Program Overview

Risk and Safety Management Professional Degree Apprenticeship (Risk and Safety Leadership) MSc

Overview

This 2-year, part-time degree apprenticeship is designed to develop risk and safety leadership skills that can be applied in practice. The course is paid for by the employer and is accredited by the University of Portsmouth.

Key Information

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the University of Portsmouth, which has earned business accreditation from the AACSB in recognition of the outstanding quality of its business and management education.

Study Mode and Duration

• 2 years part-time

Start Date

• September 2025

Course Information

Entry Requirements

• Individual employers will set the selection criteria for their apprentices, liaising with the Faculty of Business and Law.
• Most applicants will be expected to hold an honours degree, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
• All applicants will be required to complete a Skills Gap Analysis before completing an application form.
• All applicants will be invited to attend an interview.
• Applicants aged 16-18 must have acceptable Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths, such as GCSE with grade C/4 or above or Functional Skills.

Course Costs and Funding

• Total tuition fees are £19,000 paid over 2 years, and the payment of the course fee is shared between the Government and some employers, so there's no cost to you as the degree apprentice.

Modules

• Crisis Management and Continuity - 30 credits
• Strategic Risk and Leadership - 30 credits
• Risk and Safety in High Reliability Organisations - 45 credits
• Work Based Learning Project - 45 credits
• Project and Research Methods (Da) - 30 credits

Learning Support

• Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions.
• Support is available for skills including university study, getting into the right study mindset, note-taking and note-making skills, referencing, presentation skills, time management, planning, and goal setting, critical thinking, and avoiding plagiarism.

Teaching

• Teaching methods on this course include lectures, seminars, practical sessions, and simulation exercises.

Assessment

• You'll be assessed through coursework, in the form of written assignments and presentations, and a self-directed research project, with support from a supervisor.

What You'll Experience

• Gain a broad understanding of risk management, including current tools and techniques
• Get an understanding of safety management
• Learn from staff with industry experience and guest speakers
• Develop the ability to contribute to managing risk and business effectiveness
• Use our business simulation suite, giving you the opportunity to manage crisis scenarios in real time in a safe environment
• Have access to the University's student support services and community including the Library, study support, sports and recreation facilities, and the Students’ Union
• Build a network of professional peers during your time at university, sharing your ideas and knowledge
• Get practical work experience in your job, giving you an advantage over students who do a traditional degree
• Get a personal tutor from the University and a workplace mentor

Career Development

• You'll be able to progress your career further using the knowledge and skill that you gain on this course, including going on to work in many risk and management related roles, such as:
  • independent risk consultants
  • risk officers
  • healthcare risk managers
  • crisis team managers for petrochemical companies
  • risk managers within the military
  • auditors
  • chief finance officers
  • senior managers
  • senior project managers
  • security managers
  • risk and safety management consultants

How to Apply

• If you’re in full-time employment and would like to do a degree apprenticeship with your current employer, ask them to contact us so we can discuss with them how we can work together.
• If you’re not employed full-time or not working for a company that can fund and support your degree apprenticeship, you'll need to apply for a degree apprenticeship with a company that offers them.