courses offer work placements, internships or volunteering opportunities.

Learn more about Australian Catholic University

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

33

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

27

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:

• Bachelor degree in a related discipline; or
• Bachelor degree in a different discipline and evidence of two years industry experience; or
• Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Management.

Students whose first language is not English must have either:

• successfully completed at least one full-time year of study in secondary or higher education where the medium of study was English; or
• demonstrated their English proficiency, as set out below:
  • IELTS: minimum overall score of 6.5 with individual scores of 6.0 in all tests; OR
  • PTE: 58 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills;  OR
  • TOEFL: Internet based total of 79: with a minimum of 21 for writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening; OR
  • CAE: Overall CAE of 176. Minimum individual score of 169 in all tests.

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.