Midwifery BSc (Hons)

Course Content

• 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.

  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.

  List of  modules:

  • Stage 1
    • Interprofessional Education (IPE)
      Module code: FHS_IPE20

      Status: Compulsory
    • Introduction to Midwifery Practice (40 Credits)
      Module code: MID1020P

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable the students to participate in the safe and effective delivery of care to women babies and their families in a range of maternity service areas under the direct supervison of a midwife or other relevant healthcare professional. Students will also participate in the care of patients within gynaecology service areas.
    • Essentials of Midwifery (30 Credits)
      Module code: MID1021

      Status: Compulsory
      Midwives care for women and their families throughout the childbirth continuum. The purpose of this module is to provide students with a sound knowledge of anatomy and physiology; an introduction to midwifery care in the ante intra and postnatal periods including care of the neonate.
    • Professional Studies (10 Credits)
      Module code: MID1022

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is for the student to study how all Healthcare Professionals have a duty to the Public and must practice within legal and professional frameworks that govern professional practice therefore the student midwife must have a working knowledge of legal ethical and professional issues in order to meet the expectations of the profession and the Public.
    • Public Health and the Midwife (40 Credits)
      Module code: MID1023

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to introduce the student to the public health agenda and the midwife?s role in promoting health and wellbeing to childbearing women their families and their communities.
    • Calculation Associated with Medicines (Level 4)
      Module code: MID1024

      Status: Compulsory
  • Stage 2
    • Developing Midwifery Practice (40 Credits)
      Module code: MID2025P

      Status: Compulsory
      Contemporary midwifery practice encompasses a wide range of clinical events in various clinical placement areas. The student will work alongside midwives and within the multi-disciplinary team to enhance and develop skills and knowledge within the maternity services including neonatal care.
    • Promoting Normality Through Research (20 Credits)
      Module code: MID2026

      Status: Compulsory
      Midwives require the acquisition of practical application of research to ensure they practice evidence-based care in order to promote normality. This module builds upon previous research concepts introduced within the first year in order to develop in-depth knowledge of research.
    • Integrated Care for Women with Complex Needs (30 Credits)
      Module code: MID2027

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop in-depth knowledge and skills to care for women with complex social factors and/or medical needs. The midwife?s responsibilities and those of other health care professionals are inter-related and complimentary. Their skills kowledge and experience are central to achieving high quality care and to identify and recognise maternal and fetal risk factors or complications.
    • Perinatal Mental Health (10 Credits)
      Module code: MID2028

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide the student with the knowledge and skills to promote mental wellbeing in childbearing women. This includes the recognition of the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and an exploration of the mental health support services that are available for women and their families both locally and nationally.
    • The Compromised Newborn (20 Credits)
      Module code: MID2029

      Status: Compulsory
      The midwife's responsibilities and those of other health care professionals are inter-related and complimentary. Their skills knowledge and experience are central to achieving high quality neonatal care; especially when neonatal health complications arise. Midwives are uniquely placed within the postnatal setting to provide appropriate evidenced based care to the compromised neonate.
    • Calculations Associated with Medicines (Level 5)
      Module code: MID2031

      Status: Compulsory
  • Stage 3
    • EU Directive
      Module code: MID3022

      Status: Compulsory
    • Consolidating Midwifery Practice (40 Credits)
      Module code: MID3024P

      Status: Compulsory
      Contemporary midwifery practice encompasses a wide range of clinical events in various clinical placement areas. The student will work alongside midwives and within the multi-disciplinary team to further develop clinical and leadership skills as they progress towards autonomous midwifery practice. Students will also participate in high dependency care within a critical care environment.
    • Care Planning and Management (30 Credits)
      Module code: MID3025

      Status: Compulsory
      Midwives are required to lead practice in a variety of clinical situations. The focus is to provide individualised care for women and their families underpinned by contemporary evidence.
    • Becoming a Midwife (10 Credits)
      Module code: MID3026

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is for students to understand that all midwives have a responsibility to ensure their practice is contemporary and evidence based and fulfil professional requirements to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
    • Calculation Associated with Medicines (Level 6)
      Module code: MID3027

      Status: Compulsory
    • Project (40 Credits)
      Module code: MID4004

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable the student to consolidate skills relating to the critical evaluation of contemporary evidence by addressing an aspect of midwifery practice through the process of clinical audit.

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• Entry 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 needed 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.
  • The science A level needs to be achieved with a minimum B grade.
  • 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.
  • Access programme should have a relevant science or health focus.

  BTEC Studies

  • The award of one Distinction and two Merits (DMM) or higher must be achieved.
  • Awards must have a science focus, for example health and social care.
  • Distinctions achieved must have a science focus.
  • If awards are in other areas you will need to gain an additional level 3 science.

  In addition:

  • you must have GCSEs that include Mathematics and English Language at grade C/4 or above or a recognised equivalent. It is not compulsory to have GCSE in Science if you have a Level 3 science qualification, but it is still desirable.
  • Some healthcare work experience is 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.

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• Fees and Funding

  2021/22 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250

  2020/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK and EU Full Time: £9,250

  Additional costs

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

  • living costs: for example, travel or fuel costs, running a car costs, car parking 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: stationery.
  • miscellaneous: additional uniforms for clinical practice (approx. £25), fob watch, non-attendance at mandatory training (approx. £85), shoes for practice.

  Financial contribution towards your travel and expenses in relation to  your practice learning opportunities is available from the NHS Learning Support Fund. Details, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the NHS website.

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• Placements

  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.

  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:

  • 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.

  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.  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.

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• Professional Body

  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.

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• Postgraduate Opportunities

  Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount .

  Successful completion of this course could lead on to one of our postgraduate programmes:

  • MSc Public  Health
  • MSc Advancing Practice
  • MSc Advanced Clinical Practice

  At the University of Northampton, we offer a range of short courses and continuing professional development (CPD) programmes. These will enable you to learn new skills, progress into specialisms or take on new responsibilities.

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• Student Perks

  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 this full time degree at 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.

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• Interview Information

  Our BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme offers three start dates: September, January and April.

  You will be asked to state an order of preference for start date as part of the interview process and will be allocated to one in the academic year 2021/22.

  After applying via UCAS and meeting the entry requirements, you will be invited to an interview with our Midwifery team. Your interview will be held online using a digital platform. You will receive further information and the interview joining in instructions from us by email before your interview.

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• FAQs

  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. 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.

  How will I be assessed?

  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.

  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 theory and practice.

  What other opportunities are available?

  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.

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Careers and Employability

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.