Why this programme
Sustainable work is a top priority for governments, companies, and policymakers worldwide. With good employee health and decent work now part of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, there is an urgent need for specialists in this area. The master’s programme in Occupational Health and Sustainable Work (OHSW) prepares you to address critical questions like: How can we build sustainable careers? And how can organisations support long-term employee health, vitality, and productivity?
Our workforce is ageing, and with new generations joining, employers must adapt to diverse needs and expectations. Advancements in technology, AI, and robotics are also reshaping jobs, bringing both challenges and opportunities to the workplace.
For employers, healthy and engaged employees drive higher productivity, lower turnover, and reduced sickness absence. However, fostering a culture of vitality and sustainability is a challenge many organisations still face. Integrating occupational health into core strategies is essential to bridge the gap between management and employees.
We need experts in occupational health, prevention and sustainable employability to help shape the future of work, with a focus on vitality and sustainable employability.
This programme is for you if:
- you strive to improve the health, productivity and sustainable employability of the workforce;
- you are eager to learn to develop and implement innovative interventions to improve occupational health;
- you are passionate about solving today’s urgent issues in the labour market and shaping the future of work.
Interventions to promote sustainable work
In this master's programme, you'll learn how to balance the needs of workers, their families and employers. You are taught about the changing world of work and social welfare, and you develop and evaluate interventions and strategies to promote sustainable employability. You will learn to select and prioritise effective strategies and preventive measures to foster workers’ health and employability. You will also be trained in the systematic development of interventions according to the principles of Intervention Mapping.
Toolbox for the OHSW professional
This master’s programme offers a toolbox of practical skills which enables the OHSW professional to translate theoretical knowledge into practice. To get a better grip on the topics studied in this programme, you are trained to apply the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) trajectory to labour participation, and you are trained in moral case deliberation and evidence-based occupational medicine. Throughout the master's programme, three major learning lines can be distinguished, each with a unique contribution to this toolbox:
- A biopsychosocial approach to labour participation: the ICF trajectory;
- The Evidence-Based Occupational Health trajectory;
- The Intervention and Communication Skills trajectory.
You are also taught about the relevant methods needed for research in the field of occupational health and sustainable work, including several qualitative and quantitative methods.
A biopsychosocial and physical angle
We address both psychosocial and physical working conditions, with a slight emphasis on the first category. A high workload might cause stress, an inadequately designed workplace might cause pain in a person's shoulder and throughout their careers, employees can have issues with work-life balance, might get a chronic illness etc. The solutions can be found in organisational-level strategic advice, health policies, or individual advice and guidance. The programme will train you to combine the best of both worlds. You will work on authentic professional cases and tasks that resemble the complexities of the issues you will face in your career.
The strengths of our faculty
Employability
There is a real need in the job market for experts in occupational health and sustainable work. This master’s programme provides excellent career prospects. OHSW alumni work as consultants, HR/Vitality managers, advisors in a variety of companies and organisations, as teachers and researchers and in many other jobs. Our education is small-scale, competence-based, and centres around authentic professional tasks, leading our alumni to distinguish themselves by having more experience in applied projects.
Throughout the programme, you follow an Employability track and you participate in several career events and workshops, developing your personal portfolio and professional network. There is an active professional OHSW LinkedIn group, in which vacancies and interesting events are posted and we offer concrete opportunities for traineeships and jobs each year.
Research and thesis topics
During the last part of the programme, you perform your own research project and you complete your master’s thesis during a placement period. OHSW staff offers a wide variety of thesis topics and excellent supervision during the thesis period. You can conduct a study within the university or with a guest organisation (national institutes, occupational health services, HR departments of work organisations, etc.). It is also possible to do your thesis project abroad (for instance at the University of Gothenburg or Stockholm).
Thesis examples are: antecedents and consequences of work-family conflict over time and risk factors for work disability in workers with a cardiovascular disorder
OHSW for professionals
The master's programme in Occupational Health and Sustainable Work can be followed either full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years). The part-time programme presents an excellent opportunity for working professionals. You are required to attend university one day per week, either Tuesday or Friday, which allows you to combine study and work. Moreover, you will be able to carry out your final master's research project at your own workplace. Students with a relevant bachelor's degree from a University of Applied Sciences (HBO) are also admissible without a bridging programme. It is also possible to follow one or more of the courses as post-academic courses. Find more information here.
PREMIUM honours programme
Want to gain that extra edge by getting real-world experience during your studies? The PREMIUM honours programme will help you gain the experience and develop the skills employers are looking for. As part of a team of students and under the guidance of our academic staff, you will spend about three months working on a real-world assignment for a company, NGO or educational institution. You will also work on a personal development plan, receive intensive individual coaching and attend master classes and workshops. All of this will take about 250 hours, but it will give you a lifetime of benefits.