Elevate your career: Study Occupational Health and Safety at UOM

In Malta today, the demand for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) expertise vastly outstrips the supply of qualified professionals. This is not a field where untrained individuals can just get by; it is a complex, often high-stakes discipline where the right qualification makes the ultimate difference between a thriving workforce and a workplace tragedy.

Occupational Health and Safety is far more than a set of rules or a checklist; it is a holistic, multi-disciplinary field that sits at the very heart of sustainable business and human dignity. Every industry, from healthcare and finance, to construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and tech, requires OHS expertise. It spans the physical safety of the work environment, the long-term health of employees, and their overall mental and social wellbeing. By entering this field, you gain the ability to make a profound, tangible difference in people’s lives. You can help to prevent devastating workplace accidents, stop the onset of debilitating occupational diseases, and actively transform workplaces into health-promoting environments where employees truly thrive.

Since 1997, the Centre for Labour Studies at the University of Malta (UM) has been at the forefront of shaping the country’s health and safety landscape. If you are looking to step into this vital, high-demand field or elevate your existing expertise, UM’s Diploma and Top-Up Bachelor Degree in Occupational Health and Safety offer the definitive pathway to professional excellence.

Designed for the working professional

Balancing a career, personal life, and higher education is no easy feat. Recognising this, the University of Malta has meticulously structured these courses with the ‘mature’ learner in mind. Each year we improve our offerings on the basis of student feedback:

Part-time evening schedule: Keep your day job while investing in your future. Lectures are held at times that respect your professional commitments.

Hybrid delivery: Benefit from the ultimate flexibility. The courses blend remote online learning with physical, on-campus lectures, giving you the best of both worlds; convenience and face-to-face networking.

Theory meets practice: This isn’t just about reading textbooks. The curriculum is a robust blend of academic theory and hands-on, practical application designed for immediate use in the real world.

The maturity clause: Students aged 23 and older can be admitted as regular students to the diploma, even if they lack traditional entry qualifications.

Expert-led learning, industry-recognised accreditation

Quality education requires quality educators. UM’s OHS programmes are taught exclusively by leading individuals, combining esteemed university lecturers with highly qualified, seasoned professionals who bring real-world industry insights directly into the classroom.

Furthermore, these courses carry weight both locally and globally:

Local recognition: The courses are recognised by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) as qualifying courses for the official OHSA Competent Persons list.

Global accreditation: Both the Diploma and the Top-Up Degree are internationally accredited by IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), opening doors across the globe.

From the lecture hall to the field: Success stories

Don’t just take our word for it. Here is how the programme has transformed the careers and mindsets of past graduates:

Jason Coleiro, Principal Health and Safety Consultant

Jason Coleiro, Principal Health and Safety Consultant

What is your job title now, and how did this course help you get there? “I am currently a Principal Health and Safety Consultant. This course has helped me achieve my position due to the vast knowledge I have gained in theory and practice from the University of Malta.”

What doubts did you have before enrolling, and how did the course prove them wrong? “I had serious doubts due to my background of 20-plus years of experience in the energy industry overseas. I thought I knew it all, but the course proved that what I already knew was just a small fraction of what in reality was needed to achieve a professional level.

What did this course offer that you couldn’t have found anywhere else? “This course offered broader knowledge and the chance to interact with real experts to shape my career and professionalism. The results are that nowadays, thanks to the course, I can talk and research more professionally and act as a key person with confidence.”

Jean Paul Xuereb, Health and Safety Officer with the OHSA

Jean Paul Xuereb, Health and Safety Officer with the OHSA

What is your job title now, and how did this course help you get there? “Today, I work as a Health and Safety Officer with the Occupational Health and Safety Authority. My role involves ensuring that occupational health and safety regulations are followed and adhered to in various different working sectors while supporting and educating workplaces on safe working practices. This course provided me with valuable insight into the subject and helped strengthen my communication skills and professional competence. It also enhanced my confidence in communicating effectively with employers and employees while contributing to the promotion of a stronger culture of workplace health, safety, and wellbeing compliance. This course also provided me with the highest academic qualification in the field of OHS locally.”

What doubts did you have before enrolling, and how did the course prove them wrong? “Before enrolling, I had doubts about whether I would be able to complete the course. However, the Centre for Labour Studies and all the lecturers were extremely supportive and helpful throughout the programme. During the course, I gained greater academic confidence, and I found all the lecturers to be highly qualified, approachable, and committed to assisting students in their learning journey.”

What did this course offer that you couldn’t have found anywhere else? “This course offers a wide range of highly qualified academics who possess extensive knowledge and teaching experience. The programme is also exceptionally well-structured, providing a clear and organised learning journey from beginning to end.”

Whether you aspire to work within regulatory authorities, spearhead safety initiatives for local and multinational corporations, or consult independently, the career prospects are exceptional. Past graduates of UM’s OHS programmes have gone on to forge distinguished, impactful careers both in Malta and on the international stage.

Your journey toward becoming a confident, highly sought-after OHS professional starts here.

Ready to take the next step? Explore the University of Malta’s OHS programmes today and secure your place among the industry’s elite. Contact us for more details on cls@um.edu.mt or on 2340 2731 / 3766.