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Safety, Health and Well-Being at Work

HDip (NFQ Level 8)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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With society's focus intensifying on health, including workers’ health, the Centre for Safety and Health at Work (CSHW) continues to meet the needs of industry using blended online platforms and flexible teaching programmes to cover key contemporary issues.

The Higher Diploma in Safety, Health and Wellbeing at Work is especially suitable for persons with a professional interest in, and responsibility for, safety and health in the workplace. These include safety advisors, managers, engineers, occupational hygienists, physicians and nurses.  The Higher Diploma is recognised by the UK Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as an academic qualification for granting Chartered Membership of the Institution. See the IOSH website for further information. 

  • The Higher Diploma programme is designed to be completed over two full years (6 trimesters), September to Mid July each year.
  • The provisionally scheduled Orientation day for 2025/26 intake, is 5th September, 2025.
  • Lectures will normally be held on Fridays (9 am – 5 pm) in Year 1 and on Tuesdays (9 am – 5 pm) in Year 2.
  • Programme assessment strategies are normally work-related and include continuous assessment, assignments, projects and examinations.  Assignments, project work and self-directed learning will be required during the summer trimester. between the two academic years of study and in the final summer trimester at the end of the programme.
  • You must pass Year 1 before you can progress to Year 2.

About This Course

This programme aims to fulfil the academic competency requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005. Accordingly all students, upon completion of the programme, will: 

  • Have a general understanding of the workplace issues that require knowledge of health and safety;
  • Can apply knowledge in practical situations;
  • Know when to call in specialist expertise;
  • Be able to identify and evaluate occupational health and safety hazards, carry out risk assessments, and develop and implement risk control measures;
  • Be able to advise management on, develop and implement safety management systems and policy;
  • Have the necessary skills to develop, implement and advise on safety, health and welfare procedures;
  • Be conversant in the identification, retrieval, management and communication of relevant information;
  • Be capable of coping with prevailing workplace hazards and providing effective solutions to protect workers’ health and safety; and
  • Have developed transferable skills, which permit them to become lifelong learners.

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Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 OSH20030 Occupational Safety and Health Professional Skills 1 Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 OSH30010 Safety and Health Legislation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 OSH30020 Health and Safety Management Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 OSH30120 Occupational Health Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 OSH30130 Occupational Hygiene Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 OSH30100 OSH Literature Review Summer  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 OSH20020 OSH Professional Skills 2 Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 OSH30040 Human and Organisational Behaviour at Work Autumn  10
Stage 2 Core Modules
 OSH30150 Statistics in Health and Safety Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 OSH30030 Safety Technology Spring  10
Stage 2 Core Modules
 OSH30140 Chemical Safety and Toxicology Spring  10
Stage 2 Core Modules
 OSH30320 Occ Safety & Health Project Summer  5

The UCD Higher Diploma in Safety, Health and Wellbeing at Work is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as the academic requirement for graduate membership. Subject to experience and other entry requirements, diplomates may become a chartered member of the Institute (CMIOSH) and use the title Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner.  There is also an opportunity to apply for IOSH student membership. Further information about applying for both IOSH student and graduate membership is available here.


For video testimonials of our OSH alumni, please visit our CSHW Alumni page and the slider panels on our main CSHW website page.

HDip Safety, Health and Well-Being at Work (SHS5) Part Time
EU          Year 1 - € 5060
nonEU    Year 1 - € 14550
EU          Year 2 - € 5060 aa
nonEU    Year 2 - € 14550 aa

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2025 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2024/25
***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. 

  • Applicants must be at least 23 years of age and have as a minimum 3 years work experience at the time of application. Applicants under the age of 23 will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Priority is given to those active in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).

  • You should normally have educational qualifications of at least matriculation standard (i.e., a Leaving Certificate with two honours or equivalent, including a science subject).

    You should provide evidence (transcript) of your highest academic qualification to date. (This refers to Leaving Certificate, Third Level Certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master’s Degree or PhD).

  • In exceptional cases, applicants who do not meet the matriculation requirements, but who have relevant work experience, may be considered on mature grounds. Such candidates will be asked to include a mature applicant portfolio to support their application. A portfolio would normally include evidence of successful completion of a course, which may approximate matriculation, and/or experience and training in OSH, and evidence of a good understanding of the basic sciences. Applicants applying on mature grounds must be working in the area of Occupational Safety and Health. If you are considering submitting a portfolio, contact the programme coordinator at cshw@ucd.ie.
  • If your first language is not English then you must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.5 (no band less than 7.0 in each element), or equivalent. For a full list of English Language Requirements for OSH Programmes, please read our International Students webpage..

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No


This programme is available to international (Non-EEA) applicants already resident in Ireland on a valid visa (Stamps 0, 1, 1G, 3, 4S, 4D, 5 and 6 only) for the duration of the programme. The onus is on the applicant to ensure compliance with any visa permissions granted.


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Safety, Health and Well-Being at Work:

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SHS5
Safety, Health and Well-Being at Work
Higher Diploma

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Cert and Diploma
Not available to International applicantsApply
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