Midwifery

Midwifery is a highly skilled, challenging career that offers excitement and good career progression opportunities.

You’ll be helping women through all stages of pregnancy and many midwives described themselves as “privileged” to be in their chosen career. You don’t need to train to be a nurse before you can become a midwife, although there are plenty of people who choose to take that route.

There are plenty of great universities in the UK that offer midwifery degrees, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Classes are usually small so staff can fully support you, and there’s a strong emphasis on team work, sometimes involved working with students on other healthcare courses.

The midwifery degree will cover all of the essential areas including biological sciences, research skills, evidence-based practice, and the social, psychological, ethical, multicultural, and inter-professional dimensions of midwifery care.

After graduation the learning doesn’t have to stop. You could undertake further study to become a specialist midwife or move into another profession such as neonatal care or become a health visitor.

Why become a midwife?

When you’re thinking about becoming a midwife it’s important to think about what your career will be like once you’re a registered midwife.

Midwives aren’t there just to deliver babies – they help thousands of women in the course of their careers with vital pre and post-natal care, advice, and support.

Career options can also include working abroad with many midwives spending time in developing countries as aid workers or learning cutting edge skills at state of the art hospitals.

Regardless of how you spend your career midwifery is one of the most rewarding jobs out there.

Which universities offer a midwifery degree?

The majority of midwifery courses are designed for students with no previous healthcare experience, so you don’t need to worry about not knowing the basics. Here are a selection of universities that offer some of the best midwifery degree courses in the UK.

Oxford Brookes

You’ll have clinical placement with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust so you’ll get to work in the full range of maternity settings. Reports recently showed that 95% of graduates who completed the midwifery degree had excellent graduate roles within six months of leaving Oxford Brookes.

Anglia Ruskin

The highly practical course is designed to equip you with all the skills you’ll need to as many babies, mothers, and their families as you  can in your career as a midwife.

Plymouth University

As well as all of the practical and professional skills and knowledge you’ll also learn the social and cultural differences that have shaped maternity care into what it is today.

What next?

Midwifery degree courses are notoriously competitive so you need to ensure you put your best foot forward.

Luckily we’ve got loads of great advice on personal statements, completing your UCAS application, and acing your exams.

As this a medical related course you should also be prepared for an interview or selection day that could include a variety of activities. Don’t worry; we’ve got plenty of advice to help you get through the application period.