Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management

Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management

Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management

The aim of the Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management is to provide students who already have a degree, or extensive applicable experience, with advanced theoretical and applied knowledge in the field of occupational health and safety management, which can be used in professional practice or further advanced study in this area.

Important Notice:

This qualification is currently undergoing a review, and the paper structure may change from 2027. Students who have already completed papers under the existing structure will not be disadvantaged, as these papers will continue to be recognised. An updated list of papers for the following year will be released later in the year.

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Key Details
SIT Online
Qualification:
Graduate Certificate
Level:
7
Credits:
60
Duration:

17 weeks full-time

Up to three years part-time

Intakes are 17 weeks long

Study Modes:
Distance Learning
Dates:

2027 Intake 1: 09 February to 04 June - Applications Close 26 January 2027

2027 Intake 2: 15 March to 09 July - Applications Close 01 March 2027

2027 Intake 3: 21 June to 15 October - Applications Close 07 June 2027

2027 Intake 4: 26 July to 19 November - Applications Close 12 July 2027

Fees:

Zero Fees Scheme

  • Tuition Fee: $0   Check eligibility
  • Direct material Cost: $8.00 per credit (incl GST)

International Fees

$100 per credit

 

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The Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management will teach you personal and professional skills that are necessary to be successful in demanding and evolving business environments.

This programme offers a blend of theoretical and practical learning, with an emphasis on applied knowledge and skill. High importance is placed on the development of occupational health and safety management skills (such as communication, presentation, interpersonal and problem solving skills) in addition to the development of specific business knowledge.

You will learn to:

  • Critically analyse strategic occupational health and safety issues facing organisations, 
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures management,
  • Undertake an influential leadership role.

Important Notice:

This qualification is currently undergoing a review, and the paper structure may change from 2027. Students who have already completed papers under the existing structure will not be disadvantaged, as these papers will continue to be recognised. An updated list of papers for the following year will be released later in the year.

Compulsory Papers

MGT645 Workplace Health and Safety Resilience in Dynamic and Disrupted Contexts (15 credits)

This course provides learners with the skills to strengthen and adapt workplace health and safety systems and practices in dynamic and disrupted contexts. Learners will evaluate how disruption affects organisational health, safety and wellbeing, and will develop inclusive, proactive strategies that build organisation, system and person resilience, support psychosocial wellbeing, and empower and engage workplace stakeholders through culturally responsive and inclusive leadership and communication.

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Evaluate the potential impacts of dynamic and disrupted contexts and disruptive events on workplace health and safety systems, practices and worker wellbeing in the New Zealand context, and identify opportunities to build resilience.
  • Adapt health and safety systems and practices to strengthen organisational resilience, quality, and to support both leadership and employee capability in dynamic and disrupted workplace contexts.
  • Lead and apply inclusive and culturally responsive health and safety communication and engagement strategies to support participation and psychosocial wellbeing in dynamic and disrupted workplace contexts.

MGT711 Occupational Health and Safety Sustainability Practices (15 credits)

This course aims to develop learners’ ability to critically evaluate and integrate sustainability principles, ESG frameworks, and organisational responsibilities within occupational health and safety (OHS), and to examine how these factors influence worker wellbeing, organisational culture, and long-term performance. The paper further aims to equip learners with the skills to design and justify sustainable OHS initiatives that enhance organisational resilience, support ethical and culturally responsive practice, and utilise data-driven, digitally enabled approaches to improve workforce wellbeing and sustainable organisational outcomes.

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate sustainability principles, ESG considerations and organisational responsibilities in relation to occupational health and safety management.
  • Critically examine the relationship between organisational sustainability, worker wellbeing, organisational culture and long-term organisational performance.
  • Design a sustainable occupational health and safety initiative that supports organisational resilience, ethical practice and workforce wellbeing.

MGT712 Workplace Health and Wellbeing Strategies (15 credits)

This course aims to develop learners’ ability to critically evaluate workplace health, wellbeing, and psychosocial risk factors, and to understand their influence on organisational performance and workforce capability in contemporary work settings. It further aims to strengthen learners’ capacity to assess the role of leadership, organisational systems, and environmental factors in shaping worker wellbeing, engagement, and health outcomes. The course also aims to equip the learners with the skills to design, implement, and evaluate contextually appropriate, evidence-informed workplace health and wellbeing initiatives that address psychosocial risks, support inclusive and resilient work environments, and utilise data and digital tools to enhance organisational effectiveness and workforce wellbeing.

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate workplace health, wellbeing and psychosocial risk factors and their implications for organisational performance and workforce capability.
  • Critically assess organisational, environmental and leadership influences affecting worker wellbeing, engagement and workplace health outcomes.
  • Formulate a workplace health and wellbeing initiative and evaluation measures appropriate for an organisational and workforce context.

MGT713 Occupational Health and Safety Strategic Management (15 credits)

This course aims to develop earners’ ability to critically evaluate strategic occupational health and safety (OHS) management frameworks, governance structures, and organisational systems within complex and dynamic organisational environments. It further aims to strengthen learners’ capacity to analyse organisational risks, capabilities, stakeholder expectations, and performance drivers that influence strategic OHS decision-making. The course also aims to equip learners with the skills to formulate and justify strategic OHS priorities, implementation approaches, and performance measures that enhance organisational resilience, support ethical and accountable practice, and leverage data-driven and digitally enabled solutions to achieve sustainable organisational performance.

Upon the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate strategic occupational health and safety management frameworks, governance approaches and organisational systems in relation to complex organisational environments.
  • Analyse organisational risks, capabilities, stakeholder expectations and performance factors influencing strategic occupational health and safety decision-making.
  • Recommend strategic occupational health and safety priorities, implementation approaches and performance indicators that support organisational resilience and sustainable organisational performance.
»Please click the "Assessments" tab for more detailed information about assessment requirements.

Recent graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management have gained employment in private and public sectors including training institutions and industrial businesses.

Applicants must have obtained at least an undergraduate degree in any discipline.

Mature Applicants
Applicants must supply evidence of at least three years relevant work experience. Each mature applicant must provide their curriculum vitae detailing any relevant work experience and academic achievements.  The Programme Manager will use this information to assess whether the applicant is likely to successfully complete the Graduate Certificate programme.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

Level 6 papers must be completed before, or at the same time as, level 7 papers unless approved by the programme manager. Papers at the same level may be studied in any order

Full time study

Full time study is completing 60 credits per intake. Students studying full time will complete the Graduate Certificate within one intake.

Full time acceptance into the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion.

Part time study

The number of credits selected per intake will depend on work, family, and other commitments. The recommended maximum number of credits per intake, compared to working hours, are:

  • Working 37+ hours per week = enrol in a maximum of 30 credits per intake
  • Working 20 – 37 hours per week = enrol in a maximum of 45 credits per intake
  • Working fewer than 20 hours per week = enrol in a maximum of 60 credits per intake (full time study).

Additional information

  • As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake period.  Click HEREThis link is to an external site and opens in a new window to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet).
  • All papers selected within a particular intake must be completed within that intake unless a transfer is requested (conditions apply; see FAQsThis link is to an external site and opens in a new window).
  • Online enrolments are on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes in one enrolment.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover. 

All SIT Online courses require you to have a computer and Internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT Online communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive an Important Information Booklet that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.

Facilitator Assistance: During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only). All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study. Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme. Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

All students will get an official academic transcript on successful completion of their programme of study which will be posted or given at Graduation.  After each intake is finished, it is suggested that students check their results on MySIT.

We recommend students new to SIT Online read through the SIT Online Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further study and enrolment information.

Before you apply

Please read the Information on this page before starting your application. 
Your application will be assessed based on the information and supporting documents you provide.

Missing information or documents may delay your application.

Application checklist (once you click “Enrol”)

Before submitting your application, check that:

  • You have read the Programme Information on this page.
  • You meet the programme admission requirements.
  • You meet any entry requirements for the individual paper(s) you want to study.
  • You have selected your preferred intake(s), avoiding overlapping intakes.
  • You know how you intend to pay for your study.
  • If your organisation or employer is paying, you have an approved purchase order ready to attach. If they do not pay your fees, these will become your responsibility.
  • If applying for cross credit, you have completed the required cross credit form.
  • You have access to a computer, internet connection and software for creating electronic documents, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.

For Level 3 programmes: You will be required by the Tertiary Education Commission to complete at least one literacy and one numeracy assessment as part of your studies.

New students

You will also need to:

  • Provide an active NSN in the name you are enrolling under. If you do not know your NSN, contact NZQA on 0800 697 296.
  • If you do not have an active NSN, provide verified identification in the name you are enrolling under.
  • If you are a New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident, provide proof of residency.
  • Provide supporting academic documentation, such as your NZQA Record of Achievement, academic transcripts or certificates. These documents do not need to be verified.
  • If you do not have academic documentation, provide a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience.
  • Attach any other supporting documents required for the programme.

Zero Fees Scheme | What is the Zero Fees Scheme?

Under the Zero Fees Scheme, SIT does not charge tuition fees. You will still need to pay the applicable Student Direct Material Cost and a non-refundable administration fee.

The Student Direct Material Cost provides access to Blackboard®, SIT's online learning environment, and student support services throughout your study.

Who qualifies?

The Zero Fees Scheme is available to:

  • New Zealand citizens completing the full qualification.
  • Australian citizens, New Zealand Residents and Permanent Residents who will be living in New Zealand for the duration of their enrolment.

If you are not eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme, call 0800 748 257 to discuss your options.

Submit your application

Complete the online application and attach all required supporting documentation.

Before submitting, check that the information you have provided is complete and accurate. Missing information or documentation may delay the processing of your application.

Any additional documentation can be emailed to sitonline@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

  1. Application received
    You will receive an automatic email confirming that SIT has received your application. Processing may take up to three weeks. We will contact you sooner if we require additional documentation.
  2. Offer and invoice
    If your application is accepted, you will receive a conditional offer of acceptance, an invoice and payment instructions.
  3. Enrolment confirmed
    Once payment has been received, or you have selected an approved payment method such as Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order, you will receive an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet.
  4. Get ready to study
    Closer to the start of your intake, you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter with the information, tools and guidance you need to begin your studies.

To be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management, students will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the schedule of papers. The total credit value of the Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management is 60 credits.

Please note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

Assessment Information

 MGT615

Occ. H&S Mgmt Practice Leadership

Due date

Weighting

Word count

(approx.)

Style

Assignment 1

Week 8

25%

2000 words

Report

Assignment 2

Week 12

25%

2000 words

Report

Assignment 3

Week 17

38%

3000 words

Report

6 Discussion Activities

Week 4 -14

12%

Variable

Short answers

 MGT711

OH&S Sustainability Practices

Due date

Weighting

Word count

(approx.)

Style

Assignment 1

Week 8

45%

4000 words

Essay

Assignment 2

Week 17

45%

4000 words

Essay &

3 Discussion Activities

Week 1 - 11

10%

Variable

Short answers

 MGT712

Workplace Health & Wellbeing strategies

Due date

Weighting

Word count

(approx.)

Style

Assignment 1

Week 6

20%

2000 words

Report

Assignment 2

Week 13

50%

4000 words

Report

Assignment 3

Week 17

30%

3000 words

Report

 MGT714

Occ. Safety Strategic Mgmt

Due date

Weighting

Word count

(approx.)

Style

Assignment 1

Week 7

30%

3000 words

Report

Assignment 2

Week 10

30%

3000 words

Report

Assignment 3

Week 16

30%

3000 words

Report

5 Discussion Activities

Week 3 - 12

10%

Variable

Short answers

For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here. 

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