Program Overview

Programme: PGDip Occupational Medicine and Health

The Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine and Health is a two-year program offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria.

Programme Information

A curriculum comprises prescribed modules and/or a research report compiled in conjunction with the head of department or Chairperson of the School. Details regarding the curriculum and syllabuses are published in a brochure which is available on request from the department or School. Students may, with the approval of the Head of the Department of Public Health Medicine or the Chairperson of the School of Health Systems and Public Health, register simultaneously for Part I and Part II of a diploma which extends over two academic years.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the Postgraduate Diplomas in Tropical Medicine and Health, Occupational Medicine and Health, and Public Health Medicine, the MBChB degree or an equivalent qualification with a completed internship of at least one year, plus professional (work) experience (post-internship) of at least one year that is regarded as applicable by the Head of the Department of Public Health Medicine or the Chairperson of the School of Health Systems and Public Health, is required.

Additional Requirements

• Registration as a special student in the Faculty in order to pass a status examination is required in certain instances, such as:
  • A three-year bachelor's degree with less than five years' applicable practical (work) experience; or
  • A four-year bachelor's degree with less than two years' applicable practical (work) experience; or
  • Any applicant in possession of an approved bachelor's degree, who the School's Selection Committee deems fit to register as a special student.
• Pass requirements for the status examination:
  • At least 60% must be obtained in the status examination.
  • The status examination will be written in June.
• Other selection criteria (each on a scale of one to five):
  • Academic merit
  • National/International need for public health
  • Under-represented groups in public health
  • Public health related employment
  • Track record – e.g. employment, academic, community-building, etc.

Examinations and Pass Requirements

Students must attend all lectures and practical classes to the satisfaction of the head of department or the Chairperson of the School before they will be admitted to the examinations. Written, oral and/or practical examinations must be passed in all the modules. All diploma programme summative assessments will be externally moderated. The minimum pass mark for prescribed modules and the summative assessment is 50%. Only with the approval of the Chairperson of the School, on the recommendation of the head of department, will a student be allowed to continue his or her studies after having failed two modules (or the same module twice). A second examination in a module (including the diploma-specific summative assessment) is arranged in conjunction with the head of department.

Pass with Distinction

A diploma is awarded with distinction to a student who has obtained a mark of at least 75% for the externally moderated assessment component as well as a simple (unweighted) average of at least 75% of all the marks for the other required modules for the relevant diploma; excluding PHM 870 Learning in public health 870.

General Information

• Concurrent registration for two study programmes:
  • In accordance with the stipulations of the General Regulations, which is mutatis mutandis applicable in the case of postgraduate diploma study, the permission of the Dean is required for concurrent registration, subject to the regulations applicable to the fields of study in question and to any other stipulations the Dean may prescribe.
  • Such a concession may be withdrawn by the Dean if the student does not perform satisfactorily – all assignments and coursework must be completed on time.
  • Concurrent registration will not be accepted as a reason for poor performance or not meeting deadlines for both study programmes.
• Minimum credits: 130

Core Modules

• EOH 770: Introduction to environmental and occupational health (10 credits)
• HCL 771: Occupational health law (10 credits)
• HME 772: Primary epidemiology (10 credits)
• OCM 771: Clinical skills in occupational medicine (5 credits)
• PHM 770: Learning in public health (5 credits)
• SCM 771: Human resource management and industrial sociology (10 credits)

Elective Modules

• AOH 770: Assignment in occupational health (30 credits)
• HCM 773: Managing occupational health services (10 credits)
• OCM 770: Principles of occupational medicine (10 credits)
• OHT 770: Principles of occupational hygiene and toxicology (10 credits)
• SCP 770: Health promotion (5 credits)
• SCP 772: Health promotion in practice (5 credits)
• SCC 771: Communication in health (5 credits)
• CDS 773: Human nutrition and public health (5 credits)