
Improving professional neonatal care in Europe and beyond
Welcome to the European School of Neonatology (ESN)
- MAS in Neonatology
- MSc in Neonatology (NOTE)
- Special Courses and Training in Neonatology
- Lecture Series ‘Perspectives on Effective Neonatology’
Learn about the ESN
The European School of Neonatology (ESN) represents the educational arm of the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) in Neonatology. It is a nonprofit organisation that offers a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology, the NOTE Master of Science (MSc) in Neonatology (in collaboration with the University of Southampton), special courses and training, and the lecture series ‘Perspectives on Effective Neonatology’. The European School of Neonatology offerings equip medical professionals with the competencies needed to provide effective neonatal care.
ESN's Mission
The European School of Neonatology (ESN) equips medical professionals with the necessary knowledge, skills, competences, and attitudes required to practise high-quality neonatal medicine tailored to their local clinical setting. Taking into account principles of evidence-based medicine, ESN programming joins theory and practice so that medical professionals can effectively practise Neonatology at all levels of care.
Get to know the ETR in Neonatology and the ESN's Didactic Concept
ESN programming reflects the European Training Requirements (ETR) in Neonatology curriculum developed by the ESPR to support national training programmes in Neonatal Medicine, one of the Paediatric Specialist training programmes as defined by the Union Européenne des Medicins Specialistes (UEMS). The purpose of the ETR is to define the minimum requirements for training in Neonatology by adapting it to modern-day, clinical work patterns and administrative realities. The ESN puts the ETR Neonatology into practice at the European and global level using evidence based educational methods.
MAS in Neonatology
The Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Neonatology programme is part-time and online, with onsite components within local medical training or work. As part of the Bologna framework, ESN ECTS credits can be earned at other ESPR initiatives such as the NOTE MSc Programme or with external partners in addition to completion of ESN MAS programme modules.
Credit requirements for the 60 ECTS Master of Advanced Studies in Neonatology
- A minimum of 40 ECTS points from ESN modules
- Up to 20 ECTS points from NOTE or other partner programmes
- A cumulative Master's thesis
The modules
The modules are developed in collaboration with leading international experts from the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR). Each module comprises 3-8 ECTS credits:
• The early preterm infant
• The late preterm infant
• Cardiorespiratory failure
• Life-threatening infection
• Brain-injured newborn
• Nutrition of the critically ill newborn
• Surgical problems
• Single system diseases
• Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
• Difficult care conference
• Transition of care
• Neonatal transport
Lecture Series 'Perspectives on Effective Neonatology'
Join our 16-part lecture series that provides a glimpse of the MAS, which consists of recorded presentations followed by moderated expert discussions. Each lecture contributes 0.2 ECTS points towards the MAS and your participation in the entire series is free of charge. Your colleagues are warmly invited to join as well.
Special Courses and Training
This is a collection of collaborative training offers in Neonatology developed inside and outside of the ESPR. Each course contributes ECTS points towards the MAS.
• Advanced Cranial Ultrsound Tutorial – by Paul Govaert
• Lactation and breastfeeding – by Janet Prince & Johanna Sargeant
Participate in the MAS in Neonatology
Admission criteria
Are you a doctor with a university degree in Paediatrics or a qualified advanced nurse practitioner who would like to specialise in Neonatology? Are you fluent in the English language (IELTS score > 6.5 or a university degree taught in English)? Then the ESN teaching offers are the perfect fit for you!
Tuition
The tuition fee per module is EUR 1’400. The complete MAS costs EUR 8’400. Dedicated study grants and scholarships will be made available to you to cover up to 100% of your fees.
Registrations opening in 2023
Leave us your e-mail to receive regular updates on the ESN and its upcoming programme launch. Stay tuned for more!
MSc in Neonatology (NOTE)
The NOTE MSc in Neonatology has been offered since 2015 in collaboration with the University of Southampton, United Kingdom. Its focus lies on the theoretical aspects of neonatal medicine. Each module will be delivered in English over a period of approximately 10 weeks. The total study time for each module is 250 hours of which up to 50 hours will be online contact; the remaining 200 hours is self directed study.
Possible exit awards are:
- Postgraduate Certificate [successful completion of 3 modules]
- Postgraduate Diploma [successful completion of 6 modules]
- Full MSc Degree [= Postgraduate Diploma + Dissertation module]
The modules
The modules are developed in collaboration with leading international experts from the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) and the University of Southampton.
• Neonatal Respiration
• Neonatal Nutrition
• Neonatal Neurology
• Neonatal Haemodynamics
• Neonatal Clinical Pharmacology
• Neonatal Infection, Inflammation, Immunology and Immunisation
• Research Methods and Evidence Based Practice (RMEBP)
• Open module (can be applied to & generated from clinical practice)
• Dissertation module
Participate in the MSc in Neonatology (NOTE)
Admission criteria
Currently students who are undertaking these modules include Paediatricians, Neonatologists and Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNPs) from many parts of the world.
Typical entry requirements include:
- A first degree (2:2 class or above) or equivalent in a relevant subject from an approved institution of higher education.
- A current professional registration with a relevant professional/statutory body.
- A current job contract in a clinical or clinically related area.
- At least two years neonatal clinical experience.
- At least one satisfactory professional or academic reference
Tuition
Dedicated scholarships and bursaries are available upon application to cover the fee for the dissertation module. For more info on the fees, please contact the NOTE Programme Lead, Susan Smith (sls1@soton.ac.uk).
How to apply
If you’re interested in applying for the MSc Neonatology, then please contact the NOTE Programme Lead, Susan Smith (sls1@soton.ac.uk) and we’ll get back to you.
For more info on the NOTE MSc in Neonatology, please click the button below.
Become a partner
About the ESPR
The European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) has been at the forefront of Paediatric medical care and innovation since 1958. As one of the oldest and most prolific Paediatric research societies in Europe, the ESPR co-organises annual conferences, supports investigators with research grants, runs a mentoring programme and disseminates cutting-edge findings through its journal Pediatric Research, amongst others. It currently has ten sections representing different Paediatric sub-specialties. Our mission: developing and applying research to improve newborn and child health.
Help us improve neonatal education worldwide
The ESN is set to become the premier neonatal learning offer across Europe and beyond. We provide a broad range of opportunities for partners to engage and collaborate. If you want to learn more about the ESN didactics and medical training as well as opportunities for collaboration, get in touch with us.
Meet the ESN Experts
The ESN leadership is composed of a multi-disciplinary team of experts from around Europe dedicated to neonatal research and training.

Sven Wellmann
MD, MBA
ESN Chairperson
Children’s Hospital Regensburg
Germany

Pascal Fentsch
MSc
ESN Managing Director
ESPR Secretariat
Switzerland

Manfred Künzel
MD, PhD
ESN Med. Didactics Officer
Private University of Business Bern
Switzerland

Florian Langhammer
MD, PhD
ESN Medical Expert
Children’s Hospital Regensburg
Germany

Deanna Santoro
Ed.D.
ESN Marketing Expert
University College Cork
Ireland

MBChB, FRCPH, FRCP, DCH
NOTE Chairperson
United Kingdom

Tomasz Szczapa
MD, PhD
ESN Teaching Officer
Poznan Univ. of Med. Sciences
Poland

MD, PhD
ESN Programme Officer
University Hospital Zurich
Switzerland

Gabriel Dimitriou
MD, PhD
ESN Marketing Officer
Univ. of Patras Med. School
Greece

Heike Rabe
MD, PhD
ESN Institutional Officer
Brighton & Sussex Med. School
United Kingdom
News

Love to learn
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ESPR Council Meeting in Oxford
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EAPS Joint event in Barcelona
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Neonatal Cranial Ultrasound Course
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Neonatal Cranial Ultrasound Course
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Young Investigator Mentoring Programm
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