What the course involves

Courses in Midwifery in the UK are either Pre or Post Registration. In simple terms, Post-registration courses are for those people already qualified as adult nurses, and pre-registration courses are for everyone else. Post-Reg courses are usually 18 months long, whereas Pre-Registration Midwifery qualifications will usually take three years to complete. Most universities now offer a degree rather than a diploma in midwifery, and completion of the course will enable you to register with the NMC, midwifery’s governing body, as a practising midwife.

 

The NMC sets strict rules for universities about the number of hours midwifery students must complete, and what their course must cover before they can be accredited. If you’re interested, you can read their guidance here:

Nursing & Midwifery Council

The NMC is also a good place to find out more about midwifery in general, and if you’re really keen you can read our ‘Rules’ and ‘Code’, which should be every midwife’s bible!

 

Every midwifery degree course is different, but they all comprise of 50% theory and 50% practical placements. Some split their terms with some weeks on placements and some in university, whilst others have a split-week system with a few days of each every week. Three year degrees usually operate over 45 weeks of the year, unlike traditional degrees which have long holidays, although some universities allow longer holidays and spread the course over a 4 year period. Either way, during term time hours are usually based on a 9-5 working day, 5 days a week. The course is therefore demanding, but many universities make good use of online learning and private study, so there may be some flexibility.

 

You will be taught everything you will need to know to register as a midwife, and therefore will be expected to become competent caring for women through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. You will learn how to recognise and promote normality, and also how to recognise deviations that will need referral, for example to a doctor. Theory sessions will also often include time in a skills lab, where evidence you use in class can start to be applied to practice.

 

Placements will be held at a variety of clinical settings, for example at GP clinics in the community, Delivery or Midwifery Led units, Postnatal wards and most universities offer medical/surgical placements as well as a final elective period where you may have the chance to arrange your own placement anywhere in the world!

 

More information about specific courses should be obtained from the university in question. If you ask them, they should be able to provide you with more information about what modules they run and what kind of content is covered. You could start by checking out the 'University Information' link on the left hand side!

 

Source: Written by Anonymous: Student Midwife. Copyright The Midwifery Sanctuary