This degree is no longer offered. You may be interested in other courses
Master of Occupational Health, Safety & Environmental Management
PostgraduateACU-OHS-MAS2020
Course information for 2020 intake
There is an increasing focus on OHSEM requirements across all industries
Progress into leadership with in demand OHSEM skills. Advance your knowledge of hazards, risk, environmental safety law, auditing, research, and administration. Accredited by The Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 12
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Occupational Health, Safety & Environmental Management
About this degree
Upon successful completion of the requirements for this degree, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate evidence-based knowledge and skills that meet the competency standards required by professional accrediting bodies and certification organisations
- Research, analyse and apply established theories to knowledge and practice in the discipline of OHSE in an Australian and International business context
- Master and apply high-level practice skills in the discipline of OHSE with reference to legislation and industry standards
- Apply professional and community ethical and legal standards to practice
- Critique, analyse and apply twenty-first century communication and sophisticated, professional interpersonal skills.
This master degree is far more than just an occupational health and safety degree. In addition to learning about hazard identification, risk assessment and applying control measures and monitoring their effectiveness, you will also study environmental assessment and modelling, environmental and safety law, auditing, research methods, managerial skills and business administration issues.
Students will also conduct a research project that will give them specialised knowledge and expertise in a particular field.
A master degree in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management (OHSEM) is in high demand thanks to the recent introduction of national legislation and the increasing focus on ensuring OHSEM and Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirements are met in organisations.
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).
Degree Recognition
ACU’s Masters of Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Management has been awarded accreditation by The Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board for a maximum of five years, from 2017 through to 2021.
For further information on The Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board visit: http://www.ohseducationaccreditation.org.au/about-us/
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 students must complete 11 subjects including one double subject, MGMT618 Research Project.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
For students who commenced the Master of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management prior to 2017, please take note of the following:
- Do not enrol into MGMT621 Management of Change if you have successfully completed OHSE622 OHSE Epidemiology.
- Do not enrol into MGMT627 Project Management if you have successfully completed OHSE621 Toxicology and Occupational Hygiene.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $38,500
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.
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 35
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
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 a minimum five years industry experience; or
- Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Management
In special circumstances, applicants can submit a proposal alongside a formal application, demonstrating their knowledge, experience, and skills as such that they are likely to succeed in the program.
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: 61 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills Or
TOEFL: Internet based total of 90: with a minimum of 25 for writing Or
CAE: Overall CAE of 176. Minimum individual score of 169 in all tests.
RPL or credit may be granted according to ACU policies. Applicants are advised to contact the degree administrator.
Career opportunities
OHSE professional practitioners are in demand because of the increasing focus on the management of occupational health, safety and environmental processes in accordance with the law and regulatory requirements. Graduates of this degree are likely to have increased opportunities across a wide range of professions and industries.
Professional recognition
ACU’s Master of Occupational Health Safety and Environmental Management has been awarded accreditation by The Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board for a maximum of five years, from 2017 through to 2021.
For further information on The Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board visit: http://www.ohseducationaccreditation.org.au/about-us/
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Health Officers | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals | $93K to $120K | Up 31.7% |
| Occupational Health and Safety Advisers | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.