Master of Occupational Health and Safety
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Part-time 3 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
AU$14,880 (2018 annual)
Next intake
July Entry score
Not applicable
Duration
Not applicable Location
Not applicable
Overview
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) concerns the application of scientific principles to understand the nature of risks to the safety of people in workplaces. It is a multidisciplinary profession with applications in all industries and commerce.
Both community expectation and government legislation demand an increasingly higher level of protection for employees and the community from risks that threaten their safety and health. As such, there is also an increasing demand in society for professionals with experience and qualifications in OHS.
The Master in OHS builds on your learning from the Graduate Diploma in OHS and provides you with the opportunity to undertake:
- a substantial research activity, allowing you to reflect on OHS theory and practice
- specialist occupational hygiene courses in addition to an occupational hygiene research project - this minor is suitable for students wanting to become occupational hygiene specialists
- courses from the RMIT MBA program in addition to an OHS management implementation project - this option is suitable for students looking to move into OHS management roles.
Details
The program is run face-to-face in block mode supported by real time online tutorials.
Generally, courses are held over one week (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), before the beginning of the traditional academic semester, e.g. during mid-Feb, and mid-July. Online tutorials are usually held during one evening per fortnight per course.
The Master degree includes an individual research project in the final semester to ensure that you can reflect critically on the OHS theory and practice.
RMIT is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.
Many assignments are designed to put theory into workplace practice providing an education that is directly applicable to your role as an OHS professional.
On completion of the Graduate Diploma you may apply for entry to the Master program (144 credit points). Entry into the Master program is dependent on a Distinction average grade achieved in the Graduate Diploma.
After completion of the Graduate Diploma, you can choose one of three options, depending on your career goals:
Option A - research-intensive
Complete the following courses:
- Research Methods
- Research Project 1
- Research Project 2
Option B - Occupational Hygiene minor
- Toxicology and Epidemiology
- Measurement and Control of the Workplace Environment
- Assessment and Control of Physical and Biological Hazards
- Occupational Hygiene Project
Option C - Management option
- Introduction to Business Management
- Leadership and Management
- Management 1 - Managing People
- Work Health and Safety Implementation Project
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Occupational Health and Safety | City Campus |
3 years part time
6 semesters part time
|
3 years part time
6 semesters part time
|
MC135P13 |
Choose a program structure
Program code: MC135
Career
Graduates find work within industry, government, the service sector, consulting or in workers' compensation insurance companies.
Generalist practitioners are called health and safety executives (HSE), OHS managers, risk managers, OHS coordinators or safety officers.
Graduates with the Occupational Hygiene minor would be called occupational or industrial hygienists or occupational hygiene managers.
Positions with additional environmental responsibilities are known as EHS or SHE (safety, health and environment) managers.
The Master and Graduate Diploma in OHS are accredited by the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board.
Application has been made for accreditation of the Occupational Hygiene minor with the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists.
An accredited qualification in the minimum education requirement for professional certification as an OHS professional and/or Occupational Hygienist.
Graduates are eligible for professional membership with the Safety Institute of Australia, the body representing OHS professionals and practitioners, and the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists.
With appropriate experience graduates can become a Chartered Professional Member (CPMSIA) or Certified Occupational Hygienists.
Admissions
You must have:
- Successfully completed an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification), or
- Significant work experience or professional practice
To have your professional experience considered you must include in your application:
- a CV
- a personal statement that demonstrates your academic foundation for masters study. This may include:
- details on how your professional experiences relates to the program
- demonstration of critical thinking in personal and/or professional practice
- communication and problem solving skills
Entry requirements
Pathways
Fees
The indicative annual tuition fee for full-fee places in 2018 is AU$14,880.
This program is usually run on a part-time basis. The 2018 fee quoted is based on a total annual load of 48 credit points.
This program is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. If you are offered a place, you will need to pay the full tuition costs of your program. However, eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
Fees shown above apply to 2018 only and are based on an annual full-time study load of 96 credit points unless otherwise noted. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load. Tuition fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
For more information and to learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees see postgraduate study fees.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student. The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2018 is $298.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.