Midwifery BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Professionally Accredited Programmes
A woman giving birth in a blue water bath with two nurses either side and a visitor behind her for support

Midwives play a pivotal role in supporting the health and wellbeing of women and their families during all stages of pregnancy, childbirth and the early postnatal period.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

3 years full-time

Course code

B720

Start date

September 2023

How to apply
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Available through Clearing

Clearing applications for September 2023 are now closed to international students due to visa and immigration requirements. Check out our January 2024 entry courses.

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Course overview

Fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) providing eligibility for registration as a midwife on successful completion of the course (additional costs may apply)

  • All home students on this course can apply for a minimum payment from the government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs6.
  • Study in the Alison Gingell Building which features a midwifery suite, hospital wards, operating theatre, critical care settings, community housing and other real-life healthcare environments relevant to practice.

 

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Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
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Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

On the Midwifery BSc (Hons) course you will have an opportunity to develop an understanding of the various approaches to childbirth and the professional skills required to lead in multidisciplinary settings, placing the mother, baby and family at the centre of care.

You will have the opportunity to learn in our multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building with up-to-date equipment and extensive simulation facilities – from basic life support manikins to high tech simulation equipment which emulate patient responses. You will also have opportunities to use equipment found in the real world of practice, such as medical devices to assist with all elements of care and especially medication administration.

You will explore how to provide universal care for all women and additional care for those women with more complex health needs. Midwifery students should work towards becoming autonomous practitioners upon graduation and should take a leadership role in decisions regarding care within multi-professional settings.

The NMC Proficiencies for Midwives (NMC, 2019) have been incorporated throughout course to enable the opportunity for learning and clinical skill acquisition across the childbearing continuum for women and their newborn infants. The four key areas include Antenatal care, Intrapartum care, Postnatal care and Neonatal care.

This course consists of 50% theoretical knowledge and teaching and 50% clinical practice. As a student midwife you will be encouraged to work on antenatal, labour and postnatal wards and may have a bespoke placement to a neonatal unit5. You will also be encouraged to work alongside midwives in the community providing maternity services in women's homes, local clinics, children's centres and GP surgeries. Placements in non-midwifery areas and the opportunity to work in midwifery triage areas, early pregnancy assessment units and day assessment units are included from year two.

From the outset, you’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience under the supervision of a qualified midwife, who will also be supported to manage a small caseload during the course. You will be encouraged to develop clinical midwifery skills which aim to foster empathetic communication and sensitive women-centred care skills. You will explore midwifery through innovative, research-informed teaching and practice and the ability to analyse a woman’s needs, plan an appropriate programme of care and then implement this safely, effectively and sensitively.

8th

Coventry University ranked 8th for Midwifery

Guardian University Guide 2023

Accreditation and professional recognition

This course is accredited and recognised by the following body:

UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

The course is currently fully accredited by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for the 2023/24 intake and, providing you also meet the NMC requirements, on successful completion you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (subject to additional costs) Please visit the NMC website for further information. Nursing and Midwifery Council.

UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Stage 1

Coventry University currently has UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) Stage 1 accreditation for the 2023/2024 intake.

Nursing at Coventry University

We have an excellent reputation for the quality of the education provided to trainee and qualified nurses.

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We have an excellent reputation for the quality of the education provided to trainee and qualified nurses.

What you'll study

The focus in the first year is on the potential acquisition of knowledge and skills for the provision of universal care for the mother and baby and wider family. Opportunity is given to develop critical reading and study skills.

Modules

  • This module aims to provide knowledge and understanding of different ways of organising maternity care and orientate you to the role of the midwife and professional responsibilities. It will introduce you to the fundamental skills and knowledge required for woman- and family-centred practice and enable you to develop your knowledge of relevant human anatomy and physiology. You will have an introductory placement within local maternity settings to prepare you for working in the NHS.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to enable you to become independent, evidence-informed, life-long learners. It will introduce you to the basic principles of gathering, appraising, interpreting and applying evidence to help support your potential learning and professional development. In addition, study skills will be a feature explored within the module, which aims to help to support effective academic practice. The module will also introduce you to the principles underpinning research and evidence-informed practice in the context of midwifery.

    Compulsory

  • You will be introduced to the concepts and theories relevant to the assessment of health and wellbeing for both mothers and their babies during uncomplicated childbearing within a holistic context. You should begin to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to women during normal labour and birth and focus on how a midwife works in partnership with women and their families across the childbirth continuum. There is emphasis on normal neonatal physiology and supporting the mother and infant in the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding in line with best practice standards.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to develop your knowledge and understanding of the social, politico-economic, cultural and environmental factors that influence individual and community health and wellbeing. The module will draw upon key international, national and local initiatives, which aims to support learning and learning will take place within an inter-professional context. To achieve this aim, you will explore concepts of wellbeing, disability, disease and illness, health inequality and inequity. In addition, you will examine key health and social care initiatives that should enable you to understand the importance of person-centred approaches to wellbeing, prevention, care and support. As you progress through the module you should develop inter-professional capabilities of communication, role clarification, decision-making and team-working designed to give you the chance to practice and promote healthy conversations about lifestyle.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide clinical experience within maternity settings in a local NHS Trust5. The module will require you to complete a practice profile which will include the opportunity to gain competencies in universal midwifery care.

    Compulsory

The theme for year two is diversity in maternal and neonatal health with the focus on the opportunity for further development of knowledge and skills for universal care provision in midwifery and the acquisition of knowledge, skills and competence to care for women and babies with additional care requirements.

Modules

  • The health of women presenting to maternity services is becoming increasingly complex. The aim of this module is to recognise complications and the additional care needs of women and babies when these exist. You will have the opportunity to learn about interdisciplinary, multi-agency team working and escalation and will be encouraged to consider the significance of continuity of carer when women experience additional care needs.

    Compulsory

  • Healthcare practice constantly changes and develops as new research and treatments, changes in procedures, drugs and equipment and new advanced technologies become available. As midwives work closely with mothers, they need to understand the balance between their professional skills and advice and that this relationship has legal, professional and ethical underpinning. This module aims to guide you through the complexities of the law and explore in depth current legal and ethical issues facing midwives and mothers. This module incorporates law and ethics related to midwifery practice and current political agendas. You will be expected to gather evidence and debate using a case study to frame the legal and ethical aspects of midwifery care.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide clinical experience within maternity settings in a local NHS Trust5. The module will require you to complete a practice profile which will include the opportunity to gain competencies in universal midwifery care and the care of women and babies who have additional needs.

    Compulsory

  • Midwives are ideally placed to anticipate and to recognise any changes that may lead to complications and additional care needs in the mother and/or baby. When such situations arise, the midwife is responsible for recognising these and for immediate response, management and escalation. This may involve collaboration with and referral to interdisciplinary and multi-agency colleagues. The module provides the opportunity for you to consider evidence-based approaches to practice including medicines management and supporting parent-infant attachment and infant feeding. It is designed to address the impact of human factors and relevant clinical governance approaches.

    Compulsory

  • Childbirth outcomes and the provision of midwifery care vary throughout the world. In line with Coventry University’s international and intercultural strategy this module aims to enable you to recognise global attributes and capabilities, which should help support you to become potential global professionals upon graduation. You will explore international bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and their role in the maintenance of women’s healthcare and in the regulation of midwifery practice worldwide. International and cross-cultural practices in relation to social, economic, religious, ethical and cultural perspectives will be compared. Global variations in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity will be examined alongside the role and scope of practice of the midwife. The module incorporates an elective placement* which may be undertaken in the UK or abroad (dependent upon government recommendations and travel restrictions).

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to enable you to apply the theoretical knowledge, ethical principles and evidence informed skills that should have been developed in the previous module (Foundations of Evidence-Informed Practice) to clinical settings. You will explore how to design and justify your own empirical or literature-based study, relevant to midwifery, in order to demonstrate the application of sound ethical reasoning. In order to achieve this, you will be introduced to a diverse range of approaches to research, reviews and audits (qualitative, quantitative and participatory) and relevant health and social care policy and legislation. This module will encourage you to explore how your profession specific core values and beliefs can complement those of other health and social care professions, drawing on differing research traditions.

    Compulsory

During the final year of the course, you will have the opportunity to continue to develop midwifery skills and knowledge which should ensure your readiness to assume the full role and responsibilities required by a midwife ready for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (subject to additional costs and the NMC requirements, please see the Accreditation and Professional recognition section for further information as well as the NMC website).

Modules

  • This module aims to support the development of the leadership behaviours and management skills that are required to function effectively as a newly qualified registered healthcare professional working within the multi-professional team in the delivery of high-quality care. You will critically examine clinical leadership and “followership” models and the concept of empowerment and distributed leadership, to have the chance to gain understanding of ethical leadership, culture and values within the delivery of care. You will explore the concepts of service improvement and should gain experience of leading and participating in projects, with the chance to use relevant management tools and techniques. You will be encouraged to reflect on your observed experience of clinical leadership behaviours and management skills whilst on clinical placement5 throughout your course, which aims to help you to develop a personal development plan designed to guide your ongoing leadership development as a potential future healthcare professional following graduation.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to prepare you for the role of a midwife, following graduation, in promoting excellence as a colleague and leader. It aims to furnish you with the skills required to fulfil your duties as a potential registrant in seeking opportunities for change management, continuous improvement, audit and policy development (please note that this is subject to application, meeting any applicable visa requirements and additional costs may apply. Please visit the NMC website for further information.). You will be required to demonstrate positive role modelling which will include the opportunity to support and supervise other students, completion of statutory and mandatory training, self-care and care of others.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework and presentation

  • This module aims to provide clinical experience within maternity settings in a local NHS Trust5. The module will require you to show proficiency in teaching, with the opportunity to feed back to junior students or parents. The module will also require you to collate evidence towards a profile which will include the chance to gain competencies in universal and additional midwifery care.

    Compulsory

  • This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake an in-depth exploration in an area of professional interest. Using an appropriate method of enquiry, you will be required to systematically investigate the research question to derive a set of findings or results. The question may be investigated using a literature-based strategy or an empirical approach (with full ethical approval). In summary, on successful completion of this module, you will have an enhanced understanding of the research process.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide clinical experience within maternity settings in a local NHS Trust5. By the end of the module, you should be able to engage in a professional discussion comprising of several elements of contemporary midwifery practice. Safe medicines management will also be assessed on adult and neonatal drugs used in maternity practice.

    Compulsory

  • This module aims to provide clinical experience within maternity settings in a local NHS Trust5. The module will require you to complete a practice profile which will include the chance to gain competencies in universal and additional midwifery care. This module aims to prepare you for your career options following graduation, for options such as of Newborn and Infant Physical Examiners.

    Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

This course uses a wide variety of approaches to teaching and learning to suit individual learning styles. This includes a series of interactive lectures with associated seminars, skills lab activities and practical placements. All modules are mandatory to enable you the chance to demonstrate the knowledge, values and skills required to be able to work within integrated care settings and enhance the delivery of care for service users, their families and carers after successfully completing the course.

This is a full-time course that requires 50% of theory and 50% practice. During the delivery of the theoretical modules, you will be expected to have a minimum of around 40 hours per week learning. As this is a full-time modular course, you are expected to allocate a minimum of around 40 hours per week to your learning, including up to around 16 hours of teaching contact, including lectures, practical workshops online activity sessions and seminars. In addition, you will be encouraged to have a minimum of around 14 hours private study which will include syndicate learning and online activities. Self-directed study should provide time to undertake assessments, prepare for upcoming lectures and access tutorial support.

Clinical practice comprises of an approximately 40-hour working week in the clinical placement areas attained through a variety of shifts for example 8 or 12 hours across the 24-hour period including nights, weekends and bank holidays5.

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)
  • Presentations
  • Online tests
  • Grading in clinical practice

You will also be continually assessed within practice placements and required to maintain a professional portfolio.

The NMC Proficiencies for Midwives (NMC, 2019) are assessed in a range of placements as part of a continuous assessment process and should not be viewed as separate elements but reflect the continuum of care provided in partnership with women and their families. You should be able to participate under direct supervision and direction at this level of training.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

You will be encouraged to engage in a module entitled global perspectives in childbirth and midwifery and have the opportunity to explore international midwifery practice by examining the role of the midwife alongside global variations in maternal and infant mortality. Socio-political and cultural differences among developed and developing countries are examined with their impact on childbirth outcomes. International strategies for promoting health and safe motherhood, including the Sustainable Development Goals, are also examined.

A two-week elective placement is incorporated into the course. You may opt to experience maternity services abroad within Europe or beyond – typically one to two weeks’ duration5. You will be expected to share your experiences with fellow students, and also should benefit from the experiences of other students who have studied elsewhere.

During placements you will have the opportunity to provide care for women and families from a wide range of backgrounds5. This first-hand experience should enable you to set midwifery within a broad cultural context.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.

Entry requirements

Clearing places available on this course

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Additional requirements may apply

Haven't met the entry requirements or don’t have the right qualifications? You may still be able to progress onto a degree you’d love by studying a foundation course.

View our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page. 

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Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.

Fees and funding

2023/24 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available
EU £9,250 per year with EU support bursary**
£19,850 per year without EU support bursary**		 Not available
International £19,850 per year Not available

A non-repayable grant of £5,000 and extra payments worth up to £3,000 may be available to eligible home students for each year of study. Read more about this in the NHS Learning Support Fund information booklet. 

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU support bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in-line with that of UK students. Students studying a Degree with a Foundation Year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Nurses in training standing around a dummy patient on a hospital bed

Alison Gingell Building

Our state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building features mock hospital wards, an operating theatre, critical care settings and other real-life nursing environments.

Community houses

Community houses

Learn how to work with patients outside of a hospital setting in our simulated, two full-size community homes, specifically built for teaching.

 

Midwifery Suite with patient in birthing pool and nursing staff around a birthing pool

Midwifery suite

Our midwifery suite is equipped with delivery facilities including water birth options. Student midwives also use mannequins to simulate routine and emergency care to mothers and babies.

Careers and opportunities

The course is fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), providing eligibility for registration as a midwife on successful completion of the course (additional costs may apply1).

From the outset, you will gain hands-on experience under supervision from qualified practice supervisors and assessors. You will spend around 50% of your time on clinical practice placements5 (sourced for you by the university), meaning you are able to put theory into practice in relevant midwifery environments.

There is a strong practical emphasis on this course, with 50% of the course expected to be spent on placements5. On graduating successfully from this course, you can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (registration fee may apply and subject to NMC requirements), which can then enable you to practise in either the NHS or independent practice. As a registered midwife, you’ll then have opportunities to work with a range of other professionals including, obstetricians GPs, health visitors, neonatal nurses and maternity support workers. Please see the Accreditation and Professional recognition section for further information.

As well as helping you to find suitable work placements5 and give you advice on how to get the most out of them, the university can provide you with support you when you are ready to look at pursuing your professional career options upon graduation.

There will be considerable opportunities for educational and professional development. Learning Beyond Registration (LBR) has always been as essential element within the role of the midwife. A range of continuing professional development modules and courses are available at Coventry University.

To help increase your career options upon graduation, the course also incorporates the chance for acquisition in the advanced clinical skill of the Newborn Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) as determined by the NHS Antenatal and Newborn Screening Programme and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Where our graduates work

The majority of our past graduates have found employment as qualified midwives in the NHS. As your career progresses, you may choose to specialise in a particular area of perinatal care and eventually apply for the role of consultant midwife. This would require you to provide clinical leadership for midwives and other healthcare professionals involved in maternity services.

If you become a registered midwife, you could work with specialist midwives such as bereavement midwives and antenatal screening midwives and also a range of other professionals including obstetricians, GPs, health visitors, neonatal nurses and maternity support workers.

You could also aim to become involved in practice development or board level management within an NHS Trust.

How to apply

  • 1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For Home Students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    5Placements

    Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure is also required. As part of the health clearance checks you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. You will also be required to provide information about your COVID-19 vaccination status. We therefore recommend that you are fully vaccinated including the COVID-19 vaccine. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is therefore unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

    6NHS payment

    The rules may be subject to review by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the future and as a result may change. Please therefore check the NHSBSA website for up-to-date information before applying.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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