DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE [ S.L.327.29 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.29
DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN 
MIDWIFERY COURSE REGULATIONS
18th September, 1992
LEGAL NOTICE 87 of 1992.
Citation and 
interpretation.
1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Diploma in Nursing
or Diploma in Midwifery Course Regulations.
(2) In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -
"the course" means the course leading to the Diploma in Nursing
or the Diploma in Midwifery.
Applicability.
academic years 1990/91 to 1993/94.
Eligibility for 
diploma.
3. To be eligible for the award of Diploma in Nursing or
Diploma in Midwifery a candidate must have:
( a ) been registered as a probationary or regular student of
the University of Malta in the Institute of Health Care
for a minimum period of three and a half years, of
which at least two shall be as a regular student;
( b ) completed a course of studies and been successful in
the examination in accordance with these regulations;
( c ) to be in possession of a statement of good conduct as
befits a person entitled to use the title "Nurse" or
"Midwife", which statement must be signed by the
Head of the Nursing or Midwifery Studies; and
( d ) satisfied other requirements laid down in these
regulations and in any other relevant regulations and
statutes of the University.
Registration.
Course if he:
( a ) is aged not less than seventeen years within three
calendar months from the date on which the course
commences;
( b ) satisfies the requirements as a probationary or regular
student in terms of the Admission Regulations of the
University, and if he is a probationary student,
satisfies also the entry requirements specified in
regulation 5;
( c ) satisfies the Institute of Health Care that he has the
necessary aptitude for nursing or midwifery. The
Institute of Health Care may require the candidate to
attend an interview/assessment for this purpose.
(2) A candidate must possess a medical certificate as to his
2 [ S.L.327.29 DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE
suitability for undertaking Nursing/Midwifery duties.
(3) Overseas students, in addition to satisfying the foregoing
requirements, must demonstrate proficiency in both written and
oral English.
Entry requirements 
for probationary 
students.
5. (1) In order to be admitted as a probationary student in the
course the candidate shall be in possession of one of the following:
( a ) six passes at Ordinary Level, including Maltese,
English Language, Mathematics and a science subject;
or
( b ) a certificate from the Prevocational School (Health
Studies) with grade C or better in six subjects;
( c ) the qualifications for entry of mature students under
the Admission Regulations of the University.
(2) Probationary students shall also satisfy the requirements of
regulation 4(3) as regards the English language.
Duration of the 
course.
6. (1) The course shall extend over a period of three years
and six months. A candidate may not take the final examination
earlier than three years and six months or later than four years and
six months from the date of the commencement of the course
except with the permission of the Board of the Institute of Health
Care.
(2) The Foundation programme in Nursing and Midwifery
comprises the first eighteen months of the course.
(3) A probationary student who successfully completes the
Foundation programme shall be entitled to be registered as a
matriculated student of the University.
(4) Following successful completion of the Foundation
programme students shall continue their studies in either Nursing
or Midwifery for a further two years.
Selection of 
Nursing or 
Midwifery 
Diploma.
7. (1) Students shall enroll to study Nursing or Midwifery at
the commencement of the course.
(2) Students shall not be allowed to change direction from
Nursing to Midwifery or vice versa after the commencement of
Module IV without the written recommendation of the Head of
Nursing Studies to the Board of the Institute of Health Care who
may grant permission. Students shall be required to complete the
relevant modules following such a change.
Foundation 
programme.
8. (1) During the Foundation programme of the course
students shall be prepared in the fundamental knowledge, skills and
attitudes inherent in the practice of Nursing or Midwifery. Students
shall also be prepared for their subsequent professional and
academic development.
(2) The course shall consist of modules, each of which shall
have a theoretical and clinical component and shall concentrate on
an area of Nursing/ Midwifery practice.
(3) Students shall be assessed in both theory and practice
Nursing or Midwifery by continuous assessment.
DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE [ S.L.327.29 3
(4) Clinical practice shall be assessed by nursing/midwifery
teachers or clinical nurses/midwives from relevant areas of
practice.
Successful 
completion of the 
Foundation 
programme.
9. (1) To complete the Foundation programme successfully
and continue the course, the student shall obtain the following:
( a ) a pass grade in the theoretical assessments with an
average grade of C;
( b ) a pass grade in all the clinical assessments; and
( c ) a pass in the Foundation Programme Comprehensive
Examination.
(2) A student who fails to obtain a pass grade in not more than
two assessments under either subregulation (1)( a ) or subregulation
(1)( b ), or under both such paragraphs, shall be entitled to repeat
such assessments once only at the end of the Foundation
programme. If successful in the resit, the grade to be given shall be
the pass grade D. A student who fails to obtain a pass grade in any
assessment which he has repeated shall not be allowed to continue
the course except in special circumstances and with the permission
of the Board of the Insitute of Health Care.
(3) A student who obtains a pass grade in all assessments
under subregulation (1)( a ) but does not obtain an average grade of
C shall be entitled to repeat, once only, at the end of the Foundation
programme, any number of assessments he wishes, and if be
obtains an average grade of C, having regard to both the first and
second occasion, he shall be entitled to continue the course as of
right. If he fails to obtain the average grade as above, he shall not
be allowed to continue the course except with the permission of the
Institute of Health Care.
(4) A student who fails the Comprehensive Examination shall
be required to resit the examination on one occasion only normally
within three months of completing the Foundation programme.
Diploma 
programme.
10. (1) Following the Foundation programme there shall be a
further two years study for the obtainment of the Diploma in
Nursing or Diploma in Midwifery according to the course of
studies followed.
(2) The Diploma programme shall consist of two elements:
DIPLOMA IN NURSING
Professional 
studies.
11. (1) Professional studies are set out in modules of learning.
(2) Each module shall be considered a distinct study-unit
( a ) Professional Studies - study-units at diploma level
concerned with either Nursing
or Midwifery theory and
practice;
( b ) Diploma Studies - study-units of behavioural and
biomedical sciences and
professional knowledge
applicable to both Nursing and
Midwifery students.
4 [ S.L.327.29 DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE
incorporating a theoretical and a clinical component.
(3) The Head of Nursing/Midwifery Studies shall decide the
sequence of modules a student may take.
Theoretical 
component.
12. (1) Each nursing module is assigned a specific number of
theoretical credits.
(2) There are 27 theoretical credits assigned to professional
nursing studies.
(3) Subjects covered within each module are interrelated and
will therefore be assessed as one unit of learning.
(4) On completion of a module the student will be awarded a
grade indicating the standard attained by the student in the
theoretical assessments. The grades are as follows:
A Excellent
B Very Good Pass
C Good Pass
D Pass
F Fail.
(5) A student is allowed to re-take the appropriate assessments
once if he fails a module. If successful in the re-take, the grade to
be given is D. If unsuccessful, the student shall be entitled to repeat
the whole module on only one occasion at the end of the course.
Students who fail the module at the second attempt will not be
allowed to continue the course except in special circumstances and
with the permission of the Board of the Institute of Health Care.
Only one module may be repeated.
(6) A student who fails to achieve a pass grade in two modules
shall not be allowed to continue the course except in special
circumstances and with the permission of the Board of the Institute
of Health Care.
Clinical 
component.
13. (1) The clinical component of the diploma element of the
course shall consist of study-units of clinical practice for which not
less than 28 clinical nursing credits shall be assigned.
(2) Students will be required to undergo clinical placements in
areas specified by the Board of the Institute of Health Care in the
sequence specified by such Board.
(3) Successful completion of a clinical study-unit will be
determined by intermittent continuous assessment.
(4) Students who fail a clinical module shall be entitled to
repeat the module on only one occasion at the end of the course.
(5) Students who fail more than one clinical module in any one
year shall not be allowed to continue the course or be eligible to sit
for the final comprehensive examination except in special
circumstances and with the permission of the Board of the Institute
of Health Care.
DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE [ S.L.327.29 5
Professional 
competence.
14. Students shall not be allowed to take the final
comprehensive examination unless they have achieved the
competence of a Registered Nurse, that is to:
( a ) demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to
meet the health and sickness requirements of
individuals and of groups in a particular area of
practice;
( b ) recognise common factors which contribute to and
those which adversely affect physical, mental and
social well-being of patients or clients and take
appropriate action;
( c ) identify the social and health implications of physical
and mental handicap or disease, and pregnancy and
child-bearing, for the individual, his friends, family
and community;
( d ) demonstrate knowledge of the normal development of
the foetus, the infant, the child, the adolescent and the
young, middle-aged and elderly adult;
( e ) demonstrate an appreciation of research and use
relevant literature and research as an aid to practice;
( f ) demonstrate professional accountability and
commitment to continuing education and
development;
( g ) demonstrate an awareness of social and political
factors which relate to health care;
( h ) demonstrate knowledge and understanding to meet the
requirements of legislation which is relevant to his
practice;
( i ) recognise and uphold the personal and confidential
rights of patients and clients;
( j ) develop helpful caring relationships with patients,
clients and their families or friends; initiate, continue
and complete therapeutic relationships with patients
using appropriate inter-personal and communication
skills;
( k ) identify the health-related learning needs of patients,
clients, family or friends and participate in health
promotion/education;
( l ) demonstrate an awareness of the roles of individual
members of the team who provide aspects of patient/
client care, function efficiently in a team and assist in
a multi-disciplinary approach where appropriate;
( m ) assign appropriate work to helpers and provide
supervision, and monitoring of assigned work;
( n ) identify physical, psychological, social and spiritual
needs of the patient or client; be aware of and value
the concept of individualised care, devise a plan of
care, contribute to its implementation and evaluation
by demonstrating an appreciation and practice of the
6 [ S.L.327.29 DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE
principles of a problem solving approach;
( o ) enable patients or clients as appropriate to progress
from varying degrees of dependence to maximum
independence, or to a peaceful death.
DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY
Professional 
studies.
15. (1) Professional studies are set out in themes which shall
be taken concurrently.
(2) Each of the themes shall have a theoretical and a clinical
component.
(3) The Head of Nursing/Midwifery Studies shall decide the
sequence of themes a student may take.
Theoretical 
component.
16. (1) Each theme shall have a number of study-units, each
of which shall be assigned a specific number of credits.
(2) 27 theoretical credits shall be assigned to professional
Midwifery studies.
(3) On completion of a credit the student shall be awarded a
grade indicating the standard attained by the student in the
theoretical assessments. The grades shall be as follows:
A Excellent
B Very Good Pass
C Good Pass
D Pass
F Fail.
(4) A candidate shall be allowed to re-take the assessments/
tests once only if she fails a credit. If she is successful in the re-
take, the grade to be given shall be D. If she is unsuccessful, the
candidate shall be required to repeat the whole credit and be
eligible on successful completion to grade D. 
(5) A student who in any year fails to obtain 80% or more of
the credits assigned shall not be allowed to continue the course or
to take the final comprehensive examination except in special
circumstances and with the premission of the Board of the Institute
of Health Care.
Clinical 
component.
17. (1) The clinical component of the course shall consist of
clinical placements for which not less than 28 credits shall be
assigned.
(2) Clinical placements shall be specified by the Head of
Nursing/Midwifery Studies. They shall allow flexibility in
instances when the learning needs of the student will be better
served.
(3) A student will be required to keep a record of clinical
practice which must be signed by her supervisor.
(4) Successful completion of a clinical study-unit shall be
determined by continuous assessment.
(5) Students who fail to reach an overall pass grade in clinical
DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE [ S.L.327.29 7
practice at the end of each diploma year will be allowed to
complete the course or to take the final comprehensive examination
only in exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the
Board of the Institute of Health Care.
Professional 
competence.
18. A student shall not be allowed to take the final
comprehensive examination unless she has achieved the
competence of a Registered Midwife, that is to:
( a ) advise on the promotion of health;
( b ) recognise the physical, emotional and social situations
which may influence the health and well-being of the
mother and baby;
( c ) assess, plan and implement care within the sphere of
practice of a midwife to meet the physical, emotional,
educational and social needs of the mother, baby and
family;
( d ) take action on her own responsibility in initiating the
action of other disciplines and seeking assistance when
required;
( e ) interpret and undertake care prescribed by a registered
medical practitioner;
( f ) demonstrate effective communication with mothers,
relatives, colleagues and other disciplines;
( g ) demonstrate an awareness of a research based practice;
( h ) work in a multi-disciplinary team with an
understanding of the role of all members;
( i ) assign appropriate work to helpers and provide
supervision and monitoring of assigned work.
DIPLOMA STUDIES 
(NURSING AND MIDWIFERY STUDENTS)
Diploma studies.
behavioural sciences and professional studies applicable to both
nursing and midwifery students.
(2) Diploma studies shall link in with the Professional studies
and sessions shared with other students where appropriate. One day
per week shall be set aside for this purpose.
(3) Diploma studies shall consist of study-units for which 33
credits shall be assigned.
(4) The Board of the Institute of Health Care shall decide
which credits a candidate may take and in what sequence, in order
to complete the course.
(5) On completion of a credit the student shall be awarded a
grade indicating the standard attained by the student in the credit
assessments. Grades are as follows:
A Excellent
B Very Good Pass
C Good Pass
8 [ S.L.327.29 DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE
D Pass
F Fail.
(6) A student shall be allowed to re-take an assessment once
only if he fails a credit. If he is successful in the re-take, the grade
to be given shall be D. If he is unsuccessful, the student shall be
required to repeat the whole credit and be eligible on successful
completion to grade D.
(7) A candidate who in any one year fails to obtain 80% of the
total number of credits will not be allowed to continue the course or
to take the final comprehensive examination except in special
circumstances and with the permission of the Board of the Institute
of Health Care.
Completion of the 
course.
20. (1) To complete the course, a candidate must obtain the
following:
( a ) pass at grade C or above in the Foundation
programme;
( b ) 27 Professional credits (Nursing or Midwifery);
( c ) 33 Diploma credits;
( d ) 28 Clinical Nursing credits or 28 Clinical Midwifery
credits;
( e ) other theoretical or clinical nursing credits as from
time to time required to comply with the European
Community Directives on Nursing and Midwifery
Education.
(2) The Board of the Institute of Health Care may exempt a
candidate from the requirement of obtaining a credit certificate for
a particular unit if he has obtained from the University, or an
institution recognised by the Senate for the purpose, a qualification
the study for which is, in the opinion of the Board, equivalent in
content and standard to that required for the credit certificate
concerned. Candidates may only be exempted from up to one fifth
of the theoretical component.
Final 
comprehensive 
examination.
21. (1) A candidate shall be required to sit for the final
comprehensive examination after obtaining the requirements laid
down in regulation 20.
(2) At the end of the course of studies, a candidate will be
required to take the final comprehensive examination in two
comprehensive papers (in the same session) relevant to their course
of studies and present a project as follows:
( a ) Paper I: Theory and Practice of Nursing or Midwifery,
as the case may require;
( b ) Paper II: Professional Development and Management
(related to either Nursing or Midwifery, as the case
may require);
( c ) Special Project Related to Nursing or Midwifery, as
the case may require.
(3) A candidate may also be required to take an oral
examination at which he shall be expected to discuss aspects of the
DIPLOMA IN NURSING OR DIPLOMA IN MIDWIFERY COURSE [ S.L.327.29 9
special project.
(4) The final comprehensive examination shall be set by the
Board of the Institute of Health Care and shall normally take place
during the last week of the course.
(5) The overall evaluation of the candidate for the Diploma in
Nursing or Diploma in Midwifery shall take into account his
performance at the final comprehensive examination as well as the
credit certificates and grades obtained during his course of studies.
(6) A candidate who fails in only one paper shall be allowed a
resit in that paper. A candidate who fails more than one paper shall
be required to resit the whole examination, at a time established by
the Board of the Institute of Health Care.
(7) A candidate will only be allowed three attempts at the final
comprehensive examination.
Results.
the Diploma in Nursing or the Diploma in Midwifery shall be
published in three categories (Distinction, Credit and Pass), in
alphabetical order.
(2) A candidate who is allowed to resit part or all of the final
comprehensive examination shall be eligible only for the category
Pass.
