NEBOSH Level 6 International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals

The NEBOSH Level 6 International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals is the international counterpart to the National Diploma, built on ILO standards and international best practice rather than UK law. It has been regulated by Ofqual since 2023, holders may use the letters DipNEBOSH, and it is the senior qualification in the NEBOSH range.

LevelLevel 6Ofqual-regulated since 2023, the senior NEBOSH qualification

Structure3 unitsDI1 assignment, DI2 and DI3 case studies

Study time~409 hours185 taught, 144 self-study, 80 on assessment

Enrolment period5 yearsTo complete all three units

Who it is for

This qualification suits you if

You work outside the UK and want the senior NEBOSH qualification
You are aiming at HSE manager, head of safety or consultant roles
You hold an international certificate and have outgrown it
You want a qualification recognised across borders rather than tied to one jurisdiction

Before you commit

There are no mandatory entry requirements, but NEBOSH strongly recommends holding the International General Certificate first
You must study with a NEBOSH Learning Partner; self-study is not permitted
DI1 involves workplace-based activities, so you need access to a suitable workplace
Around 185 taught hours before you even reach the assessments

What it covers

The 2023 specification is built around three units, each assessed separately, replacing the older five-unit structure.

DI1, Know: workplace health and safety principles, covering the moral, economic and societal drivers, ILO conventions, management systems, leadership, human factors and auditing
DI2, Do: controlling workplace health issues, covering hazardous substances, biological agents, noise, vibration, radiation, mental health and musculoskeletal risk
DI3, Do: controlling workplace safety issues, covering fire and explosion, dangerous substances, machinery, electricity, construction, workplace transport and work at height
Throughout, the framework is international standards and best practice rather than the law of any single country

Assessment and certification

DI1 is an assignment combining workplace-based tasks, simulations, reflective statements and a research topic, submitted as two papers at the same sitting. It is expected to take around 40 hours, with four weeks, or 20 working days, allowed. DI2 and DI3 are scenario-based case studies of roughly 20 hours each, with two weeks, or 10 working days, allowed for each. The provisional pass mark is 50% per unit. Every submission is checked through Turnitin, and a closing interview follows each assessment to confirm the work is your own. Once all three units are passed, your combined mark sets the overall grade: 150 to 195 for a Pass, 196 to 225 for a Credit, 226 or above for a Distinction. The qualification parchment is issued 20 working days after the results notification date for your third successful unit.

The workplace does not have to be your own

DI1 requires workplace-based activities, and people between roles often assume that rules them out. It does not. The requirement is that the workplace is suitable for carrying out the range of activities involved, not that you are employed there. If access is the obstacle, raise it with your Learning Partner at enrolment rather than when the assessment is released, because they deal with this regularly.

National or International?

The distinction is the framework. The National Diploma is built on UK law and is what UK employers expect. The International is built on ILO standards and international best practice, and is the right choice if you work outside the UK or across several jurisdictions. Both sit at Level 6 with the same unit structure, assessment pattern and grade boundaries, both carry DipNEBOSH, and neither expires.

How you can study it

Classroom

Often structured as split weeks across several months, which suits people who want a fixed timetable and a cohort.

Live online

The same tutor-led teaching without travel, which matters more on a qualification measured in months rather than days.

Self-paced e-learning

Maximum flexibility across a long access period, and the route that asks most of your own discipline given the written assessments involved.

Common questions

How long does the International Diploma take?

NEBOSH sets a minimum of 185 taught hours, plus around 144 hours of recommended self-study and 80 hours on the assessments, so roughly 409 hours in total. How that spreads out depends on the route: classroom delivery is often split weeks across several months, while studied digitally most people take a year or more alongside a job. You have a five-year enrolment period to complete all three units.

What are DI1, DI2 and DI3?

The three units of the 2023 specification. DI1 is an assignment of around 40 hours, combining workplace-based tasks, simulations, reflective statements and a research topic, with 20 working days to submit. DI2 and DI3 are scenario-based case studies of around 20 hours each, with 10 working days for each.

Do I need a workplace to complete it?

You need access to a suitable workplace for the DI1 activities, but it does not have to be your own employer. The requirement is that the workplace allows you to carry out the range of activities involved. Raise it with your Learning Partner at enrolment if you are between roles.

Can I self-study?

No. NEBOSH requires every learner to register with an accredited Learning Partner and undertake the learning before taking an assessment. Self-study for a NEBOSH qualification is not possible, at any level.

How is it graded?

Each unit carries a provisional pass mark of 50%. Once all three are passed, the combined mark determines the overall grade: 150 to 195 is a Pass, 196 to 225 a Credit, and 226 or above a Distinction. Submissions are checked for plagiarism and followed by a closing interview.

Compare International Diploma dates and formats below

Envico lists International Diploma courses from NEBOSH Learning Partners in classroom, live online and self-paced formats. Working in the UK? Compare the National Diploma. Not ready for diploma level? Start with the International General Certificate.