OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management
Senior HSE roles in the UAE and across the GCC ask for more than site experience. Employers want leaders who can build a management system, show that it works, and connect safety performance to business strategy.
The OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management is a postgraduate-level, Ofqual-regulated qualification built for that step. It is aimed at managers who develop and apply health and safety arrangements in their organisations, and who want the knowledge and credentials to progress into strategic roles.
M2Y Safety Consultancy supports UAE-based and international learners through enrolment, study planning and assignment guidance, so you can study this diploma alongside a full-time role.
Qualification Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Qualification | OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management |
| Awarding organisation | OTHM Qualifications (Ofqual Recognition Number RN5284) |
| Qualification number | 603/7782/3 |
| Level | RQF Level 7, the same level as a master’s degree |
| Credits | 120 |
| Total Qualification Time (TQT) | 1,200 hours |
| Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | 600 hours |
| Structure | 6 mandatory units, 20 credits each |
| Assessment | Internally assessed by the centre and externally verified by OTHM; criterion-referenced |
| Professional route | Eligible to apply for Certified membership of IOSH (CertIOSH) |
| Study with M2Y | Online, with tutor guidance |
Source: OTHM official qualification page and the official specification (PDF).
What does “equivalent to a master’s degree” mean here?
On the Regulated Qualifications Framework, Level 7 is the same level as a master’s degree. This diploma is shorter, at 120 credits, so a full master’s would normally require a further 60-credit dissertation stage with a university partner. Details are on OTHM’s university progression page.
What You Will Study: Six Mandatory Units
| Unit | Credits | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Safety Management Practice | 20 | Applying management principles and practice to real organisational settings |
| Effectiveness of Health and Safety Management Systems | 20 | Evaluating and improving management systems, including alignment with ISO 45001 |
| Factors Affecting Risk and Strategic Risk Intervention | 20 | Understanding what drives risk and planning strategic interventions |
| Strategic Commitment to Health and Well-Being | 20 | Leadership commitment to worker health, wellbeing and culture |
| Sustainability and Ethics in Health and Safety Practice | 20 | Linking safety decisions with sustainability, ethics and responsibility |
| Advanced Research Methods | 20 | Research design and critical evaluation for postgraduate-level study |
| Total | 120 | 1,200 TQT / 600 GLH |
Unit titles and credits follow the OTHM specification. The “Focus” column is a plain-language summary; the full learning outcomes are in the official specification.
Entry Requirements
Learners are expected to have:
- A minimum of a Level 6 qualification, such as the OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or another equivalent Level 6 qualification; or
- An honours degree (2.2 or above) with relevant knowledge and experience in the occupational health and safety sector; and
- To be aged 21 or over at the start of the course.
Applicants with substantial relevant professional experience may be considered case by case.
English language: Learners from countries that are not majority English-speaking must show evidence of English language competence. See OTHM’s English language expectations.
Not sure whether your background fits? Send us your qualifications and we will check them against the entry criteria.
How Assessment Works
All units are assessed internally by the centre and externally verified by OTHM. To pass a unit, you must show evidence that you have met all of its learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Assessors keep an audit trail of how they reached their judgement.
Specific guidance and marking criteria are given in OTHM’s Assignment Briefs, which centres receive once learners are registered. Our tutors help you read each brief, plan your evidence and meet the criteria before you submit.
Who Is This Diploma For?
- HSE managers and senior advisers moving toward director-level responsibility
- QHSE professionals in construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, facilities and logistics who already hold a Level 6 qualification
- Consultants who want a recognised postgraduate-level credential
- Professionals planning to apply for CertIOSH and work toward Chartered status
- Practitioners who want a route to a master’s top-up
Professional Recognition and Progression
CertIOSH and Chartered status
OTHM states that learners who complete this diploma are eligible to apply for Certified membership of IOSH (CertIOSH). IOSH sets and updates its own conditions, so check the IOSH Certified membership page for experience and CPD requirements.
The next level is Chartered membership (CMIOSH). See IOSH’s Chartered membership page for the current routes and fees. IOSH has closed new registrations on its older Initial Professional Development (IPD) route and now offers the Professional Development Assessment (PDA) route, so confirm the current process before planning your timeline.
Academic progression
Where appropriate, learners can move on to a master’s top-up at many UK and overseas universities with advanced standing, subject to each university’s own entry requirements.
Career directions
- HSE Manager, Head of HSE or HSE Director
- Corporate or regional QHSE lead
- Safety, risk and compliance consultant
- Safety leadership in construction, oil and gas, manufacturing and logistics
Build Your Qualification Pathway with M2Y Safety
| If you are… | Consider |
|---|---|
| New to health and safety | OTHM Level 3 Technical Certificate in OHS |
| Building to degree level | OTHM Level 6 Diploma in OHS or IOSH Level 6 Diploma |
| Preferring a competence-based route | ProQual Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Strategic Health & Safety Leadership and Management or the ProQual Level 7 Diploma in OHS Management |
| Adding audit skills | ISO 45001 Lead Auditor |
| Broadening your Level 7 profile | OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Risk Management, Environmental and Sustainability Management or Strategic Management and Leadership |
| Aiming for the US credential | CSP preparation |
Organisations that want to put these skills to work can also use our HSE consultancy and HSE audit services.
Why Study with M2Y Safety Consultancy?
- Consultancy and training under one roof. Our team works on real HSE audits and compliance projects, which keeps the guidance practical.
- UAE and GCC context. Examples draw on construction, oil and gas and industrial settings across the region.
- Pre-enrolment support. We check eligibility, explain the pathway and help you register.
- Assignment guidance. Tutors help you understand the criteria in each brief and plan your evidence.
- Offers. Check our special offers and events pages for current options.
What you need to study online
- A reliable internet connection and a modern computer, laptop or tablet
- Strong academic reading and writing skills for postgraduate-level work
- Regular weekly time for study and assignments
- Self-discipline and good time management
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an Ofqual-regulated RQF Level 7 qualification worth 120 credits (1,200 TQT, 600 GLH), made up of six mandatory units. It is designed for managers and aspiring senior practitioners who develop and apply health and safety procedures in organisations. The qualification number is 603/7782/3.
It sits at the same RQF level as a master's degree, but it is a 120-credit diploma. A full master's normally requires a further 60-credit dissertation with a university partner.
Learners need a Level 6 qualification (or equivalent), or an honours degree (2.2) with relevant health and safety knowledge and experience, and must be 21 or over. People with substantial professional experience may be considered case by case.
Units are assessed internally and externally verified by OTHM. Learners must meet all learning outcomes and assessment criteria in each unit's assignment.
OTHM states that learners completing the diploma are eligible to apply for CertIOSH. IOSH makes the membership decision, so check its current requirements first.
Yes. OTHM leaves the delivery mode to approved centres, and M2Y supports online study with tutor guidance. Plan regular weekly study time alongside your job.
Where appropriate, yes. Many UK and overseas universities offer master's top-up programmes with advanced standing, though each sets its own entry requirements.
Both are advanced qualifications and some professionals hold both. The OTHM Level 7 diploma is a master's-level management qualification with a research unit, while NEBOSH's diploma is a professional qualification with a technical focus. Compare the syllabuses and your career goals, or ask our advisers.
