BSc (Hons) Midwifery

Midwives support women during pregnancy, labour and the post-natal period, and are experts on childbirth. They work with women from diverse backgrounds and cultures, providing parenting and health education. They create bespoke individuals programmes of care, considering psychological and social impacts on pregnancy and birth.
Midwives support women when they need it most.

Within the midwifery profession there are a multitude of job opportunities. You could work in the NHS, within the public or private sector. For example:

What can you do with a midwifery degree?

• Year 1

• Lay the foundations for your career as a midwife, from developing clinical skills and professional attitudes to learning about human reproductive biology. Explore the wider determinants of health and well being. Learn about pharmacology and the importance of safe medicine management. Develop your reflective practice, literature searching, essay writing and exam technique. Before Christmas, undertake the first of your supervised clinical placements in maternity settings.

  Core modules

  MID401
  Professional Midwifery Practice 40 credits

  This module will introduce the students to professional issues and clinical skills underpinning midwifery practice, aligned with the regulatory body proficiencies. Students will gain a foundation of holistic midwifery practice in core and domain-specific skills and proficiencies under direct supervision and direction in maternity and related clinical settings.

  100% Clinical examinations

  MID402
  Biology for Midwifery 20 credits

  A module encompassing a general overview of human biology, including biological functions, anatomy and physiology, with a focus on reproductive and developmental biology associated with the childbearing continuum.

  100% Examinations

  MID403
  Wider Determinants of Health and Wellbeing 20 credits

  This module will introduce students to factors that contribute to wider determinants of health and wellbeing, situating midwifery care within a social context and focusing on principles of public health and health promotion. The module will champion a human rights perspective, promoting respectful and non-discriminatory care, meaningful communication skills, choice, cultural sensitivity and individualised care.

  100% Coursework

  MID404
  Pharmacology and Medicines Management 20 credits

  Pharmacology and medicines management, including legal, professional and ethical aspects for midwives, across the continuum of pregnancy, labour, puerperium and neonatal care.

  100% Practicals

  MID405
  Evidence Based Practice 20 credits

  The module introduces students to the concept of evidence based practice and facilitates them i) to retrieve information ii) promotes their ability to differentiate between the main research designs and methodologies iii) begin judging the reliability of data and information. The module also introduces basic underpinning scholarly activities to promote responsibility for the nature and quality of their outputs.

  100% Coursework

  HIPL400
  Interprofessional Learning 1

• Year 2

• Building on Year 1 biology studies, you’ll learn more about preconception, conception and childbearing. Explore conditions particular to pregnancy and birth including when women and families have additional needs. Learn how to undertake a full systematic physical examination of the newborn infant and work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team. Develop your ability to identify and apply evidence based midwifery practice. Put your improved clinical and theoretical skills into practice on placement, gaining further experience of midwifery settings.

  Core modules

  MID509
  Developing Midwifery Practice 40 credits

  This module will develop the student’s professional and clinical skills in the context of midwifery practice and role in the wider professional team. Students will build on their evidence informed knowledge to develop as a safe, competent, woman centred practitioner. This will ensure that the student is able to contribute with decreasing supervision and direction, in line with the regulatory body proficiencies.

  100% Practicals

  MID510
  Reproductive Health and Pregnancy 20 credits

  This module aims to teach students about a broad range of reproductive health issues and link this with possible effects on pregnancy. Students will study preconception, gynaecological and antenatal care and will analyse factors which may cause complications during pregnancy.

  100% Coursework

  MID511
  Physiological Childbirth and additional needs 20 credits

  This module aims to teach biological concepts relating to anatomy, physiology and epigenetics of labour and birth. Through application of holistic evidenced based care, the student will understand the importance of birth to public health and wellbeing to meet the changing health and care needs of people during all life stages.

  100% Examinations

  MID512
  Postnatal and Neonatal Care 20 credits

  This module enables the student to demonstrate complex knowledge of the postnatal care of women and their babies, their role in this care and appropriate referral to other health care professionals.

  100% Clinical examinations

  MID513
  Developing Evidence Based Practice 20 credits

  This module consolidates student midwifery research scholarship by: demonstrating knowledge of research through the academic processes of structured literature searching and application to evidence based midwifery practice.

  100% Coursework

  HIPL500
  Interprofessional Learning 2

• Final year

• In your final year, you’ll further develop clinical skills for planning, assessing, implementing and evaluating pregnancy and childbirth care. Working with midwives within a continuity of carer model, you’ll see what it takes to be an effective practising midwife. You’ll explore complexities in midwifery care, developing the ability to support women and families in a variety of situations. Using what you’ve learnt on the course, you’ll identify and undertake an extended project. Prepare for your future as Registered Midwife in your final clinical placements.

  Core modules

  MID607
  Advancing Midwifery Practice 40 credits

  This module promotes excellence in the future midwife’s role as colleague, scholar and leader. It ensures that the student demonstrates evidence-based competent practice in all core and domain-specific skills and procedures in line with the regulatory body proficiencies, under appropriate supervision.

  50% Coursework

  50% Practicals

  MID608
  Complexity in Midwifery (1) 20 credits

  A module encompassing management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with a focus on conditions peculiar to pregnancy, pre-existing conditions impacting on pregnancy and postnatally. Pathology, wellbeing and the midwife’s role as part of the multidisciplinary team will be explored.

  100% Coursework

  MID609
  Complexity in Midwifery (2) 20 credits

  A module encompassing management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with a focus on managing intrapartum midwifery / obstetric emergencies. Pathology, wellbeing and the midwife’s role as part of the multidisciplinary team will be explored.

  100% Examinations

  MID610
  Research and Quality Improvement 40 credits

  To develop students’ skills in critical appraisal of a body of evidence in relation to midwifery practice, which underpins a research proposal or Quality Improvement / practice development project. This will involve exploration and application of evidence based practice to the clinical area and development of students’ ability to search for and critique primary and secondary sources of research literature. Students will also be challenged to recognise and understand how they can facilitate change promoting evidence based practice by producing a research proposal or Quality Improvement /practice development project.

  100% Coursework

  HIPL600
  Interprofessional Learning 3

BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme specification_6992

GCSEs
Five GCSEs grade C/4. Preference is given to applicants who have obtained these grades on application. Please note that if you do not have this GCSE profile please contact the Admissions Team directly on +44 1752 585858 or email: admissions@plymouth.ac.uk and they will be happy to advise you further.

UCAS tariff
120 - 128 points including a grade B in a science – preference is given to Chemistry, Biology or Physics but Psychology and Sociology may also be considered. Excluding general studies and key skills.

IB
30-32 overall to include a grade 5 at Higher Level in a Science subject - preferably in biology/human biology/chemistry/ physics but psychology may be considered. English and Maths accepted within – if Higher Level = 4 – if Standard Level = 5 – if overseas and not studying English within IB – must have IELTS where the overall score is at least 7.0, with a score of at least 6.5 in all elements.

Access
Pass a named Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3, 30 at distinction level including 15 L3 credits biology. A further 15 credits at L3 must be at merit level. In addition, must have 5 GCSE’s grade C / 4 or above to include Mathematics, English and Science. Preference is given to applicants who have obtained these grades on application. Note the admissions tutor will consider the BTEC Level 2 in Science with a minimum of a merit overall in lieu of GCSE Science C / 4. Please note that if you do not meet the GCSE criteria please contact our Admissions Team for further support and advice.

T level
Accepted pathway: Health. Must achieve a Merit overall to include a grade B in the Year One Core Component.

18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma
DMM-DDM – needs to have strong science/health element.

BTEC National Diploma modules
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.

Equivalent qualifications may be considered, please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code.

To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.

The deadline for the receipt of international applications is 30 May 2025 for entry in September 2025.

Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.