Historical Background of the MSc High Risk Pregnancy of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
The MSc High Risk Pregnancy of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is one of the specialized postgraduate programmes of the Medical School in the fields of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and high-risk pregnancy. The Programme has been operating since 2009, with its initial operation documented in Government Gazette 1908/B/2009. It was subsequently reformed by Government Gazettes 1437/B/2015 and 4390/B/2016. In 2018, it was re-established by Government Gazette 4317/B/28-09-2018, in accordance with the new institutional framework for Postgraduate Programmes. More recent public records also refer to Government Gazettes 4922/B/2021 and 2435/B/2024, which are related to the Programme’s regulations or subsequent amendments.
The re-establishment of the Programme in 2018 marked an important milestone in its institutional development. By decision of the Senate of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Programme was organized and operated by the Medical School from the academic year 2018–2019 under the title “Pathology of Pregnancy”. The Programme awards a Postgraduate Diploma in MSc High Risk Pregnancy and requires a total of 120 ECTS credits. The standard duration of studies is four academic semesters.
The academic subject of the Programme focuses on education and specialization in the pathology of pregnancy, a broad and continuously evolving field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as well as of several other clinical and laboratory specialties related to the management of pregnancy complications. The need for specialized knowledge in this field is particularly highlighted by the fact that more than 15% of pregnancies present complications, to which a significant proportion of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality is attributed.
The aim of the Programme is to provide high-level theoretical and practical postgraduate education on contemporary developments related to high-risk pregnancy. More specifically, the Programme aims to train students in the clinical and laboratory monitoring of pregnancy, in the prevention, diagnosis and management of complications, in the development of specialized human resources, in the acquisition of applied knowledge regarding new technologies in the field, and in the promotion of research at both diagnostic and therapeutic levels.
The character of the Programme is strongly interdisciplinary. It is addressed to physicians, biologists, midwives and other scientists or researchers in related scientific fields.
A distinctive feature of the Programme is the combination of theoretical training, practical training and research activity. Postgraduate students are trained at the 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens at the University General Hospital “Attikon”, at the Department’s laboratory, in obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound, as well as in activities related to literature review, case discussion, research work and the preparation of a postgraduate thesis. Courses are conducted in Greek and, where appropriate, in English.
A significant comparative advantage of the Programme is the opportunity for training at the “Kypros Nikolaides” Fetal Medicine and Therapy Unit of the 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University General Hospital “Attikon”. In this Unit, a large number of obstetric ultrasound examinations are performed, high-risk pregnancies are monitored, and invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures are applied. In addition, students have the opportunity to attend specialized clinics, such as clinics for gynaecological endocrinology, recurrent miscarriages and high-risk pregnancies.
Throughout its operation, the Programme appears to have made a significant educational and scientific contribution, with more than 750 graduates, contributing to the staffing of the healthcare system with highly qualified scientists in the fields of pathology of pregnancy and high-risk pregnancy.
Today, the MSc High Risk Pregnancy demonstrates a stable institutional course, continuous operation, an updated regulatory framework and a clear orientation towards linking postgraduate education with clinical practice, research and the needs of both the public and private healthcare sectors. Its presence on the official website of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the active call for applications for the academic year 2026–2027 and the existence of an electronic course space on the University’s eClass platform confirm its ongoing operation and academic integration into the postgraduate studies of the Medical School.