Higher Diploma in Midwifery

The course consists of both classroom and practice learning for a duration of 78 weeks: 

• Theory: 26 weeks (24 weeks classroom and 10 individual study days)
• Practice: 52 weeks (including eight weeks of holidays and public holidays)  

For the duration of the course, you will be an employee of either The Coombe Hospital or The Rotunda Hospital, and a registered student at Trinity College Dublin. The course fees are paid by the hospital. Prior to commencing the programme, you must have secured a place in one of the two partnership hospitals, before applying to Trinity. The Health Service Executive will pay the student fees, and on registration, you will be contracted to work in the Coombe/Rotunda for a minimum of 2 years. Places in the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital and the Rotunda hospital are advertised nationally and on hospital websites. 

Assessment includes written examinations, assignments, presentations, independent and group work, skills assessment, and OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). 

Higher Diploma

The Rotunda Hospital and the Coombe Hospital advertise separately for midwifery students. Applicants for this programme must have secured a place in one of the two partnership hospitals before applying to TCD. The programme runs back to back as this is an 18 month programme.

✅ The Rotunda Hospital and the Coombe Hospital advertise separately for midwifery students. You must have secured a place in one of the two partnership hospitals before applying to Trinity. 

✅ 2nd class honours (2:1) degree minimum in General Nursing. In exceptional circumstances clinical experience and continuing professional development may be taken into consideration. 

✅ Registered as a General Nurse on the professional register maintained by the NMBI. An up-to-date NMBI professional registration certificate is required 

Please contact the hospitals directly:

• Rotunda - Mags Campion, Administrative Assistant, T: +353 1 873 0700 Ext 6883 / +3531 8176883.
• The Coombe Hospital, Jayan Thomas E: jthomas@coombe.ie, Human Resources Department, T: (01) 4085487

You will be required to submit the following documents with your application:

• NMBI Pin Number
• Certified copies of your educational awards (Parchments).
• Certified copies of your educational transcripts.
• Curriculum  vitae
• Confirmation of a place with linked Maternity hospital
• 1 Academic reference
• 1 Professional reference

Note: You will be requested to submit two referee contact details (one academic and one professional). These referees will be contacted automatically by email and will be asked to submit their reference directly to TCDs electronic system. It is, therefore, very important that all email addresses are entered correctly and that your referee is willing and available to provide a reference.

All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must meet Trinity College's Postgraduate English Language Requirements. 

Please note the School of Nursing & Midwifery requires applicants presenting IELTS (Academic version) and IELTS Indicator to have achieved: Grade 6.5 overall with a minimum of grade of 6 in each category.

English language requirements will be waived for applicants whose first language is not English and who are currently registered as nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) where that registration with the NMBI was based on the applicant’s IELTS score and they have evidence of continued engagement in a high intensity English language environment.