BSc (Hons) Midwifery Studies

Midwifery is a unique profession. Practitioners work in partnership with women, their families and other healthcare professionals as team members, whilst accepting responsibility for their decisions and actions. As a midwife, one provides a safe, respectful, caring and personalised service to women and their families from conception, antenatal care, labour and into the postpartum period.

Midwives practise in evolving health environments, which requires them to have an understanding of national and international population diversity. The field of midwifery has never been more exciting and the role of the midwife is constantly developing, providing improved maternity services in a range of settings. At Bradford you will gain unique experiences, and have the opportunity for a short period of negotiated observational study that may be abroad.

Our programme aims to prepare competent practitioners of midwifery who will be able to demonstrate high standards of research-based innovative care, and take responsibility for their own practice.

The team of lecturers in the Division of Midwifery and Women's Health are all experienced, registered midwives. The curriculum is based on the philosophy of problem-based learning - an integrated teaching and learning strategy that puts students at the centre of learning. The lecturers' research interests include student learning, management of labour, postnatal care, and pregnancy outcomes.

Midwifery is a physically demanding profession. You will need to be generally fit and capable of performing all professional skills required for qualification. All offers are made subject to medical screening.

Because clinical work will involve patients who may be vulnerable including children, babies and people with learning disabilities, offers will be subject to Criminal Records Bureau disclosure.

Special Features

• Our pre-registration midwifery course provides integrated theory and practice, with a key focus on developing clinical skills and an evidence base for a career in midwifery practice. Through the development of learning skills and the integrated use of problem-based learning as the teaching and learning methodology, this course enables students to work together in small groups with the support of a tutor/facilitator. The Division also makes use of electronic portfolios to support all areas of learning
• Our graduate employment record demonstrates that graduates can enter into the midwifery profession shortly after completion of the course
• The last major review by the QAAHE gave the highest possible evaluation in stating that it has confidence in the academic and practitioner standards in all the provision delivered by the School of Health Studies and partner clinical placements. It commended the quality of learning opportunities in all three categories of learning and teaching, student progression and learning resources
• In the latest Research Assessment Exercise, 2008, 75% of our research was recognised as being of international quality, with 10% being world-leading

Course Information

This full-time BSc (Hons) degree programme allows students to gain midwifery skills and knowledge on which to build and gain the competencies required of a midwife. Students experience the multi-ethnic/multicultural context of local maternity services.

The  3 year standard programme consists of three units of learning spanning 45 programmed weeks each year.

This course consists of 50% theory and 50% practice. Students are given opportunities to explore the physiological, pathological, social and psychological impact of pregnancy and child bearing, in conjunction with clinical placements. This allows students to apply theory to practice.

The ultimate aim of the course is to enable students to function both independently and within a multidisciplinary healthcare team providing safe, sensitive, ethical care, meeting the physical, psychological, spiritual, cultural and religious needs of women and their families.

Course Booklet

Course Booklet - BSc (Hons) Midwifery

What are the entry requirements?

Standard Entry

To be considered for this course, applicants must demonstrate awareness of midwifery practice and appropriate motivation, and aptitude in their UCAS application. Applicants must also have recent relevant study, within the past 3-5 years.

Our standard offer is

A minimum of 5 GCSEs to include

• English Language (Key Skills Level 2 Literacy is accepted)
• Maths (Key Skills Level 2 Numeracy is accepted)
• Biology or Combined Science

AND

• 300 UCAS points, including at least 200 points from 2 full A levels or awards of equal depth and volume

Non-standard Entry

Our non-standard offer is

• An Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions or Science. Those studying Access programmes will be asked to obtain one distinction in a science based subject plus one other module at distinction, and to pass the remainder of their modules at merit level.

OR

• Attainment of 65% or above in the University of Bradford Foundation year, or appropriate Science Foundation Year.

Applicants will also need to have GCSE grade C or above in English Language and Maths or Key Skills Level 2 in Literacy and Numeracy.  If you are studying an Access course the GCSE requirements may be included within your programme of study although this will vary depending on the FE institution you study at.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed using a variety of assessment methods. Our course is focused around problem based learning, which many students find to be a rewarding learning experience.

Placements

Clinical placements are an essential component of the midwifery course, and you will gain experience of working in hospital and community settings across Bradford and Airedale areas. With new partnership working arrangements, you may be placed further afield within the Strategic Health Authority *.

* Yorkshire and the Humber SHA are currently working with all their higher education providers on new projects to increase the availability of placements - the outcomes of this work are not yet available

What are the course fees?

Please visit our fees page for details of the current fees for this course.

How do I apply?

You should apply for the course through UCAS. The UCAS code for the University of Bradford is BRADF B56. The UCAS code for our BSc (Hons) Midwifery Studies course is B720.

Applications need to be made between via UCAS between September and 15 January for consideration for the following September. Please note we do not accept late applications for this course.

For further and more detailed information on application and admission, contact the Student Recruitment Team direct via email soh-recruitment@bradford.ac.uk or telephone on 01274 236367