Bachelor of Science (Hons)

MIDWIFERY WITH NMC REGISTRATION

Their aim at Buckinghamshire New University is to produce midwives that at the point of registration are not only safe and effective, but compassionate and skilled autonomous practitioners, with advocacy at the heart of practice. You’ll learn from their experienced lecturers and technicians using state-of-the-art simulation facilities, coupled with time out on clinical placement.

This combined learning approach of theory and practice will prepare you to help mothers and babies through the vulnerable times in their lives. Upon completion of the degree, you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council.



Why study this subject?

Did you know that 615,557 babies were born in the UK in 2020? (ONS)

Each birth is a unique experience for mother and baby, but midwifery is about so much more than just delivering babies. It is about the professional care of mothers – before, during, and after the birth of their child; helping to keep them safe and comfortable during this intimate and life-changing experience.

There is a real demand for midwives now in hospitals around the country. If you have the compassion, care and courage needed, a degree in midwifery will teach you everything you need to know to kickstart your career.

To support your studies, the UK Government are continuing to provide all midwifery students with a payment of at least £5,000 a year which will not need to be paid back. Find out more about the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Once you graduate from this course, you'll be able to register as a midwife with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), which enables you to practice in the UK.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Midwives are fast-paced, challenging roles and BNU has designed their BSc (Hons) Midwifery to help equip you with all the skills and knowledge you need to start this exciting career. The curriculum has been developed in conjunction with partner trusts and service users to against the Future Midwife and Continuity of Care and Carer national model.

When studying with them, your education will be delivered locally, and you will also complete a local placement. Not only does this give you an opportunity to live and stay local whilst studying, but it also ensures you will be highly employable upon graduation by the trust where you train.

Students benefit from an excellent standard of teaching provided by staff from the University who have extensive experience, both in practice and education. BNU lecturers are passionate about midwifery and maintain close links with practice, ensuring that the programme is always kept up-to-date. In addition, guest speakers often deliver sessions for students within the University to ensure they give a diverse range of views and experiences to our students.

At BNU, they recognise roles in this field are hands-on – that’s why you’ll take part in simulated learning experiences throughout the course using our specialised facilities. This will enable you to recreate authentic scenarios and practise your skills in a safe environment.

50% of your time on the course will be spent on a clinical placement with local trusts across a wide range of maternity services. BNU work with a range of hospitals across the region and our students are highly respected whilst out in practice.

What facilities can you use?

The course will be taught out of both Aylesbury and Uxbridge campuses, taking a blended learning approach with on-campus and distance teaching. Both campuses have excellent simulation suites on both sites with up-to-date equipment, allowing for the simulation of midwifery skills enabling the learner to develop in a safe environment.

When on placement, you will be exposed to a wide range of maternity services, along with access to specialist midwives and services for students to develop their skills in caring for women across the continuum of care.

What will you study?

The NMC standards (NMC, 2019) are at the heart of this curriculum. This ensures that during your time at Buckinghamshire New University, you will gain skills that enable you to provide effective, evidence-based and individualised care as a qualified midwife.

Throughout this programme you will gain real life experiences, as well as building up your knowledge of the normal physiological processes to facilitate pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

Theoretical components of the course will comprise of (but not limited to):

• physiological process of pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum period
• caring for women with additional needs
• neonatal life support
• obstetric emergencies
• anatomy and physiology
• research methods and application to evidence-based practice
• public health and the wellbeing of women in vulnerable client groups
• ethics and how these are applied to the autonomous midwife practitioner
• equity, cultural awareness and understanding health inequalities

On your placement, you’ll be placed across a variety of maternity services within one of our trusts where you will be mentored in the art of individualised woman-centred care. You will gain exposure to a diverse demographic of women, partners and families and become skilled in caring for those with and without additional needs and preferences. You will cover the entire continuum of care, preparing you for the Continuity of Care and Carer model currently being implemented nationally.

How will you be taught and assessed?

Theoretical teaching will consist of a range of lectures, seminars, virtual learning and tutorials. Some of the teaching will be face-to-face, some will be directed or guided learning, and the rest will be independent learning.

50% of your assessments will be theoretical and will include a combination of presentations, essays, exams, OSCE’s (Observed Structured Clinical examinations) and viva’s (oral examinations) to allow for all learners to exceed. The remaining 50% will be practice-based throughout the course, which is conducted by midwifery supervisors and assessors, with support of academic assessors.

What are you career prospects?

Throughout your time with Buckinghamshier New University they’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising and skilled leaders and support you in your search to find employment after graduation. 

With the implementation of the Better Births report (2016) recommendation of “continuity of care and carer”, you will have the opportunity to join teams of midwives that will care for women across the continuum. This means you will have the ability to work in the community, ward areas and labour wards whilst providing continuity to the women you care for.

Some midwives may also choose to become part of the core staff required in hospitals and support the maternity services that way.

There is a vast array of specialist roles which midwives continue their career in, including but not exhaustive to:

• diabetes
• safeguarding
• bereavement
• vulnerable client groups
• consultant midwives
• education
• multiple pregnancy midwives
• specialist screening.