

- 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
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LocationIntakeStudy breaks
-
Distance1 January 2021
-
Distance15 February 2021
-
Distance26 April 2021
-
Distance12 July 2021
-
Distance20 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:
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- Overall Academic IELTS 7.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
For International midwifery students who are not registered in New Zealand:
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years)
- Speaking band >/=7.0
- Listening band >/=7.0
- No individual band less than 6.0, OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
- Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years)
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.
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