Midwifery BSc (Hons)

You will have the opportunity to practice your midwifery skills using an active blended learning approach supported by sessions in a simulated environment in our dedicated midwifery clinical skills laboratory.

Each of the three years of the course comprise periods of theory and applied practice within semesters and you will be placed at the NHS Trust sites to gain practical midwifery training and experience:

• Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
• Kettering General NHS Foundation Trust
• Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 

Placements are organised by a central placements department at the University of Northampton and a designated Midwife at your allocated NHS Trust host site.

If you are studying the Midwifery course, you can expect to work and study for 37.5 hours per week over 45 weeks of the year 50% of your time will be dedicated to learning in clinical practice and the other 50% will be led by the lecturing team at the University using an active blended learning approach.  This means you will have guided online theoretical study followed by discussion on its application to practice in face-to-face sessions with midwifery lecturers.  There will also be dedicated time for self-directed study and reflection.

Practice hours when in placement will be on average 30 hours per week but may vary from week to week to accommodate shift patterns and continuity of care working.

For some placement periods in Years two and three, these may increase to 37.5 hours per week in order to prepare you to meet requirements of the regulator, the NMC, to ensure you are prepared for professional practice.

Practice opportunities will be within the maternity services settings in one of our NHS Trust Partner sites for 30 up to 37.5 hours per week, working with experienced midwives who will support you in their roles as practice supervisors and assessors. You will also have opportunities to work with midwives based in community hubs to develop your role within the multi-professional team and to promote shared learning.

As a student midwife you will be expected to participate in the full range of twenty-four hour care required of a registered midwife, both in hospital and community placements. Long days (between 10 and 12 ½ hour shifts), early, late and night shifts across a 7-day week, including weekends. In addition, you will have the opportunity to experience and participate in continuity of care and carer case loading models, providing care in a variety of settings as well as being on-call for 24-hour periods to support birth.

Please note that you will need to have the ability to commute between your NHS Trust host site, the wider community and University locations.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Our BSc midwifery degree has been approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This means you can be confident that this programme meets the standards of education, training, conduct and performance required for midwives in the UK.

After successful completion of this midwifery programme, you’ll be awarded an Honours degree and can register as a Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This will allow you to practice in accordance with the NHS Constitution which is underpinned by the core NHS values.

UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation

Our Midwifery course is also BFI accredited by UNICEF meaning that our students will be equipped with knowledge and understanding of infant feeding to UNICEF UK standards. This standard is internationally recognised as a mark of excellence as one of the top midwifery universities.

The university of Northampton first achieved UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation in 2016. We were extremely proud to achieve re-accreditation successfully in 2019.  Students who graduate with us have been educated to the high standards of UNICEF BFI which is an appealing attribute when seeking employment as a registrant.

The baby friendly initiative standards and content is threaded across theory and practice modules.

At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

If you join our full-time Midwifery degree at the University of Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

* UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)

How many hours will I study?

If you are studying the BSc (Hons) Midwifery course you can expect to work and study for 37.5 hours per week over 45 weeks of the year. The course is divided into modules which run for different lengths across the academic year. Identified theory hours on the course are compulsory and will consist of a mixture of face-to-face contact in University, individual pre-class preparation, group work, blended learning and online activities.

Practice hours when in placement will be on average 30 – 37.5 hours per week but may vary from week to week to accommodate shift patterns and continuity of care working.

What to expect during my placement?

You will be expected to work a range of day and night shifts alongside a practice supervisor within a clinical setting. Depending on your year of study you will be expected to observe, participate and lead on clinical care provision under direct supervision. You will work within a range of maternity settings providing care throughout the childbirth continuum.

What is my weekly commitment on this midwifery course?

The Midwifery programme plan is organised in semesters. Theory blocks consist of face to face and online teaching 9-4pm Mon-Fri. Wednesdays are typically not utilised for teaching to allow for other commitments such as sport. Placement blocks will consist of rostered day and night shifts ranging from 7 hours to 12.5 hour shifts, depending on the placement running Monday to Sunday.

What skills and experience will I gain by completing the BSc Midwife degree?

• You will be able to confidently lead the role of the midwife, employing a sound knowledge base through engagement with the research process and utilising a range of core and specialist midwifery skills;
• you will be able to build effective working relationships with other professionals and partnerships with women, pregnant persons and their families;
• provide holistic, woman-centred midwifery care promoting physiological processes, to include organising care for a small caseload;
• question and explore current practice to enable the continuous evaluation and development of effective midwifery care.

Interview Information

After applying via UCAS and meeting the entry requirements to study midwifery at the university, you will be invited to an interview. You will receive further information and the interview preparation instructions from us by email before your interview. If you have any questions, please email us at: interviews@northampton.ac.uk

Can I work while I study BSc Midwifery course?

You may find that part-time work is achievable on an flexible ad-hoc basis. However due to academic and clinical placement commitments stipulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) this can be difficult to achieve.

How will I learn?

The aim of our teaching and learning is to transform lives and inspire change. We want our students to achieve their ambitions and to improve society for the better through the application of their skills and knowledge. Our midwifery course meets national academic standards and in addition is accredited by the NMC.

At the University of Northampton, our students learn in small groups and through close interaction between staff and students. Our midwifery courses are designed for active learning on and off campus, in digitally rich environments that integrate ‘live’, real-time sessions with activities students can undertake where they like and at the time they choose:

• Close interaction with tutors, small group teaching and team work.
• Activities that reflect the workplace and accommodate learner needs.
• A future-focused, digitally rich learning environment.
• An impressive range of accessible and up-to-date online resources and materials across all subject areas.
• Access to information and resources that is straightforward, consistent and reassuring.
• A supportive culture of motivation to progress and succeed, with students’ personal tutors playing a key role.
• A focus on academic and social belonging opportunities, including mentoring and peer support mechanisms.

A wide range of assessment is used on the BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme including essays, presentations, written and spoken examinations and projects, many of which will be submitted and marked electronically / online.

Our midwifery course provides a structure that allows the course team to deliver a curriculum for the education of student midwives to an appropriate clinical, professional and academic standard. We have a clear framework for the learning and teaching of healthcare professional, through this framework we aim to train dynamic, effective and collaborative practitioners.

What other opportunities are available?

Our University is a part of a well-established, professional European network for Nursing and Midwifery. The Florence Network offers opportunities for future health careers and development to staff, academics and students. For more information go to the Florence Network google site.

How will I be assessed on the Midwifery course?

A wide range of assessment are used on the BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree including essays, workbooks, projects, both written and spoken examinations, care studies and presentations, many of which will be submitted and marked electronically / online.

What are the requirements in order to pass a module?

In order to pass a module a student is required to obtain a minimum grade of ‘D-‘ in all assessments as this is a professional requirement. There is no compensation between assessments or between theory and practice.

How long is a Midwifery Course?

A Midwifery course typically takes 3 years to complete when studied full-time. This duration provides the necessary training and experience to qualify as a midwife.