Study occupational health abroad
An in-depth guide to studying occupational health as an international student.
Occupational health degrees 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.
Occupational health program structure
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
Best universities to study occupational health
How to study occupational health abroad
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Occupational health study abroad programs
Occupational health undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in occupational health
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Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety - BES University of Newcastle, Australia
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 18 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 34 AUD
- Start date
- February, July, September
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Occupational Therapy - BSc (Hons) Ulster University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 14,480 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Occupational Therapy - BSc (Hons) University of the West of England - UWE Bristol, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 13,000 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Occupational Therapy - BSc (Hons) Bournemouth University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 13,750 GBP
- Start date
- September
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Occupational Health and Safety - BOccHealth Central Queensland University, Australia
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 26,880 AUD
- Start date
- March, July, November
Diploma in occupational health
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Occupational Health and Safety - Dip Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 20,625 CAD
- Start date
- September
Associate in occupational health
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Occupational Therapy Assistant - ASc Goodwin University, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 24,888 USD
- Start date
- January, May, September
Occupational health graduate programs
Master's in occupational health
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Environmental and Occupational Health - MPhil University of Newcastle, Australia
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 35,000 AUD
- Start date
- February, July, September
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Occupational Therapy - MSc University of Limerick, Ireland
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 12,500 EUR
- Start date
- September
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Occupational Health and Safety Management - MSc University of Hull, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Tuition fees per year
- 8,300 GBP
- Start date
- January, September
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Occupational Therapy - MSc Pace University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 90,000 USD
- Start date
- January, September
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Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) - MSc Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,120 GBP
- Start date
- September
Doctorate in occupational health
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Occupational Therapy - DOT Duquesne University, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 6 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 44,000 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Occupational Therapy - PhD University of Central Arkansas, USA
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 6,866 USD
- Start date
- January, May, August
Future occupational health careers
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.
