Click here to edit using the old editor

BSc (Hons) - Midwifery

Do you want to provide skilled and compassionate care to birthing parents, newborns and their families during this significant period in their lives? Are you wondering how to become a midwife?

Our midwifery degree provides specialist training and support for you to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council and become a fully qualified midwife. What’s more, our midwifery courses are ranked 1st in the North West for students satisfied with assessment, and 2nd in the North West for students satisfied with teaching (Guardian University Guide 2023 Results).

We are unable to accept International Applications for this programme.

Apply

Book an Open Day

Carlisle - Fusehill Street All

Accredited by:

Nursing & Midwifery Council

Course Overview

On this midwifery course, you’ll spend 50% of your time in practice, equating to 2,300 hours of practice learning over three years. You will work with highly skilled professionals to train as a midwife, supporting birthing parents and their families to access healthcare while boosting your skills and confidence.

Throughout this degree, you will experience midwifery care in all settings, working with continuity of care teams, on consultant-led units, birth centres and within the community. Alongside this, you will experience bespoke placements in neonatal units, theatres, and medical and surgical wards. Elective placement weeks are built into each year of the midwifery degree where you can take the opportunity to experience midwifery practice elsewhere in the country. The placements aim to ensure you experience all care settings. As well as this, you will have the opportunity to take an elective placement abroad.

Theory is delivered by expert teaching staff and is based on the latest evidence and research, using modern teaching methods and technology.

On this course you will...

Study and train to be a midwife, boosting your academic and clinical skills with practical sessions in our state-of-the-art clinical simulation facilities.
Be closely supported by passionate lecturers who bring invaluable experience to teaching and provide excellent pastoral support alongside your midwife training.
Benefit from exciting, diverse placements providing you with experience of a variety of healthcare systems across inner-city and rural areas, widening your midwifery experience and learning.
Apply midwifery theory to real-life midwifery care in practice, so that you are confident and competent in supporting birthing parents and their families through pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.
Complete the course eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You'll be recognised as a safe and competent midwife ready for employment.

Apply

Book an Open Day

Carlisle - Fusehill Street All

Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
Course LocationCarlisle - Fusehill Street
Institute: Institute of Health
UCAS CodeB720
Delivery StyleIn-Person
Course DurationFull-time: 3 Years
Start DateSeptember 2023
September 2024

For 2023 entry, apply using the UCAS Hub
AwardBSc (Hons)
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysCarlisle - Fusehill Street
All

Minimum entry requirements

120-128

UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

£9,250

UK | Per year

£16,400

International | Per year

What our students say

Advocating for and supporting women through one of the most important milestones in their lives is such an honour. I love being part of the pregnancy journey, alongside women and their families, being able to make a positive impact as a student midwife.

Abbie Stainton, Midwifery

Winner of the North Cumbria Integrated Care Thank You 2020 Student Award, midwifery student Abbie found her experience on placement during the Covid-19 pandemic invaluable.

Read Abbie's Story
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.

Chantel Cumpsty

On retraining as a midwife after completing a women's studies degree.

Read Chantel's Story

Course Structure

What you will learn

This programme will fully prepare you for your future as a midwife, in line with the NMC standards of proficiency for midwives. You will study the important values highlighted in the NHS Constitution (2015), such as treating people with respect, dignity and compassion, and getting the basics right every time by putting birthing parents and their families first.

Modules are designed to become progressively challenging at each level using learning and achievement from earlier levels as a foundation. Continuity of care and carer is linked to improved health outcomes for the birth parent and baby. Midwives are the first point of contact for the birth parent and the lead health professional in maternity services playing a crucial role in coordinating and navigating maternity care, requiring essential leadership skills.

You will explore infant feeding, as mapped against the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Standards.

Year one

Midwifery Practice 1
Develop fundamental midwifery skills, professionalism and knowledge.
Universal Care 1
Explore principles of universal care for all the birthing parent, newborns and families, and the underpinning anatomy and physiology related to the childbearing continuum.
The Midwife as Professional 1
Develop professional knowledge in relation to legal, ethical and regulatory frameworks, and to understand effective communication strategies.
The Midwife as Scholar 1
Gain an understanding of the academic skills required to support evidence-based practice and continuous professional development.
Additional Care 1
Develop an understanding of pre-existing physical and mental health conditions and situations experienced by the birthing parent, and conditions and complications arising in pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum period.

Year two

Midwifery Practice 2
Further midwifery skills, knowledge and professionalism.
Universal Care 2
Apply knowledge in relation to the principles of universal care for all birthing parents, newborns and families.
The Midwife as Professional 2
Introduction of midwifery knowledge and skills in advocacy, leadership, accountability and collaboration, working towards autonomous professional practise.
The Midwife as Scholar 2
Further analyse a variety of research and relate it to midwifery practice, to provide evidence-based care for birthing parents, newborns and their families.
Additional Care 2
Develop skills and knowledge required to manage childbirth emergencies, including situational awareness and advanced communication.
Part 2 Practice Assessment

Year three

Midwifery Practice 3
Mandatory core skills training for year three, including basic life support, personal safety, and manual handling.
Physical Assessment and Management of the Newborn
Explore the effects of pregnancy complications on fetal development and newborn well-being.
The Midwife as Scholar 3
Research proposal process including literature review, research design, methodology, rigour in research, evaluation and dissemination of results.
Midwife as Professional 3
Content of this module will be led by your independent learning around the chosen topic in relation to module outcomes.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

You will spend 50% of your programme in clinical practice being supervised and assessed by clinical staff. placement experience provides opportunities for you to experience pregnancy and childbearing over the full continuum and includes shorter spoke placements offering a variety of experience in areas such as special care baby units, theatres and strengthening family's teams.

Although your course will be taught in Carlisle for 50% of your course. The other 50% will be spent on placement, we have a range of placement circuits either within a 90-minute drive of Carlisle or within a 90-minute drive of Lancaster. This has in the past has included areas such as Preston, Chorley, Blackpool and Lancaster. For more information about our placement options available, get in contact with us or find out more at an open day.

Elective placement weeks are built into each year of the programme where some students take the opportunity to experience midwifery practise elsewhere in the country and/or abroad.

The theory is delivered by expert teaching staff and is based on the latest evidence and research, using modern teaching methods and technology. your learning activities will include conferences, visiting speakers, and socialising with other student midwives.

How you will be assessed

A range of assessment methods has been selected to enhance your learning and to help you to demonstrate how you have achieved all the module and programme learning outcomes and aims.

Formative and summative assessments are utilised to enable you to progress and build knowledge for practice coherently and logistically. Formative assessments are designed so that feedback on your performance is provided before the final, summative assessment – though this does not contribute to the final module mark or the credit awarded.

Summative assessment in modules utilises authentic assessment methods focusing on you using and applying knowledge and skills in real-life settings. Authentic assessment will help you to contextualise your learning and to see how real-life conditions or situations, in all their unpredictability, ambiguity and complexity, affects your theoretical knowledge.

You have the opportunity across the programme to reflect on your progression and development. These personal reflections contribute to and are evidenced in assessments through a variety of means.

Types and methods of assessment will include professional discussions, written assignments, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE’s), presentations, portfolio and dissertation. Authentic assessment methods are utilised to provide effective feedback and feedforward recommendations to enable your success.

NMC Standards for Proficiency in Clinical Practice

Our learning and teaching strategies are based on the philosophy that midwives occupy a privileged position within society.

There is a longitudinal practice module each year taking place over multiple placements per year. All placements in years 1 and 2 are summative and must be passed to progress on to the final year. All placements must be passed to enable registration with the NMC.

You can attempt to recoup failed placements, however, a second failure will result in disqualification for the programme. Your acquisitions of skills and achievements in NMC proficiencies in clinical practice will determine your registration as a NMC certified nurse. Professionalism, attitude, values, and character will also determine success.

NMC Standards for Proficiency in Clinical Practice

The NMC proficiencies will include one practice module per year which, will be summatively assessed and graded.

A failed placement will be allowed one further attempt to recoup the fail. Failure of a second attempt at practice assessment will normally mean discontinuation from the programme. Qualified Practice Assessors assess your acquisition of skills and achievement of the NMC proficiencies in clinical practice. Practice Assessors alongside Academic Assessors will confirm you are proficient to progress to NMC registration. Practice Supervisors and Assessors involve service users opinions when assessing you.

Your professionalism, attitude, good health and character are vital aspects of this assessment. Most theoretical work is linked to practice in some way and assessors will explore your underpinning knowledge, and how your personal and professional characteristics impact performance.

Overview

120-128 UCAS Tariff Points, You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table..

GCSE English Language, Mathematics and Biology or Combined Science at grade 4/C or above. Functional Skills Level 2 in English and maths and Adult Literacy and Numeracy are also accepted.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE:

All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. Further information will be provided following acceptance of an offer (and no earlier than three months before the course start date).

Please note that Professional Bodies, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), have certain requirements regarding the health and good character status of applicants and students. Please read the NMC and HCPC information to find out more.
For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here.

In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable.

For information about Medical Clearance and vaccination requirements  click here.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK:

If you accept an offer of a place, we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Details on the policy can be found here.

If you think you have a criminal conviction You will need to submit a Criminal Record Self Disclosure Form as part of the process. For more information on this and the form itself, please refer to Self-disclosure of criminal record.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

A-levels: BBB-ABB to include Biology or PE at grade B (40 points)

T-levels: M-D T levels Healthcare Science and Health are accepted for entry to this course

Access to HE: 24 Credits at Distinction & 21 at Merit – 30 Credits at Distinction to 15 at Merit to include 21 credits in Biology or Human Physiology. We can accept 18 credits if Cell Biology is taken with 0 credits.

CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: B – A specific units required – Human Growth and Development and Anatomy and Physiology

OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: DDM specific units required – Sexual Health; Reproduction and Early Development Stages

Scottish Highers: 120-128 UCAS Tariff Points preferably from 4 Highers to include A (33 points) in Biology

Irish LC Highers: 120-128 UCAS Tariff Points preferably from 4 Irish Leaving Certificate Highers to include A2 (30 points) in Biology

Other experience: We are unable to accept Cambridge Technical Certificate. We are unable to accept English, Maths and Science from Access to HE. Experience in health related settings such as a hospital or primary care health centre prior to application is preferred but not essential

Alternative routes: If don't think you'll meet the criteria for direct application to this course, you could potentially undertake BSc Hons Adult Nursing and then move onto the MSc in Midwifery if a 2:1 or above classification is achieved.

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

At interview we will assess your suitability to train for the profession you have applied for. All professional course interviews are scored. Any offers made will be based on your whole application and your interview score.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to Midwifery. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing Midwifery, and reflect upon any practical experience you have gained.

You must complete and pass a short online assessment.

If you are invited to attend interview then we strongly recommend you review the NHS Values and Behaviours of; Working together for Patients, Respect and Dignity, Commitment to Quality of Care, Compassion, Improving Lives, and Everyone Counts.

At interview you must clearly explain what has led you to apply for Midwifery and the attributes you would bring to it. You must also demonstrate that you have thought carefully about the influences on birth parents’ health and the nature of Midwifery in the 21st Century.

You must be able to explain how you anticipate transferring your personal qualities, skills, knowledge and values from life and/or any work experiences to a Midwifery programme.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here) and care leavers, offers will be made at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply)

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.

Language requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this programme here.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2023 - 2024

£9,250 - UK

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

Funding

You may also be eligible for additional funding through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

If you're eligible, you can get access to:

A Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year
Parental Support of £2,000, if you have at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs
Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses
Exceptional Support Fund (Students experiencing financial hardship)

For more information on the Learning Support Fund please visit the Learning Support Fund Page.

For further funding information, please visit our undergraduate funding page.

*This page was last updated October 2021

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

You may need to spend approximately £200-300 a year on textbooks and Journals, although this cost can be reduced considerably by sourcing second-hand copies or in our online library. Macdonald, S., Johnson, G. & Mayes, M. (2017) Mayes’ Midwifery. Fifteenth edition Elsevier, Marshall, J.E., Marshall, J.E., Raynor, M.D. & Fraser, D.M. (2014) Myles textbook for midwives /. 16th ed. Saunders Mander, R., Fleming, V. & Curtis, P. (2014) Becoming a midwife 2nd ed. Routledge. Chenery-Morris, S. & McLean, M. (2013) Normal midwifery practice/. SAGE/Learning Matters. Dimond, B. (2013) Legal aspects of midwifery, by Bridgit Dimond. 4th edition. Johnson, R. & Taylor, W. (2016) Skills for midwifery practice /. Fourth edition. Jowitt, M. (2014) Dynamic positions in birth: a fresh look at how women’s bodies work in labour. Mander, R. & Murphy-Lawless, J. (2013) The politics of maternity. Peate, I., Peate, I. & Hamilton, C. (2014) The student’s guide to becoming a midwife /. 2nd ed

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Clothing and Equipment

You should budget approximately £200 - £300 for specialist clothing and equipment. For university sessions in the clinical skills laboratories, you are required to wear a full uniform. Uniform tunics and trousers are not an additional cost as they are provided by the University. However, you will require the following: Plain black socks, Plain black cardigans, Plain, black, flat shoes, A fob watch for clinical practice.

Field Trips

You may have the opportunity to go on a national or international placement outside of our partner NHS Trusts, either as part of your studies or in addition. The cost for the trips vary enormously and range from £500 upwards depending on where you choose to stay and travel to (these are not organised through the university, but are organised by you, although risk assessments are undertaken through the university). These trips are optional. You may wish to attend conferences (optional not part of the course) these costs vary and depend on whether you go to a one day or a several day events, the costs will vary depending on where the venues are and the cost of accommodation you choose. With conference fees, travel and accommodation you will need to budget from anywhere between £250 and £750 per conference. Many conferences are free for students to attend.

Experience Cumbria

Midwifery students working on a simulation pregnancy mannequin

A midwifery students learning basic skills

Students learning how to use a birthing pool with a pregnancy mannequin

A midwifery student learning key skills in our simulation lab

Controls for the spotlight carousel

Location
Carlisle - Fusehill Street Campus
The Fusehill Street campus has been the setting of life-saving treatments since World War I. Now, it's home to world changers, life-savers, crime fighters, and entrepreneurs with access to high-quality facilities and innovative thinking.
Find out more

BSc (Hons) - Midwifery