What qualifications do you need?

You usually need at least five GCSEs at grade C or above. These should include English, Mathematics and Science, in addition to three A Levels or equivalent. Always confirm the entry requirements for the particular university and course you're interested in. You'll also usually need at least six months of work experience, which can include voluntary work.

What degrees can you study?

Midwifery Practice Midwifery Sciences Midwifery (Pre-Registration) Midwifery with NMC registration

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Study Midwifery, why & how to study

Q: What is Midwifery?

A midwife acts as a professional companion during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period. As an autonomous practitioner, the midwife is the lead professional for all women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Midwives have the expertise to facilitate the normal psychological processes of childbirth.

Q: What jobs can you get?

Upon qualifying as a midwife, you may choose to work within the NHS or privately in a hospital or community environment. In the NHS, midwives usually commence their careers as Band 5 midwives. You'll have the opportunity to progress to Band 6 after completing post-qualification competencies (which typically take one year to complete). You can then progress to more senior roles such as team leader, specialist midwife or manager. This provides the opportunity to move further up the salary bands.

Q: How will you be assessed?

Courses are approximately 50% theory and 50% practice. Theory time will include academic sessions and opportunities to practise clinical skills. Placements can include community and low-risk birth centres and hospital allocations. You can be assessed through academic essays, written and clinical examinations, case studies, research critiques, presentations and a dissertation. You're required to pass all elements of the course and demonstrate professional behaviour throughout.

Q: What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Midwifery graduates must commit to continuing professional development throughout their careers. You can go on to study a master's or doctorate-level programme. This is usually required should you choose to progress to a career as a consultant midwife, senior manager, educationalist or researcher.

Midwives have a key role in public health, aiming to meet the challenges of reducing inequalities and improving the wellbeing of women and their families.

CHOOSING A COURSE NHS CAREERS POSTGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE

Cicely Oliver 02 Dec 2021

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Midwife gives newborn baby to a mother to hold

What’s Midwifery?
What Midwifery degrees can you study?
What do you need to get onto a Midwifery degree?
What topics does a Midwifery degree cover?
How will you be assessed?
Why study Midwifery?
What do Midwifery graduates earn?
What jobs can you get as a Midwifery graduate?
What are the postgraduate opportunities?
Similar subjects to Midwifery
Have any questions?

What’s Midwifery?

A midwife provides support and care during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period. Midwives are passionate about women's rights, working as their advocate to facilitate and uphold informed choices.

As an autonomous practitioner, the midwife is the lead professional for all women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Midwives have the expertise to facilitate the normal processes of childbirth.

What Midwifery degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Midwifery include:

Midwifery Practice
Midwifery Sciences
Midwifery (Pre-Registration)
Midwifery with NMC registration

Options may include an integrated foundation year or integrated master’s. January start dates available.

Courses are around 50% theory and 50% practice. Theory learning includes academic sessions and opportunities to practise clinical skills. Placements can include community and low-risk birth centres and hospital allocations.

Degree apprenticeships are also available, where you work and earn while gaining a qualification. You apply through an employer, so you won’t have access to student loans or grants.

What do you need to get onto a Midwifery degree?

Entry requirements for a Midwifery degree at a university are typically from 104–128 UCAS points. This could include the qualifications below.

A Levels: AAB–BCC
BTECs: DDM–DMM (sometimes in combination with A Levels)
Scottish Highers: AAABB–BBBC
International Baccalaureate: 34–27
Universities will usually ask that you have studied: a science at A Level (or equivalent), usually biology or human biology

Other good subjects to have studied include:

Some unis accept sciences such as chemistry, psychology or physics; others may require an essay-based subject like English
General studies or critical thinking A Level may be excluded
You’ll also need at least five GCSEs (grade C/4 or above) including English, maths and science

Experience that would look good on your application:

Work or volunteering experience in a maternity unit, health or social care setting
Talking to a midwife about their day-to-day work
Online research to learn more about the role and its challenges – check out the websites of the Royal College of Midwives, Nursing & Midwifery Council, or the NHS-run Health Careers website and YouTube channel

Other requirements for this subject include:

Pass in the practical element of sciences
Interview, which may include scenario tests
You’ll also need to complete Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks (PVG scheme in Scotland)

What topics does a Midwifery degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

Foundations for midwifery practice
Complicated maternities
Professional and legal frameworks regulating midwifery practice
Knowledge and evidence informing midwifery practice
Emergency management in midwifery practice
Antenatal and postnatal care of mother and baby
Labour and birth
Medicines management

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module:

Case studies
Essays
Exams (written and clinical)
Presentations
Research critiques
Final year dissertation

You're required to pass all elements of the course and demonstrate professional behaviour throughout.

Why study Midwifery?

Midwives have to be responsive to the needs of women in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, with challenges such as an increasing birth rate and advances in research and technology. It's intellectually, physically and emotionally engaging.

Career-specific skills:

Clinical midwifery skills and the competence to manage normal labour and birth
Ability to support and communicate well with people from diverse backgrounds, including when under pressure
Skills to support breast feeding and the relationship between mother and baby

Transferable skills:

Communication and interpersonal skills
Decision making
Planning and time management
Reflective and critical thinking
Team working

Professional accreditation:

Degrees must be approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council to enable you to register as a midwife with the NMC on completion of your course
Some unis may also offer UNICEF UK Baby Friendly accreditation to equip students with a level of knowledge and skill in to support breastfeeding and relationship building

What do Midwifery graduates earn?

Midwifery graduates can expect an entry-level salary of around £25,500 (NHS Band 5). Moving to Band 6 requires the completion of post-qualification competencies, which typically takes a year. Band 6 salaries range from £32,300–£39,000 with experience.

You could also progress to senior roles such as team leader, specialist midwife or manager, and move further up the salary bands. A consultancy role could offer an income in excess of £63,000 (NHS Band 8b).

What jobs can you get as a Midwifery graduate?

On qualifying as a midwife, you may choose to work within the NHS or privately in a hospital or community environment. Or you could move into education, management or research. Roles could include:

Antenatal clinic midwife
Community midwife
Equality and health inequalities midwife lead
Health promotion specialist
Health visitor
Intensive care neonatal nurse
Maternity nurse
Midwife sonographer
National Childbirth Trust accredited teacher
Practice development midwife in obstetrics
Social worker

READ MORE
How to become a midwife

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

If you have a first degree in a related subject, you can take a graduate-entry pre-registration course to qualify as a Midwife. Alternatively, if you’re a Midwifery graduate, postgraduate degrees offer the chance to specialise. Examples include: