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Postgraduate courses aim to boost recruitment of Environmental Health Officers across Scotland
Abertay University has unveiled three new postgraduate programmes in Environmental Health to address Scotland’s critical shortage of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) within local authorities.
The move follows new data showing a 27.3% fall in EHOs in local authority posts over the past decade, according to the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland’s Workforce Sustainability Report.
The report also revealed that more than half of the current workforce is over 50, with around 80 vacancies across Scotland, highlighting a skills gap that could undermine public health services.
The concern is echoed in Scotland’s Local Government Workforce Report 2024, which found that 72% of Scottish councils have critical gaps in Environmental Health teams.
To help address this shortage, Abertay has introduced three new programmes: MSc Environmental Health, MSc Environmental Health with Industrial Practise and MSc Environmental Health with Professional Practise. These are the only master's degrees in the UK accredited by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), offering a pathway into a profession that plays a key role in safeguarding public health and wellbeing.
The programmes are designed to equip graduates with the technical expertise and practical experience needed to meet industry standards and step confidently into these essential roles. Students will cover areas including food safety, microbiology, pollution control, and public health promotion, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles and regulatory frameworks underpinning modern environmental health practice.
Delivered by academic experts from the University’s Department of Built Environment and Life Sciences, the programmes combine research-led teaching with real-world case studies, authentic assessments and access to cutting-edge facilities.
Dr Jonathan Wilkin, Reader in Food Innovation and Knowledge Exchange, said:
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are essential to maintaining safe and healthy communities, yet many councils in Scotland are struggling to recruit them. Our new MSc programmes respond directly to this need, offering a robust, professionally recognised route into the field. We’re proud to be supporting the next generation of EHOs and contributing to the resilience of Scotland’s public health infrastructure.
Students on the course will also benefit from strong industry partnerships, ensuring they are workplace-ready upon graduation.
The Industrial Practice pathway, which students can apply to join in the second term, includes a work-based project and leads to REHIS accreditation – a key requirement for professional practice in Scotland.
Additionally, to meet the growing demand from those already working within the profession, we developed the MSc Environmental Health with Professional Practise. This programme offers a full-time blended learning approach, combining online study with on-campus laboratory sessions and tutorials held one week per term.
REHIS President, Alan Morrison, is delighted that the University has launched the new MSc in Environmental Health programmes. He stated:
This is a fantastic development that will help equip the next generation of professionals with the underpinning academic knowledge required to achieve the REHIS Diploma in Environmental Health — the qualification needed to become an Environmental Health Officer in Scotland.
REHIS Chief Executive, Jackie McCabe, added:
We extend our thanks to Abertay University for collaborating with the Institute and for their foresight in developing these vital programmes, which are essential to the future of the Environmental Health profession in Scotland.
Designed with flexibility in mind, the courses offer multiple entry points throughout the year and are open to graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds who are interested in contributing to improvements in environmental and public health.
Applications are now open, with the first intake beginning in January 2026.
