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Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
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University Life
University Life
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About NUI Galway
About NUI Galway
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Colleges & Schools
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Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
NUI Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at NUI Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at NUI Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Alumni, Friends & Supporters
Alumni, Friends & Supporters
There are over 90,000 NUI Galway graduates Worldwide, connect with us and tap into the online community.
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At NUI Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Environmental Health and Safety
Course Overview
The BSc in Environmental Health and Safety is a multidisciplinary programme that examines the relationship between workplace factors and human health, safety and well-being. Students study subjects including the basic sciences, health sciences, engineering, law and regulatory affairs among others. The programme is designed to meet the needs of industry and provides students with a high quality qualification in the multidisciplinary area of Environmental Health and Safety. It enables students to work across all sectors as occupational and environmental health & safety professionals. There is continuous demand for such graduates across all sectors.
This programme offers the opportunity to experience life as a health and safety professional as all students complete a five month work placement in industry during third year. This placement allows students to further develop their knowledge and apply their technical skills within the workplace.
Applications and Selections
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, Mathematics, a laboratory science subject (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science) and any two other subjects recognised for entry purposes
Additional Requirements
Duration
4 years
Next start date
September 2021
A Level Grades (2020)
nuigalway.ie/alevels
Average intake
28
Closing Date
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
Award
CAO
GY313
Course code
Course Outline
BSc Environmental Health and Safety Curriculum 2019/2020
Code |
Description |
Duration |
ECTS |
1st Year – 1EHS1 |
|||
IE130 |
Communications and Computing |
S1 |
5 |
ME1110 |
Introduction to environment, safety & risk |
S2 |
5 |
LW3114 |
Introduction to law |
Full year |
5 |
BO101 |
Biology |
Full year |
15 |
CP102 |
Chemistry/Physics |
Full year |
15 |
MA161 |
Mathematical Studies |
Full year |
15 |
2nd Year – EHS1 |
|||
ME2104 |
Environmental Health & Safety Practice |
Full year |
10 |
ME5105 |
Fundamentals of Operations Engineering |
S2 |
5 |
ME2102 |
Safety systems design |
S2 |
5 |
PH328 |
Physics of Environment |
S1 |
5 |
PH329 |
Physics of Environment II |
S2 |
5 |
MI204 |
Microbes & the Environment |
S2 |
5 |
SI210 |
Health & Safety Physiology |
S1 |
5 |
AN225 |
Human Gross Anatomy |
S1 |
5 |
LW214 |
Health & Safety Law |
S1 |
5 |
ST2001 |
Statistics for Data Science 1 |
S1 |
5 |
CH205 |
Analytical & Environmental Chemistry |
S2 |
5 |
3rd Year – 3HF2 |
|||
HP1200 |
Occupational Health & Wellbeing |
Full year |
10 |
HP304 |
Research Methods |
S1 |
5 |
PH3103 |
Exposure Science |
Full year |
10 |
LW3117 |
Environmental, Health and Safety Law |
S1 |
5 |
ME4104 |
Ergonomic Design of the Workplace |
Full year |
10 |
IE446 |
Project Management |
S1 |
5 |
ME5102 |
Quality Systems |
S1 |
5 |
IE448 |
Safety & Construction |
S1 |
5 |
ME3104 |
Regulatory Affairs |
S2 |
5 |
4th Year – 4HF2 |
|||
IE453 |
FYP |
Full Year |
15 |
HP1300 |
PEP |
S1 |
20 |
HP440 |
Health & Work Environment |
S2 |
10 |
ME572 |
Human Reliability |
S2 |
5 |
IE323 |
Information Systems Ergonomics |
S2 |
5 |
ME4108 |
Case Studies 2 |
S2 |
5 |
Further Education
Graduates of the programme may choose to pursue Masters, Higher Diploma and/or PhD programmes in a wide range of disciplines including Occupational Hygiene, Occupational Health, Ergonomics, Management, Safety & Risk Management, Fire Safety, etc.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
There is continuous demand for occupational health and safety graduates as all organisations have legal duties and regulatory requirements with which they must comply. The course provides students with skills necessary to undertake occupational, environmental and quality roles in industry.
The programme has an excellent employment record. Graduates of the programme are mainly employed as Environmental Health and Safety Professionals, with some choosing careers in Regulatory Affairs and Quality Management. The main employment sectors include manufacturing, consultancy, construction and energy, medical devices and pharmaceutical industries, as well as regulatory and public bodies.
International Accreditation
This programme is accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), and graduates have the opportunity to work nationally and internationally.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Work Placement
In the third year of the programme, students participate in a five month paid work placement (PEP) in industry, which is organised through the University Placement Office. During this time, students work under the supervision of a health and safety professional and gain valuable practical experience.
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
EU Fees 2020/21:
- Tuition: may be paid by the Irish Government on your behalf if you qualify for free tuition fees see - free fee initiative.
- Student Contribution: €3,000 - payable by all students but may by paid by SUSI if you apply and are deemed eligible for a means tested SUSI grant.
- Student Levy: €224 - payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.
Find out More
Dr. Marie Coggins
T: 353 (0) 91 495056
E: marie.coggins@nuigalway.ie
What Our Students Say

Eoghan Dobey | Enterprise Risk Officer, State Claims Agency
The programme is a diverse and challenging learning opportunity in which I developed my personal as well as professional skills. The programme extensively covers the systems, regulations and procedures intended to protect the health and safety of individuals. Placement and the final year project were fantastic learning experiences where I received great exposure to how health and safety is provided for in the working environment. Since completing the programme I have begun a role with the State Claims agency as an Enterprise Risk Officer where I am responsible for advising and assisting a range of state authorities and healthcare enterprises on their health and safety risk management with the aim of reducing future claims and litigation and where claims arise, manage them to contain the State’s liability and associated expenses.

Lisa Fitzpatrick | Industrial Hygiene / Safety Engineer at Intel Corporation
I chose to study Environmental Health and Safety in NUI Galway, as I wanted a career that combined science with people. There is a broad range of science modules studied throughout the course with modules from other disciples including law and engineering. I am now working in Intel as an Industrial Hygiene / Safety Engineer. The role is really challenging and fast-paced. I am passionate about EHS and this course will appeal to you if you have a genuine interest in the safety, health and well-being of others.

Isabel Delaney | Health and Environmental (SHE) Advisor at Costain Group PLC
I am in my current graduate position because of the wide range of subjects studied on the BSc Health & Safety Systems, the invaluable placement experience, organised student recruitment events and the continued support, advice and guidance from lecturers. I love my job and the career pathway I chose at NUIG. This course prepares you for employment while also offering a diverse range of career opportunities, within many different industries all over the world. I valued every aspect to this course as it allowed me to obtain practical and theoretical knowledge which could be applied during work experience, and this is highly regarded by employers today.