BSc Hons Midwifery

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

The University of Northampton

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Midwifery at the University of Northampton is designed for students who want to build a meaningful career supporting women, babies, and families through pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. It combines strong scientific knowledge with hands-on clinical placements, helping you grow into a confident, compassionate, and professional midwife.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building the Foundations
In your first year, you’ll focus on the core principles of midwifery and maternity care through modules such as Foundations of Midwifery Practice, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Introduction to Professional Practice. Alongside classroom learning, you’ll begin supervised placements to understand real clinical environments and develop essential communication skills.

Year 2 – Developing Clinical Confidence
The second year deepens your clinical understanding with modules like Applied Midwifery Practice, Public Health and the Childbearing Family, and Evidence-Based Midwifery. You’ll spend more time in placements, gaining confidence in supporting normal and complex pregnancies while learning to apply research to real-world care.

Year 3 – Leadership and Professional Readiness
In your final year, you’ll refine your skills and prepare for professional practice through modules such as Complex Midwifery Care, Leadership and Management in Midwifery, and a Research Project. This year focuses on autonomy, decision-making, and leadership, ensuring you’re ready to step into practice as a newly qualified midwife.

Focus Areas: Pregnancy and childbirth care, maternal and neonatal health, clinical decision-making, public health, evidence-based practice, professional leadership

Learning Outcomes: Clinical competence, safe and ethical practice, effective communication, research awareness, leadership readiness, confidence in complex maternity care

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), leading to eligibility for registration as a midwife in the UK

Reputation (Employability): The University of Northampton is well recognised for health and social care education, with strong placement partnerships and a practical, employability-focused approach that supports graduates into NHS and community midwifery roles

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Northampton, the BSc (Hons) Midwifery program offers extensive hands-on learning opportunities through clinical placements, which form around 50% of the course. Students gain real-world experience working in NHS maternity units and community health teams, supported by experienced midwives acting as supervisors and assessors. Additionally, the program includes simulated practice in dedicated midwifery clinical skills laboratories, blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills development, ensuring you are fully prepared for professional practice.

The experiential learning journey includes:

• Clinical placements averaging 30 to 37.5 hours per week across varied NHS Trust partner sites including maternity wards, community hubs, and neonatal care settings.

• Practical training in the university’s midwifery clinical skills lab, featuring simulations to build competence in key midwifery skills.

• Active blended learning approach combining online and face-to-face sessions with reflective practice assignments.

• Opportunities to work across multidisciplinary teams to understand collaborative care.

• Shift work experience including day and night shifts, preparing you for real-life midwifery work schedules.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BSc (Hons) Midwifery program at the University of Northampton embark on a fulfilling career journey as Registered Midwives, Community Midwives, Maternity Ward Managers, or Midwifery Researchers. The program’s blend of theory and clinical practice ensures that students graduate ready to make an immediate impact in healthcare settings. Furthermore, Northampton’s strong support and industry links create pathways for securing rewarding roles and advancing professionally:

• The University’s dedicated Careers and Employability service offers bespoke support, including CV workshops, interview preparation, and career fairs focused on healthcare roles.

• Graduate employment rates are high, with average midwifery graduate earnings reported around £28,500 within 15 months after finishing the course.

• Partnerships with local NHS Trusts ensure excellent clinical placement opportunities and employer engagement, enhancing employability prospects.

• The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) accreditation, combined with UNICEF Baby Friendly Gold status, adds long-term professional value to your qualification.

• Graduate outcomes show that most students are employed in meaningful roles related to their studies, with opportunities across NHS and private sector healthcare both in the UK and internationally.