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Midwifery courses

Midwives support mothers before, during and after the birth of a child. Consider midwifery if you want to learn to combine clinical skills with understanding the needs and experiences of women from a wide range of backgrounds – not if you want to work with babies! This is a physically and emotionally demanding course requiring confidence and compassion. Midwives work in hospitals and increasingly in the community.

Studying midwifery at university

Example course modules

  • Communication and group working
  • Foundations in postnatal care
  • Pathophysiology in maternity
  • Evolving midwifery practice for pregnancy and birth
  • Preparation for autonomous midwifery practice
  • Principles of research
  • Public health and childbearing
  • Delivering safe and compassionate care
  • Responding to complex needs during the antenatal period
  • Appreciating the research process in midwifery

Teaching hours / week

Average for this subject

13
Low
20
Hours
24
High
5
14
Hours

Average for all subjects

The time you'll spend in lectures and seminars each week will vary from university to university, so use this as a guide.

More on studying and contact hours at uni

Who studies this subject

  • Female : 90%
    Male : 10%
  • Mature : 70%
    School leaver : 30%
  • Full-time : 75%
    Part-time : 25%

What students say about midwifery

What you need to get on a course

Subjects you need

A-levels (or equivalent) usually required

  • Biology or another science

Useful to have

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Chemistry

Application checklist

Here's a guide to what to expect from the application process - also check individual university entry requirements, as these may differ.

  • January application
  • October application
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio
  • Interview
  • Entry test
  • Work experience
  • Audition

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement is a core part of your university application, and getting it just right takes time. Before you start work on yours, take a look at our five quick tips on writing a personal statement. We'll help you past that writer's block!

Career prospects

Sources: HECSU & KIS
Nursing is the subject with the most degree graduates in 2012 - over 14,300, with many choosing to specialise in midwifery. We'll always need midiwves in this country, so it's no surprise to see that the very large majority of nursing and midwifery graduates go on to become nurses and midwives, and that starting salaries are pretty competitive. That’s not to say that you can’t do anything else. Some nursing graduates get other jobs - usually, but not always, in health or caring professions, or management.
Professional and accrediting bodies:

Six months after graduating

Typical graduate job areas
  • Nursing and midwifery professionals

Longer term career paths

Jobs where this degree is useful

  • Midwifery
  • Midwifery team leader
  • Delivery suite manager

Other real-life job examples

  • Adult nurse
  • Care worker
  • Midwife-tutor

What employers like about this subject

Gaining a degree in midwifery will help to provide you with the skills needed to supervise births, support pregnant women and care for new-born children. Useful transferable skills gained by studying midwifery include communication, team-working and time management skills, plus the ability to make decisions under pressure. Midwives tend to work for hospitals or health services.