MSc Midwifery (Pre-Registration)

Midwives support women during pregnancy, labour and the post-natal period, and are experts on childbirth. They work with women from diverse backgrounds and cultures, providing parenting and health education. They create bespoke individuals programmes of care, considering psychological and social impacts on pregnancy and birth.

Midwives support women when they need it most.

• Antenatal care – relates to the period of the entire pregnancy. They assist with parenting classes, clinical examinations and screening to assess the health of the baby.

• High-risk pregnancies – you’ll work with people who may have existing health conditions such as diabetes or HIV, may be overweight or obese which may lead to developing additional complications, people that have had multiple births, or may be very young or over the age of 35.

• Labour and birthing – you’ll monitor women and support them during the whole labour and birthing process.

• Postpartum – midwives support women by providing advice on what to expect after the birth. They also teach new and expectant mothers how to feed, care for and bathe their babies.

• Pregnancies that do not go to plan – you will work with women and families going through severe life challenges such as difficulties conceiving, stillbirth, miscarriage, termination, neonatal death and neonatal abnormalities.

Within the midwifery profession there are a multitude of job opportunities. You could work in the NHS, within the public or private sector. For example:

• NHS hospitals

• Maternity units and birthing centres

• Public health and policy making
  
  
• Communities
  
  
• Patient’s homes
  
  
• Community clinics
  
  
• Private practice
  
  
• GP surgeries
  
  
• Children’s centres
  
  
• Education and academia
  
  
• Research
  
  
• Leadership roles
  
  
• Voluntary roles

• Become a 'Registered Midwife' with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as soon as you successfully complete the course.

• Having already gained an honours degree in a relevant subject, you will start your studies at level 6 and progress to level 7 in order to gain a Masters degree at the end of the three years.

• Spend 50% of your time learning through doing in a range of real placements and in partnership with real clients.
  

• Learn how to work as part of a multi-professional team.
  

• Build confidence through clinical skills and theory sessions, priming you to be at your best when working directly with real clients.
  

• From 2023, students in Plymouth can train and practice their professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment, InterCity Place.
  

• Extend your skills in IT, numeracy and literacy to support your clinical and professional midwifery practice.

• Learn about the psychological and social impacts of having a baby and how to effectively communicate with and support your clients.

• Build on your critical approach to research and undertake an extended project.

• Develop the professional knowledge, skills and attributes to enable you to work as an autonomous practitioner fit for the future.

• Support women and families through a continuity of carer approach.

• Year 1

• Lay the foundations for your career as a midwife, from developing clinical skills and professional attitudes to learning about human reproductive biology. Explore the wider determinants of health and well being. Learn about pharmacology and the importance of safe medicine management. Develop your reflective practice, literature searching, essay writing and exam technique. Before Christmas, undertake the first of your supervised clinical placements in maternity settings.
  

  You will be assessed at level 6.

  Core modules

  • Professional Midwifery Practice - MORA (MID508)

    This module will enable students to participate in holistic midwifery practice under direct supervision and direction in maternity and related clinical settings, aligned with the regulatory body proficiencies.

  • Professional Midwifery Practice (MID601)

    This module will enable students to gain a systematic understanding of the professional issues and clinical skills underpinning midwifery practice, aligned with the regulatory body proficiencies. Students will critically analyse these underlying concepts and principles, making sound judgements in applying any pre-existing knowledge and experience.

  • Biology for Midwifery (MID602)

    A module encompassing a general overview of human biology, including biological functions, anatomy and physiology, with a focus on reproductive and developmental biology associated with the childbearing continuum.

  • Wider Determinants of Health and Wellbeing (MID603)

    This module will focus on factors that contribute to wider determinants of health and wellbeing, situating midwifery care within a social context and focusing on principles of public health and health promotion. The module will champion a human rights perspective, promoting respectful and non-discriminatory care, meaningful communication skills, choice, cultural sensitivity and individualised care.

  • Pharmacology and Medicines Management (MID604)

    Pharmacology and medicines management, including legal, professional and ethical aspects for midwives, across the continuum of pregnancy, labour, puerperium and neonatal care.

  • Evidence Based Practice (MID605)

    The module enables students to develop their skills of research / secondary source retrieval in a systematic manner using a wide range of databases. Students will develop skills in the critical appraisal and synthesis of a body of evidence related to a professional / clinical topic of their choice using appropriate tools. Subsequently, they will formulate a practice focused research question.

• Year 2

• Building on Year 1 biology studies, you’ll learn more about preconception, conception and childbearing. Explore conditions particular to pregnancy and birth including when women and families have additional needs. Learn how to undertake a full systematic physical examination of the newborn infant and work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team. Develop your ability to identify and apply evidence based midwifery practice. Put your improved clinical and theoretical skills into practice on placement, gaining further experience of midwifery settings. 

  You will be offered tutorials specifically for masters students  and will be assessed at level 7.

  Core modules

  • Developing Midwifery Practice (MID701)

    This module will advance the student’s professional skills in the context of midwifery practice and role in the wider professional team. Students will extend their knowledge to develop as a safe, competent, woman centred, critical practitioner. This will ensure that the student is developing towards being an evidence informed midwife, at the point of registration, in line with the regulatory body proficiencies.

  • Reproductive Health and Pregnancy (MID702)

    This module aims to teach students about a broad range of reproductive health issues and link this with possible effects on pregnancy. Students will study preconception, gynaecological and antenatal care and will analyse factors which may cause complications during pregnancy.  

  • Physiological Childbirth and additional needs (MID703)

    This module aims to teach biological concepts relating to anatomy, physiology and epigenetics of labour and birth. Through application of holistic evidenced based care, the student will understand the importance of birth to public health and wellbeing to meet the changing health and care needs of people during all life stages.

  • Postnatal and Neonatal Care (MID704)

    This module enables the student to demonstrate mastery in the examination of the newborn and care of the postnatal woman by critically interpreting and synthesising the evidence base of this role in midwifery.

  • Developing Evidence Based Practice (MID705)

    This module consolidates student midwifery research scholarship by: demonstrating a mastery of complex knowledge of research through structured literature searching and application to evidence based midwifery practice. The student will demonstrating a systematic understanding of methodological approaches and critically respond to the interpretation of this knowledge base.

• Final year

• In your final year, you’ll further develop clinical skills for planning, assessing, implementing and evaluating pregnancy and childbirth care. Working with midwives within a continuity of carer model, you’ll see what it takes to be an effective practising midwife. You’ll explore complexities in midwifery care, developing the ability to support women and families in a variety of situations. Using what you’ve learnt on the course, you’ll identity and undertake an extended project. Prepare for your future as Registered Midwife in your final clinical placements.
  

  You will be offered tutorials specifically for masters students  and will be assessed at level 7.
  

  Core modules

  • Advancing Midwifery Practice (MID706)

    This module promotes excellence in the future midwife’s role as colleague, scholar and leader through demonstration of systematic understanding, critical awareness and new insights. It ensures that the student demonstrates comprehensive evidence-based practice in all core and domain-specific skills and procedures in line with the regulatory body proficiencies, under appropriate supervision.

  • Complexity in Midwifery (1) (MID707)

    A module exploring management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with an in-depth focus on conditions peculiar to pregnancy, pre-existing conditions impacting on pregnancy and postnatally. Pathology, wellbeing and the midwife’s role as part of the multidisciplinary team will be explored.

  • Complexity in Midwifery (2) (MID708)

    A module encompassing management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with an in-depth focus on managing intrapartum midwifery / obstetric emergencies. Pathology, wellbeing and the midwife’s role as part of the multidisciplinary team will be explored.

  • Research and Quality Improvement (MID709)

    This module will support students to complete a systematic and in-depth research proposal or quality improvement/practice development project. Students will demonstrate their ability to understand practice development and master the underpinning theories to develop an area of practice, critically evaluating the potential impact on the clinical area or research proposal.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Midwifery Pre Registration Programme Specification 22 23 6993

An honours degree from an Institution of Higher Education normally at 2:1 or above, preferably in a related subject. We will, however, also consider applications from graduates with non-related degrees.

Five GCSEs grade C / 4 or above to include Mathematics, English and Science. 

In addition to the above, evidence of academic study within the last five years is required. 

Enhanced DBS and OH clearance is also mandatory, along with two satisfactory references and evidence of relevant work experience (paid or voluntary).

Student selection is via UCAS and includes: 

• A personal statement demonstrating an understanding of the role of the midwife
• References
• Confirmation of academic attainment

Applicants are initially screened to ensure they have the required academic qualifications. All eligible applicants will undertake a face-to-face interview with members of the programme team and clinical partners.

If you are an overseas applicant, you must have IELTS where the overall score is at least 7.0, with a score of at least 6.5 in all elements.