Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology

At the end of the program, students of the Master of Occupational Hygiene and Toxicology can:

1. Reflect critically on a complex body of discipline knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate mastery 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 design innovative contributions to professional occupational hygiene practice or scholarship.
4. Use high level self-management skills to initiate, plan and execute an occupational hygiene project.

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 and upgrade your professional and communication skills in the field of occupational and environmental hygiene. On completion of the program, you’ll be expected to demonstrate a high level of competence in the recognition, evaluation, assessment, and control of potential occupational and environmental hazards, and have a solid foundation of knowledge of the potential impacts of occupational hazards and conditions on exposed populations. You’ll also be able to recommend and evaluate appropriate control measures to prevent, reduce or eliminate exposures to occupational and/or environmental hazards, and to participate in the development and implementation of appropriate occupational hygiene monitoring programs.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, subjects in this degree can include:

• Occupational Hygiene 1: Chemical Aspects
• Occupational Hygiene Science
• Occupational Epidemiology
• 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 240 credit points.

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

Indicative total fee $18,700

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.

ECU is ranked one of the world’s best young universities and Australia’s best public university for teaching quality. That quality extends to more than 30,000 students, many studying online through Open Universities Australia. ECU offers the same quality of teaching to you, regardless of where you’re studying in the world. Their flexible study solutions include a huge range of online courses, recognising your need to juggle work, family or other commitments.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

29

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below:

• All applicants are required to have an appropriate undergraduate degree; or
• postgraduate qualification in relevant sciences such as physics, chemistry, human biology or health and safety management.

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 are required to attend compulsory workshops held at the Joondalup campus for the 3 practical-based units (OHS6144, OHS6159 and OHS6162). The workshops will be held on both weekdays as well as weekends. In these workshops students will undertake typical occupational hygiene assessments dealing with specific issues in workplaces.