Study occupational health abroad

Occupational health is a branch of healthcare that’s concerned with the safety and wellbeing of employees in the workplace. You’ll graduate with the skills needed to anticipate and prevent hazards in professional settings.

As an occupational health student, you’ll develop an understanding of biological, chemical, physical, and psychological hazards, and learn how to implement effective safeguarding strategies. You’ll get to grips with the legislation surrounding employee welfare, and consider the professional and ethical responsibilities of employers.

Working conditions vary dramatically across the world. By earning your degree abroad, you’ll appreciate the challenges faced by employees and employers in different countries, and gain a global perspective of 21st-century workplaces.

You can study occupational health at various undergraduate and graduate levels. One-year certificate programs and two-year associate degrees provide comprehensive groundings in the field. They also offer a useful route into entry-level employment or further study.

Bachelor’s degrees are broader and more in-depth programs of study. They’re studied over a minimum of three years, or four years if you enroll at a US university. Taking your BSc in the US means you’ll study liberal arts modules alongside your occupational health major.

Master’s degrees in occupational health are usually studied full-time over one year, or part-time over two. Entry requirements differ between universities but, as a general rule, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

If you’re interested in conducting an original research project, you might consider studying a PhD or MPhil. Course length varies from student to student, but they usually take between four and seven years to finish.

You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and workplace visits. To gain hands-on experience, you might be required to undertake a professional placement as part of your course too.

You’ll take a mixture of theoretical and practical modules in the following core areas:

• Principles and practices of occupational health practice
• Occupational health management
• Workplace health-risk management
• Health surveillance
• Workplace health promotion
• Mental wellbeing in the workplace
• Absence management
• Occupational ergonomics

All employers have a legal and moral duty to protect their employees, so occupational health graduates secure important positions across countless industries and sectors.

Your observational, analytical, and problem-solving skills will help you to safeguard individuals working in construction companies, government departments, healthcare services, manufacturing firms, and more. Here are some of the roles you’d be best suited to:

• Occupational health nurse
• Occupational therapist
• Health improvement practitioner
• Psychological wellbeing practitioner
• Industrial hygienist
• Ergonomist
• Environmental protection officer
• Care manager

Most universities have a careers service you can turn to for extra support and guidance. As well as discussing your interests and ambitions, they can help with CV writing, interview techniques, and job applications.