OTHM
Level 6 & Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
Equivalent to a UK bachelor's or master's degree — open the door to IOSH chartered membership — and qualify for progression into MBA and MSc top-up programmes at UK universities without returning to full-time study.
For safety professionals who need the credibility of a university-level qualification but cannot commit to full-time academic study, OTHM diplomas are among the most respected solutions available globally.
OTHM Qualifications is an Ofqual-regulated UK awarding body whose occupational health and safety diplomas are accredited by IOSH — meaning completion qualifies graduates directly for IOSH Graduate Membership (GradIOSH) and places them on the formal pathway to Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH).
Awarded by
OTHM Qualifications — Ofqual-regulated, UK
IOSH Accreditation
Both diplomas are IOSH-accredited and qualify graduates for GradIOSH membership
Programmes
Level 6 Diploma (bachelor’s equivalent) | Level 7 Diploma (master’s equivalent)
Assessment
Written assignments, work-based projects, and case studies. No formal examinations.
Language
English
Delivery
Classroom Dammam | On-site corporate delivery across Saudi Arabia
Level
Blended learning with EFTC tutor support — study alongside full-time employment
Level 6 Entry
Level 3 OHS cert (IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH IGC, or equivalent) + experience
Level 7 Entry
Level 6 diploma or bachelor’s degree | OR 3+ years senior management experience
Recognised by
Saudi Aramco, SABIC, international contractors, UK and international universities
Choosing Your Programme
| Credits | 60 credits | 7 mandatory units |
| TQT | 600 hours Total Qualification Time | 320 hours Guided Learning |
| Assessment | Written assignments for each unit + work-based projects and case studies |
| Qualification | OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (Ofqual RQF) |
| IOSH pathway | GradIOSH → Initial Professional Development (IPD) → CMIOSH |
Level 6 — Seven Mandatory Units
- Unit 1: Health and Safety Management Principles and Policy — strategic safety governance, policy frameworks, and management systems integration across organisations
- Unit 2: Risk Assessment and Hazard Management — advanced hazard identification, quantitative and qualitative risk assessment, and control hierarchy application
- Unit 3: Accident Investigation and Analysis — systematic incident investigation methodologies, causal factor analysis, and regulatory reporting requirements
- Unit 4: Health and Safety Communication and Training — designing and delivering safety communications and training programmes for multilingual Saudi workforces
- Unit 5: Workplace Health and Wellbeing — occupational health management, stress and mental health, health surveillance, and wellbeing programme design
- Unit 6: Health and Safety Auditing — audit planning, execution, reporting, and corrective action follow-up against ISO 45001 and legal requirements
- Unit 7: Dissertation / Major Project — a substantive independent work-based research project integrating learning from all six units
| Credits | 120 credits | 6 mandatory units |
| TQT | 1200 hours Total Qualification Time | 600 hours Guided Learning |
| Assessment | Comprehensive written assignments + research-based project. No examinations. |
| Qualification | OTHM Level 7 Diploma in OHS Management (Ofqual RQF 603/5639/X) |
| IOSH pathway | GradIOSH on completion | CMIOSH pathway with IPD completion |
| University | Accepted for Master’s top-up programmes at multiple UK universities |
| Entry | OTHM Level 6 or bachelor’s degree | OR 3+ years senior management experience |
Level 7 — Six Mandatory Units
- Unit 1: Strategic Health and Safety Management — organisation-wide safety strategy, board accountability, and OHS integration into business performance frameworks
- Unit 2: Advanced Risk Management and Control — quantitative risk assessment, process safety management, bow-tie analysis, and major hazard site management
- Unit 3: Occupational Health and Environmental Management — advanced occupational health, ISO 14001, integrated QHSE governance, and sustainability strategy
- Unit 4: Leadership and Organisational Safety Culture — transformational safety leadership, culture change methodologies, and organisational safety maturity measurement
- Unit 5: Research Methods in Occupational Health and Safety — academic research design, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and evidence-based OHS practice
- Unit 6: Dissertation / Major Research Project — master’s level independent research applied to a significant OHS management challenge
1 | IOSH Managing Safely / NEBOSH IGC (Level 3) Foundation practitioner qualification — typically held before entry to Level 6 |
2 | OTHM Level 6 Diploma Bachelor’s equivalent — 7 units, work-based assignments, 6–12 months part-time with EFTC |
3 | GradIOSH Membership Apply for IOSH Graduate Membership on completion of Level 6 — accepted automatically |
4 | Initial Professional Development (IPD) IOSH structured portfolio of practical competence — completed alongside employment |
5 | OTHM Level 7 Diploma (Optional) Master’s equivalent — 6 units, 12–18 months — deepens strategic leadership competence |
6 | CMIOSH — Chartered Member of IOSH Professional review interview — the highest internationally recognised safety professional designation |
Frequently Asked Questions
OTHM Level 6 and Level 7 diplomas are Ofqual-regulated UK qualifications equivalent to a bachelor’s and master’s degree respectively. Saudi Aramco and major Saudi employers who specify degree-level OHS qualifications accept OTHM diplomas as meeting that requirement.
Yes. Both programmes are designed for blended, self-directed study alongside full-time employment. EFTC provides tutor support and a structured study schedule accommodating Saudi working patterns including Ramadan.
On completing either the Level 6 or Level 7 Diploma, you qualify for GradIOSH (Graduate Member of IOSH) — the starting point for the Initial Professional Development (IPD) pathway towards CMIOSH.
No. Both programmes are assessed entirely through written assignments, work-based projects, and case studies. All assessment is portfolio-based and completed alongside employment.
Yes. The ESC IDHSE is recognised as a degree-level qualification and accepted by Saudi employers specifying degree-level safety qualifications. BCSP Qualified Equivalent status adds significant international credibility for roles on multinational projects.