Midwifery BSc (Hons)

• Overview

  Midwifery is a rewarding and unique career, that will allow you to be in the privileged position of working closely with women and their families during pregnancy and childbirth, promoting health and wellbeing.

  Our Midwifery course consistently achieve 98-100% employment at the point of registration. Over the course of your studies you will be supported by our Careers and Employability Service to ensure our midwifery graduates are well-prepared for employment.

  We will support you to achieve your career and study ambitions, which is why if you complete our Employability Plus Gold programme or Changemaker Gold certificate alongside your studies and if you haven’t secured full-time employment 12 months after graduating* we will secure a three – six month paid internship for you, or support you into postgraduate study.

  *with a 2:2 degree classification or higher

  Course

  Highlights

  • Access to Values Based Requirement
  • Three NHS-trusted study locations
  • Accreditation and registry with the NMC after course completion
  • Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.

  HP Laptop and software included with this course.

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  Our Midwifery teaching staff are enthusiastic, experienced midwives with a wide variety of expertise and are also skilled facilitators of learning. You will work in an environment that fosters key principles of adult learning, as well as individual support for your learning and skills development.

  From September 2018, you can apply through UCAS to study Midwifery with us for September 2019 and April 2020 intake. 

  Partnerships and Accreditation

  Our University is now 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.

  Our Midwifery course is studied over three years full-time. On completion of the course you will be awarded with a BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Our course is also BFI accredited by Unicef meaning that our Midwifery 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.

  Content

  The course provides a structure within 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.

  Completing the BSc (Hons) Midwifery will give you the following skills and experience:

  • you will be able to confidently take on 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 and their families
  • provide holistic, woman-centred midwifery care promoting normality, to include organising care for a small caseload of women
  • question and explore current practice to enable the continuous evaluation and development of effective midwifery care

  Practice Opportunities

  Practice opportunities will be within the maternity services settings, with experienced midwives. You will also have opportunities to work within healthcare centres to develop your role within the multi-professional team and to promote shared learning. You will also be expected to participate in the full range of twenty-four hour care, both in ante/postnatal settings and in the delivery suite. Long days, early and late shifts are necessary along with weekend duty. Night duty will be undertaken each year, either in rotation with a mentor, or with another experienced midwife. When working in the community setting, you are expected to participate in the ‘on-call’ rotas with support from midwives. Please note that you will need to have the ability to commute between your NHS Trust host site, the wider community and University locations.

  Throughout your course you will develop and enhance your clinical skills within all areas of maternity care including labour ward, community and the ante/postnatal wards. You will also have the following opportunities:

  • in year one in the gynaecology area you will develop an understanding of health problems which may affect childbearing women.
  • in year two you will have the opportunity to work in a Special Care Baby Unit.
  • in your final year, you will gain experience in an acute adult setting, either Accident and Emergency or Intensive Care Units.
  • mental health experience will be encompassed within all care settings, throughout the three years of the course.

  Assessments

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

  Practice assessments will be relevant to the module undertaken and will be related to the ‘Standards for Pre-Registration Midwifery Education’ (NMC, 2009). You can expect two to three items of assessment per module,spread throughout the academic year, which will be completed and submitted electronically via Pepplepad.

  Requirements 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 theory and practice.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  Methods of Learning

  Clinical practice is undertaken in NHS Trust Partner sites in all areas of maternity care and also in relevant non-midwifery settings such as Gynaecology and Neonatal Special Care Baby Units.

  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. All modules will consist of an even combination of theory and practice over the three years of the course. Identified theory hours on the course are a mixture of face-to-face contact in University, individual pre-class preparation, group work, blended learning and online activities. Practice hours will vary at different points in the academic year but will range from 22.5 hours up to 30 hours per week in years one and two. Your practice hours will increase to 37.5 hours in year three in order to prepare you for professional practice.

• Careers and Events
  • The Northampton Employment Promise.

    *We promise to secure paid experience for you, if you need it.

    We work with employers to understand what they’re looking for and we’re confident that if you follow one of our structured awards, as well as committing to your studies you’ll be in a competitive position when it comes to applying for graduate jobs.

    We’re so confident, that we promise to secure a paid 3-6 month internship for you, if you need it. Find out more about the Northampton Employment Promise, including how it works and who is eligible.

    
  • Open Days

    Discover your Course

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a packed programme of subjects talks, advice sessions and activities designed to give you all the information you need about studying with us.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Placements

    You will have the opportunity to practice your midwifery skills in a simulated environment in our purpose built midwifery clinical skills laboratory. Each of the three years of the course comprise periods of theory and applied practice and you will be placed at one of three NHS Trust sites to gain practical experience:

    • Kettering
    • Northampton
    • Milton Keynes

    Placements are organised by a central placements department at the University of Northampton.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    Career opportunities are wide ranging upon qualification, within and outside of the NHS.

    Initially after a period of preceptorship training and post-registration clinical experience, you can progress into fields such as clinical leadership, specialisms such as bereavement, teenage pregnancy and infant feeding, as well as education and research. Employment opportunities are available both in the UK and abroad.

    
• Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer would be for level 3 qualifications to be achieved in one of the following:

  A Level

  • A maximum of 3 A Levels need with minimum grades of BBC or above
  • General Studies is not accepted
  • one A Level must be in a science which includes biology, chemistry, physics, psychology or sociology
  • Please note that AS (A1) levels and extended projects will not contribute to tariff points

  Access Programmes

  • Access programmes must consist of a minimum of 60 credits in total (15 at Level 2 and 45 at Level 3)
  • Level 3 credits must be achieved at a minimum of 30 at Merit and 15 at Distinction achieved at level 3 in Science

  BTEC Studies

  • the award of two Distinctions and one Merit (DDM) must be achieved
  • Awards must have a science focus, for example health and social care. If awards are in other areas you will need to gain an additional level science.

  In addition:

  • you must have GCSEs that include Mathematics and English Language at grade C/4 or above or a recognised equivalent
  • you must also have evidence of relevant, academically assessed study at Level 3 or 4, within the last three years
    healthcare work experience is also desirable

  We will consider other qualifications that are not listed above, please contact our Course Enquiries team to discuss these on an individual basis.

  Please note that all offers of a place on this course are subject to Successful Occupational Health Screening and a Clear Disclosure and Barring Service report.

  For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All applicants whose first language is not English applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 7.0 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2019@northampton.ac.uk

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Enquire online
  Online enquiry form

  Applying for 2019
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Stage 1
  • Stage 2
  • Stage 3

  You will be equipped with basic clinical skills and will learn the principles of Basic Life Support to ensure that you can begin to participate in basic midwifery care provision. You will explore the foundations of anatomy and physiology, the role of the midwife role in public health and the care of women throughout childbearing and will be provided with the best evidence to underpin your professional practice.

  • Introducing Midwifery Practice (40 Credits)
    Module code: MID1020P

    Core Module Y
  • Essentials of Midwifery (30 Credits)
    Module code: MID1021

    Core Module Y
  • Professional Studies (10 Credits)
    Module code: MID1022

    Core Module Y
  • Public Health and the Midwife (40 Credits)
    Module code: MID1023

    Core Module Y
  • Calculations Associated with Medicines (Level 4) (0 Credits)
    Module code: MID1024

    Core Module Y

  You will gain a more in-depth understanding of midwifery care as you apply your knowledge in practical situations and will begin to explain and justify your care decisions. You will focus on the provision of individualised, non-discriminatory woman-centred care. You will develop your research knowledge in order to use evidence-based practice in the promotion of midwifery care and will develop your skills in caring for women and babies with complex health needs.

  • Developing Midwifery Practice (40 Credits)
    Module code: MID2025P

    Core Module Y
  • Promoting Normality Through Research (20 Credits)
    Module code: MID2026

    Core Module Y
  • Integrated Care for Women with Complex Needs (30 Credits)
    Module code: MID2027

    Core Module Y
  • Perinatal Mental Health (10 Credits)
    Module code: MID2028

    Core Module N
  • The Compromised Newborn (20 Credits)
    Module code: MID2029

    Core Module Y
  • Calculations Associated with Medicines (Level 5) (0 Credits)
    Module code: MID2031

    Core Module Y

  You will complete an in-depth project focusing on care and management issues including obstetric emergencies. It is also important that you revisit your professional role as you prepare to become a qualified midwife and therefore topics of leadership and employability will be explored. You will be encouraged to gain a wider experience of the place of midwifery within the health service, by working alongside practitioners in managerial/leadership roles.

  • Project (40 Credits)
    Module code: MID4004

    Core Module Y
  • Consolidating Midwifery Practice (40 Credits)
    Module code: MID3024P

    Core Module Y
  • Care Planning and Management (30 Credits)
    Module code: MID3025

    Core Module Y
  • Becoming a Midwife (10 Credits)
    Module code: MID3026

    Core Module Y
  • EU Directive (0 Credits)
    Module code: MID3022

    Core Module Y
  • Calculations Associated with Medicines (Level 6) (0 Credits)
    Module code: MID3027

    Core Module Y

  Additionally at each level you will engage with medicine management and Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) learning, alongside relevant assessments in these areas. Medicines management is key to Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements.

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  • The BSc (Hons) Midwifery programmes holds full Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) accreditation by Unicef.
  • The Midwifery skills lab is used throughout the programme to prepare students for practice and enhance learning in the clinical settings. This laboratory is mainly used for teaching and learning midwifery skills and contains specialist manikins, anatomical models and authentic equipment required for this specialty. Students learn practical skills on adult as well as infant  manikins, including simulated birth and neonatal resuscitation.
  • An established Midwifery Society with close links to the University of Northampton Student Union, which is accessible for all student midwives.
• Further Studies
  • Postgraduate Opportunities

    Further your Study

    Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.

    Specialist Community Public Health Nursing PGDip

    Public Health MSc

    
  • Research

    We are committed to delivering outstanding research that makes a difference to society. Our Research Institutes and Centres work closely with external partner organisations, locally, nationally and internationally. We produce internationally renowned and relevant research and disseminate knowledge on an international scale.

    Visit our Research Hub page for more information.

    
  • Business and Enterprise

    We are committed to supporting and encouraging business growth and we are involved in a variety of initiatives which seek to benefit the wider community as well as students and staff of the University.

    Discover what businesses we work with and what opportunities may be available to you on our Business and Enterprise pages.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU

  2019/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,400 per 20 credit module

  2018/19 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 18/19 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £9,250
  Part Time: £1,350 (per 20 credit module)

  Please note that tuition fees for EU students will remain the same as UK fees for 2018/19. For more information, please visit the Gov UK website.

  Additional costs:

  Examples of additional costs that you may incur during the three years of the programme include:

  • living costs: Running a car, travel or fuel costs, car parking costs at NHS Trust host sites (ranging at present from 50 pence per day to £10 per day) and accommodation costs
  • subscriptions: to a professional body/union, one example being, the Royal College of Midwives Membership (currently £1.67 for student midwives), Professional Midwifery journal(s) (approximately £40.00 annually for per subscription)
  • purchase of learning resources: hand held device e.g. iPad/laptop, core text books, stationery.
  • miscellaneous: additional uniforms for clinical practice (approx. £25.00), fob watch, non-attendance at mandatory training (approx. £85.00).

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  A merit based scholarship of up to 30% or a £3,000 reduction in the cost of tuition fees for eligible students.

  Sir Thomas White Scholarship

  The Sir Thomas White scholarship will support and acknowledge an academically gifted student, with the proviso that the selection panel is confident that there is…

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply. The…

  Wilson Endowment Scholarship

  The Wilson Endowment Scholarship provides a £1,500 scholarship to undergraduate students from the Northamptonshire area. The endowed scholarship was donated in memory of Mr Lynn Wilson,…

• Values Based Recruitment

  Values Based Recruitment is an approach which attracts and selects students, trainees or employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with the values of the NHS Constitution.

  The purpose of Values Based Recruitment is to ensure that the future and current NHS workforce is selected against the values of the NHS Constitution, so that we recruit people with the right skills and values to support effective team working in delivering excellent patient care.

  Our Faculty of Health and Society supports the values stated in the NHS Constitution and these values are utilised in our recruitment and selection processes. Please visit the Health Education England website for more details.

   

*Course data provided by Unistats