School of Nursing and Midwifery

BSc (Hons) Midwifery

Do you want to support women throughout their maternity journey, and learn how to deliver safe, effective, respectful, kind and compassionate midwifery care? This course equips you with the skills, knowledge and professional insight needed to become a registered midwife. Whether it's helping women during pregnancy and birth, or giving support to new mothers, you learn through doing, building your confidence as you go. Graduate ready to excel as a fully rounded healthcare professional.

Midwifery students to receive £5,000 payment a year

The government is issuing nursing and midwifery students on courses from 2020 a payment of at least £5,000 a year, which they will not have to pay back. A further £3,000 of funding a year is available for eligible students.

Your career as a healthcare professional starts here

The first-class new home for our healthcare teaching and research providing students with skills to meet the needs of 21st century careers.

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 A unique new learning space where undergraduate and postgraduate students from the largest breadth of health disciplines in the South-West learn together under one roof, with expert practitioners.

Medical students using the Anatomage table clinical Plymouth Integrative Health and Social Care Education Centre (PIHC)
 Experience an interprofessional learning environment across our health programmes that will prepare you for life as a healthcare professional.

First choice for health Become a healthcare professional of the future
 Collaboration across the schools helps students to learn with, from and about each other, gaining the real-world experience employers seek.

Careers with this subject
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

Key features
  • Become a 'Registered Midwife' with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as soon as you successfully complete the course.
  • Spend 50% of your time learning through doing, in a range of real placements, 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. 
  • Train and practice your 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.
  • Develop a critical approach to research, enabling you to provide evidence-based care.
  • 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.

Course details

  • 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.

    Core modules

    • Professional Midwifery Practice (MID401)

      This module will introduce the students to professional issues and clinical skills underpinning midwifery practice, aligned with the regulatory body proficiencies. Students will gain a foundation of holistic midwifery practice in core and domain-specific skills and proficiencies under direct supervision and direction in maternity and related clinical settings.

    • Biology for Midwifery (MID402)

      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 (MID403)

      This module will introduce students to 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 (MID404)

      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 (MID405)

      The module introduces students to the concept of evidence based practice and facilitates them i) to retrieve information ii) promotes their ability to differentiate between the main research designs and methodologies iii) begin judging the reliability of data and information. The module also introduces basic underpinning scholarly activities to promote responsibility for the nature and quality of their outputs.

    • Interprofessional Learning 1 (HIPL400)

  • 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.

    Core modules

    • Developing Midwifery Practice (MID509)

      This module will develop the student’s professional and clinical skills in the context of midwifery practice and role in the wider professional team. Students will build on their evidence informed knowledge to develop as a safe, competent, woman centred practitioner. This will ensure that the student is able to contribute with decreasing supervision and direction, in line with the regulatory body proficiencies.

    • Reproductive Health and Pregnancy (MID510)

      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 (MID511)

      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 (MID512)

      This module enables the student to demonstrate complex knowledge of the postnatal care of women and their babies, their role in this care and appropriate referral to other health care professionals.

    • Developing Evidence Based Practice (MID513)

      This module consolidates student midwifery research scholarship by: demonstrating knowledge of research through the academic processes of structured literature searching and application to evidence based midwifery practice.

    • Interprofessional Learning 2 (HIPL500)

  • 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 identify and undertake an extended project. Prepare for your future as Registered Midwife in your final clinical placements. 

    Core modules

    • Advancing Midwifery Practice (MID607)

      This module promotes excellence in the future midwife’s role as colleague, scholar and leader. It ensures that the student demonstrates evidence-based competent practice in all core and domain-specific skills and procedures in line with the regulatory body proficiencies, under appropriate supervision.

    • Complexity in Midwifery (1) (MID608)

      A module encompassing management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with a 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) (MID609)

      A module encompassing management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with a 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 (MID610)

      To develop students’ skills in critical appraisal of a body of evidence in relation to midwifery practice, which underpins a research proposal or Quality Improvement / practice development project. This will involve exploration and application of evidence based practice to the clinical area and development of students’ ability to search for and critique primary and secondary sources of research literature. Students will also be challenged to recognise and understand how they can facilitate change promoting evidence based practice by producing a research proposal or Quality Improvement /practice development project.

    • Interprofessional Learning 3 (HIPL600)

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

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

BSc Hons Midwifery Programme Specification 23 24 6992

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff

120 - 128

GCSEs
Five GCSEs grade C or above to include Mathematics, English and Science. Preference is given to applicants who have obtained these grades on application. Please note that if you do not have this GCSE profile please contact the Admissions Team directly on +44 1752 585858 or email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk and they will be happy to advise you further.
PLUS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
UCAS tariff
120 - 128 points including a grade B in a science – preference is given to Chemistry, Biology or Physics but Psychology and Sociology may also be considered. Excluding general studies and key skills.
IB
30-32 overall to include a grade 5 at Higher Level in a Science subject - preferably in biology/human biology/chemistry/ physics but psychology may be considered. English and Maths accepted within – if Higher Level = 4 – if Standard Level = 5 – if overseas and not studying English within IB – must have IELTS where the overall score is at least 7.0, with a score of at least 6.5 in all elements.
Access
Pass a named Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3, 30 at distinction level including 15 L3 credits biology. A further 15 credits at L3 must be at merit level. 5 GCSE’s grade C / 4 or above to include Mathematics, English and Science. Preference is given to applicants who have obtained these grades on application. Note the admissions tutor will consider the BTEC Level 2 in Science with a minimum of a merit overall in lieu of GCSE Science C / 4.
T level:
Accepted pathway: Health. Must achieve a Merit overall to include a grade B in the Year One Core Component. 
18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma
DMM-DDM – needs to have strong science/health element.
BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.
Equivalent qualifications may be considered, please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Extended entry requirements

  • All applicants who are aged 17, must be 18 by the start of the programme in September.
  • In addition to the above, evidence of academic study within the last five years is required.
  • Please note we do not accept Key Skills Level 2 in place of GCSE English or mathematics.
  • You must pass disclosure and barring service and occupational health checks satisfactorily in order to be able to start this course.
  • If English is not your first language and you do not have GCSE English grade C or above you will have to achieve an IELTS or equivalent qualification at the grades stated below. 
  • IELTS – overall score is at least 7.0, with a score of at least 6.5 in all elements.
    Meeting the academic minimum is the first stage of an application being considered. Applicants must also submit a strong personal statement in order to be considered further.
  • Attend an interview 
  • English language requirements 
  • We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.  
  • Students must be 18 years old or over at the start date of this programme.
Further information

Fees, costs and funding
Student 2023-2024 2024-2025
Home £9,250 £9,250
International £16,300 £18,100
Part time (Home) £770 £770
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery and more details of any additional costs associated with our courses are listed on the following page: Additional costs for nursing and midwifery students. 

Undergraduate Merit Scholarship for international students

Scholarship value: £2000 off your tuition fees in year one. 
To recognise continued academic achievement, you may also receive:
  • 10% off the successive years tuition fee if an overall grade of 60% or above is maintained
  • 20% off the successive years tuition fee if an overall grade of 70% or above is maintained.
To be eligible you must:
  • achieve one grade above your academic offer.
  • meet our standard English Language requirements.
This scholarship will be offered automatically, providing you meet the eligibility criteria. A separate application will not be required.

How to apply
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). 
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code. 
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.
The deadline for the receipt of international applications is 31 May 2024 for entry in September 2024. 
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

The moment I realised...

“You really do have a long-term impact on a family whether you are a midwife or a student, they just remember you as being someone who was there and held their hand and listened to them.” 

Abbie Rich explains the moment she realised she was becoming a midwife.

Lotta Gilmour – third year student

Lotta talks about her journey as a student midwife, which may be helpful to anyone thinking about studying the BSc (Hons) Midwifery course. She explains how the programme is taught and gives insight into her experiences so far. 
“Plymouth designed their course with the best content and modules to prepare students for the role, for example providing additional training and teaching to help with our career progression.”
Lotta Gilmour, profile shot 

Lucy Oates – Midwifery graduate

Lucy tells us how studying BSc (Hons) Pre-Registration Midwifery set her up for a rewarding career in midwifery.
“Midwifery is a fascinating and rewarding career with many different areas to work in and the support from the University and placements is second to none.”
Lucy Oates,  Pre-Registration Midwifery graduate

Blended learning 

A blended learning version of this course now available. The blended BSc and MSc degrees are suited to students who are self-motivated and able to study independently online, accessing engaging digital learning materials for the theoretical element, with regular support from tutors in local areas. 
You will also undertake weekly integrated clinical placements in one of the maternity units across the South West of England, where practice supervisors support you to learn and progress to achieve the required NMC standards of proficiency for midwives.  
BSc (Hons) Midwifery – blended learning
MSc Midwifery (Shortened) – blended learning
MSc Midwifery (Pre-Registration) – blended learning
Midwifery students
Midwifery Hero Image

Opportunities for postgraduate study

Once you've qualified as a midwife you may be interested in developing and advancing your knowledge and skills.
The MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Nursing and Midwifery Professions) has been developed to meet the needs of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals working across all healthcare sectors. 
Alongside core modules you will have a choice of Modules spanning across healthcare and midwifery. You can tailor the course to meet your needs and focus on your specific area of interest.
This programme may be studied full time over one year or part time over up to five years, offering flexible delivery and exit points to support a learner centred approach.
MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Clinical Practitioner)
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People

MSc Contemporary Healthcare (Community Nursing)
This course is subject to NMC approval.
*These are the latest results from the National Student Survey. Please note that the data published on Discover Uni is updated annually in September.
The results of the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Graduate Outcomes survey (GO) are made available to prospective students and their advisors through the Discover Uni website.