Entry regulations for postgraduate programmes in women's health

General information

The Postgraduate programmes in Women's Health include a significant distance-taught component. For each distance-taught paper, there are six two-hour audio conferences held on Tuesday evenings. These are conducted fortnightly over 12 weeks.

If you wish to apply for the following programmes, you need to meet the criteria below. You can apply using the buttons at the top of this page.

Please note the programmes are only available to students living and studying within New Zealand.

Postgraduate Diploma in Obstetrics and Medical Gynaecology (PGDipOMG)

The diploma is designed for medical practitioners who provide healthcare for women of all ages, including early antenatal care and intrapartum care. To complete the diploma, you need to complete four distance-taught papers (OBGY 712, OBGY 713, OBGY 715, OBGY 716), a clinical training paper (OBGY 717), and two residential papers (OBGY 718 and OBGY 719).

The diploma can be completed over a minimum of 12 months.

If you wish to apply you need to meet the following criteria:

1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Board of Otago Medical School, which must be satisfied that the applicant has the ability and experience to proceed to the programme.
2. Every applicant shall have been admitted to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB) of a university in New Zealand, or hold an equivalent medical qualification approved by the Board of Otago Medical School.
3. Every applicant shall be registered for medical practice in the country in which the programme is taught.

If you are unsure if you meet these criteria, please contact Amanda Phillips to discuss:

Email admin.obgypostgrad@otago.ac.nz

View the detailed PGDipOMG regulations (University of Otago website)

Postgraduate Certificate in Pregnancy and Medical Gynaecology (PGCertPMG)

The certificate is ideally suited for midwives, GPs, and allied health professionals with an interest in women's health. The certificate requires the completion of three of the four distance-taught papers (OBGY 712, OBGY 713, OBGY 715, OBGY 716), and one of the two residential papers (OBGY 718 and OBGY 719).

If you are a new House Officer, or had very little O&G clinical experience, we recommended that you complete OBGY 718 because it provides a foundation of knowledge in Women's Health.

If you are a registrar (or similar level) and/or have clinical experience, then OBGY 719 is an appropriate paper to take, as it is more skills-based than OBGY 718.

The certificate can be completed over a minimum of six months.

If you wish to apply you need to meet the following criteria:

1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) on the advice of the Board of Otago Medical School, which must be satisfied that the applicant has the ability and experience to proceed to the programme.
2. Every candidate for the certificate shall:
   • Have been admitted to a degree or diploma of a university, or
   • Hold an appropriate qualification approved by the Board of Otago Medical School, or
   • Have been admitted ad eundem statum as entitled to proceed to the Certificate

If you are unsure if you meet these criteria, please contact Amanda Phillips to discuss:

Email admin.obgypostgrad@otago.ac.nz

View the detailed PGCertPMG regulations

Information for GPs

The Ministry of Health has previously provided funding for GPs, GP registrars, and doctors who are planning to enter the vocational GP training programme, to undertake training, retraining and CME in maternity care and women's health. This funding is no longer available.

Please note that the PGDipOMG is not a standalone qualification for a GP to practice as a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC). To practice as a Lead Maternity Carer, additional training and qualifications would be required, such as the Advanced Diploma of the RANZCOG (DRANZCOG Adv) or as deemed suitable by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners.

This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2023 Calendar and supplementary material.