Occupational Safety and Health is responsible for establishing safe and healthy conditions at the workplace.

The field of occupational safety and health plays a crucial role in performing regular surveillance and setting up safeguards in the workplace to prevent hazardous factors and agents. This will help companies reduce job-related accidents, injuries, illnesses and deaths and keep job efficiency at optimal levels.

A Degree in Occupational Safety and Health will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of various occupational safety and health standards and procedures. On top of that, you will also be well-equipped to educate, promote and train employees, employers and even the community on various job-related safety and health issues.

In order to pursue a Degree in Occupational Safety and Health, the standard entry requirements are:

• A-Level: Minimum 2Ds in TWO of the following subjects (Biology, Physics or Mathematics, Chemistry); or
• STPM: Minimum 2C+s in TWO of the following subjects (Biology, Physics or Mathematics, Chemistry); or
• Australian Matriculation: Minimum of ATAR 55.0; or
• Canadian Pre-University: Average of 55% in 6 subjects; or
• Foundation in Science: Minimum CGPA of 2.33; or
• Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health: Minimum CGPA of 2.75

You will also need to obtain at least a Band 3 in MUET or IELTS 5.5.

That being said, the requirements can still vary depending on the university, so do your research first!

To pursue a Degree in Occupational Safety and Health, you will need to have an SPM qualification (or equivalent) AND a Pre-University qualification. Needless to say, you will need to meet the minimum entry requirements set by the university.

A Degree in Occupational Safety and Health is usually 4 years long.

Upon completing a Degree in Occupational Safety and Health, you can choose to:

• Enter the workforce immediately; or
• Pursue postgraduate studies in the relevant fields; or
• Pursue a relevant competent person licence

Once you complete a Degree in Occupational Safety and Health, you can consider the following job options:

• OSH Specialist
• Health Inspector
• Safety Officer
• Trainer
• Hygiene Technician

Some major industries where you can put your expertise into good use are:

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Public services and statutory bodies
• Mining and quarrying
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing

Different students may have different preferences when it comes to choosing the right university. Here are some questions to consider when making a decision.

• Is the institution’s Occupational Safety and Health course accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)?
• Is the institution’s Occupational Safety and Health course recognised by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)?
• Do you understand the fees of the course, and are the costs affordable to you?
• Are you comfortable with the location of the university?
• Have you visited the campus, and do you like the campus environment and facilities?
• What support services does the institution have to help you in and beyond university?

If you’re not sure if studying a Degree in Occupational Safety and Health is right for you, here are some articles that may help you:

• Your Guide to a Occupational Safety and Health Course in Malaysia
• 5 Practical Tips When Applying for College
• The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best College Programme (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

You can also explore our list of course guides to see if other courses piqued your interest.

If you are an SPM leaver and you’re deciding which Pre-University or Foundation course to study, then check out our comprehensive pre-university course guides. Otherwise, take our Course Recommender Quiz and find out which pre-university course you should take!