Midwifery (Short) PgDip



A two year pre registration postgraduate programme for adult nurses registered with the NMC

Overview

Applications are invited from adult nurses working in the following Health Boards for the two year PG DIP/MM short programme in midwifery. Students on this programme will be recruited from the following Health Boards:

  • NHS Highland
  • NHS Tayside
  • NHS Lanarkshire
  • NHS Orkney
  • NHS Western Isles
  • NHS Forth Valley
  • NHS Lothian
  • NHS Grampian
  • NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 

The above Boards have indicated interest in supporting at least one student, but applicants should be aware that final numbers and places have not yet been confirmed in each location. This programme is funded by the Scottish Government and students will be paid a band 5 wage whilst studying.

Only adult nurses currently working in the above Boards are eligible to apply and will be placed for practice experience in their current employing Board.

Highlands Health Board is willing to consider applications from nurses elsewhere in Scotland who are willing to relocate to the Highland’s for the duration of the programme and for two years post qualification.

Please contact the Head of Midwifery in the Highlands if you would like to discuss this opportunity.

Typical entry point to this course is in January. Please enquire for more information. 

Please note that international students are unable to enroll onto this programme.

This programme is currently suspended at the moment.

 
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Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

2 years

Course details

Midwives provide skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate care to women, newborn infants and their families. They work across the continuum of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum and the early weeks of a newborn infant’s life. To meet these needs our programme reflects a dynamic, student-centred approach to learning, teaching and assessment. 

Our postgraduate diploma in midwifery is subject to the ‘NMC Standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes’. This requires that 50% of programme learning is theoretical and 50% is practical. 

It aims to prepare you for practice as an accountable and autonomous midwife with a focus on:

  • Mastery of the knowledge and skills required to provide safe and effective midwifery care to women and their families.
  • The interpersonal and cultural competence required for effective and collaborative working.
  • Developing self-capability in a midwifery leadership context, particularly in relation to quality, safety, and efficacy.
  • Demonstrating commitment to ongoing research, audit and service evaluation to enhance professional learning, policy and practice.

Modules:

Year 1

• Midwifery Practice: Art and Science
• Examination and Care of the Newborn
• Complex Care of Women and Newborn Infants
• Practice Learning: Part 1

Year 2

• Promoting Excellence in Midwifery Research and Practice 
• Management of Obstetric Emergencies and Midwifery Care
• Midwifery Practice, Leadership and Personalised Care
• Practice Learning Part 2

All modules are compulsory. 

  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    Theoretical content will be delivered online using a variety of interactive approaches. 

    Practice skills will be delivered in your health board. Travel may be required for placements such as neonatal care.
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    Assessments

    A variety of assessments, including academic essays, reports, written examinations, and ongoing assessments in clinical placement.
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    Work placement

     The full range of midwifery practice will be covered in seconded placements.

Disclaimer

mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our .

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Midwifery (Short)?

The entry requirement for this course is a first degree or Honours degree. 

Adult Nurse with current registration with the UK NMC.  

Admission to the programme is dependent upon a satisfactory Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG) check. 

Applications must be submitted using your NHS email address.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the Postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test. The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS 7.0 (with no less than 7.0 in each component, excluding Writing which requires 6.5).  Alternatively, Occupational English Test with grade B in all components.


Our entry requirements indicate the minimum qualifications with which we normally accept students. Competition for places varies from year to year and you aren't guaranteed a place if you meet the minimum qualifications.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2024/25 2025/26
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £6,630 £6,960
Overseas and EU £16,900 £17,750
Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


This programme is funded by the Scottish Government and students will be paid a band 5 wage by their Health Board whilst studying. (Places are limited.)

Careers

What can you do with a Midwifery Degree?

By studying Midwifery at Â鶹ÉçÇø, you will be qualified to apply for roles within both a clinical and social care setting, as a midwife you will be the expert in supporting women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. By having gained advanced communication, decision making and leadership skills during your course you will be able to support women compassionately and proactively during this time. You’ll be able to professionally apply the practical and theoretical knowledge you have learned through the most current research, having gained an understanding that midwifery is both an art and a science. This course will help you to develop your abilities not only to provide midwifery care but also emotional support to women and their families. If you’re a caring and helpful person by nature, passionate about women’s health, then this may be the right course for you.

What does a Midwife do?

As a midwife, you’ll most likely work in an NHS setting and occasionally a private healthcare sector. You will be a main primary care practitioner and expert in providing antenatal, intrapartum, neonatal and postnatal support and advice to women and their families. Midwives must recognise their role during pregnancy, birth and postnatal complications. Midwives support the use of interventions and technology when necessary to ensure an optimal outcome. Team and autonomous working skills will be required to deliver vital care in a fast-paced environment, with no day being the same.

Daily tasks and responsibilities in this role may include:

  • Advocate normality and midwifery led care as appropriate

  • Carrying out examinations and screenings before and after the birth, to monitor the growth of the fetus and the overall health of the mother and neonate.

  • Teaching skills, such as care of the newborn, infant nutrition and personal care to new mothers and parents.

  • Identifying high risk pregnancies and planning and implementing appropriate care around this.

  • Relationship building with expectant mothers, families and carers.

  • Providing information about nutrition and exercise for both the mother and the neonate.

  • Providing care and support during the labour and in the birth of a newborn, along with providing evidence-based care and supporting women’s choice.

  • Able to discuss future family planning and appropriate contraceptive methods with parents.

  • Keeping and updating important women and newborn’s documentation.

 

 


Midwifery students prepare for an induced labour