Midwifery (Shortened Programme) MSc - University of Bradford

Overview

Our Midwifery (Shortened Programme) provides an innovative opportunity for adult nurses currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to acquire a registration in midwifery.

The course features a student-centred blended learning approach with practice-based learning in regional NHS trusts. The contemporary flexible delivery and supported distance learning using enhanced digital technologies, enables you to arrange your studies around both your commitments and learning needs.

Supporting women across the childbearing continuum, midwives provide safe, respectful, kind, compassionate, and holistic individualised care.

Your role will include public health promotion, providing evidence-based care and making positive contributions towards the health of women, babies and families, impacting the wider society.

As a skilled and competent practitioner, you will work in partnership with women to make decisions about their care, and with other team members you will demonstrate positive role modelling and leadership. You will develop skills that enable you to optimise normal physiological processes, promote positive outcomes and manage complications.

The MSc Midwifery (Shortened Programme) prepares you for this challenging and rewarding role using a problem-based learning approach which supports complex decision-making and teamwork.

You will develop your professional autonomy throughout the course by learning to apply critical thinking to clinical practice, which will prepare you to emerge as an innovative and dynamic midwife.

On completion of the programme, you will be entitled to register with the NMC as a midwife and practice within the UK.

Entry requirements

This course is open to adult nurses on the Nursing and Midwifery Council professional register with evidence of at least 12 months experience working as an adult nurse, with:

an Honours degree in Adult Nursing with a classification of 2:2 or above
or
an Advanced Diploma in Nursing with evidence of professional practice

Plus:

Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) and Occupational Health clearance are requirements for entry to the course. These are undertaken by the University of Bradford.
Three GCSEs or equivalent at Level 2 in Mathematics, English Language or Literature, and a science subject
Please see the English Language requirements below

Interview and selection process

Applications for the course will be made through the individual regional partner NHS Trusts via NHS Jobs.

If you are shortlisted for this course, you will be invited to attend a joint interview with an academic member of staff from the University of Bradford and a member of staff from the NHS Trust you've applied for.

English language requirements

A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (no sub-test lower than 7.0), or equivalent is required for those for whom English is not their first language.

If you do not meet the IELTS requirement, and you have a UKVI approved IELTS, you can take a University of Bradford pre-sessional English course. See the Language Centre for more details. For further information on English Language requirements please see the dedicated international entry requirements page.

What you will study

Module information is for 2024 entry and is subject to change.

First year

Transition to Midwifery Knowledge 1 (Universal Care) (20 Credits)
Transition to Midwifery Knowledge 2 (Additional Care) (20 Credits)
Transition to Midwifery Knowledge 3 (Research and Global Midwifery) (20 Credits)
Transition to Midwifery Practice (Professional Practice) (30 Credits)

Second year

Consolidating Midwifery Knowledge 1 (Managing Complexities) (20 Credits)
Consolidating Midwifery Knowledge 2 (Research, Scholarship and Leadership) (40 Credits)
Consolidating Midwifery Practice (Professional Practice) (30 Credits)

Learning and assessment

This programme provides an opportunity for you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the NMC (2023) Standards of Proficiency for Midwives.

You will be supported to develop enhanced leadership qualities, advocacy skills and research skills, through a spiralled curriculum, enabling you to become a change agent of the future.

Our vibrant and inclusive learning community will support you as you journey towards a career in midwifery, with the ability to make a positive difference in the midwifery world.

You will have the opportunity to study alongside the 3-year pre-registration BSc (Hons) Midwifery and MSc Midwifery programmes.

Learning and teaching strategy

This is a blended learning programme, consisting of:

80% online study
20% face-to-face on-campus study

Over the 2-year course of the programme, you will be supported to meet the NMC requirement of 1800 theoretical hours.

Learning and teaching will be facilitated through blended learning methods to provide a flexible and interactive student learning experience.

Our inclusive teaching and learning environment is designed to suit diverse learning needs and includes:

digital technologies
clinical skills simulation
case studies
workshops
online discussion groups
lectures
seminars
independent and directed study

Clinical placements

Over the 2-year course of the programme, you will be supported to meet the NMC requirement of 1800 clinical hours in practice. You'll have a planned 25 weeks of placement each year to meet the required 1800 clinical hours.

You will work alongside clinical practice supervisors to achieve your proficiencies and will be allocated a practice assessor and academic assessor to assess your progression through each stage of the programme.

Assessments

The assessment strategy is designed to support you with a diverse range of learning needs.

There is a variety of assessment methods to suit different student learning styles, including:

visual presentations
OSCEs
VIVAs
written assignments and examinations
e-portfolio of learning
MCQs

Official programme specification

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2024

£9,250 per year.

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

The course is currently being funded by NHS England Workforce, Training and Education (NHSE WTE) with a tuition fee contribution of £9250 per student per annum, pro rata for the length of the course and a salary support offer for all students aligned to the mid-point of AFC band 5.

Funding and the availability of student places are confirmed by NHSE WTE on an annual basis.

Students eligible for this funding offer will not be able to access the Learning Support Fund (LSF). However, students are entitled to seek support, if eligible, from the Student Loans Company for a maintenance loan.

See our fees and financial support section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

There are a range of opportunities available for newly qualified midwives. You could work in a variety of settings, including:

hospitals
birthing centres
GP clinics
community teams
continuity teams

The majority of new midwives are employed by the NHS. However, opportunities do exist in private and independent hospitals and practices.

Career progression can include specialist roles, management and leadership roles, consultant midwife, research and education.

From 1 April 2023 (with the 5% NHS pay rise offered), the annual salary for a Band 5 midwife on the first pay point will be £28,407.

A midwife preceptorship tends to be approximately 6-24 months and varies between hospital trusts. Once the preceptorship is complete, a Band 6 is awarded. The annual salary for a Band 6 midwife (from 1 April 2023 with the 5% NHS pay rise offered) on the first pay point is £35,391.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Study support

You will be supported to achieve your potential through the excellent academic and pastoral support of our staff who are passionate about their roles as educators.

Our timetable is designed to support you to succeed in your studies and plan to meet the demands of academic work, clinical placements, home life, caring responsibilities and social lives which are all important for wellbeing.

Research

You will be supported in your learning by staff who are research active and research informed in their teaching.

The Faculty of Health Studies has developed close links with the DHEZ and Wolfson CAHR which enables research development and innovation opportunities.

The Born in Bradford study has close links with the University and our placement providers which adds additional local research focus for our students.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.