Nursing - Midwifery

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Midwifery is for registered general nurses who wish to pursue a career in midwifery. The programme builds on students’ prior professional, academic and personal experiences. Following successful completion of the programme, students are competent to fulfil the role of the midwife as outlined by the International Confederation of Midwives and are eligible to apply to register as a midwife with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).



Course Outline

The Higher Diploma in Midwifery is of 80 weeks duration. The programme is provided by the School of Nursing and Midwifery at University of Galway in partnership with the Saolta Group Maternity Services. The course consists of 54 weeks of clinical practice and 26 weeks of theoretical content. Clinical practice is located at the Maternity units in the Saolta Hospital group and consists of placements in Antenatal, Intranatal, Postnatal, Midwife-led Placements, Gynaecology, Theatre & Recovery and Neonatal Unit. Theoretical content consists of the following modules: Anatomy and Physiology Applied to Midwifery, Midwifery Care I & II, Woman with Complications in Childbirth I & II, Care of the Well Neonate, The Neonate Requiring Specialised Care, Research, Psychology and Sociology applied to Midwifery, Professional Issues and an Elective Placement for Midwifery.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Required NU6564: Midwifery Practice 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required NU6556: Research for Midwifery - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required NU6554: Normal Midwifery Care 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 1

Required NU6553: Anatomy and Physiology Applied to Midwifery - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required NU6555: Care of the Well Neonate - 5 Credits - Semester 1

Required NU6567: Competency Assessment 2 - 0 Credits - Semester 2

Required NU6566: Competency Assessment 1 - 0 Credits - Semester 2

Required NU6558: Woman with Complications in Childbirth 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required NU6559: Professional Issues - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required NU6565: Midwifery Practice 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required NU6560: Psychology for Midwifery - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required NU6557: Normal Midwifery Care 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 2



Year 2 (30 Credits)

Required NU6568: Competency Assessment 3 - 0 Credits - Semester 3

Required NU6569: Competency Assessment 4 - 0 Credits - Semester 3

Required NU6563: Sociology for Midwifery - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required NU6561: Woman with Complications in Childbirth 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 3

Required NU6570: Competency Assessment 5 - 0 Credits - Semester 3

Required NU6562: The Neonate Requiring Specialised Care - 5 Credits - Semester 3

Required NU6567: Competency Assessment 2 - 0 Credits - Semester 4

Required NU6566: Competency Assessment 1 - 0 Credits - Semester 4

Required NU6571: Competency Assessment 6 - 0 Credits - Semester 4

Required NU6572: Elective Practice Placement for Midwifery - 10 Credits - Semester 4

Applicants must be registered on the General Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. A minimum of six months’ experience as a registered general nurse, within the last three years, is required at the time of application. (NOTE: July 2023 - this requirement has now been removed by HSE; this is being noted here on our website, but cannot be updated in printed prospectus, in circulation.)



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning for module exemptions is not available on this programme due to external professional accreditation requirements.

How to apply

We encourage all applicants to apply as early as possible.



Review/Closing Dates (for Taught Programmes)

For most programmes, University of Galway does not set specific closing dates for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotas will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle with the exception of applications for some programmes which are reviewed after the specified closing date. Candidates who do not have their final degree marks available may be made a conditional (provisional) offer.



Online Application

Applications to most postgraduate programmes at University of Galway are made online via www.universityofgalway.ie/apply (see "Application Weblink").

80 weeks, full-time.

Next intake will be February 2024 - September 2025, and the one after that will be September 2025 - March 2026.



Closing Date: 31st May 2024.

Career Opportunities

There are career opportunities for midwives to work in various practice settings including hospitals, midwife-led care units, clinics or the community, across different models of care. There are also opportunities to specialise in areas within clinical practice, or to focus more on education or research related to midwifery. For midwives who wish to work in another EU state, they must undertake a year of clinical midwifery practice in Ireland before they can register with any other EU Member State and practice in that country.