The Master of Occupational Hygiene is a specialist postgraduate qualification that equips students with the scientific and engineering knowledge needed to identify, assess, and control physical, chemical, and biological hazards in the workplace. Grounded in disciplines spanning toxicology, industrial chemistry, physics, engineering, and public health, the program trains graduates to measure worker exposures, interpret data against regulatory standards, and design effective control strategies that prevent work-related illness and injury. Students develop a sophisticated understanding of the hierarchy of controls, workplace exposure standards, health surveillance, risk communication, and compliance under Australian work health and safety legislation. The course is designed for graduates of science, engineering, health sciences, or related disciplines who wish to specialise in protecting worker health across a wide range of industries. It suits working professionals seeking to formalise their expertise as well as recent graduates building a career in occupational health and safety. Most programs are delivered flexibly, combining online coursework with intensive on-campus practical workshops, making them accessible to students across Australia — including those working in remote or regional locations. Graduates are employed across a broad spectrum of sectors, including mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, transport, healthcare, defence, government regulators, and environmental consulting. Key employers include mining companies, engineering consultancies, government health and safety regulators, hospitals and health services, large infrastructure project managers, and specialist occupational hygiene consulting firms.

Most Australian providers offering a Master of Occupational Hygiene require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline — typically science, engineering, or health sciences — with foundational science content at university level. Specifically, many programs require evidence of prior study in areas such as human anatomy, human physiology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and/or physics. Academic performance is also a consideration, with typical minimum GPA requirements of around 4.0 on a 7-point scale (or equivalent). Some programs also consider applicants from other disciplinary backgrounds — such as environmental science or public health — provided they can demonstrate adequate scientific grounding. Certain providers, particularly those offering online or part-time delivery, also accept applicants with substantial professional work experience in an occupational health, safety, or related field (typically 8 or more years) in lieu of a directly relevant undergraduate degree, recognising the value of industry expertise in this hands-on profession. English language proficiency requirements apply to international students, with typical minimum scores of IELTS overall 6.5 (with no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT overall 87, or PTE Academic overall 64. Programs are accredited by the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) and in some cases co-accredited by the Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board (AOEAB), ensuring graduates meet the requirements for AIOH membership and progression toward Certified Occupational Hygienist (COH) status. Some programs offer dual-degree pathways combining Occupational Hygiene with Occupational Health and Safety Science, allowing students to broaden their professional credentials.