CertSHWW Safety & Health at Work

UG Certificates & Diplomas (level 7 nfq)

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 Certificate in Safety and Health at Work is an introduction to a comprehensive range of topics including legislation; risk and safety management; identification of physical, chemical, psycho-social, and ergonomic hazards; emergency management, occupational health hazard management and occupational safety hazard management.

The orientation day is provisionally scheduled for Friday September 15th, 2023. There are three other scheduled campus tutorial days are provisionally scheduled as follows:


  • Friday December 1st, 2023

  • Friday March 1st, 2024

  • Friday, April 26th, 2024

Dates may be subject to change, so intersted candidates should contact cshw@ucd.ie until provisional schedules are confirmed. Registered students are expected to attend all of the attendance days on campus. Weekly programme activities take place online throughout the year.

Careers & Employability

Students who successfully complete the Certificate in Safety and Health at Work will be able to advise management on a range of OSH issues in their workplace.

Curricular information is subject to change


Part Time option suitable for:

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

The course is intended for working adults, i.e., managers, supervisors, safety representatives and others who have some responsibility for safety and health at work or those with an interest in safety and health in the workplace. 

We also welcome applicants where OSH is part of their role but unlikely to be their full-time role.

Please note:

  • Students are normally working adults with a Leaving Certificate as their minimum qualification. 
  • You should be able to write reports and have computer literacy.
  • You should provide evidence of your highest academic qualification to date. (This refers to Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate,Third Level Certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master’s Degree or PhD)
  • Candidates who do not meet the academic criteria may submit a mature student portfolio (please contact the CSHW at cshw@ucd.ie for further information)
  • If your first language is not English then you must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTs 7.0 (no band less than 6.5 in each element), or equivalent.
  • Places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants

The Certificate in Safety and Health at Work is a blended programme, delivered in a combination of online and face-to-face formats, with a comprehensive range of learning materials and resources. Students are expected to attend campus on the designated attendance days.  In addition, there are regular online tutorials on Thursday evenings which though optional, are beneficial to the students. The one-year Certificate course is delivered between September and May each year. 

The purpose of the UCD Certificate in Safety and Health at Work course is to educate working adult professionals to be capable of integrating occupational safety and health management solutions into their workplace, and of advising on up-to-date health and safety principles, practice, and legal frameworks at work. 

Learning takes place through blended online teaching and learning, including live interaction with peers and tutors in groups, and with the full plenary group. Teaching methods include a blend of online lectures, online tutorials, online discussion fora, and provision of bespoke and professional resources. This is in addition to tutor-led problem-based tutorials and online tutorials on selected Thursday evenings. A suite of online study supports is provided, including a weekly workbook. Teaching and continuous assessment are problem-based and work-situated. This high-quality programme is based on the values of student-support, adult-friendliness, work-relatedness, accessibility, and professional relevance.

Students will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the principles of occupational safety and health management; and be able to apply the principles of hazard identification, risk assessment, and the hierarchy of controls in a low-risk environment.

View All Modules Here

The 20-credit programme consists of three modules as follows:

  • OSH10100 OSH Principles (7.5 credits) Autumn Trimester
  • OSH10020 Occupational Health Hazard Management (5 credits) Spring Trimester
  • OSH10090 OSH Safety (7.5 credits) Spring Trimester

Certificate in Safety & Health at Work (X285) Part Time
EU/NONEU    fee per year - € 2650

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website

The UCD Certificate in Safety and Health at Work is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as the academic requirement for the Associate/Technical Membership grade. (See iosh.com). The Certificate was most recently accredited by IOSH in 2019 and is due for reaccreditation in 2024. Further information about the application process 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.

The course is intended for working adults, i.e., managers, supervisors, safety representatives and others who have some responsibility for safety and health at work or those with an interest in safety and health in the workplace. 

We also welcome applicants where OSH is part of their role but unlikely to be their full-time role.

Please note:

  • Students are normally working adults with a Leaving Certificate as their minimum qualification. 
  • You should be able to write reports and have computer literacy.
  • You should provide evidence of your highest academic qualification to date. (This refers to Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate,Third Level Certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Graduate Diploma, Master’s Degree or PhD)
  • Candidates who do not meet the academic criteria may submit a mature student portfolio (please contact the CSHW at cshw@ucd.ie for further information)
  • If your first language is not English then you must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTs 7.0 (no band less than 6.5 in each element), or equivalent.
  • Places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants

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

 

Candidates apply using the Apply to UCD online application form. 

The closing date for 2023/24 applications is provisionally August 31st 2023.  

Please note:

  • Please ensure that all sections of the online application form are completed, and include copies of all relevant documentation as requested.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Canvassing by applicants, or any other person on their behalf, will disqualify.