Program Overview

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Nursing and Midwifery Research Skills Postgraduate Diploma

Overview

The online Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) Nursing and Midwifery Research Skills reflects our commitment to preparing nurses and midwives to lead and undertake programmes of research within a wide range of healthcare settings. It is designed for nurses and midwives who are passionate about healthcare research and are working towards an exciting and rewarding career in health research.

Course Highlights

• Online modules tailored specifically to meet the needs of nurses and midwives developing complex proposals for health research within nursing and midwifery practice
• A wide range of resources, online reading materials and activities designed to help learners develop essential nursing and midwifery research skills and work towards a range of summative module assessments
• Online discussion boards with support from module tutors, and access to the virtual learning environment supporting and embracing a thriving community of fellow nursing and midwifery students

Stepping Stone to an MRes

The PG Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery Research Skills is derived from the first and second stage of our online MRes Nursing and Midwifery programme. Upon completing the PG Diploma, you may wish to transfer onto the MRes to complete the full Masters award as the next step in your research career. You can do this by accessing the 80-credit independent research module to complete the 180-credit level 7 MRes award in full, studied over two academic years.

What You Will Study

The PG Dip Nursing and Midwifery Research Skills is a two-year programme throughout which you will study six 20-credit modules, totalling 120 credits at level 7.

Year One

• Trimester 1 (September): Quantitative Research Skills for Nursing and Midwifery Research (20 credits)
• Trimester 2 (January): Qualitative Research Skills for Nursing and Midwifery Research (20 credits)
• Trimester 3 (May): Methods for Managing Healthcare Research (20 credits)

Year Two

• Trimester 1 (September): Ethical and Scientific Standards for Healthcare Research (20 credits)
• Trimester 2 (January): Evaluating Healthcare Interventions (20 credits)
• Trimester 3 (May): Evidence Based Practice Project (20 credits)

Core Modules

• Quantitative Research Skills for Nursing and Midwifery Research
• Qualitative Research Skills for Nursing and Midwifery Research
• Methods for Managing Health Research
• Ethical and Scientific Standards for Nursing and Midwifery Research
• Evaluating Healthcare Interventions
• Evidenced Based Practice Project

How You Will Learn

Teaching and Learning

As you work through the six core 20-credit modules, you will engage with a range of synchronous and asynchronous activity. Teaching and learning activities are designed to develop the knowledge and skills required to work towards summative assessments which take place at the end of each trimester.

• A range of online activities within each module asynchronously delivered within the learning environment
• Synchronous live sessions with interactive support from course tutors
• Peer support via online discussion and completion of module activities
• Support via email and throughout online activities within module units

Pace of Study

The PG Dip Nursing and Midwifery Research Skills is delivered over two academic years.

Each academic year is made up of three 10-week terms (known as trimesters, with trimesters commencing in September, January and May).

Modules within the programme are studied one at the pace of one 20-credit module per 10-week trimester and we recommend around 20 hours of study per week.

Assessment Method

The assessment methods include the following:

• Research reports based upon the interpretation and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research data
• Recorded presentation
• Viva examination encompassing a critical discussion and questions put forward by examiners
• Research proposal for healthcare interventions
• Conduct and report of a limited evidence review

Assessment dates are set at the beginning of each trimester and are normally submitted at week 11.

Student Support and Guidance

Whilst we encourage our students to become independent, life-long learners, we also recognise that offering the right support and guidance will help you to achieve your goals. There is a wealth of support available to you at the University, from your dedicated Personal Tutor and Online Learner Advisor, through to our:

• Library
• Health and Wellbeing Centre
• Careers and Employability Service
• IT Support
• Union of Students
• Develop@Derby for study, personal and employability skills

Careers

Studying the Postgraduate Diploma Nursing and Midwifery Research Skills may be your first step in pursuing an exciting career in health research. Having completed the 120 level 7 credits, graduates may decide to enrol onto the 80-credit level 7 independent research project module to complete the full award for MRes Nursing and Midwifery.

Graduates completing the PG Dip will be well prepared to develop proposals for further research within nursing, midwifery or other healthcare contexts. Graduates will also be suitably prepared for supporting research activity within a wide range of healthcare contexts such as research nursing roles, clinical trials units and leadership roles where an in-depth understanding of research methods is a requirement.

Entry Requirements

You’ll need:

• Active registration as a nurse of midwife (NMC register part 1) practicing within the UK (essential)
• An Honours degree of 2:2 or above and/or evidence of level 6 or level 7 study within the last five years (essential)
• GCSE grade C or above (Grade 4-9) in Maths and English (or equivalent) see English Language Qualification (desirable).
• Experience of education or study within the last five years at level 6 or 7
• Work experience gained within a research context (desirable)

English Language Qualifications

If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need IELTS 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each area.

Recognition of Prior Learning or Experience

Exemptions can be made on the basis of prior academic study, professional qualifications (such as ACCA or CIMA) or professional experience. Students who have already studied at another institution, completed a training course or have work experience which appears equivalent to one or more modules of this programme, may be able to translate this prior learning into credits towards course modules so that they do not have to study them again. This is called recognition of prior learning or RPL.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 for new entrants

Starting between September 2025 and August 2026.

Per 20 credits	Modules	Cost
UK/EU/International	Per 20 credits £1,080	Modules 6	Cost £6,480

About your fees

This figure would be the total cost of this course based on the fee in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.

If you are required to undertake any associate study or additional study as a condition of your offer for the programme, please be aware that the cost for this may be in addition to the programme cost stated above.

Flexible payment plans available

Choose from two payment plan options:

• Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying
• Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases