Two people inspecting water at a waterfront
Areas of interest

Study environmental and occupational health , Ākona te hauora taiao, hauora mahi

Study environmental and occupational health at Massey to protect people and communities at work, at home, and when out and about.

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Solve the world

Find answers at Massey to real-life problems in the world around us for people and communities at work, home and out and about.

Squeaky clean

For clean water and sanitation SDG, Times Higher Education ranks Massey University as first in New Zealand and fourth globally.

Personalised to you

Our health courses at Massey feature small class sizes with a learning environment customised to your interests and needs.

Be connected

We'll help you build strong industry contacts. And your health qualification lets you work globally once you graduate from Massey.

Overview

The world around us impacts our health and wellbeing – from air and water quality to housing, climate change to workplace health and safety.

Learn from respected lecturers and researchers with specialisations such as the future of work or water contamination. Solve real-world problems, including working closely with businesses or government agencies responsible for public health and workplace safety.

Gain hands-on experience using equipment to collect samples or measure noise. See real-world scenarios during site visits – examples include food businesses, swimming pools and water treatment plants. Graduate work-ready, with qualifications recognised nationally and internationally.

Environmental and occupational health is a good fit if you:

  • enjoy school subjects such as biology, chemistry or physics
  • want to protect people, communities and where they live and work
  • like working with people to solve problems.

Courses in environmental and occupational health may cover:

  • hazards such as air pollution, noise, or how climate change may affect health – and how to manage these risks
  • health and safety at work, also called occupational health and safety
  • how to collect samples such as air, food or water.

How to study environmental and occupational health

Discover what we offer if you’re interested in environmental and occupational health – whether you’re coming to university for the first time, changing direction or returning to advance your study or career.

Undergraduate study

An undergraduate qualification is generally the first thing you’ll study at university.

Bachelor's degrees

Degrees are the standard qualifications you do at university – the most common is called a bachelor’s. Degrees give you enough time to explore your interests, and also focus on specific subjects.

Graduate diplomas

Graduate diplomas can help you advance to postgraduate study or research in a subject you haven’t majored in for your undergraduate study.

Undergraduate diplomas

Relevant undergraduate subjects to major or specialise in

When you apply to study at Massey, for some undergraduate qualifications you can choose what subject you’d like to specialise in. You can usually change your mind after you get to university, depending on the courses you enrol in.

Postgraduate study

Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equivalent experience – you’ll be ready to take on postgraduate study.

Master's degrees

A master's degree normally builds on a main subject of study from your undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate diplomas

Postgraduate diplomas are postgraduate-level qualifications that are longer than a postgraduate certificate. If you’re successful, you might be able to use the credits towards the longer master’s degree.

PhD and other doctoral degrees

Doctoral degrees, including PhDs, are the highest degrees we award. They’re very demanding and their entry criteria reflect this.

What our students say

“The combination of my work experience and a health and safety qualification has enabled me to really engage with people across the hierarchy of organisations I have been associated with. It has benefited me in terms of career development and acceptance in workplaces.”
Greg Dearsly

Graduate Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health

“Studying my degree has enabled me to work as an Environmental Health Officer. This has allowed me to put my knowledge into practice. Work alongside communities and providers selling food and making sure they do this safely. The help and support received from staff, lecturers and other students was invaluable in completing my degree.”
Betty Holden

Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngā Puhi

Bachelor of Health Science (Double Major in Integrated Human Health and Environmental Health)

“The staff at Massey University helped me find my way and set me in the right direction to achieve what I wanted. There is no doubt that without the support from my lecturers I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Monique Goodhew

Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi

Bachelor of Health Science (Environmental Health)

Jobs in environmental and occupational health

A career in environmental and occupational health can span environmental hazards to workplace health and safety, resource consent to services for people with disabilities. Some of our graduates become researchers, or work in local or national government. Job prospects are good in New Zealand and overseas.

Environmental and occupational health careers include:

  • air pollution or noise assessment specialists
  • health and safety managers
  • environmental health officers, who work in local councils
  • health protection officers, who work in public health units (PHUs) within district health boards (DHBs)
  • occupational hygienists, who specialise in reducing workers' exposure to toxins, gases, dust, or noise
  • policy analysts or advisors, who work for government or businesses.

WorkSafe on managing health and safety

Annual salary ranges for jobs

Salary ranges disclaimer

Indicative pay rates are:

Which environmental and occupational health qualification?

Examples of where our qualifications may take you.

Table showing jobs and what you could study to enter them.
Jobs Examples of what you could study
Environmental health officer or health protection officer Bachelor of Health Science (Environmental Health)
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health if you already have a degree
Environmental health manager or policy specialist Master of Public Health
Health and safety adviser or health and safety officer Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Health and Safety)
Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety if you already have a degree
Health and safety manager Master of Health Science (Occupational Health and Safety)

Accreditations and rankings

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)

Our Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety and Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Health & Safety) are accredited by IOSH, a global professional body based in the UK. Completing this qualification meets the academic requirement for Graduate Membership to IOSH. Membership leads to registration as an OHS practitioner.

Ministry of Health logo

Environmental Health Officers Qualifications Regulations 1993

Our environmental health qualifications are recognised by the Ministry of Health as meeting qualification requirements for environmental health officers. Our qualifications are also recognised by Environmental Health Australia (EHA).

Learn more

Get an information guide

Download our guides to find out more about studying environmental and occupational health at Massey.

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