BSc Midwifery

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Cumbria

Program Overview

The BSc Midwifery at the University of Cumbria is designed for students who want to make a real, positive impact on women, babies, and families during pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. This course blends strong scientific understanding with extensive hands-on placements, helping you grow into a confident, compassionate, and professional midwife.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building the Foundations
Your first year introduces you to the core role of the midwife through modules such as Foundations of Midwifery Practice, Anatomy and Physiology for Midwives, and Professional Values and Communication. You’ll begin clinical placements early, allowing you to connect classroom learning with real maternity care settings.

Year 2 – Developing Clinical Confidence
In the second year, you’ll build on your skills with modules like Applied Midwifery Practice, Public Health and the Childbearing Family, and Evidence-Based Midwifery. With increased time on placement, you’ll gain confidence supporting women through both normal and more complex pregnancies and births.

Year 3 – Preparing for Professional Practice
Your final year focuses on readiness for qualification through modules such as Complex Midwifery Care, Leadership and Professional Practice, and an Independent Research Project. This year develops your decision-making, leadership, and resilience, ensuring you’re ready to step into practice as a newly qualified midwife.

Focus Areas: Pregnancy and childbirth care, maternal and newborn health, public health, evidence-based practice, professional leadership

Learning Outcomes: Safe and compassionate clinical practice, strong communication skills, critical thinking, professional confidence, readiness for midwifery registration

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

Reputation (Employability): The University of Cumbria is known for its close links with NHS partners and a strong focus on employability, preparing graduates for successful careers in hospital and community midwifery settings

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in this program gain extensive practical experience, spending 50% of their time—equivalent to 2,300 hours—on clinical placements in a range of maternity care settings. These placements are supported by expert academic staff and span hospital wards, birth centers, community clinics, neonatal units, theatres, and medical and surgical wards. The university offers state-of-the-art clinical simulation facilities, including a midwifery birthing suite and high-fidelity simulation rooms, to hone skills in a safe environment. Students also benefit from digital learning tools and are encouraged to engage in group projects and interdisciplinary teamwork, enhancing their clinical reasoning and communication abilities.

The program’s experiential learning includes:

• Supervised clinical placements with local NHS Trusts such as North Cumbria Integrated Care, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.

• Exposure to a variety of clinical environments including consultant-led units, birth centers, community settings, neonatal intensive care, and surgical theatres.

• Access to a dedicated midwifery simulation suite equipped with high-fidelity mannequins and interactive technology.

• Elective placement weeks each year, allowing students to explore midwifery practice in diverse geographic or specialty areas, including opportunities abroad.

• Digital learning platforms and virtual simulation tools to complement hands-on practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BSc Midwifery program at University of Cumbria are well-prepared for rewarding careers as Registered Midwives, Community Midwives, Maternity Ward Managers, and Midwifery Educators. They possess the clinical competence and leadership skills to work across a variety of maternity care settings, providing compassionate, evidence-based care to women and families.

Key progression and opportunities include:

• The university’s Careers and Employability Service offers tailored support including career coaching, interview preparation, and access to NHS and healthcare recruitment networks.

• Graduate employment rates are exceptionally high, with over 97% of midwifery graduates employed or in further study within six months of graduation.

• The program is fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), ensuring graduates can register and practice professionally across the UK and internationally.

• Strong partnerships with local NHS Trusts (North Cumbria Integrated Care, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals) provide excellent clinical placement and employment pathways.

• Graduates secure roles with average starting salaries competitive within the NHS pay scales and have diverse opportunities for career advancement and specialisation.