Midwifery Studies BSc (Hons)

How is the Midwifery course structured?

The modular approach to your programme’s theoretical content, supports the application of theoretical knowledge to the clinical learning experiences of self-and others; for example, understanding of fetal heart rate patterns during labour and birth.

The experience of Service Users is a key learning tool throughout the programme and alongside the pregnant women and people, partners and families you meet on placement, you will have the university-based opportunities to hear the experiences of, for example, people with learning disabilities.

What other opportunities are available on the Midwifery course? 

Other teaching and learning opportunities will include, lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials; clinical skills and simulation teaching in our clinical skills centre, and tutor guided online learning using our online teaching platform, BlackBoard Ultra. There is also the expectation that, as an adult learner, students will engage in a range of self-directed study and reflective activities. Group learning activities are supported where students learn collaboratively with and from other students and academic staff, developing support networks and a professional identity.

What support is available on Northumbria’s Midwifery course?

Students will be supported to engage in the development of professional, personal, and graduate capabilities via the personal tutor process and through the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement, which is an e-portfolio which captures your progress towards Proficiency as a midwife.

During each clinical learning block there are a series of contacts with the University programme team to enable reflective learning, knowledge/skill consolidation and peer and tutor support across the programme.

What does each year of the course involve?

The practice learning plan has been developed to enable exploration of continuity of care and carer across the programme and in differing contexts. In year one, this offers participation in care provision across the childbearing journey.

This culminates in year three, when student midwives undertake the continuity of carer role for a small group of women and people throughout their childbirth experience. Students will leave the programme confident in their ability to demonstrate the skills and attributes required for continuity of care and carer and with a positive mindset for working with women and people, new-borns, families, and communities.

This strengths-based approach results in midwives who take responsibility for their own professional practice and ongoing development.

In your final year, you will reach Proficiency in your Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement and complete a dissertation; these enable you to know that you have the range of knowledge and skills needed for contemporary midwifery practice as you apply for registration as a midwife.

• See all the Modules for this course.

Who leads the Midwifery courses at Northumbria?

This course is led by an academic team of experienced registered midwives who use evidence-based teaching approaches to share their research and professional knowledge in areas such as Continuity of Carer approaches, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, parenting in LGBT+ communities, diabetes in pregnancy and the needs of asylum seekers.

What support is available from academics?

You will also receive support from academics with experience in mental health, child and vulnerable adult safeguarding and family therapy.

Throughout the duration of your degree, you will have access to ongoing support through a dedicated personal tutor and our practice learning team (PLT). You will also have an allocated Practice Assessor (NMC approved assessor role, SSSA 2018) who will be there to provide on-site support and feedback on your progress whilst you undertake your placements.

Additional expertise and guest speakers

To further enhance your knowledge and learning we regularly welcome external speakers who are experts in their field and actively working within the profession; in acknowledgement that midwives work in partnership with pregnant people and families, Service Users contribute to the teaching in university as Experts by Experience.

View all staff profiles.

Where is Northumbria University’s Midwifery course based?

This course is based at our Coach Lane campus, which houses our Clinical Skills Centre – a purpose-built facility that will allow you to develop practical skills and gain valuable experience within a simulated scenario.

Our facilities are some of the most advanced and allow us to ensure your learning evolves in-line with the latest developments in this profession.

What facilities are available to Midwifery students?

You will have access to our university library – which has been recognised as third best in the UK – and well-equipped working space, The Hub, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Technology is embedded throughout all aspects of your degree, and you will receive ongoing support through our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard, where you can access module learning and assessment information, learning materials, and reading lists. 

Northumbria’s specialised clinical skills centre

Some of the programme content is delivered in our specialised clinical skills centre; here you have access to facilities and training equipment that is at the forefront of maternity care practice.  Clinical Skills learning is embedded throughout the course, supporting you to develop a range of high-quality midwifery skills, as well as skills for working as part of a multidisciplinary health care team.

Northumbria’s research-driven approach to Midwifery study

Research-rich learning is embedded throughout all of this course’s modules and some of our teaching team are research-active clinicians with their own areas of specialism. This research feeds through into the teaching, thereby informing student practice with cutting edge knowledge from the field.

The programme offers access to resources relating to current issues, research and developments within midwifery practice. In your final year you will be required to undertake your own research and discuss your findings with your peers and tutors, before producing a dissertation undertaken under the supervision of your tutor, your dissertation gives you the opportunity to conduct applied research in a field of midwifery that interests you most and to begin your journey as a research-rich practitioner.

We have an excellent award-winning reputation for providing innovative, flexible and wide-ranging professional learning and development opportunities for those working in health and social care.

What employability support is available to Midwifery students?

Developed in-line with the proficiencies identified within the NMC standards and the values that underpin the NHS constitution, you will leave this course prepared for the workplace and with the relevant clinical experience to apply for professional registration.

On graduation you will have extensive experience of working with state-of-the-art equipment, in addition to relevant clinical experience.

Northumbria University boasts excellent links with the NHS and other organisations in the region and our students are renowned for their high level of skills, something that is demonstrated by our consistently high employment rates.

What work placements are available to Midwifery students at Northumbria?

The work placements you will complete whilst studying for your degree will provide you with experience of working in a real-life, multidisciplinary environment, something that can prove invaluable when applying for jobs. Additionally, in your course you will have the unique opportunity to carry a small caseload of pregnant people and families through their childbirth experience.

What career options are available to Midwifery students?

Midwives can practice wherever pregnant people and their families are. UK maternity policy (Better Births 2016) requires that all maternity services provide Continuity of Carer for pregnant women and your programme prepares you to work within these approaches, making you highly employable. As your midwifery career progresses you may wish to pursue specialist posts where you care for people with highly specific needs such as substance misuse in pregnancy.

Or you may wish to develop your skills to provide leadership support to colleagues as a Professional Midwifery Advocate, clinical leadership as a clinical team leader, or educational leadership as a Practice Assessor for students or as a Practice Development Midwife.  Your programme gives you a strong foundation from which to pursue service leadership, research and academic practice roles within your midwifery career. As a Graduate you may also wish to engage in further study or doctoral level qualifications.

For your next steps in nursing take a look at our Midwifery MSc.