• Postgraduate

Midwifery (3 year) pre-registration MMidwifery

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Overview

Overview

As a Midwifery student, you are eligible to apply for a Government grant of at least £5,000 a year (This funding will not need to be repaid) - see our Fees and Funding section for more details or visit NHS Learning Support Fund.

This pre-registration Midwifery Masters course has been developed for the next generation of midwives, with the knowledge, skills and values to deliver world-class, evidence-based care for women, babies and their families.

Designed for graduates, the course will provide you with the skills to become a midwife who can practise in a variety of settings and provide safe and effective care across the maternity continuum.

You will learn through a combination of classroom, online and simulation-based activities, and hands-on experience in clinical placements in a variety of NHS Trust maternity units. 

At the end of the course, you will be awarded a Masters in Midwifery and be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Midwife.

This course has been developed against the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Midwives (2019). As a mark of our professional excellence, UWL hold the prestigious Gold Award accreditation by UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative.

Location

This midwifery degree is offered at both our Berkshire Institute for Health in the heart of Reading and at our Ealing campus. As you will spend half your course gaining experience on placement, you should choose a course location that you can travel to easily. Please select your preferred location below when applying.

Midwifery students practice their skills

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Locations this course is taught at:
Berkshire Institute for Health
West London Campus
Why study Midwifery (3 year) pre-registration with us?

Why study Midwifery (3 year) pre-registration with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

The lecturers are fantastic and I don't think I would get as many work experience opportunities at any other university.

Harry Poulter
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Students can receive a £5000 grant per year on this course
Unicef Baby Friendly Gold logo
This course has simulation centres in London and Reading
Lifelong careers support from the UWL Careers Service.
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

The duration of the midwife degree course is three years and has been developed with input from students, service users and our NHS partners to provide you with the academic and professional qualifications you need to be eligible to register with the NMC as a midwife.

You will be studying alongside students on the BMidwifery (Hons) course, albeit studying at a higher academic level.

Throughout the course, there is a strong emphasis on childbirth as a normal physiological process and you will gain a sound understanding of the role of the midwife and the foundations of midwifery care. 

As you progress through the course, you will develop and apply your knowledge to a variety of contexts.

You will learn:

  • to become a kind, caring and compassionate midwife who can take the lead in providing women with the best care possible in a safe, supportive environment
  • how to recognise and manage a range of complex and emergency situations
  • how to engage with current research and apply evidence to your practice
  • to work as a professional, both on your own and as part of an interdisciplinary team.

You will be encouraged to work independently as well as with peers and colleagues to develop team-working, negotiation, communication and organisational skills.

You will spend an equal amount of time in blocks of theory and clinical practice.

The theoretical element of the course comprises of an exciting range of teaching and learning approaches

  • including online and face-to-face lectures
  • group tutorials
  • one to one learning opportunities
  • classroom activities
  • practical skills
  • simulation-based learning
  • online
  • guided independent study

The University's new learning platform, UWLFlex, has been developed to provide you with a personalised and supported learning experience.

You will also keep an online portfolio to record and track your progress throughout the course. Student support is very important to us and we will ensure the right conditions are in place to meet your learning needs, including access to high-quality learning materials and resources.

Midwifery course placement partners

The NMC requires students to have a minimum of 2,300 hours of practice experience over the 3 years to be eligible to register as a midwife. At UWL, students have 22 planned practice placement weeks each year to meet this requirement.

You will be placed with one of our partner NHS Trusts for practice placements, but also be required to gain experience across different NHS Trusts/organisations during the 3 years of the course. Your placements will be based upon available placement capacity within each organisation. Therefore, before you start the course, it is important to consider the practicalities of travelling to any one of our placement partners. You will be notified of your practice placements at the beginning of the course.

Whilst on placement, you will be fully supported by link lecturers from the university and clinical placement facilitators at the maternity unit you are placed in. You will follow the shift patterns of the midwives you work with.

We currently partner with the following healthcare organisations in Berkshire for this course:

Compulsory modules

  • Personal Health and Wellbeing for the Student Midwife L5

    The aim of this module enables you to identify and develop strategies for self-care and resilience and to recognise signs of vulnerability in yourself and your colleagues. In the context of exploring personal health and well-being, you will gain an understanding of how this might impact the midwife’s ability to provide professional maternity care.

  • Fundamentals of midwifery care L6

    The aim of this module is for you to develop your knowledge of the underlying concepts of the midwife’s role in optimising normal physiological processes in the continuum of care including infant feeding.

    This will include the related anatomy and physiology and midwifery care and link to continuity of carer. You will develop knowledge and skills to support women and their families with psychosocial, cultural and spiritual needs during the continuum of care.

  • Public health and the midwife L6

    The aim of this module is to introduce you to the key concepts of public health and health promotion on a local, national and global level and the role this plays within current midwifery practice. It will introduce skills and knowledge about health and well-being for the individual, the family and the population.

  • Accountability and professional midwifery practice L6

    The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the midwife's accountability and professional responsibility and raise awareness of the key midwifery policies that underpin these themes.

  • Foundations of evidence for midwifery practice L6

    Midwives require knowledge and skill in research in order to evaluate and apply evidence to practice. This module will introduce you to the essential concepts and skills required which will be developed in the subsequent years of the course.

  • Midwifery practice L5

    The aim of this module is to ensure you are able to meet the level 5 requirements within the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) for progression into the next year of the course.

    You will be assessed in a range of placements as part of a continuous assessment process; these should not be viewed as separate elements but reflect the continuum of care provided in partnership with women and their families including the concept of continuity of carer.

    This will be achieved by experience in a range of clinical practice placements, where you will participate in care under direct supervision and direction and be assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff.

Compulsory modules

  • Developing self as a midwife L6

    This module enables you to broaden strategies for self-care and resilience to enhance self-efficacy and personal effectiveness to support your midwifery practice.

  • Holistic Care for Women and Families L6

    This module is designed to expand your knowledge around women-centred and evidence-informed midwifery practice, particularly in relation to promoting health in women and their families where there are additional needs.

    It will build your knowledge of public health and enable you to develop your skills and confidence to support women with additional needs, particularly around different psychological, social, cultural and spiritual situations.

  • Applying Evidence to Midwifery Practice L6

    This module aims to build upon previous knowledge and skills providing you with a greater understanding of the different types of evidence that inform and underpin midwifery practice.

    This module aims to develop your skills of research critique to enable you to critically discuss research findings and lessons from data and reports. This will enable you to develop the skills and confidence to promote and inform best midwifery practice, and to advocate and support women when making informed decisions.

  • Safe Care for Childbearing Women and Newborn Infants with Complications L7

    The aim of this module is to enable you to develop your knowledge and understanding of pre-existing, current and emerging complications that affect women.

    You will gain the knowledge and critical understanding of the complications of pregnancy to enable you to give safe effective care to childbearing women, newborn infants and their families.

    This care will be based on a sound understanding of both the physiology/ pathophysiology and any pharmacological interventions that are required.

  • Leading and Managing Childbirth Emergencies L7

    The aim of the module is to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding required to manage emergencies around childbirth with an emphasis on team working and effective leadership. The elements of this module enable you to develop current knowledge and understanding, whilst building on learning from other modules and clinical experience.

  • Midwifery Practice L6

    The aim of this module is to ensure you are able to meet the level 6 requirements within the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) for progression into the next year of your course.

    You will be assessed in a range of placements as part of a continuous assessment process; these should not be viewed as separate elements but reflect the continuum of care provided in partnership with women and their families including the concept of continuity of carer.

    This will be achieved by experience in a range of clinical practice placements, where you will contribute to care with decreasing supervision and direction and be assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff.

Compulsory modules

  • Midwifery Assessment and Response to Deteriorating Health L7

    The aim of this module is to extend your knowledge and application to the clinical practice of complex pregnancies with a focus on comprehensive and systematic assessment, initial responses to and appropriate referral of the woman who becomes acutely unwell.

    Assessment of fetal/newborn wellbeing is integral to the care given to the mother and will be included in this module.

  • Individualised Care for Women and Newborn Infants with Complex Needs L7

    The aim of this module is to prepare you to act as coordinator of care and provide ongoing person-centred holistic care as part of the interdisciplinary and multiagency teams for women and infants with complex needs, using an evidence-based and best practice approach. This will incorporate the role of continuity of carer.

  • From Student to Midwife L7

    This module aims to enable you to competently make the transition from student to the registered midwife. It will enable you to practice and equip you with the skills and professional knowledge to practice within the guidance of the NMC Code and in a variety of maternity settings.

  • Evaluating Quality in Maternity Care L7

    This module aims to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired from previous research experience. You will build upon your searching, retrieval and appraisal skills as you develop as a discerning practitioner and consolidate your knowledge and understanding of the various types of evidence available to inform practice.

    You will refine your appraisal skills to enable you to critically evaluate the evidence and make recommendations for practice whilst developing your skills in leadership, change management and quality improvement (QI). This will assist you with the proposal of an innovation, improvement or evaluation in practice as part of the QI agenda.

  • The Autonomous Midwife L7

    You will transition from being a student midwife to being ready for your own autonomous midwifery practice once registered with the NMC.

    You will have worked through authentic clinical scenarios and be able to show your decision-making as a practitioner within a multi-disciplinary team whilst remaining cognisant of your professional values.

  • Midwifery Practice L7

    The aim of this module is to ensure you are able to meet the level 7 requirements within the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA). This will be assessed in a range of clinical practice placements, where you will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the care of women and their families under appropriate supervision.

    You will be assessed by appropriately qualified and prepared clinical staff and at the point of midwifery registration, you are required to demonstrate that you meet both the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the European Directive recognition of professional qualifications.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You will require:

  • a First degree at lower second class or above (health and science-related subjects preferred)
  • PLUS 5 GCSEs including Mathematics, English and a Science subject at Grade 9-4 (A*-C) OR equivalent i.e. Functional Skills Mathematics and English Level 2.

*Candidates with a Level-3 Science-based Access to Higher Education Diploma require Mathematics and English GCSE Grade 9-4 (A*-C) OR equivalent i.e. Functional Skills Mathematics and English Level 2.

Experience and recent study

We recommend you should have some experience of: 

  • Studying at level 5 or above in the past five years 

  • working in a health/social care setting (paid/voluntary) 

You will be asked to provide a satisfactory reference along with your application form. 

Occupational Health and DBS

All offers are subject to satisfying the following requirements: 

  • enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) 

  • occupational health clearance - the Department of Health requires all new Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP) workers, including students, are tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. The consent, test and managed process of results will be carried out by our Occupational Health Provider.  

Find out more about the occupational health clearance requirements, tests and immunisations.

Selection Process

If you have the qualifications for this course you will be invited to attend an individual values-based interview with an academic, clinician and service user /carer. If you have a disability or a specific learning difficulty and require reasonable adjustments, please let us know ahead of time. We can ensure appropriate support is in place. Please contact the Wellbeing Team at wellbeing.team@uwl.ac.uk or 0208 231 2739 to discuss your support requirements. 

Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.

You are eligible to apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund, including a training grant of £5000. You may also qualify for additional financial support. Read the eligibility criteria and find out how to apply for the fund on www.healthcareers.nhs.uk. The funding will not need to be repaid. Eligible students can also continue to access funding for tuition and maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company.

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. In recent years, hundreds of students have received our Full-time Undergraduate Student Bursary.

There are also scholarships specifically for students in the fields of nursing, midwifery and healthcare.

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

Funding your studies
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Clare Gordon

Clare Gordon

I have always been involved in teaching and learning as a midwife, initially as a mentor and then as a lecturer at UWL. I have a wealth of experience across all aspects of midwifery care but have a particular interest in public health within midwifery practice, evidence-based practice and the normality of pregnancy and birth. This is reflected in the modules that I teach across in the midwifery curriculum.

I have always been involved in teaching and learning as a midwife, initially as a mentor and then as a lecturer at UWL. I have a wealth of experience across all aspects of midwifery care but have a particular interest in public health within midwifery practice, evidence-based practice and the normality of pregnancy and birth. This is reflected in the modules that I teach across in the midwifery curriculum.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A midwife performing an ultrasound

This course will prepare you to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the regulatory body for midwives.  

Most of our midwifery graduates go on to find jobs and build careers with the NHS Trust where they undertook their placement or with another prominent NHS Trust.  

As a qualified midwife, you could work in a range of settings, including: 

  • within the community 
  • in a hospital 
  • as part of a case-loading team  
  • in the private sector. 

See the NHS careers website to find out more.  

Alternatively, you could continue your studies at UWL. This will help you to enhance your clinical knowledge and skills in a specialist area. 

We also offer Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for healthcare practitioners. 

How to apply

How to apply

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Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2022 and 2023 - Based on an average of all 27 questions. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.