Chantel Cumpsty

Originally Cape Town, South Africa, Chantel lived first in Yorkshire then moved to Lancaster. She already had a degree in Women’s Studies but was unsure what to do career wise.

She says, “Although I enjoyed my work in higher education, following the birth of my children I felt strongly about following a new career path. My experience of having my children coupled with the interest I had in my first degree subject I knew that Midwifery was the vocation for me.

“I worked at the university for a number of years and had witnessed first-hand the care and commitment of the staff to the university and its students. I was also aware of the university’s excellent reputation for developing their students and producing quality graduates.”

The balance of time in university and placements works well. Having hands on experience in placement early on in the course enables students to experience and practice midwifery from the start.

Chantel continues “The balance of time in university and placements works well. Having hands on experience in placement early on in the course enables students to experience and practice midwifery from the start. We are well supported by our tutors, have outside speakers teach us and there is variety in the type of assessments for each module we undertake.”

She adds, “I love and enjoy the vast majority of the course however my stand-out experience so far was my elective placement last year when I went to Kenya. I feel very fortunate to have experienced this once in a lifetime life changing placement.

“My life is completely changed through retraining. I am studying for a career that I love and that feels right for me. I am very proud of what the university has enabled me to achieve. For me, the University of Cumbria is the place to study if you want to study at an up and coming, supportive university.”