Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

At the end of the program, students of the Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety can:

1. Communicate specialised Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)/Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) knowledge, concepts and skills to a variety of audiences.
2. Apply independent judgement when investigating and evaluating complex OHS/WHS situations to generate solutions.
3. Demonstrate management skills by planning, implementing and evaluating substantial OHS/WHS projects.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a profession in its own right and an essential component of many other professions. This course offers two streams; the first (OHS Professional) is designed for people who aim to become or are already working as an OHS professional, and the second (OHS Specialist) is designed for people who prefer to design their own study program from a selection units. The OHS Professional stream provides an introduction to the field of occupational health and health management and has been developed to equip students with the basic skills necessary to function effectively in OHS roles. The 3 units in this stream are core to the Graduate Diploma. The OHS Specialist stream provides an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge from a selection of our elective units. This course is designed to assist professionals who have a role including OHS or an interest in OHS with an education in a wide variety of related disciplines.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include: 

• Workplace Health and Safety Law
• Occupational Health and Safety Risk Management
• Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
• Workplace Health and Safety Law.

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 60 credit points.

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

Indicative total fee $13,200

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.

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QS Ranking 2024:

28

Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:

25

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 undergraduate degree in any discipline, with equivalents considered. Alternatively applicants can apply with an AQF level 5 qualification e.g. Diploma (or equivalent) in Occupational Health and Safety and have at least five years appropriate professional experience.

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 will be required to complete three (3) units listed in either the OHS Professional stream or the OHS Specialist stream.