Griffith University

Master of Primary Maternity Care Online

  • Delivery: Online
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 18 months
  • Course Type: Master's

Enhance skills in evidence analysis, critical questioning and impactful research to foster innovation in primary maternity care.

Course overview

Advance your career in maternity services with a degree that empowers you to shape the future of women's health. The Master of Primary Maternity Care develops your expertise in research, leadership and evidence-based practice, equipping you to design, evaluate and deliver maternity care within a wellness model. You'll graduate prepared to make a meaningful difference to mothers, babies, families and communities.

Failure to complete this program does not make you eligible to apply for midwife registration. Prospective students seeking eligibility for registration should refer to the Bachelor of Midwifery (1354).

Studying the Master of Primary Maternity Care equips you with advanced skills in analysing evidence, formulating critical questions and conducting impactful research to drive innovation in the field. You’ll apply your professional knowledge to address contemporary maternity challenges while integrating cultural awareness, legal and ethical frameworks and partnership approaches. The program emphasises evidence-based, research-led practice to future-proof your expertise and features interactive, applied learning that connects theory to practice in healthcare, policy and community contexts. Additionally, you'll enhance your leadership skills to advocate for and deliver safe, effective and culturally responsive maternity care.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
Course Type
Master's
Duration
More Information
This program is only available part-time.
18 months (Part time)
Price Per Unit
From $2,937.5
More Information
The estimated per-unit fee is calculated using the annual average first-year fee. It is based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (four units) per semester or 80 credit points (eight units) per year.

From $875 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for CSP where the government pays part of your fees. The estimated CSP fees are calculated using the annual CSP rate. It is based on a study load of 80 credit points.
Intake
2nd November, 2026
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
12
Fees
More Information
You may be eligible for CSP where the government pays part of your fees. The estimated per unit fees are calculated using the annual CSP rate. It is based on a full-time study load of 80 credit points (eight units) per year.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

To be eligible for the award of Master of Primary Maternity Care, a student must earn 80 up to 120 credit points. A student must complete one of the following pathways:

  • Pathway 1 - duration 1 year (80 credit points of study and 40 credit points for prior learning).
  • Pathway 2 - duration 1.5 years (120 credit points of study).
Pathway 1 - duration 1 year (80 credit points of study and 40 credit points for prior learning)

Complete 120 credit points comprising:

  • 80 credit points for Core Module.
  • 40 credit points from Prior Learning.

Core courses

  • Foundations of Research Inquiry (10 credit points)
  • Primary Maternity Care in Context (10 credit points)
  • Global Maternal Health (10 credit points)
  • Advanced Breastfeeding and Lactation (10 credit points)
  • Prescribing for Midwives or Transforming and Leading Healthcare (10 credit points)
  • Changing Childbirth: Service Design and Implementation (10 credit points)
  • Perinatal Mental Health (10 credit points)

Core course option

You must choose one of the following:

  • Quantitative Research (10 credit points)
  • Qualitative Research (10 credit points)
  • Clinical Trials - Principles and Practice (10 credit points
  • Independent Practice Project (10 credit points)

Prior Learning

40 credit points for approved recognised prior study and/or work experience.

Pathway 2 - duration 1.5 years (120 credit points of study)

Entry requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Primary Maternity Care, you must have one of the following:

Pathway 1 - One-year program (80 credit points).

  • A recognised bachelor's degree (or higher) in a related discipline in professional health practice, such as midwifery, medicine, nursing or social work.
  • A minimum of 2 years of full-time (or equivalent) relevant professional experience.

Pathway 2 - 1.5 year program (120 credit points).

This pathway includes a dissertation.

  • A recognised Bachelor's degree (or higher) in a relevant professional experience must have been in a related discipline in professional health practice: Midwifery, Medicine, Nursing or Social Work.
  • A minimum of two years of full-time (or equivalent) relevant professional experience.

A higher qualification refers to a qualification at a higher level than a Bachelor's degree, which includes any of the following: a Bachelor's Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master's Degree, MPhil or PhD.

English language requirements.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

  • A minimum overall band score of 7.0 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 7.0.
  • A minimum score of 580 on the TOEFL.
  • An internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 92 (no score less than 22).
  • No score less than 4 in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only).
  • A minimum overall score of 185 (no score less than 176) on C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English).
  • An overall score of 65 on the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 65.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Gaining credit and recognition of prior learning may reduce the time it will take to complete your degree. Find out more about the types of learning you may gain credit for, how to apply for credit transfer and examples of credit decisions by either contacting the university or booking a call with our Education Consultant. 

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Upon completing this program, graduates will be prepared to design and deliver primary maternity care and women's health services within a wellness model.

Graduates will be recognised for their expertise and ability to apply professional knowledge and skills in maternity care. They will possess high levels of skills and expertise in the following areas:

  • Legal, professional and ethical issues in practice.
  • Synergy in practice to meet current and future maternity reform agenda.
  • Interactions of cultural diversity and their implications for practice.
  • Principles of partnership working.
  • Effective midwifery care and service provision.

Fees and CSP

Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $7,000 (Commonwealth Supported Place).

Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $23,500 (domestic full-fee paying place).

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 80 credit points (normally eight units) per year.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:

  • The number of units studied.
  • Choice of courses.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated per courses you're enrolled in.
  • Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.