University of Queensland
Masters of Occupational Hygiene / Occupational Health and Safety Science
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
- Course Type: Master's
Gain expertise in identifying, measuring and controlling workplace hazards through occupational hygiene research, safety science and risk management, preparing you to improve workplace health and safety across diverse industries.
Course overview
The University of Queensland's Masters of Occupational Hygiene / Occupational Health and Safety Science is designed for science, engineering and health science graduates seeking to develop expertise in workplace health and safety. Combining two disciplines, the program prepares students to identify occupational hazards, assess exposure risks and develop strategies to protect workers across different industries.
You'll explore occupational hygiene, ergonomics, microbiology, epidemiology, safety science and risk management. You'll learn how physical, chemical and biological hazards affect worker health, alongside workplace safety legislation and management systems. Through applied research and practical learning, you'll develop skills in assessing workplace exposures, evaluating health risks and identifying appropriate control measures.
Delivered at UQ's St Lucia campus, the program can be completed in two years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. You'll undertake a compulsory industry-based occupational hygiene research project involving 240 hours with an industry partner. An additional 240-hour occupational health and safety placement is available as an optional course. Accredited by the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists and the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board, the program prepares graduates for roles in occupational hygiene and workplace health and safety across industries such as mining, construction, manufacturing and healthcare.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
26th July, 2027
What you will study
At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.
To earn the Masters of Occupational Hygiene / Occupational Health and Safety Science, you must successfully complete 32 units across two program components, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.
Complete 16 units from the Occupational Hygiene component.
Core courses
- Environmental Health Risk - Biological Hazards
- Microbiology & Immunology 1
- Applied Research Methods
- Physical Ergonomics
- Risk Management
- Occupational Hygiene 2
- Occupational Hygiene Research Project (four units)
- Introduction to Epidemiology
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- A bachelor's degree in science, engineering or health sciences.
- At least two first-year university-level science courses covering human anatomy, human physiology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry and/or physics.
- A minimum GPA of 4.0 on UQ's 7-point scale.
English language requirements
Applicants who are required to demonstrate English language proficiency must meet the following requirements:
- IELTS Academic: Overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- TOEFL iBT: Overall score of 87, with a minimum of 19 in listening, reading and speaking, and 21 in writing.
- PTE Academic: Overall score of 64, with a minimum of 60 in each communicative skill.
- Cambridge English Scale (CES): Overall score of 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component.
- Bridging English (BE): Minimum overall grade of 4, with at least a C in each macro skill.
The Occupational English Test (OET) is not accepted.
Other ways of meeting English language requirements may be available. Contact the university for further information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates may pursue career opportunities in roles such as:
- Occupational health and safety manager
- Occupational health and safety environmental quality analyst
- Health, safety and environmental manager
- Workplace health and safety adviser
- Occupational health and safety industrial hygienist
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $10,325 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
HECS-HELP loans are available to eligible CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.