Overview
Public awareness of hazards and risks has enhanced the importance of safety assessment and management in today's increasingly litigious society. Risk and safety issues need to be evaluated in a structured and calculated manner but in the light of an overall organisational strategy.
This course aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of risk assessment techniques, the public and individual perception of risk, and how decisions are made in competitive business markets. The course focuses on practical applications of safety methodologies, ergonomics and human factors, and safety and risk management techniques. It will develop students' skills to undertake safety studies and manage safety and risk to the best national and international standards.
If you are interested in our courses you can join our Linked In group Safety Courses at Heriot-Watt where you can link up with other applicants, current and previous students and potential employers. Applying to join needs approval from the group owner which may take a week or two.
Online learning
This course can be studied via Online Learning, ideal for those in employment or with other commitments, providing flexible study options that fit around work or family. View our How online learning works pages to find out more. It can also be studied on-campus full-time or part-time.
Graduate profiles
Visit our Graduate Profiles page to learn what some of our graduates said about their experiences studying Safety and Risk Management at Heriot-Watt University.
Degree duration
Online Learning course - 2½ - 8 years. Most students intend to complete their studies via online learning within 2-3 years.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2026
Online Campus
United Kingdom
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
September 2025
Online Campus
United Kingdom
Applicants to the MSc programme will normally have a good undergraduate degree (minimum 2:2 honours or equivalent) in engineering or a relevant science discipline, or demonstrate equivalent academic ability based on industrial experience or membership of a professional institution. Applicants will need a good English Language ability to succeed in their programme. Those for whom English is not their first language should have achieved a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent and or have successfully completed courses (of 1 year or more in duration) delivered in English. TOEFL iBT - 79 (Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 21).
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
Heriot-Watt University is a world-leading institution ranked 235th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024).