Introduction to Midwifery
Undergraduate
BSc (Hons)
Midwifery (156 Weeks)
School of Health and Society
Attendance
Full-time
Course
Three year
Next enrolment
September 2022
In a nutshell
Please note that the programme is now full for the 2021/22 academic year. The next available start date will be September 2022.
Midwives offer care and support to pregnant women, their partners and their families. They provide care throughout the pregnancy continuum which includes antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. On successful completion of this degree, you will be eligible to register as a midwife on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Professional Register.
We are a UNICEF Baby Friendly University and our students achieved the highest marks of any UK university within the Baby Friendly accreditation assessment in 2015.
You will:
- Learn to practice autonomously, preparing for a career as a registered midwife
- Develop the skills to provide care throughout the pregnancy continuum
- Develop and maintain a portfolio of personal and professional development (PDP)
Placement
options available
Course accreditations
This is for you if...
1.
You are hardworking and committed
2.
You are prepared to work shifts
3.
You are a compassionate and caring character
4.
You want to make a real difference
5.
You can see yourself working with people from all kinds of backgrounds
6.
You are up for a challenge
All about the course
This course will enable you to meet the requirements for registration on the midwives part of the NMC Professional Register.
It is underpinned by national policy and will provide a broad, balanced, coherent and diverse experience of midwifery practice. Each year consists of a combination of theory and practice based modules. You will be expected to maintain a portfolio of personal and professional development (PDP). This course also includes an assessment of clinical skills and medicines management.
The 'Practice' modules prepare you to achieve the clinical competencies throughout each year in order to progress towards fulfilling the role of accountable, autonomous practitioner at the point of registration. You will progress from the first year as a novice to an accountable practitioner at the end of year three.
Year one
This module prepares you for midwifery practice and health environments.
Midwifery 1
This module focuses on women's health and the provision of midwifery care to women and families, which will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective care.
Midwifery 2
This module focuses on anatomy and physiology applied to women, neonates and public healthcare. This will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide effective care.
Practice placement 1, 2 and 3
On these placements you will start to work towards achievement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, midwifery proficiencies (NMC 2009), in order to progress towards fulfilling the role of accountable, autonomous practitioner at the point of registration. In your first year placements, you will start to collect evidence of your personal development and reflect on your own practice. Workshops will include drug calculation and related numerical skills, use of computer software for numeracy and medicine management, examination of mother and baby and venepuncture.
Year two
Principles of Complex care in Midwifery
This module will enable you to consider the nature and impact of complex care in midwifery and develop your research skills.
Midwifery 3
This module focuses on the diverse experiences of women and families which will develop your skills in the provision of holistic, woman-centred, evidence-based care.
Midwifery 4
This module focuses on the care of women and families with complex needs including medical, obstetric and neonatal complications. This module will further develop your skills in the provision of holistic, woman-centred, evidence-based care.
Practice placements 4, 5 and 6
During these placements you will learn about different clinical scenarios and develop essential skills in your development as Midwifery practitioner. Practice situations will address issues related to the diverse cultural needs and inequalities of health within the population. Your placements will include visits to/experience of: postnatal ward, gynaecology clinics, ultrasound/X-ray, Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic, family planning and other related units and clinic settings.
Year three
Challenges of Midwifery Practice
This module will equip you with the requisite knowledge and skills of critical reflection and critical reasoning to facilitate your transition to autonomous practice.
Midwifery 5
This module builds on the concept of autonomous practice and the requisite knowledge necessary to practice as a midwife. This is facilitated by in-depth exploration of current evidence, using clinical scenarios to assess and ensure students have the knowledge and skills required for registration as a midwife.
Midwifery Research
This module will enable you to further develop your research skills and demonstrate your ability to write a research proposal.
Practice placements 7, 8 and 9
These clinical placements will give you experience of managing a caseload and evaluating different issues within the context of midwifery practice (stereotyping, ethnicity, sexual difference, disabilities). Practice situations address issues related the diverse cultural needs of women, fathers and families and inequalities of health within the population including effects of health policy and poverty. The opportunity will be provided in practice settings to achieve the NMC competencies for your final year and you will also further develop your seminar presentation skills.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is a forward-thinking, dynamic school with a commitment to lifelong learning and real world impact.
Our courses are informed by the latest research and we work closely with organisations from both the public and private sector to ensure our teaching is at the forefront of practice.
Clinical Skills Room
Whether it's nursing or midwifery, it helps to be able to practice new skills in a safe environment under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. We have a number of clinical skills rooms that enhance your learning from taking blood pressure, to giving CPR and more complicated procedures.
We also have a home birth room which can be used to simulate giving birth at home or a water birth.
Birth Simulators
We use a maternal and fetal simulation system called Noelle which allows you to appreciate the birthing experience from the onset of labour, through delivery, to treatment of the mother after delivery.
Birthing simulators are used to ensure you understand the mechanisms involved in labour and birth and have an opportunity to simulate a birth and explore relevant issues and feelings in a non-clinical environment. Breech births and mechanisms for Occipto posterior positions can also be demonstrated with these simulators.
Models to simulate urethral catheterisation and cervical assessment also aim to develop initial competence to ensure confidence prior to undertaking the skills with mentor support in clinical practice
We also have breast feeding manikins to promote understanding of lactation and procedures such as hand expression of milk are available. These are part of the measures in place to ensure our students are educated in-line with UNICEF's baby friendly initiative.
Take a 360 tour of the facilities here.
What about after uni?
Career opportunities are predominantly within the NHS and remain excellent. Graduates from this course are well received by employers with opportunities for working in independent practice increasing. Midwives now have the opportunity to work in a range of jobs as specialist practitioners, researchers, managers, teachers and governance posts.
Career Links
Throughout your placements, you will work alongside a midwife mentor in local maternity units where you will experience a wide variety of care-giving settings. You will be expected to work the same shift patterns as your mentor (including weekends and night duty) and will need to be able to travel to clinical placements.
You'll spend half of your time at the University and the other half working in the clinical area or community within local NHS Trusts. These could include:
- Royal Bolton Hospital
- Royal Oldham Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital (both part of Pennine Acute Trust)
- Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan
- Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport
- St Mary's Hospital, Manchester
- Tameside General Hospital
- Wythenshawe Hospital (University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust)
What You Need To Know
Please note that the programme is now full for the 2021/22 academic year. The next available start date will be September 2022.
APPLICANT PROFILE
Midwifery is not a nine-to-five job. Neither is being a student midwife:
- You will be expected to work shifts, even while you are training
- You don't get long holiday breaks, our course works on the basis of seven weeks annual leave per year
- Considerable travelling is required for hospital and community placements
As part of the application process, you may be invited to an online interview.
Have a look at our top ten tips for preparing for your interview. If you are offered an interview following your application, you will be sent further information about what to expect.
It is desirable that you will have undertaken, or planned to undertake, some voluntary or care work prior to making your application. This should be demonstrated in your personal statement and will be discussed at the interview stage, should your application be successful.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
International applicants who have gained British citizenship may be required to show proficiency in English. An IELTS score of a minimum score of 7 with no individual component below 7.
Standard entry requirements
GCSE
5 GCSEs at grade C/grade 4 or above, including mathematics, English language and science (must be achieved at point of application)
You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below.
UCAS tariff points
128 (applications with predicted grades of 112 and above will be considered).
Your points must come from 3 A-levels (not including General Studies); points from AS Level or extended projects will not be counted.
BTEC National Diploma
DDD
Access to HE
60 credits overall with 45 at level 3 at distinction grade
Scottish Highers
Equivalence of 128 UCAS points (applications with predicted grades of 112 and above will be considered)
Irish Leaving Certificate
Equivalence of 128 UCAS points (applications with predicted grades of 112 and above will be considered)
International Baccalaureate
31 points
European Baccalaureate
Pass of at least 75% (Science preferred)
Alternative entry requirements
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme, and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
You must also have 5 GCSEs at grade C/grade 4 or above, including mathematics, English language and science (must be achieved at point of application).
How much?
ADDITIONAL FUNDING SUPPORT FOR HEALTHCARE STUDENTS
The NHS Learning Support Fund is available to students studying the following courses:
- Diagnostic Radiography
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Midwifery
- Nursing (adult, child, mental health, learning disability, joint nursing/social work)
Visit the NHSBSA website for further information.
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2021/22 | £9,250per year |
| Full-time home | 2022/23 | £9,250per year |
Additional costs
Students are expected to obtain their own immunisations prior to commencing the course. It is advised that you have commenced your Hepatitis B vaccinations as without this you will not be able to start your placement - full guidance will be given in your acceptance letter. Students should be aware there is a charge for occupational health clearance.
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.