Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery

Location

Online

Duration
One year full-time; part-time options
Delivery

Each course involves working through online resources and taking part in online discussions

Credits
120
Level
8
Start
February, April, July and September
Apply
Anytime
  • Location
    Intake
    Study breaks
  • Distance
    1 January 2021
  • Distance
    15 February 2021
  • Distance
    26 April 2021
  • Distance
    12 July 2021
  • Distance
    20 September 2021

Are you a registered midwife and want to extend your midwifery knowledge through a review of current thinking and research?

Build on the Postgraduate Certificate in Midwifery Practice and extend your professional skills during this relevant and practice-focused programme. Consult with the Postgraduate Course Coordinator (suzanne.miller@op.ac.nz) to plan your future study pathway. Critically analyse your own experiences as a midwife as a means of adding depth to your knowledge base, and further develop your confidence and transferable skill set enabling you to work anywhere in the world and to really make a difference in people's lives. 

Successful completion of this Diploma contributes half the credits required for our Master of Midwifery. Our online learning means that you can study from home and benefit from the support of experienced lecturers and the opportunity for networking. Online learning resources may include PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, word documents, interactive web pages and links to relevant electronic documents or websites.

To complete your Diploma, you will need to complete the two pre-thesis courses: Pathway to Thesis: Midwifery Knowledge, and Pathway to Thesis: Midwifery Research Methodologies (30-credits per course).

Skills required
  • A passion for women's health.
  • The ability to work independently and with others.
  • The ability to respond to changing circumstances.
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
  • The ability to work well under pressure.
  • The ability to be accountable.
Entry requirements
  • You must be a registered midwife and hold a bachelor's degree, Postgraduate Certificate in Midwifery Practice, OR equivalent.
  • You must have access to the internet.
  • International students will be individually assessed to ensure they meet the entry requirements.

For New Zealand registered midwives: 

For International midwifery students who are not registered in New Zealand:

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes

COVID-19 vaccination information 

If you want to apply for this programme, we’ll need to see evidence of your Covid-19 vaccinations (including types and dates). You need to have had three doses. We’re legally obliged to collect this additional information from you as this programme is covered by the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Vaccination) Order 2021. 

Please just complete our online application process as normal. As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to provide your vaccination record. 

The Government have advised that the only proof of vaccination that we can accept is a vaccination record PDF from your My Covid Record. 

Find out how to get your vaccination record here >

Selection procedure

You are encouraged to enrol early to enable us to plan courses and to allocate staff resources.

2022 course dates

14 February - 10 June 

  • Pathway to thesis: Midwifery knowledge

11 July - 4 November   

  • Pathway to thesis: Research methodologies
Complex Care pathway 

Choose these two courses PLUS one course from the Postgraduate Certificate course list

14 February - 10 June 

  • Midwifery assessment and decision making for complexity

11 July - 4 November   

  • Midwifery practicum for complexity

You can find a Postgraduate Diploma course summary here.

If you are a returning student, please contact ebsMID@op.ac.nz for a 2022 course selection form. New students wishing to study please apply online.

You will study

Learning packages will be displayed on the online Moodle learning management system supported by Adobe Connect online tutorials and activities will include quizzes, completion of worksheets, and the use of the Moodle forum for discussion and presentations.

Your workload

Each course requires working through online resources and participating in online discussions. There will be additional reading and preparation of assessments. Individual pathways and hours will vary but each ‘credit’ in a course size equates to approximately 10 learning hours.

Further study options

Hone your expertise and increase your career prospects by applying for the Master of Midwifery.

If you have completed your Postgraduate Certificate, Complex Care or the pre-thesis Diploma courses (Knowledge and Theory in Midwifery, and Research Methods in Midwifery Practice), please contact Suzanne Miller (suzanne.miller@op.ac.nz) for advice on enrolling in the Master of Midwifery

Happy studying! 

Programme specific risks

When studying courses offered online or using other electronic media, you may be at risk of Occupational Overuse Syndrome or other injuries brought about by long periods of computer use.

Student loans/allowances

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful. 

Links to useful websites

The New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM) is the professional organisation, and recognised 'voice', for midwives and student midwives in New Zealand, and represents over 2800 members: NZ College of Midwives

Nga Maia o Aotearoa me to Wai Pounamu (Nga Maia) is the national organisation representing Maori birthing. The kaupapa of Nga Maia focuses on Mama, Pepi and Whanau and promoting Matauranga Maori in pregnancy and childbirth: Nga Maia

International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) supports, represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives on a global basis. At present ICM have over 90 member associations in more than 70 countries. The ICM works with midwives and midwifery associations globally to secure women's right and access to midwifery care before, during and after childbirth: International Confederation of Midwives

The Midwifery Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) is the regulatory body for New Zealand midwives. It is responsible for the protection of the health and safety of women and babies during the childbirth process by providing mechanisms to ensure that midwives are competent and fit to practise midwifery: Midwifery Council NZ

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