BSc (Honours) Midwifery with Foundation Year

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Sheffield Hallam University

Program Overview

If you’re passionate about supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and beyond, this course is perfect for you. It combines hands-on midwifery training with a foundation year to help you build the skills and confidence you need to succeed, even if you’re just starting out in healthcare.

Curriculum structure

Foundation Year (Year 0)
The foundation year is all about giving you a solid start. You’ll develop essential healthcare knowledge and skills while exploring topics like ethics, science, and current health issues in modules such as Developing the Fundamentals of a Healthcare Professional and Promotion of Contemporary Issues in Healthcare. It’s designed to prepare you for degree-level study and help you feel confident in your abilities.

Year 1 (Level 4)
In your first year as a midwifery student, you’ll dive into the core of midwifery practice. You’ll learn the basics of caring for women and babies in modules like Foundations in Midwifery Care, covering anatomy, pregnancy, and infant feeding. Universal Midwifery Care in Labour and Birth will guide you through labour processes, newborn care, and hands-on clinical skills. You’ll also reflect on your personal and professional growth through Personal and Professional Development.

Year 2 (Level 5)
Your second year takes you further into midwifery practice. You’ll learn to handle more complex situations in Assessing and Addressing Complexity in Practice and explore research skills in Evidence and Enquiry for Practice. Personalised Midwifery Care focuses on conditions in pregnancy, perinatal mental health, and supporting families. Meanwhile, The Midwife as a Skilled Practitioner hones your clinical skills for real-world scenarios, including emergencies and relationship-building with families.

Year 3 (Final Year, Level 6)
In your final year, you’ll step into leadership and advanced practice. Complexity & Leadership in Professional Practice and Management & Leadership of Midwifery Care prepare you to manage teams and improve services. Promoting Excellence in Midwifery Care ensures you’re ready to deliver safe, woman-centred care, and The Advancing Professional lets you complete an independent project or dissertation, applying research to make a real difference in midwifery practice.

Focus areas: “Caring for women and families across pregnancy, labour, birth, and postnatal care; community and public health; leadership, research, and evidence-based practice in maternity services”

Learning outcomes: “Become a confident, autonomous midwife who can lead woman-centred care, handle complex situations, apply evidence-based practice, and take on professional and leadership responsibilities”

Professional alignment (accreditation): This course prepares you to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a midwife in the UK.

Reputation (employability rankings): Sheffield Hallam’s nursing and midwifery courses are ranked 6th in the UK for graduate outcomes according to the Complete University Guide 2026.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the moment you start, this course is designed so you’re not just learning about midwifery — you’re living it. You’ll gain hands-on experience in real clinical settings, use state-of-the-art facilities, and learn from experienced midwives who guide you every step of the way. Whether it’s practicing in simulated birthing suites, taking part in immersive digital scenarios, or working directly with expectant mothers, you’ll build the skills, confidence, and professional identity needed to thrive as a midwife. Here’s how you’ll experience midwifery first-hand:

Clinical placements: Work in hospitals and community settings, and care for a small caseload of expectant mothers under supervision to develop real-world skills.
Simulation labs: Practice in purpose-built facilities like the Robert Winston Building, which includes birthing suites, mock wards, and obstetric emergency scenarios.
Digital tools: Use virtual reality software, including Oxford Medical Simulation, to rehearse clinical situations safely and repeatedly.
Libraries and study spaces: Access 24-hour libraries and dedicated study areas to prepare for placements, collaborate on group projects, and refine your knowledge.
Inter-professional learning: Collaborate with students from other health and social care courses, preparing you to work effectively in real healthcare teams.

You’ll leave the course not just with a degree, but with the confidence, hands-on experience, and practical skills to step straight into midwifery practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Completing this degree doesn’t just make you a qualified midwife—it opens the door to a wide range of exciting career paths in women’s and newborn health. Graduates often step into roles such as Clinical Midwife, Lead Midwife, Perinatal Mental Health Specialist, or even Midwifery Researcher and Lecturer, giving you plenty of options to grow your career. Here’s how Sheffield Hallam helps you get there:

Career support: The university’s employability team helps you polish your CV, prepare for interviews, and connect with NHS trusts so you’re ready to step straight into practice.
Employment and salary: Around 96% of midwifery graduates are in skilled employment 15 months after finishing the course, with typical starting salaries of about £28,500.
Professional accreditation: You’ll graduate ready to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), giving your qualification long-term credibility and recognition across the UK.
University–industry partnerships: Sheffield Hallam works closely with NHS trusts, so your clinical placements give real-world experience and can even lead to job offers after graduation.
Graduate outcomes: The university ranks 6th in the UK for graduate outcomes in nursing and midwifery according to the Complete University Guide 2026.

Further Academic Progression:
After finishing your degree, you could continue studying to specialise further. Options include a Master’s in Midwifery, specialisms like perinatal mental health or sonography, or even a PhD in midwifery research. You could also explore leadership and education programmes within healthcare, preparing you to shape the future of midwifery practice.