A Guide to Midwifery Courses

Depending on the midwifery course you choose, you may be able to specialise towards the end of your degree. This specialisation may influence the area you choose to work in after you have completed your degree. Common specialisations include:

• Family Planning
• Pregnancy and Chronic Conditions
• Birth Specific Techniques (e.g. Hypnobirthing, Water Birthing, etc.)
• Complications and Emergencies
• Neonatal Examination

Most midwifery degrees will have a practical element, which will be an important criteria for your graduation. This placement will be an opportunity for you to experience working as a midwife, and perhaps decide on a certain area that you would like to work in.

The accreditation of your degree will depend on where you choose to study, specifically in which country. Because countries have their own accreditation systems, it is possible that you would be awarded different degree titles in each country. Normally, you can expect to be awarded a Bachelor of Midwifery (BM) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc). There are also many postgraduate courses available, which tend to be focused on the professional development of registered midwives.

As well as gaining your degree, you need to be a registered midwife in order to work within healthcare. In the UK, your course should either be accredited by, or meet the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This could be different in other countries, so you should check with your institution for more details.

Typically, you can expect a degree in midwifery to take three to four years for full-time study. Foundation degrees, diplomas and certificates can last up to two years, when studied full-time.

On successful completion of your degree,you can choose to either seek employment in your chosen area, or further your studies. Continuation of your studies could take the form of a postgraduate degree, such as a masters or PhD, or a graduate diploma or certificate.

The entry requirement for a degree in midwifery will depend on where you choose to study. Some universities may require you to sit an entrance exam, where others may rely on previous exam results. Some universities may prefer you to have studied certain subjects, and others may consider previous relevant work experience.

When applying for a course related to healthcare, there can be extra entry requirements for students to meet. For example, in the UK, you will likely have to provide a personal statement, as well as at least one reference. You will also have to provide evidence that you have undergone an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and are willing to commit to the NHS Constitution.

You should check each institution to see what entry requirements they have for their midwifery programmes.

• UK – 7.0 IELTS
• US – 3.5 GPA

Tuition fees for international students are not fixed. This means that they can differ greatly from institution to institution. You should make sure that you are aware of how much your course will cost you.

You may be eligible for a scholarship or funding. This could be awarded by your institution, or by a separate funding body. For more information, visit our scholarships and funding section.

The most common destination for midwifery graduates is the healthcare system, working as a midwife. You could be based in many different settings, including clinics, hospitals, birthing centres or at the patient’s home.

Whilst the most popular career choice post-graduation is a practising midwife, it is not the only one. An education in healthcare can lead to a variety of employment opportunities. You can work in the administration side of healthcare, as well as becoming an educator for both midwives and expectant families, you might choose to implement birthing classes, or work within a family planning clinic. Your wide range of transferable skills will mean that there are many options available to you.