Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

• Applicants must be at least 23 years of age and have as a minimum 3 years work experience at the time of application.
• Priority is given to those active in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
• You should have educational qualifications of at least matriculation standard (Leaving Certificate with two honours, or equivalent) including demonstrable knowledge of Physics, Chemistry or Biology.
• 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 

• 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 2023/24 intake, is 8th September, 2023.
• 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 Stage 1 before you can progress to Stage 2.

The purpose of the UCD Higher Diploma in Safety, Health and Wellbeing at Work Programme is to provide the best educational experience for OSH practitioners in Ireland through a programme that aims to fulfil the academic competencies of Irish OSH legislation.  The ultimate aim is to produce high calibre, inquisitive and dynamic OSH professionals for the Irish and international workforce. Learning takes place in a class-room environment in UCD, with some online-learning interaction, through live face-to-face engagement with peers and leading experts, including academics, regulatory authorities and multidisciplinary industry experts. For working students, experiential learning and application of learning also takes place at work. Teaching methods include face-to-face lectures, student class participation exercises, small-group classes and group work. Continuous assessment (formative and summative) is solution-focused and evidence-based, and end-of-module examinations are also held. This high-quality programme is based on the values of student-support, adult-friendliness, work-relatedness, and professional relevance.

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 issues; 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.

View All Modules Here

Modules include:

• OSH Professional Skills 1
• Safety and Health Legislation
• Health and Safety Management
• Occupational Health
• Occupational Hygiene
• OSH Literature Review
• Statistics in Health and Safety
• Human and Organisational Behaviour at Work
• OSH Professional Skills 2
• Chemical Safety and Toxicology
• Safety Technology
• Occupational Safety and Health Project

HDip Safety, Health and Well-Being at Work (SHS5) Part Time
EU          Year 1 - € 4700
nonEU    Year 1 - € 13860
EU          Year 2 - € 4700 ^aa
nonEU    Year 2 - € 13860 <sup>aa

aa</sup>Second Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2023 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2022/23
***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. 

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.

Candidates whose first language is not English and whose primary degree was obtained in a country where English is not the official language of instruction must provide proof of proficiency in English such as IELTS or TOEFL. The original certificate of completion of an English language test must be submitted with the application.

In all cases the test results must not be more than 2 years old. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS REQUIREMENT.

Candidates whose existing degree was obtained in a country where the official language of instruction is English may, at the request of the School, still be subject to the same requirements where English is not the candidate's first language.

The following are the English language tests and scores accepted by the School:

IELTS (International English Language Testing System - Academic): Minimum Overall Band Score of 7.0 with a result NOT LESS than 6.5 in EACH of the individual sections.

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Internet Based Test: Minimum total score of 100 out of 120, with a score NOT LESS than 22 in Reading and Listening. NOT LESS than 26 in Speaking and NOT LESS than 24 in the test of written English

Paper Based Test: Minimum total score of 600 with a score NOT LESS than 5.0 in the Test of Written English.

• Applicants must be at least 23 years of age and have as a minimum 3 years work experience at the time of application.
• Priority is given to those active in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH).
• You should have educational qualifications of at least matriculation standard (Leaving Certificate with two honours, or equivalent) including demonstrable knowledge of Physics, Chemistry or Biology.
• 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 

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

You apply using the UCD online application system. The final closing date for 2023/24 applications is 20th August 2023.

Simply click here  and follow the instructions. Completed applications will be assessed promptly. Before you submit your application, please ensure you upload the relevant documents and provide information that is requested to support your application. 

As part of your application, you must submit the following online:

• CV (maximum 2 pages).
• Copies of leaving certificate (or equivalent) or post-leaving certificate diploma or degree parchments, as well as transcripts of associated results.
• If you are applying on mature grounds, you must submit a mature student portfolio.
• If your first language is not English, you submit the original certificate of completion of an English test.
• Please note, your application will be reviewed after all the necessary documents are submitted. An online non-refundable application fee applies. 
• Canvassing by applicants, or any other person on their behalf, will disqualify.