Master of Science Health and SafetyAwarded by: Leeds Beckett University, UK

Programme Objectives

The Master of Science Health and Safety programme aims to provide safety practitioners with an enhanced level of knowledge which supports a career not only as a health and safety practitioner, but as a practitioner and manager of the health and safety process in both the private and public sectors, and with the ability to engage in research and practice development.  It is anticipated that such a practitioner will have the ability to make a significant contribution to their organisation, the community, the advancement of the health and safety profession and wider society.

Students during their study will have acquired key knowledge, and developed the advanced skills that are associated with, pragmatic competent risk management strategies and techniques. Students successfully completing the programme will also have fulfilled the required professional body learning outcomes, as required by the accrediting professional body, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), and will be eligible for Graduate Membership and the opportunity to progress to Chartered Safety Practitioner status. 

Such practitioners will have developed the ability and attitudes to critically identify, evaluate, develop, and deliver occupational health and safety issues in a range of settings, contributing to and securing enhanced personal and team practice through research, the continuation of personal professional development and lifelong learning.

Students completing the MSc Health and Safety will be able to:

• Critically analyse, examine and deal with complex occupational safety and health issues, formulating sound judgments using the evidence available and then communicate their decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• Act autonomously to plan and implement tasks in an organised and professional manner;
• Advance their knowledge and understanding of risk, and risk management in a holistic context;
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of current practice and be able to apply research methodology to contribute to practice development;
• Apply self-development techniques to enhance and apply their knowledge

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Synthesise and respond to the complexity of legal/ethical issues within their risk management practice;
• Demonstrate the ability to operate effectively in complex and unpredictable situations within professional contexts;
• Demonstrate critical understanding of the dynamic nature of safety management;
• Critically evaluate and synthesise theory and good practice, and demonstrate an ability to engage in research and practice development;
• Apply a critical awareness of the impact of approaches taken by other professionals in attempting to solve common professional problems;
• Demonstrate critical awareness of topical and current issues surrounding the Health and Safety Practitioner.

Assessment Methods

Based on practical assessment

Why Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett University is a modern professional university with ambition.

Based in the vibrant city of Leeds, the biggest financial district outside of London, the University’s vision is to be acknowledged for its commitment to student success, innovation and enterprise, global reach, and strong local impact.

The University’s aspiration is to help create great graduates, exceptional employees, dynamic citizens and enterprising leaders and we work closely with employers and partners to ensure that its graduates are ready for work, ready for life, and ready to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

Leeds Beckett has around 3,100 staff and more than 32,000 students from almost 100 countries around the world studying for a Leeds Beckett qualification; it contributes an estimated £500 million to the economy every year. The University is proud to be the only university in the UK to hold both the Customer Service Excellence award and the Investors in People Gold standard across the whole institution.

With a 190-year history of education, which began with the founding of the Leeds Mechanics Institute in 1824, Leeds Beckett is proud of its history and excited about its future.

Professional Accreditations

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
The course is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as meeting the requirements for Graduate Membership. Graduates may then progress to Chartered Membership status on satisfactory completion of appropriate work experience and professional assessments.