This programme is designed for applicants who are registered as a nurse level 1 (adult) with the NMC . Successful applicants will normally have a degree with honours and relevant nursing experience. The content of the Post Graduate Diploma Midwifery Studies programme will meet the requirements of the NMC Standards for Pre Registration Midwifery Education and reflects the concepts and intentions of ‘Delivering High Quality Midwifery care: the priorities, opportunities and challenges for midwives’ (GB DH 2009). Thus the programme will address key issues such as the provision of women-centred care, maintaining normality in childbirth, the development of essential skills for midwives and the role of the midwife in the promotion of public health.

The current programme has a 100% employment rate for those wishing to practice as midwives; therefore award holders from this programme will be well placed to seek employment as midwives. In addition award holders will have been prepared to enhance practice via the mastery of advanced information management skills, abilities to judge and use research and other forms of evidence ,dissemination of research findings, and through adapting and evaluating professional practice, for example through audit, so meeting the national policy drivers and thus enhancing employment opportunities in a range of roles and environments .