MSc Process Safety (ODL)

Improving process safety has never been more vital. Yet, statistics suggest it
has also never been more challenging. Also, recent statistics have shown that
Major Hazard Installations (MHI) – facilities handling highly hazardous
chemicals - are moving upward in the region. However, the supply pipeline of
process safety engineers is simply not wide enough to cater to the industry’s
growing needs.

Designed in collaboration with well-known process safety institutions and

experts, MSc in Process Safety at UTP aims to overcome the industry’s talent
deficit in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region. Decidedly, process safety
engineers will be at the centre of managing process safety hazards, laying
down the bedrock for ongoing improvements especially in upstream and
downstream operation.

The main objective of this programme is to deepen understanding and equip

the students with comprehensive skills and expertise in process safety, loss
prevention, and risk assessment.
- Established in 2017 after extensive deliberation via an expert panel workshop attended
by renowned academicians and professionals from industries. This is the only program
focusing on Process Safety offered in Malaysia
- Modular-based programme jointly developed with PETRONAS, custodian engineers and
well-known process safety institutions as well as experts.
- Comprehensive coverage of the main discipline and thrust of process safety (as per
figure) through offerings of developed modules
Aims
• The aim of offering an MSc in Process Safety is to provide graduates and
practicing engineers with progressive knowledge for safer design and
operation of processing plant to prevent major accidents specifically fire,
explosion and toxic release.

Programme Educational Objectives

• The objective of the program is to provide graduates with extensive
knowledge in the field of process safety in order to produce professionals
who are able to effectively manage risk towards prevention, mitigation and
response of major accidents and losses in process installations. In other
words, the objective is to produce:
- Process Safety specialists with insights to articulate complex industry
problems and solutions.
- Industry leaders with integrity towards sustainable development
through continuous improvement and innovation for the betterment of
society.
Programme Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this programme, the graduates should be able to:

1. Demonstrate continuing and advanced knowledge in Process Safety for safer

design and operation at all asset lifecycle stages and have the capabilities to
further develop or use these in new situations or multi-disciplinary context.
2. Analyse and evaluate critically problems in Process Safety particularly in
situations with limited information and to provide solutions through
application of appropriate tools, techniques and methodologies.
3. Appraise available information and research evidence in Process Safety
including lesson learnt from major incidents and apply it in the engineering
context.
4. Plan and perform research undertakings and relevant assessments as per
regulations and standards requirement in Process Safety professionally,
ethically and responsibly.
5. Report technical findings in both written and oral forms on process safety
activities to the engineering community and society at large.
6. Recognize the needs for continuing professional development in Process
Safety.
 Mode Minimum Duration Maximum Duration

Full Time 12 months 36 months

i. Recognised Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering / Engineering Technology or
its equivalent with a minimum CGPA of 2.5; AND
ii. For International students, TOEFL score of 500 OR IELTS score of 5.0 OR its
equivalent. If a student does not meet this requirement, HEPs must offer
English proficiency courses to ensure that the student’s proficiency is
sufficient to meet the needs of the programme. This is normally conducted
through an assessment process.

Note:
• When candidates with Bachelor’s of Science or Technology degrees or their
equivalents (non-engineering or engineering technology) are admitted,
prerequisite modules in Engineering and Engineering Technology must be
offered to adequately prepare them for their advanced study. Degree
holders with CGPA above 2.0 but less than 2.5 may be admitted subject to a
rigorous internal assessment process.
 As of May 2021

Coursework & Conventional

Dissertation Malaysian International
MSc Process Safety
- Tuition Fee RM23,100.00 RM30,000.00
- Others (e.g., RM 1,000.00 RM 5,200.00
Registration Fee)
 •
Credit
No. Semester Name and Code of Course Classification (Core / Elective)
Value
1. Principles of Process Safety Management OAM5113 Core 3
2. Safe Design and Operation OAM5143 Core 3
1 Quantitative Risk Assessment OAM5233 Elective*
3. (Example) (Refer to the Note) 3
(Jan-Apr)
4. Research Methodology OAN5032 University Requirement 2
5. Project Management OAU5052 Mgmt. Course 2
Total Credit Hours per Semester 13
6. 2 Principles of Hazard Analysis & Risk Mgmt. OAM5123 Core 3
7. Process Plant Integrity & Reliability OAM5243 Core 3
8. (May-Aug) Industrial based Project OAM51710 Project 10
Total Credit Hours per Semester 16
9. Human Factors OAM5153 Core 3
10. 3 System Safety Engineering OAM5133 Core 3
Fire and Explosion Engineering OAM5213 Elective*
11. (Sep-Dec) (Example) (Refer to the Note) 3
12. Data Analytics DAM5362 University Requirement 2
Total Credit Hours per Semester 11
Total Credit Hours 40
Name and Code of Course Technical Elective Credit Value
Fire and Explosion Engineering OAM5213 3
NOTE:

Student to select and

Quantitative Risk Assessment OAM5233 3
take 2 from the
Incident Prevention & Emergency Management OAM5253 3
following Technical
Industrial Hygiene Engineering OAM5223 3
Elective courses
Environmental Risk & Impact Assessment OAM5263 3
 Classification
No. Semester Name and Code of Course Credit Value
(Core / Elective)
1. Principles of Process Safety Management OAM5113 Core 3
1
2. Research Methodology OAN5032 University Req. 2
(Jan-April)
3. Project Management OAU5052 Mgmt. Course 2
Total Credit Hours per Semester 7
Principles of Hazard Analysis & Risk Mgmt.
4. 2 Core 3
OAM5123
(May-Aug)
5. Process Plant Integrity & Reliability OAM5243 Core 3
Total Credit Hours per Semester 6
6. 3 Human Factors OAM5153 Core 3
7. (Sep-Dec) Fire and Explosion Engineering OAM5213 Elective* 3
Total Credit Hours per Semester 6
8. 4 Safe Design and Operation OAM5143 Core 3
9. (Jan-April) Quantitative Risk Assessment OAM5233 Elective* 3
Total Credit Hours per Semester 6
10. 5
Industrial based Project OAM51710 Project 10
. (May-Aug)
Total Credit Hours per Semester 10
11. 6 System Safety Engineering OAM5133 Core 3
12. (Sep-Dec) Data Analytics DAM5362 University Requirement 2
Total Credit Hours per Semester 5
Total Credit Hours 40
•

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Principles of Process Safety

OAM5113 3 credits
Management

The course focuses on Process Safety Management (PSM) in the workplace. The course
cover topics learning from incidents, need to manage safety, regulations on PSM, PSM
elements, planning, and implementing. The course will also include the measure audit
and review, safety management systems in major hazards, process safety performance
measurement, and safety leadership to enhance PSM in processing industries.

Course Code Module Credit Hour

OAM5143 Safe Design and Operation 3 credits

This course is aimed to enhance students’ knowledge of the introduction to system

safety engineering, safety performance measurement, preliminary hazard analysis,
fault detection, and diagnosis. The course also covers topics on the subsystem hazard
system, system hazard analysis, and operating and support hazard analysis. The
analysis for failure modes and their effects and LOPA will also be discussed.
•

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Principles of Hazard Analysis

OAM5123 3 credits
& Risk Mgmt.

The course is explaining about hazard analysis and risk assessment and its application
to the processing industries. The course covers topics on hazards, risk, risk analysis,
probability and reliability, hazard analysis and awareness, PHA tools (HAZOP, HAZID,
FMEA, etc.), bow-tie diagrams, the principle of risk management. The course will also
include the consequence analysis, risk contributors, risk values, risks, communication,
and safety culture to enhance process safety in processing industries.

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Process Plant Integrity &

OAM5243 3 credits
Reliability
This course is aimed to enhance students’ knowledge on system failure prediction,
failure rate data, and synthesis of failure, types of uncertainty, reliability concept and
theory. The course also covers topics on the failure distribution, mean time between
failure, structural reliability, and availability modelling. The strategy for equipment
critically, assessment, and maintenance will also be discussed.
•

Course Code Module Credit Hour

OAM5153 Human Factors 3 credits

The course is explaining how human factors influences human behaviour in a way that
can affect process safety performance at all levels of an organisation. The course
covers topics on human factors’ key issues, factors affecting human performance, and
systematic approaches in predicting and reducing human error. The course will also
include case studies to assess human error in the process industry and propose human
error prevention techniques to enhance process safety.

Course Code Module Credit Hour

OAM5133 System Safety Engineering 3 credits

This course is aimed to enhance students’ knowledge of the introduction to system

safety engineering, safety performance measurement, preliminary hazard analysis,
fault detection, and diagnosis. The course also covers topics on the subsystem hazard
system, system hazard analysis, and operating and support hazard analysis. The
analysis for failure modes and their effects and LOPA will also be discussed.
•

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Fire and Explosion

OAM5213 3 credits
Engineering

This course is aimed to enhance students’ knowledge of the fundamental theory of

fires, explosion, and fire hazard analysis. It also covers topics on fire risk assessment,
protection and prevention strategies, the installation, inspection, testing and
maintenance of fire and explosion protection.

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Quantitative Risk
OAM5233 3 credits
Assessment
This course provides the opportunity to learn about risk, the applications of risk
involved with industrial activities, and how to practice risk-informed decision-making
and risk management. Because engineering is a decision-making enterprise, a decision-
making way of thinking is used throughout the course.
•

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Incident Prevention &

OAM5253 3 credits
Emergency Management

This course covers the following topics: natural and man-made emergencies and
disaster; managing and planning, controlling, financial risk in major accident hazard;
fire emergency response; communication and evacuation procedure; emergency
operation and management; emergency plan and preparedness; incident investigation
and use of incident statistics

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Industrial Hygiene
OAM5223 3 credits
Engineering
This course covers the following topics: building and facilities; ergonomics, material
handling, and storage; machine guarding; welding; electrical hazards, and noise.
•

Course Code Module Credit Hour

Environmental Risk & Impact

OAM5263 3 credits
Assessment

This course explains the container and spill management and containers of hazardous
waste. The course also covers topics on the cleanup of spills and hazardous waste site
emergencies. The environmental control, noise, and environmental impact assessment
will also be discussed.
Students graduated from this programme will be highly
knowledgeable in the area of Process Safety where it will always
remain one of the most important areas of focus for many industries
such as oil and gas industry, petrochemical/chemical/pharmaceutical
industry, consultant, regulatory/authority bodies and R&D scientific
bodies.
Example careers relating to this programme may include; Safety
Engineer, Process Safety Engineer, Risk and Safety Manager,
Process/Technical Safety Engineer, HSE Lead Engineer, Risk Analyst,
Safety Consultant, etc.
Name : AZIZUL BIN BUANG
E-mail : azizul.buang@utp.edu.my