MSc/PgDip/PgCert Safety & Risk Management
ApplyKey facts
- Start date: September
- Accreditation: Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
- Application deadline: July
- Study mode and duration: Part-time online learning –
PgCert:/ MSc Year 1: 9 months
PgDip/ MSc Year 2: 9 months
MSc/MSc Year 3: 9 months
MSc by direct entry: 16 months
Study with us
- study from anywhere by online learning
- accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) for Certified Membership
- open to those without a first degree
- gain practical knowledge of direct use in the workplace via practioner-led support
- CPD courses available including IOSH Managing Safely and Radiation Protection
Why this course?
This part-time online learning programme develops highly effective occupational safety and health practitioners who can operate across the full spectrum of working environments.
Written and supported by a dedicated team of part-time tutors/practitioners engaged in health and safety practice, the course offers a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and expertise in a highly-practical context.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Safety & Risk Management has been formally accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as satisfying the academic requirements for Certified Membership (CertIOSH). Following successful completion of the Certificate, there is an opportunity to progress to higher-level study and Chartered Membership (CMIOSH).
Flexible entry and exit points allow you to start and finish at appropriate points along the progression route, according to your current qualifications, relevant work experience and requirements. Studying by part-time online learning study enables you to participate in your own time from any location and achieve a valuable qualification of benefit to both you and your organisation.
Interested in postgraduate study?
At the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, our friendly and knowledgeable team will be available to provide you with all the information you need to kick-start your postgraduate journey at the University of Strathclyde. Register for upcoming events below:
What you'll study
At the Certificate and Diploma, you can expect to spend a minimum of 15 hours each week on various activities associated with the course. This may vary, depending on individuals' previous knowledge and experience, along with different learning styles.
Postgraduate Certificate
You’ll complete three compulsory classes, each based on around 200 hours of study over approximately 12 weeks.
Postgraduate Diploma
For the Diploma award, you are required to complete four compulsory classes, in addition to the credits gained through the Certificate stage. Each class is based on around 100 to 200 hours of study, over 8 to 12 weeks.
MSc
Following successful completion of the Certificate and Diploma stages, you'll undertake a research project which is based on around 600 hours of study time over a maximum of 40 weeks. It begins in October and you'll make your final submission in June of the following year. You’re required to plan, implement and evaluate a major piece of research and development work. This involves an investigative and developmental project of professional relevance which is assessed on a report of 12,000 words.
Masters (by direct entry)
Students with appropriate prior experience and qualifications may be admitted by direct entry to the MSc. This is a 90-credit version of the course, based on completion of the 60-credit dissertation and 30 credits from two PgDip classes.
Learning & teaching
This course is delivered entirely by online learning via the University's virtual learning environment, Myplace. Each stage of the programme is available with tutor support, providing you with an appropriate level of guidance, assessment and feedback.
Assessment
Assessment is based on continuous assessment of written assignment; there are no exams.
Compulsory classes
Benchmarking Safety & Risk Management
This class provides a context for safety and risk management practice in a wide variety of workplace environments. The standpoint adopted is one of developing the ability to benchmark safety and risk management within the overall management structure of the organisation.
You'll progress from this class with a common level of knowledge and understanding of key concepts and practice in safety and risk management, including health and safety legislation, safety policy and culture, risk assessment and human factors.
Assessing Hazards, Risks & Dangers
This class equips you to carry out a detailed assessment of the hazards, risks and dangers present in a range of workplace environments. The emphasis is on the interplay of work environment, people and work systems from which risks arise.
Based on a factual and practical account of typical risks in typical scenarios, you're encouraged to reflect on and generalise from these situations so that you can transfer your improved understanding to any workplace situation.
Optimising Safety & Risk Management Activities
Safety and risk management should be fully integrated into the organisation and the safety culture of the organisation developed accordingly.
This class focuses on developing a range of skills which will positively influence management and employees at all levels to achieve this strategic objective.
Within this class, data analysis and presentation techniques, loss control methods, effective networking and problem solving skills will be developed.
Compulsory classes
Corporate Risk Management
A primary task of managing any organisation is to ensure that risks to the health and safety of employees and other persons who may be adversely affected by their organisation’s acts, omissions or managerial decisions are being adequately identified and managed. In a similar way, the risks that can adversely affect the wellbeing of the organisation must be identified, evaluated and controlled.
This class will develop your ability to identify corporate risks, evaluate and quantify the level of risk and advise management on appropriate action which will bring such risks within the tolerability of the organisation’s resources and ability to cope.
Psychology of Workplace Activities
Many accidents associated with work can be attributed to human behaviour.
This class will assist those who direct and manage work activities to understand the individual and collective powers of the human mind and how these powers can be stimulated to achieve cost-effective benefits within the context of work activities.
Ergonomic Factors in Work Activities
In this class you'll look at ergonomic design for everyone. You'll also look specifically at ergonomic design for people who have additional support needs.
Upon completing this class, you'll be equipped to take their acquired knowledge and skills into a wide range of work activities to enhance ergonomic factors.
Methods of Professional Enquiry
Entry to the Masters phase of the Safety and Risk Management Programme requires you to demonstrate that you've acquired an understanding of a range of research methods and ways in which they can be deployed.
This class must be taken by all students registered for the Postgraduate Diploma in Safety and Risk Management, whether or not you wish to proceed to Masters level immediately following the Diploma or sometime in the future.
Compulsory classes
Research Project
This class requires you to plan, implement and evaluate a major piece of research and development work which involves carrying out an investigative and developmental project of professional relevance.
The project will be assessed on the basis of a report of 12,000 words.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements/experience | PgCert: Relevant qualifications in occupational health and safety (e.g. NEBOSH Certificate FHEQ level 3/SCQF level 6) and a University Degree (or equivalent preparation for postgraduate study), plus relevant work experience. |
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English language requirements | Where English is not the applicant’s native language, applicants must also meet the English language requirements as a condition of entry to the course:
To successfully complete postgraduate study in English, you need to have a more advanced grasp of the language than is required for general day-to-day communication. The programme of study requires an appropriate level of English competency to be able to successfully engage in a range of tasks, including analysing academic texts and writing assignments that contain suitable critical analysis. The English language requirements exist to provide a benchmark for academic readiness to support successful study on the programme. |
Chat to a student ambassador
If you want to know more about what it’s like to be a Humanities & Social Sciences student at the University of Strathclyde, a selection of our current students are here to help!
Our Unibuddy ambassadors can answer all the questions you might have about courses and studying at Strathclyde, along with offering insight into their experiences of life in Glasgow and Scotland.
Fees & funding
All fees quoted per academic year unless stated otherwise. Please note second year will be subject to increases.
Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy. Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
All fees are in £ sterling, unless otherwise stated, and may be subject to revision.
Annual revision of fees
Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that tuition fees are revised annually and may increase in subsequent years of study. Annual increases will generally reflect UK inflation rates and increases to programme delivery costs.
Republic of Ireland | If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status. For more information and advice on tuition fee status, you can visit the UKCISA - International student advice and guidance - Scotland: fee status webpage. Find out more about the University of Strathclyde's fee assessments process. |
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MSc (three-year version) | Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland:
International:
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PgDip (three-year version) | Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland:
International:
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MSc by direct entry | Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland:
International:
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Available scholarships | The Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences is offering a fee reduction of up to 25% to employees of NHS partner agencies. Find out more about the 25% tuition fee reduction for NHS employees. Take a look at our scholarships search for funding opportunities. |
Visa & immigration: International students may have associated visa and immigration costs. Please see student visa guidance for more information.
Please note: The fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year. Find out more about fees.
How can I fund my course?
Scottish postgraduate students
Scottish postgraduate students may be able to apply for support from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). The support is in the form of a tuition fee loan and for eligible students, a living cost loan. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from England
Students ordinarily resident in England may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance England. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Wales
Students ordinarily resident in Wales may be to apply for postgraduate support from Student Finance Wales. The support is a loan of up to £10,280 which can be used for both tuition fees and living costs. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Students coming from Northern Ireland
Postgraduate students who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland may be able to apply for support from Student Finance Northern Ireland. The support is a tuition fee loan of up to £5,500. Find out more about the support and how to apply.
Don’t forget to check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
International students
We've a large range of scholarships available to help you fund your studies. Check our scholarship search for more help with fees and funding.
Our students
Mark McKenna
The research techniques taught through the course have been invaluable in my role, with the understanding that I don’t have to have all the answers myself and I now know how to find information and current best practice on any topic I wish to look at.
Paul Nicholas
Since completing my MSc I have worked across the UK, Europe and Middle East in Senior HSE positions for companies like Vodafone, SSE, BAM International and Costain. In 2016, I decided to set up my own Safety and Risk consultancy business which I still run and manage today.
Balvinder Bharj
It is never too late to study, I started this MSc at 53, it’s the best thing I ever did, it propelled my career and significantly enhanced my competencies and recognition as a Professional Health and Safety Practitioner.
Apply
Start date: Sep 2024
Safety and Risk Management
Start date: Sep 2025
Safety and Risk Management
Contact us
Prospective student enquiries
Contact a member of our team on LiveChat between 10am and 4pm (GMT)
Telephone: +44 (0) 141 444 8600