Midwifery

PhD in Midwifery in Malaysia

A PhD in Midwifery / Maternal & Child Health in Malaysia is a research-intensive doctoral programme designed for Registered Midwives, nurse educators, nursing leaders, and maternal-child health researchers who wish to advance evidence-based practice, influence policy, and contribute to scientific knowledge in women’s reproductive health and neonatal care. While Malaysia does not offer a programme titled specifically “PhD in Midwifery,” midwifery-related research is conducted under PhD in Nursing, PhD in Health Sciences, or PhD in Public Health, with a focus on maternal and neonatal health.

The programme aims to develop scholars who can address healthcare challenges related to pregnancy outcomes, labour management, postpartum care, maternal mental health, breastfeeding practices, infant mortality, high-risk pregnancies, family planning, reproductive health education, and community midwifery models. Students conduct original research that contributes to improving clinical guidelines, public health strategies, telehealth maternal services, nursing education, and hospital-based care systems.

Research methods training includes advanced biostatistics, qualitative inquiry, epidemiology, clinical trials (where applicable), programme evaluation, health policy analysis, and ethical considerations in maternal-infant studies. Candidates often collaborate with maternity hospitals, health ministries, NGOs, international health organisations, or community health programmes.

Graduates of a doctoral programme in maternal-child research become leaders in academia, specialised maternal health researchers, nursing faculty members, policy consultants, or directors of maternal-child health programmes. This qualification significantly strengthens Malaysia’s efforts to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes at national and global levels.

Duration of PhD in Midwifery in Malaysia

Programme requirements include:

• Original thesis research
• Published journal articles (Scopus/ISI indexed)
• Oral defence (viva voce)
• Conference presentation

Entry Requirements of PhD in Midwifery in Malaysia

• Master of Nursing, Midwifery, Health Sciences, or Public Health
• Preferably a Registered Nurse / Registered Midwife (subject to research topic)
• CGPA 3.00 and above
• Submission of a research proposal aligned with maternal-child health
• Interview and supervisor approval
• English proficiency (MUET/IELTS/TOEFL) for selected institutions

Tuition Fee of PhD in Midwifery in Malaysia

Additional research-related costs:

• Thesis and publication charges
• Fieldwork and survey expenses
• International conference fees

Top Universities for PhD in Midwifery in Malaysia

Public Universities

• Universiti Malaya (UM)
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
• Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
• Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)
• Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Private Universities

• International Medical University (IMU)
• KPJ Healthcare University College
• MAHSA University
• SEGi University
• UCSI University

These institutions provide research supervision within nursing, public health, and health sciences departments.

Career Opportunities of PhD in Midwifery in Malaysia

Common research focuses include:

• Maternal morbidity and mortality reduction
• High-risk pregnancy support systems
• Neonatal intensive care practices
• Breastfeeding interventions and public health policy
• Mental health and postpartum depression
• Maternal nutrition and neonatal growth outcomes
• Midwifery education effectiveness
• Telehealth and digital tools for maternal care
• Community midwifery and rural healthcare access
• Labour pain management models