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About University of Galway
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Accessibility & LanguageNursing: Midwifery (HDip)
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).
*Next intake will be September 2025–March 2027, and the one after that will be February 2027 – August 2028
Applications and Selections
See https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs/job-search/nursing/midwifery/ for application details.
Prospective students are required to complete an online application form and those who meet the eligibility criteria are invited for interview. The course is advertised on the HSE website, in social media, newspapers, and information is provided on the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway website.
Find out more about the course by downloading this midwifery leaflet.
Who Teaches this Course
- Caroline Keegan
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Applicants must be registered on the General Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
Additional Requirements
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of Prior Learning for module exemptions is not available on this programme due to external professional accreditation requirements.
Duration
80 weeks, full-time
Next start date
September 2025
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
Intake 17
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
Closing Date
To be confirmed
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
90
Award
CAO
Course code
1HMW1
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.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
There are career opportunities for midwives to work in various practice settings including hospitals, midwife-led care units, clinics or in 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.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Transferable Skills Employers Value
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
€
Fees: Tuition
€
Fees: Student levy
€
Fees: Non EU
€
This programme is sponsored by the HSE.
Find out More
Dr Patricia Healy
T +353 91 495 421
E patricia.healy@universityofgalway.ie
www.universityofgalway.ie/medicine-nursing-and-health-sciences/nursing-midwifery/
