International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

Entry requirements and exemptions

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification, however learners should consider that this is a professional level qualification, set at SCQF Level 10. Achievement of the NEBOSH International General Certificate or direct equivalent prior to undertaking the International Diploma course is highly recommended.

It is also vital that learners have an appropriate standard of English language in order to understand and articulate the concepts contained in the syllabus.

NEBOSH recommends that learners undertaking this qualification should reach a minimum standard of English equivalent to an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 or higher in IELTS tests.

For further information please see the IELTS website.

A chart mapping IELTS scores to the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR) can be found on the British Council and IELTS websites:

• British Council - Understand and explain the IELTS scores
• IELTS - Common European Framework

Learners wishing to assess their own language expertise may consult the IELTS website for information on taking the test. Your chosen Learning Partner may also be able to recommend a method of pre-learning assessment of language. 

Exemptions

Exemptions available for Unit DNI:

• National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety - mark achieved for Unit DNI

How to study

What does it cost and how long does it take?

Course fees are determined by individual learning partners and vary depending on the format of the course. 

For this qualification you should plan your study around a minimum of 231 taught hours and approximately 225 hours of private study.

Further information on taught hours can be found in the syllabus located in the Resources section below.

Details of learning partners accredited to offer this qualification are available in the Where to Study section. 

Professional recognition and SQA Accreditation 

The NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety has been accredited and credit rated by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Accreditation. It sits in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at SCQF Level 10 with 48 SCQF credit points.

Valued by employers

NEBOSH qualifications can play an important part in ensuring that the health and safety provision businesses have in place is effective. This may explain why so many organisations choose to include NEBOSH qualifications on their competency matrices.

Professional body recognition

The NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety meets the academic requirements to apply for:

• Member status (MIIRSM) of the Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM).
• Holders of either the NEBOSH National or International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and either the NEBOSH National or International Certificate in Construction Health and Safety meet the headline entrance criteria requirements for Registered Membership (RMaPS) of the Association for Project Safety (APS).
• Graduate membership of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh) - Current Technical members (TechSaiosh) can now upgrade to Graduate Membership (GradSaiosh) using the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety to meet the membership level’s academic requirements.

Those who pass their NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety are entitled to use the designatory letters IDipNEBOSH. 

Successful learners are invited to the annual NEBOSH Graduation and Awards Ceremony in the year following the successful completion of their award. 

The International Diploma provides a sound basis for progression to MSc level. A number of UK universities offer MSc programs that accept the International Diploma as a full or partial entry requirement.

Examination registration, dates and results

Examination registration

Only Diploma learners who have enrolled with NEBOSH through a learning partner are eligible to register for Diploma examinations and assignments. You must be enrolled before the deadline of the examination you wish to register for. Please contact your learning partner directly to confirm their closing date.

Examination entry confirmation

Once your learning partner has registered you to an examination, they will send you an Examination Entry Confirmation that includes your learner number, and important information relating to your examination and results process. Please ensure that you check your name is spelt correctly and report this to your learning partner and NEBOSH if any changes are required.

The Examination Entry Confirmation is essential to gain entry to the examination room, you will need to show a form of photographic identification to the invigilator and then sign the Examination Entry Confirmation. Please contact your learning partner if you have not received your Examination Entry Confirmation.

Examination results

You will receive your results 12 weeks after your assessment date.

Learners who are successful in an individual unit will be issued with a Unit Certificate, normally within 20 working days of the result notification date. Units are not graded and the unit certificates will show a ‘Pass’ only. 

Once a learner has achieved a Pass in all four units and the overall qualification grade awarded, a qualification parchment will be issued, normally within 20 working days of the result notification date. 

Examination dates 

Papers for Units A, B and C are usually offered on the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively. 

Assignment submission dates

DNI assignments must be submitted using the NEBOSH online assessment platform. Learners will be contacted by email with information on submitting an assignment, and the opening date for the submission period. Assessments are due by 12pm (midday) UK time on the submission date shown. 

The confirmed submission and results dates available are specified below:  

Further guidance about this Assignment and how to submit it, is available within the Resources section. 

What next?

Graduation

Successful learners are invited to attend the NEBOSH Graduation and Awards Ceremony in the summer following successful completion of their Diploma. 

For further details please click here.

NEBOSH offers a range of qualifications that bring you success and advancement in your chosen field.

• Diploma holders wishing to develop their environmental expertise may consider taking the NEBOSH International Diploma in Environmental Management. 
• NEBOSH International Diploma holders wishing to use their skills in the UK may consider the NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.
• In addition, NEBOSH offer specialist qualifications for the Construction, Fire, Oil & Gas and Process Industry sectors, as well as a Management of Health and Well-being qualification.

Learning at Masters level, with an emphasis on practice-led research

In partnership with NEBOSH, the University of Hull is offering Masters Degrees in Occupational Health, Safety and Environment subjects.

The following taught MSc qualifications in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management are available to NEBOSH Diploma holders:

• MSc in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management
• MSc in Occupational Health and Safety Management
• MSc in Environmental Management

For more information please click here.

Master of Research (MRes) qualifications have been designed to complement the learner’s career through research directly relevant to their own work. The following qualifications are available to Diploma holders:

• MRes in Occupational Health and Safety Management
• MRes in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management
• MRes in Environmental Management

For more information please click here.

Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP)

NEBOSH signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BCSP during December 2015. BCSP were formed in 1969 and its sole purpose is to certify practitioners in the safety profession based in the United States and other countries around the world. Obtaining CSP demonstrates to other health and safety professionals and employers around the globe that you have met rigorous educational, experiential and examination requirements.

The MOU allows holders of either the NEBOSH National or International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety to sit directly for the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) assessment as long as they meet BCSP’s eligibility criteria.

The MOU also allows CSP holders to take the National or International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety without sitting a course of study with a NEBOSH accredited learning partner. CSP holders will be required to enrol with a NEBOSH accredited learning partner and take and achieve a ‘Pass’ in all four unit assessments in order to be awarded the qualification.

Further information has been included in the following document: Information on the NEBOSH Health and Safety Diplomas and BCSP’s Certified Safety Professional certification.

Accredited learning partners requiring further information should contact NEBOSH’s Accreditation Department at [email protected].

Additional Masters programmes

A number of universities offer MSc programs which accept the NEBOSH Diplomas as a full or partial entry requirement. Some MSc courses may require additional qualifications/expertise, such as a degree, further significant work experience or expect learners to complete specific modules e.g. in environmental management.

Listed below are some universities that may accept a NEBOSH Diploma for entry. Prospective learners should contact their chosen university directly to confirm the entry requirements and check that their specific qualifications are appropriate.

• Loughborough University
• University of Greenwich
• University of Portsmouth
• University of Salford
• Middlesex University
• University of South Wales
• University of Derby

Please note that there are a number of additional relevant university MSc courses not listed above. Their positions in relation to NEBOSH qualifications were unavailable at the time of publishing.

Resources