Intro

Midwives provide essential care, advice and support for women and their families during pregnancy, labour and early post-natal stages.

As a professional midwife you will enjoy a career with unique challenges and rewards; you will share people’s most personal experiences and help to shape them. You will provide essential care, advice and support for women and their family during pregnancy, labour and the post-natal period. 

To thrive in this role you need to be adaptable, compassionate and dependable, with a sound knowledge of everyday midwifery issues and potential complications. This course enables you to develop core midwifery competencies, equips you to confidently apply theory to practice and leads to eligibility for registration as a midwife.

To ensure you can confidently apply theory to practice, you will spend 50% of the year on placements in varied health settings, and simulate care and delivery in our Flexible Learning Environment and midwifery care and delivery suite, which includes a replica hospital room and home birthing room. 

When you choose to study midwifery with us, you'll also have the opportunity to gain a global perspective on an overseas placement.

The recognition that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – are embedded in our curriculum.

Key facts

Location Eastbourne

UCAS code B720

Full-time 3 years

This course meets NMC standards and course graduates are eligible for registration.

We are a top 10 university for world-leading research impact in allied health professions, nursing and pharmacy (REF 2014)

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Course content

Course structure

You will be based at the Eastbourne campus, with clinical placements taking place at locations across Sussex including Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton, Haywards Heath and Worthing. 

You will develop core midwifery competencies in areas including human biology and relationships, midwifery practice and its professional framework. As you progress through the course, you will learn about more complex medical or obstetric needs and referral of mother or baby.

You’ll share learning with other health specialisms, allowing you to benefit from interprofessional collaboration, sharing knowledge and expertise. 

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

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Year 1

In year 1 you will be introduced to midwifery practice and its professional framework. 

Modules

  • Introduction to Midwifery

    This module will provide you with a basic introduction to the history and development of the profession. You'll be introduced to the code of conduct informing current midwifery practice and there will be emphasis on record keeping, reflection and developing resilience.

  • The Physiological Basis of Midwifery Assessment

    To appreciate the dynamic changes occurring during childbearing, you will need an understanding of the concepts of biology within the healthy individual. It is upon these concepts that adaptations can be appreciated in relation to the childbearing woman and neonate.

    This knowledge underpins midwifery practice and enables an understanding of the factors that may affect the physiological processes of childbearing. In addition, this will help define normal parameters and therefore the scientific basis for diagnosing deviations from the normal.

  • The Human Body in Childbearing

    To appreciate the dynamic changes occurring during childbearing, you will need an understanding of the concepts of biology within the healthy individual. It is upon these concepts that adaptations can be appreciated in relation to the childbearing woman.

    This knowledge underpins midwifery practice and enables an understanding of the factors that may affect the physiological processes of childbearing. In addition, this will help define normal parameters and therefore the scientific basis for diagnosing deviations from the normal.

  • Human Relationships in Midwifery Practice

    This module will introduce you to core concepts relating to your capacity for developing helping relationships within midwifery practice, enhancing your self-awareness and identifying coping strategies to survive the emotional realities of caring.

  • Introduction to the Art and Evidence of Midwifery Practice

    This module will provide you with foundation knowledge for midwifery by integrating learning from all year one modules.

    You will be introduced to the midwife’s role and responsibility, the philosophies and theories contributing to midwifery practice, and apply the skills underpinning midwifery practice.

  • Developing Midwifery Practice

    This practice module will enable you to be credited for your clinical practice. You will build on knowledge from level 4 modules and develop your clinical practice.

    To develop a better understanding of childbirth from the perspective of the woman and her family, you will be encouraged to follow at least one woman through her child birth experience.

Trainee midwifery students and student patient

Year 2

Year 2 introduces you to the concepts of complex medical or obstetric needs and appropriate referral of mother or baby to other health professionals or agencies as required.

Modules

  • Altered Health in Childbearing
  • Developing the Art and Evidence for Midwifery Practice
  • Appreciating the Research Process in Midwifery
  • Midwifery Emergencies
  • Developing Competent Midwifery Practice
  • Public Health for Midwifery Practice
Midwifery students using the simulation suite

Final year

The final year provides you with further opportunities to develop your midwifery skills, working closely with other healthcare professionals.

Modules

  • Enquiring into Midwifery Practice
  • Preparation for Autonomous Midwifery
  • Developing Proficient Midwifery Practice
  • Midwifery Leadership

Options*

  • Valuing Individual Culture in Midwifery
  • International Midwifery 

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Lucina Birth Simulator

Facilities

Flexible Learning Environment 

The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location where you'll be able to practise skills and learn from other students while taking part in realistic training scenarios.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that students can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

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Clinical Skills and Simulation Rooms

As a midwifery student you'll benefit from practising skills in an environment that simulates midwives' real-life professional experiences. Learning by simulation means you will be confident in your ability to apply your knowledge and skills in your day-to-day professional life.

You'll have access to two birthing simulation rooms – a hospital and home environment – both with recording equipment and monitors which can feed through to a high fidelity data projector in the classroom so your lecturers and fellow students can give feedback on your progress. 

The hospital room includes a replica hospital bed, inflatable birthing pool, baby cot, birthing couch, sling and birthing ball. The home environment room is a replica lounge.

Student midwifes practicing their skills

Study abroad

Within the School of Health Sciences we are committed to providing a global perspective to nursing and midwifery education. As such we offer a range of international English-speaking exchange placements to Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice students. All of our international placements are fully supported and academically credited.

International placements are only with partners with which we have an agreement – this ensures a good quality learning opportunity and safe experience.

There are no costs for organising the placement for students who wish to travel to Europe, USA (Midwifery) or Australia (Nursing). If you wish to experience nursing in Africa, Asia or South America then your trip will be arranged through the Work the World organisation, for which there is a cost.

Europe

Observational two- to three-week placements in year 2 with one of our partner universities:

  • Mälardalen University, Sweden
  • University College Northern Denmark, Denmark
  • University of Illinois, USA
  • Edith Cowen University, Perth, Australia.

Two-week observational placement with one of 25 institutions across 13 European countries in our European Nursing Module Network. For more information on our European partners and network please visit the European Nursing Module Network website.

For an insight into what life is like on a study abroad placement, have a read of Sabrina Barnes' experience in Meet our students below.

International

  • Observational placements of up to three weeks in Africa, Asia or South America through the Work the World organisation.

We provide guidance with sourcing accommodation, visas, occupational health checks and insurance. You will be connected with a key personal contact for each partner and have access to online support from the university whilst you are abroad.

All students who take part in a study abroad experience identify its immense value, whether through hosting visiting students or participating in an exchange. We share all students' experiences through our newsletters and through the student ambassador project.

If you wish to learn more about these opportunities you are welcome to discuss this at interview.

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Careers

The Midwifery BSc(Hons) will provide you with an excellent foundation for work in a range of contexts providing midwifery care and for further professional development in clinical practice, education and research.

This course is offered in conjunction with local NHS trusts. Many of our graduates find that they leave university with a firm offer of employment from the NHS trust which provided their practice placements. The course also prepares you for further academic study at masters and doctoral level.

Newborn

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course and should be used as a general guide. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer we may make, if your application is successful.

A-levels
BBB. Must include a science, psychology or sociology at grade B.

BTEC
DDM in a health or science subject.

International Baccalaureate
27 overall with three subjects at Higher level. 

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Health studies, nursing or science. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 30 credits at distinction.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least five GCSEs including maths, English and science. Students with an Access diploma require maths and English. 

English language requirement
IELTS 7.0 overall, with 7.0 in writing – NMC requirement.

Other qualifications
A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.

For this course which leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a midwife, you must demonstrate the following:
  • completion of 10 years' general education
  • successful completion of literacy and numeracy assessments during the interview process
  • evidence of study within the last five years
  • evidence of commitment to the profession
  • provision of a personal statement which demonstrates the ability and desire to become a midwife
  • an academic reference indicating potential to study at degree level and indicating the applicant is of good character
  • a character reference, which may come from an employer if appropriate, or other appropriate person, indicating good communication skills, caring qualities and a positive attitude
  • passing of occupational health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
  • ability to meet travel requirements to attend placements
  • ability to follow a shift pattern that could cover any part of a 24-hour seven-day cycle.

Due to the nature of our midwifery degree, all applicants invited for interview must attend in person. 

Please note that this course does not accept applications from those wishing to apply for deferred entry.

Fees

Course fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Health Sciences are listed here.

  • Where your course includes a placement, travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund. Paramedic Science students and overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme and travel costs for this course will be your responsibility. Find out more about the NHS learning support fund.
  • Specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

Local area

Easy-going Eastbourne

The South Downs National Park, the bustling town centre and the beach with the pier, prom and bandstand are all within a 15-minute walk of our Eastbourne campus. Officially the sunniest place in the UK, Eastbourne has loads on offer: a year-round calendar of sporting events, the independent shops and cafes of Little Chelsea, music and arts festivals, theatres, galleries, great restaurants and high street shopping.

Every June, leading tennis players descend on Eastbourne for one of the main warm-up tournaments for Wimbledon. One of the UK's biggest free extreme sports festivals, Beach Life, takes place on the seafront in July, bringing hi-octane action on land and sea. The international airshow Airbourne is another summer highlight.

Every autumn our students and staff participate in and support the Beachy Head Marathon, one of the UK's largest off-road marathons with challenging climbs and descents along the Seven Sisters.

The beach and the South Downs provide sports opportunities including horse riding, mountain biking, paragliding, sailing, canoeing, body boarding, kayaking, windsurfing and kite surfing.

The Towner Art Gallery has world-class exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and entry is free. Eastbourne also has four theatres, two cinemas and hosts a varied programme of arts and music events throughout the year.

It's only 90 minutes by train from Eastbourne to central London and less than 40 minutes to Brighton. There are also daily direct trains to Ashford International and Gatwick Airport.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Enjoying sport above Eastbourne

Campus where this course is taught

Eastbourne campus

Our campus is within 15 minutes' walk of the beach, South Downs National Park and the Eastbourne's busy town centre. There are excellent sport and exercise facilities, social sites and on-site halls of residence.

Sport and exercise, events, hospitality, journalism, nursing and midwifery, physical education, physiotherapy, podiatry and tourism students are all based here.

Specialist learning facilities include accredited exercise physiology laboratories, a newsroom, clinical simulation suites, culinary arts studio, and the Leaf Hospital podiatric clinic and occupational health studios. Campus learning facilities include the Queenwood library, computer rooms, a media centre and a learning and technology suite.

Sports facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, sports hall and gym, artificial outdoor pitch, dance studio and climbing wall.

Eastbourne Student Centre provides services including careers, volunteering, counselling and wellbeing, student advice, disability and dyslexia support and chaplaincy.

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Queenwood Library at Eastbourne

Accommodation

Eastbourne

All offer holders for Eastbourne-based courses are guaranteed an offer of university-managed accommodation.

Welkin halls
Located in the Meads area of Eastbourne, right next to the Students' Union and Student Services, Welkin halls are a short walk or bike ride to other areas of the campus.

  • Ensuite halls with a choice of room and flat sizes.
  • Breakfast and an evening meal are provided from Monday to Friday during term-time, this is included in your rent. You have access to shared, fully equipped kitchen facilities.
  • Rent also includes all utilities, 24/7 staff cover, contents insurance, cleaning of communal areas and off-peak access to university fitness facilities including a 25m pool.

Unihomes
A unihome is a student house which the university manages on behalf of a private landlord. This option can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other life commitments.

  • Rent includes all utilities, broadband, contents insurance, cleaning of communal areas.
  • Generally shared bathroom with a variety of locations, room and house sizes. Some unihomes offer off-road parking.

Find out more about unihomes and university halls accommodation.

Private renting
Eastbourne offers good choice when it comes to student accommodation.

There’s a good supply of affordable, high quality private rented accommodation and plenty of support and advice from us if you choose this option. Your first stop should be our studenthomes database. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards.

Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Student accommodation in Eastbourne

Welkin bedroom

Student bedroom in Welkin halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Modern kitchen in Welkin Halls

Maps

house Accommodation
campus University building

Eastbourne campus map

Meet our students  

Sabrina Barnes

In May 2017, I was lucky enough to spend two weeks in Kathmandu, Nepal on placement in three different paediatric wards; general medicine and surgery, neonatal intensive care and paediatric intensive care. In this time, I was able to learn how different the Nepali culture was and both the differences and similarities between nursing in Nepal and the UK.

I also learned a lot about myself and my own nursing practice and was able to share some of my experiences with the Nepali nurses. I had never travelled alone before so even before I got to Nepal, I had done something new and when I got there, I was able to meet lots of other nurses doing exchange placements from across the world. This enabled me to learn about other people’s experiences of healthcare and I also met friends that I went travelling with recently to Pokhara, Nepal.

My experience in Nepal taught me a lot about family-centred care and I have been able to take this in with my nursing practice as a qualified nurse. In particular my time on the intensive care unit in combination with my second year placement on HDU, inspired the title of my dissertation, which focused on supporting family involvement in intensive care environments.

Sabrina Barnes in Nepal

Suzi Impett

"I am just starting the final year of my course and have really enjoyed it so far. The biggest challenge for me has been the academic side but the support I’ve had from my personal tutor and my fellow students has been great and has really helped to give me confidence.

"The aspect I have enjoyed most has been shadowing a qualified midwife in the community, working with women from the moment they book with the midwife through to when they give birth. When I qualify I would like to do some voluntary midwifery work abroad. After that I might go on to do a masters but to be honest more than anything I just want to deliver some babies and I’ll be happy with that!"

Suzi Impett

Stay in touch

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If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

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Statistics

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

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Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

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