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Undergraduate study
Midwifery

Midwifery BSc (Hons)

From conception to birth midwives play a critical role. Train as a midwife at Teesside University and you will play a central role in the most amazing and challenging journey in a family’s life. Within this partnership you will be supporting women, through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood to make informed choices about their care.

 
 
  • This course is closed for September 2024 and January 2025 entry for UK applicants and international applicants.
 

Course overview

Accredited

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Supported by midwives and academic staff throughout your training our course balances theory and practice to prepare you with the knowledge, skills and leadership to work as a midwife as an independent practitioner and within the multidisciplinary and agency team.

A midwife is the lead practitioner for women with low risk care and is required to make decisions, coordinate and manage care for women with complex needs in conjunction with the woman and the wider team.

A range of practice placements give you the opportunity to develop your skills as a midwife and put into the practice the theory you have learnt in University. Our trust partners include County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust, Gateshead Health NHS foundation Trust, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees NHS Foundation Trust.

The course is underpinned by the latest research and will develop your critical analysis skills to deliver care to the highest standard for women.

Top reasons to study this course:

  1. Industry-standard facilities: our state-of-the-art simulation facilities support your practical skills.
  2. Placement opportunities: we have excellent working partnership with local NHS trusts and charitable organisations plus the opportunity to undertake an elective placement home or abroad.
  3. Experienced teaching team: our experienced, dedicated and enthusiastic teaching team have a strong focus on evidence-base practice.
  4. Nationally recognised: Teesside is ranked 19th out of 52 institutions for Midwifery in the Guardian University Guide 2024. (122 institutions participated, tees.ac.uk/source).
  5. Financial support: study this course and you may be eligible for a £5,000 maintenance grant each year from the NHS Business Service Authority. Find out more.


This course prepares you to meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's standards for pre-registration midwifery education (NMC, 2019).Throughout the course, as part of the placement experience, you will be required to travel to your placement area and work a shift pattern rota which includes night duty, weekends and bank holidays.

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Supporting information for applicants

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Course details

The first year of the course focuses on the universal aspects of care for the woman, her baby and family through the study of public health and life science applied to midwifery practice. Year 2 consolidates learning in Year 1 whilst developing knowledge and understanding of women and babies with complex needs through the exploration of psycho-social aspects of care and pathophysiology. The importance of multidisciplinary team working is also explored alongside working within continuity of care models during practical placements. Year 3 facilitates development of leadership and management skills across all aspects of practice including an in-depth introduction into patient safety within maternity. It provides an opportunity to study evidence that informs care and innovation. Learning is applied at the interface of practice through a variety of clinical placements.

The modules in Year 1 introduce you to the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary in participating- in the provision of safe holistic, woman-centred midwifery care.

The modules in Year 2 develop your knowledge, skills and learning from Year 1 while extending practice into the area of complex maternal, fetal and baby care where you contribute to the provision of safe holistic, woman-centred midwifery care

The modules in Year 3 consolidate learning from the first and second year while preparing you for the role of qualified midwife. You have the opportunity to explore midwifery from an international perspective and develop managerial and leadership skills while considering innovative changes in practice and demonstrating proficiency in safe holistic, woman-centred care.

Throughout the three years of study, we use a range of teaching and learning strategies to provide an environment that develops your confidence and competence in providing care to woman, their babies and families within maternity care settings.

Course structure

Year 1 core modules

Applied Knowledge and Competence in Universal Maternity

Develop your knowledge, communication and clinical competence to assess women’s health and wellbeing, the foetus and neonates during the childbirth continuum. You attend keynote lectures in an interactive learning environment, where you can explore and apply your knowledge to the health assessment process.

Applied Science for Maternity Care

You study a diverse range of life science disciplines and how these apply to the care of women, the foetus and the newborn throughout the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period. Explore concepts in life science including anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, haematology and pharmacology.

Participate in Holistic Maternity Care

You develop your independence and proficiency in providing safe holistic maternity care. You gain the knowledge and skills to facilitate a better birth experience. Placements are integral to this module and can be streamed to enable flexibility.

Learning takes place primary within the practice area, supported by a team which supervises and facilitates your learning.

Principles of Evidence-based Practice

You are provided with the foundation for lifelong learning, by focusing on how to learn, and beginning the development of critical thinking, reasoning and reflection. Key study skills are also incorporated into this module.

You explore the role of evidence-based practice in the policy context of health and social care. You develop knowledge and skills in formulating questions and literature searching in the evidence-based practice process.

Public Health in Contemporary Maternity Care

You develop an evidence-informed knowledge and understanding of how pregnancy, birth, motherhood and parenting are influenced by the wider social and psychological contexts that women and their families live in. Explore public health, health inequalities, epidemiology and the midwife’s role in influencing the health and wellbeing of women, their babies and families. Examine the midwife’s role in health improvement and partnership working with health and social care professionals and agencies.

 

Year 2 core modules

Applied Science for Complex Maternity Care

Build on your knowledge of life science disciplines, including the pathophysiology concepts underpinning maternal, foetal and neonatal ill-health assessments. You develop your understanding of care and the disease, aetiology and progression, recognising clinical signs and symptoms of conditions.

Appraising Evidence for Practice

You will further develop skills gained from your first year Principles of Evidence-based Practice to develop a sound theoretical knowledge of the importance of research and the ability to critical appraise and apply this to your clinical learning, and skills delivering evidence-based practice.

Complex Public Health in Contemporary Maternity Care

Gain advanced knowledge and understanding of psychology and sociology relevant to childbearing, midwifery and maternity care. You build further on your knowledge from Year 1, exploring public health issues to put contemporary challenges into context. Develop an understanding of how issues can negatively affect women’s wellbeing, studying the midwife’s role further and working collaboratively to enhance care provision. You also explore the global context of gender inequalities that increase rates of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.

Contributing to Holistic Care

Develop your professional role in contributing to safe care for women, babies and families with complex needs. Learn how to support a better birth experience, consolidating your midwifery knowledge and skills from Year 1. You spend a lot of time in the practice area, supported by a practice learning team.

Enhanced Maternity Care for Complex Needs

Develop your knowledge and confidence to contribute to caring for women and newborns with complex needs. You build on your care planning and critical thinking skills, applying your knowledge of the relationship between maternal conditions and newborn care. Apply your decision-making skills in a simulated environment.

 

Year 3 core modules

Leadership and Service Improvement in Maternity Care

You explore a service improvement in the context of health and social care policy, building on the challenges studied in earlier modules. Considering the NHS as a business, examine midwifes’ roles in providing leadership, driving forward innovation, preparing business cases and improving services.

Promoting Excellence in Maternity Care

This dissertation module is delivered across two semesters. You study a challenge to maternity practice, developing your understanding of evidence-based midwifery and practice at local, national and international level. This self-managed project supports your development of skills in retrieving information, critical evaluation and evidence application.

The Proficient Midwife in Holistic Maternity Care

You develop independence and proficiency in providing safe maternity care and a better birth experience. Build on your skills and knowledge from Years 1 and 2 to consolidate your professional role. Learn about caseload holding and continuity of care, developing your leadership, decision making and collaborative working skills.

Transition to Autonomous Practice in Maternity Care

You will develop a wider understanding of midwifery practice from a local, national and international perspective through seminars and an international conference. Your learning, to promote student autonomy, will be enhanced through self-directed learning, seminars and tutorials that involve student-centred learning activities, including deconstructing and discussing critical learning incidents. You will develop knowledge and understanding of learning and teaching theories to facilitate parent education and develop a range of practice experience from case-loading.

Transition to Autonomous Practice in Newborn Care

You will consolidate knowledge and skills delivered during Years 1 and 2 that facilitates transition to autonomous practitioner in the assessment and examination of the newborn. This module will prepare you for post-registration practice with the knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care for the newborn. This will be developed through simulation, clinical examination and decision-making skills and will include the theory component of Newborn Infant Physical Examination (NIPE).

 

Modules offered may vary.

 

How you learn

This course is 135 weeks of full-time study, 50% theory and 50% practice, plus 7 week’s annual leave per year. The structure of University theory and practice placement weeks means that it is not possible to take holidays outside of the set dates. Your range of clinical placements take place in the NHS community and acute hospital settings.

A range of teaching and learning strategies develop your confidence and competence in providing care to women, their babies and families within maternity care settings. Examples include practice simulation, interactive lectures, discussion, group work and enquiry-based learning. You are encouraged towards self-directed and independent study, through a number of teaching and learning strategies, including online resources and digital platforms.

The course provides a supportive learning environment and a personal tutor is available to provide pastoral care and development, and academic tutors provide support for academic studies. In practice a practice learning team support, teach and assess your learning.

How you are assessed

Within each academic year there are module assessments for which a pass must be achieved as these are a core requirement. These are varied and include written assignments, exams and presentations. Assessments take place within practice and contribute to a file of evidence to demonstrate development.

Essential competencies that must be met within this course include:

  • physical and manual dexterity, as well as observational and auditory skills to undertake holistic health assessment, critical and emergency care for women and their babies
  • interpersonal and communication skills
  • record keeping and documentation skills
  • participation in clinical decision making skills




Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services

Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs

 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You are expected to have:

  • a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English language, maths and a science subject. Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 2 in Communication and Application of Number can be accepted in place of English and maths GCSE. You must have English and maths as listed below.*



Plus any of the following qualifications.

GCE and VCE Advanced Level
120 points from three A levels (or equivalent T levels) including a science subject, preferably biology. We will accept psychology and physical education. AS level is not acceptable.

Access Course
120 UCAS points from a QAA recognised Access course (any combination) in a science or health subject (including a science unit, preferably biology)

*We can accept 6 Units at graded Level 2 in English and 6 Units at graded Level 2 in maths or 3 credits at Level 3 in maths and 3 credits at Level 3 in English in the absence of GCSEs in these subjects

BTEC QCF Extended Diploma
120 points (DDM) in a science or health subject.

CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma
120 points (B) In health & social care

Irish Leaving Certificate
120 points from four or five Highers/Honours subjects including a science, preferably biology.

Scottish Highers
120 points from four or five Highers including a science subject, preferably biology.

Advanced Scottish Highers
3 Advanced Highers including a science subject, preferably biology.

Or

Foundation degree
A pass in a science or health subject.

The selection process includes shortlisting of your application, following which, if successful you will be invited for an interview.

Your personal statement
Your personal statement is an important part of your application
It is your opportunity to tell us why you want to study midwifery Teesside. It is key to you being invited for an interview.

What to include
The midwifery team are keen to know what you understand to be the role of the midwife and what motivates you to study midwifery. You will be or have recently studied subjects to prepare you for the course, and we are interested to understand how you think your studies have prepared you the midwifery degree. You will have life experiences and transferrable skills that may include, voluntary work, part time work, hobbies, tell us what they are, and how they relate to the NHS core values and behaviours. Please note we do not require you to have voluntary experience, it is your transferable skills that we are interested in.

The midwifery course involves clinical placements and theoretical work in University so you will need to be organised and resilient, you could include examples of how you have demonstrated organisation and resilience skills in the past.

Where can I get more information?
You can access a range of healthcare websites, books and journals about midwifery, use this information to demonstrate you really know what the role of a the midwife involves.

Shortlisting criteria
Your application will be measured against the following criteria:

  • your ability to complete all sections of the application form fully and correctly
  • the level of all qualifications and grades are specified
  • appropriate academic entry requirements achieved or predicted
  • personal statement supportive of the chosen course which demonstrates an understanding of the uniqueness of the profession and the midwife's role
  • satisfactory references.

If you are invited to interview and the date becomes unsuitable for you, we may not always be able to offer you an alternative date due to the high volume of applications received for this course. Please contact the admissions department for further information if required.

Interview criteria
At the online or face to face interview, you will be asked 6 questions which are mapped against the NHS Constitution:

  • privacy & dignity
  • resilience & reflective ability
  • problem solving
  • advocacy & empowerment
  • honesty & integrity
  • team working

A range of scenarios will be used to enable you to demonstrate your ability to address the NHS constitutional values alongside communication skills based on your performance throughout the workstations.


If you are successful in both shortlisting and interview you will receive an offer which is subject to the following:

  1. evidence of achievement of the required academic qualifications
  2. a successful work-based risk assessment which will reflect the appropriate HEOPS recommendations. Find out more about all of the HEOPS standards
  3. an enhanced criminal history (DBS) check will be required as you will be working within clinical trusts which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. The DBS check is funded by the School of Health & Life Sciences so you do not need to pay for this process.
  4. satisfactory references.

Please note until 1 to 4 have been successfully completed the offer of a place on the course remains conditional.



International applicants
  • International applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 in writing alongside a minimal of 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking with a minimal overall score of 7.0 before an unconditional offer is made
  • If you are successful at shortlisting you will be invited to attend an interview (which may be in person OR video call) in one of our international offices in either India, Malaysia or China, or through a secure web link (which will be arranged by the University).
  • If you are unable to attend an interview as stated, you will be unable to proceed with your application.


For international enquiries please email internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

For general information please see our overview of entry requirements

International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country

 

Employability

Career opportunities

The knowledge and experience gained during the course provides you with the opportunity to have an exciting and rewarding career. Registered Midwife status is recognised internationally and career opportunities are available both at home and abroad. New posts, roles and responsibilities are constantly evolving, both in community and hospital settings.

 

Information for international applicants

Qualifications

International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.

Select your country:

  
 

Useful information

Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.

Talk to us

Talk to an international student enrolment adviser

 
 

Professional accreditation

On successful completion of the course you gain eligibility to apply for registration as a midwife on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Professional Register.

Please note 100% attendance is expected during this course.

Full-time

Entry to 2024/25 academic year

Fee for UK applicants
£9,250 a year

More details about our fees

Fee for international applicants
£17,000 a year

More details about our fees for international applicants


What is included in your tuition fee?

  • Length: 3 years
  • UCAS code: B720 BSc/Mwif
  • Start date: September or January
  • Semester dates
  • Typical offer: 120 tariff points and interview

Apply online (full-time) through UCAS

 

Part-time

  • Not available part-time
 

Choose Teesside

  • On video

    Health facilities at Teesside University

    Check out Teesside University’s facilities for the School of Health and Life Sciences.

    Working in healthcare

    Hear from a range of health professionals, including Teesside University graduates, working at James Cook Hospital. Discover the variety of health professions and learn about their roles, why they chose a healthcare career and why its so rewarding.

    Midwifery at Teesside

    The School of Health & Social Care has impressive purpose-built midwifery facilities simulating practice environments and social care settings. See how our midwifery students benefit and prepare for practice.

     
  • Student and graduate profiles

    Ruqayyah El-Dharrat

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    The experience and interactions with mentoring midwives and mothers are irreplaceable and invaluable.

    Meet Ruqayyah

    Abigail Sykes

    Abigail SykesBSc (Hons) Midwifery

    I would recommend Teesside, it is a modern well-rounded university, very welcoming with a great family feel, and you will make friends for life.

    Meet Abigail

    Laura Moss

    Laura MossBSc (Hons) Midwifery

    Laura’s degree has prepared her for a career as a midwife. She’s had a really fulfilling time as a student so far, and has gained amazing experiences, such as a placement in the Dominican Republic.

    Meet Laura

     
  • News

    Link to View the pictures. National nursing award nomination for midwifery graduate
    A Teesside midwife currently working alongside NHS colleagues during the coronavirus crisis has been shortlisted for a national nursing award.

    Read the full story

     
 
 

Service user and carer involvement

Service users and carers support all aspects of our students' lifecycle from recruitment to graduation.

Find out more

Get in touch

UK students

Email: shlsadmissions@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: 01642 738801


Online chat (general enquiries)

International students

Email: internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0) 1642 738900


More international contacts

 

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