Midwifery

This exciting new degree in midwifery has been developed against the new Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Midwives (2019) and has been developed to equip you, as part of the next generation of midwives, with the knowledge, skills and values to deliver world class, evidence-based care for women, babies and their families.

As a mark of our professional excellence, we hold the prestigious Gold Award accreditation by UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative.

This course is offered at both our Brentford site in London and our Reading Campus in Berkshire. As you will spend an equal amount of time studying theory and gaining hands-on experience in clinical practice, you should choose a course location that you can travel to easily.

Our contemporary approach to teaching and learning includes a wide variety of online, classroom and simulation-based activities as well as clinical placements at an NHS Trust maternity unit.

Throughout the course, there is strong emphasis on childbirth as a normal physiological process and you will gain a sound understanding of the role of the midwife and the foundations of midwifery care. As you progress through the course, you will develop and apply your knowledge to a variety of contexts. You will learn how to:

• recognise and manage a range of complex and emergency situations

• engage with current research and apply evidence to your practice

• work as a professional, both on your own and as part of the interdisciplinary team

• be a kind, caring and compassionate midwife who can take the lead in providing women with the best - care possible in a safe, supportive environment.

You will be encouraged to work independently, as well as with peers and colleagues, to develop team-working, negotiation, communication and organisational skills.

You will spend an equal amount of time in blocks of theory and clinical practice. The theoretical element of the course is delivered through an exciting range of teaching and learning approaches; including online and face-to-face lectures, group tutorials, one-to-one learning opportunities, classroom activities, practical skills, simulation-based learning, online and guided independent study. The University's new learning platform, UWLFlex, has been developed to provide you with a personalised and supported learning experience. You will also keep an online portfolio to record and track your progress throughout the course.

Student support is very important to us and we will ensure the right conditions are in place to meet your learning needs, including access to high quality learning materials and resources.

Midwifery course placement partners

The NMC requires all students to have a minimum of 2,300 hours of practice experience over the 3 years to be eligible to register as a midwife. At UWL, you will have 22 planned practice placement weeks each year to meet this requirement.

You will be placed in one of our partner NHS Trusts for your practice placements. Your placement will be based upon where you will be staying whilst on the course and available placement capacity. Therefore, before you start the course, it is important to consider the practicalities of travelling to your placement.

Whilst on placement, you will be fully supported by link lecturers from the University and clinical placement facilitators at the maternity unit you are placed in. You will follow the shift patterns of the midwives you work with.