Enhancing Neonatal Care - BSc / GradCert / Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Our Enhancing Neonatal Care course is designed to meet the challenging specialism of neonatal care. It is suitable for a range of healthcare professionals including nurses, midwives, nursing associates, midwifery support workers and allied health professionals. The flexible delivery model means that you can tailor the training to your needs to develop your practice in neonatal care.
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Part Time
- Award BSc / GradCert / Module / MSc / PgCert / PgDip
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subjects
- Location City South
This course is:
Overview
This newly designed, flexible and innovative course has been developed to meet the needs of interdisciplinary healthcare practitioners working with neonates and their families in a variety of settings. It can be studied as both standalone modules or a full MSc, so that you can tailor the learning to meet your needs.
It is suitable for healthcare professionals working with neonates in a variety of settings, including nurses, midwives, nursing associates, midwifery support workers and allied health professionals.
What's covered in this course?
The course has been developed to address the very significant challenges associated with neonatal care, providing a global perspective, and drawing upon the knowledge and experience of our course team who are experts in the speciality. It will support the development of your knowledge and skills in relation to caring for the neonate and their family and will include the underpinning physiology and skills required for practice.
There is also a focus on the individualised care of multiple birth families as the international picture demonstrates that the incidence of multiple births continues to rise with about 1.6 million sets of twins born each year (Monden et al, 2021).
The course will build upon your previous educational and clinical experience, supporting you as a life-long learner. The innovative programme is designed to help you gain a greater understanding of the complexities of neonatal care and how best to support and enable effective individualised management of the neonate and their family.
You will develop a wide range of skills, learn about new and emerging evidence and gain critical understanding in neonatal care. You will acquire knowledge to develop and improve practice in the care of the neonate and their family. You will critically explore the evidence base towards your provision and delivery of individualised care.
The course is delivered through blended learning, with a mixture of online and in-person sessions, in line with the university’s learning and teaching strategy. The majority of the course is delivered online to make it accessible to learners from a wide geographical area. You will be encouraged to think critically and share practice experiences as well as engaging in both directed and self-directed learning activities.
You will complete modules to enhance your knowledge and understanding of research, quality improvement and leadership, thus enhancing your practice and professional development.
Why Choose Us?
- The flexible delivery model, with a mixture of online and in-person learning, means you can fit the course around your existing commitments and suit the learning to your needs.
- Taught by experts with a wide range of experience.
- We are home to the Elizabeth Bryan Multiple Births Centre (EBMBC) and can draw on a range of expertise and research in this field. About the EBMBC.
- As the role of the neonatal practitioner develops, completing this programme will enable you to realise where you are most comfortable within the clinical area and facilitate the best outcome for the neonate and their family.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation. Booking isn't open for this event yet, register your interest and we'll let you know as soon as booking goes live.
Next Event: 28 June 2025
Entry Requirements
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BSc
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 Year
- Show fees
- £860 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 60 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: GradCert
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 Year
- Show fees
- £860 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 60 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: Module
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 Year (Level 6)
- £860 per 20 credit module
- Part Time
- 1 Year (Level 7)
- £860 per 20 credit module
Award: MSc
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 3 Years
- Show fees
- £860 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 60 credits
- Year 2 - 60 credits
- Year 3 - 60 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: PgCert
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 1 Year
- Show fees
- £860 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 60 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
Award: PgDip
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Part Time
- 2 Years
- Show fees
- £860 per 20 credits
- Year 1 - 60 credits
- Year 2 - 60 credits
Fees for Part-time students
This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
Application deadlines
We advise you to apply early to allow sufficient time for you to prepare to start your studies in September. Please apply by Friday 18 July to allow time to arrange accommodation, student finance and visas where required.
Late applications will be accepted where places are still available, but please note that Welcome Week begins on Monday 15 September 2025, and teaching begins on Monday 22 September 2025. International students are invited to arrive from Monday 8 September 2025.
To find out more, see our application timeline.
Course in Depth
BSc / PGCert / Grad Cert
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete both of the following CORE modules (totalling 40 credits) plus one optional module choice of which to be discussed with the course lead:
This module will cover the fundamental aspects of neonatal care and will support the development of fundamental knowledge and skills for practice including the underpinning physiology. Post registration education pathways, in collaboration with service providers, allow for registered staff working in neonatal units to become equipped with the specific knowledge and skills required to practice safely and effectively in this critical care area (BAPM, 2012). This module is also available to Midwifery Support Workers and Registered Nursing Associates to develop their knowledge of fundamental neonatal care and conditions.
This module is aimed at health and social care practitioners whose roles bring them into contact with multiple birth families and who wish to gain further knowledge and skills in caring for and supporting them.
PGDip
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all of the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits) plus one optional module choice in Year 1 of which to be discussed with the course lead:
This module will cover the fundamental aspects of neonatal care and will support the development of fundamental knowledge and skills for practice including the underpinning physiology. Post registration education pathways, in collaboration with service providers, allow for registered staff working in neonatal units to become equipped with the specific knowledge and skills required to practice safely and effectively in this critical care area (BAPM, 2012). This module is also available to Midwifery Support Workers and Registered Nursing Associates to develop their knowledge of fundamental neonatal care and conditions.
This module is aimed at health and social care practitioners whose roles bring them into contact with multiple birth families and who wish to gain further knowledge and skills in caring for and supporting them.
Year 2:
This module develops students’ skills to become research-minded practitioners. It specifically addresses the broader programme aims related to “pursuing excellence” and “practice-led, knowledge applied” through a flexible provision that encourages students to develop their research ideas, enabling those on various Health and Social Work MSc programmes to satisfy their individual learning needs, whilst contributing to their area of study.
This module is part of the MSc Transforming and Leading in Health Care and explores creativity, innovation and service improvement and the application of these areas to the quality and safety of patient care. It will give you the experience of understanding, reviewing and applying theories of innovation, improvement and change into practice.
This module is part of the MSc Transforming and Leading Health Care and aims to facilitate advancing of your self-learning and self-understanding. It will give you insight into your personal and professional strengths, your limitations, your leadership, communication skills and work styles, and how these affect your behaviours including how you learn and your personal resilience.
MSc
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all of the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits) plus one optional module choice in Year 1 of which to be discussed with the course lead:
This module will cover the fundamental aspects of neonatal care and will support the development of fundamental knowledge and skills for practice including the underpinning physiology. Post registration education pathways, in collaboration with service providers, allow for registered staff working in neonatal units to become equipped with the specific knowledge and skills required to practice safely and effectively in this critical care area (BAPM, 2012). This module is also available to Midwifery Support Workers and Registered Nursing Associates to develop their knowledge of fundamental neonatal care and conditions.
This module is aimed at health and social care practitioners whose roles bring them into contact with multiple birth families and who wish to gain further knowledge and skills in caring for and supporting them.
Year 2:
This module develops students’ skills to become research-minded practitioners. It specifically addresses the broader programme aims related to “pursuing excellence” and “practice-led, knowledge applied” through a flexible provision that encourages students to develop their research ideas, enabling those on various Health and Social Work MSc programmes to satisfy their individual learning needs, whilst contributing to their area of study.
This module is part of the MSc Transforming and Leading in Health Care and explores creativity, innovation and service improvement and the application of these areas to the quality and safety of patient care. It will give you the experience of understanding, reviewing and applying theories of innovation, improvement and change into practice.
This module is part of the MSc Transforming and Leading Health Care and aims to facilitate advancing of your self-learning and self-understanding. It will give you insight into your personal and professional strengths, your limitations, your leadership, communication skills and work styles, and how these affect your behaviours including how you learn and your personal resilience.
Year 3:
This triple module forms the final bridge between the award of a Postgraduate Diploma and a Health MSc related to a named award. It provides you with the opportunity to complete a piece of work around a chosen topic in order to demonstrate competence in the planning, execution, analysis and evaluation of a Research Project, a Systematic Review or Project Management.
The underlying principle and aim of the learning, teaching and assessment strategy for this course focuses on the relationship between theory and practice, highlighting the importance of the links between relevant, contemporary evidence-based theory and practice in the delivery of high-quality Neonatal care.
A varied range of learning and teaching approaches are used throughout the module(s), for example:
- A blended delivery utilising face to face and/or online resources
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group work
- Discussions
- Quizzes
- Workshops
- Self-directed study
A variety of assessment methods are used to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and understanding. The assessment methods are designed to enable you to apply theory to your developing Neonatal practice.
Employability
This course will enable you to enhance your knowledge and understanding of research, quality improvement and leadership, which will enhance your practice and professional development. Previous students have gone on to roles such as clinical educator, promotion to band 6, family integrated care lead and infant feeding lead.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
Our Nursing and Midwifery courses are based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.
We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.
In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.
See more of our skills facilities at City South
Centre for Skills and Simulation
The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.
Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.
The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.
Simulation Manikins
We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.
Computer Facilities
The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.
Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.
Our staff
Laura Maguire
Course lead for MSc Enhancing Neonatal Care and MSc Neonatal Critical Care
Laura has worked at BCU since 2021, has completed her PGCert in Teaching and Learning – Higher Education and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. She qualified as a registered Children’s Nurse in 2009 and chose to specialise in neonatal nursing working as a Junior Sister in a busy Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. During this...
More about LauraLara Alamad
Senior Lecturer
Lara is a Senior Lecturer at the Elizabeth Bryan Multiple Birth Centre. This role includes research involving multiple birth families, development of education resources for health and social care professionals and working with 3rd sector organisations to raise the profile of the needs of multiple birth families. She has been involved in two...
More about Lara