BSc Hons Midwifery

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Suffolk

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Midwifery at the University of Suffolk is ideal for students who want to build a rewarding career supporting women, babies, and families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. This course combines strong scientific learning with hands-on clinical placements, helping you develop the confidence, compassion, and practical skills needed to become a professional midwife.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Foundations of Midwifery Practice
In your first year, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the midwife’s role through modules such as Foundations of Midwifery, Anatomy and Physiology for Midwives, and Professional Values and Communication. Early clinical placements allow you to see maternity care in action and begin developing essential clinical and interpersonal skills.

Year 2 – Applying Knowledge in Practice
The second year focuses on developing your clinical confidence with modules like Applied Midwifery Practice, Public Health and the Childbearing Family, and Evidence-Based Midwifery. With increased placement time, you’ll learn how to support women through both normal and more complex pregnancies while applying research to real-life care.

Year 3 – Readiness for Professional Practice
In your final year, you’ll prepare for qualification through modules such as Complex Midwifery Care, Leadership and Professional Practice, and an Independent Research Project. This year is all about autonomy, decision-making, and leadership, ensuring you’re ready to step into professional practice with confidence.

Focus Areas: Pregnancy and birth care, maternal and newborn health, public health, evidence-based practice, leadership in maternity services

Learning Outcomes: Safe and compassionate clinical practice, effective communication, 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 Suffolk is recognised for its strong focus on practice-based learning and close NHS links, helping graduates progress into hospital and community midwifery roles with confidence and clear career pathways

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students enrolled in the BSc (Hons) Midwifery program at the University of Suffolk gain practical skills through extensive clinical placements in NHS hospitals and community health settings across the East of England. These placements are critical in developing real-world competence, including communication, assessment, and direct patient care, under supervised clinical environments supported by experienced mentors and facilities. The university’s dedicated simulation suites, modern laboratories, and extensive library resources provide a dynamic learning environment to complement practical training.

Key experiential learning features include:

• Placement experiences in six NHS maternity units across Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk, covering hospital and community midwifery roles.

• Opportunities for direct supervised practice including antenatal clinics, delivery suites, neonatal units, and community care settings.

• Use of advanced simulation mannequins and birthing simulators to rehearse emergency and routine care scenarios.

• Regular engagement with digital record-keeping and assessment tools, such as e-portfolios, to track progress and competencies.

• Participation in interprofessional training sessions, group projects, and research activities within well-equipped facilities.

• Access to extensive libraries and learning hubs that support evidence-based practice and ongoing professional development.

• Field trips, guest lectures, and workshops delivered by healthcare experts, enhancing the practical learning experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BSc (Hons) Midwifery program at the University of Suffolk are well-prepared to embark on diverse and rewarding careers as Registered Midwives, Community Midwives, Maternity Services Managers, and Midwifery Educators. They graduate with strong clinical expertise, leadership skills, and professional confidence necessary to support women and families through pregnancy and childbirth. This solid foundation opens diverse pathways in clinical practice, research, public health, and education.

Supporting your career journey, the university offers:

• Dedicated Careers, Employability, and Enterprise services providing individualized support including CV workshops, mock interviews, job fairs, and networking with NHS recruiters.

• Graduate Outcomes Survey reports that 95% of midwifery graduates secure employment or further study within 15 months, with average starting salaries around £28,500.

• Strong NHS partnerships across the East of England region offering extensive clinical placement opportunities and recruitment networks.

• Professional registration eligibility with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), a long-standing accreditation ensuring confidence in qualification recognition and career mobility.

• Graduates often progress to specialist midwifery roles, leadership positions, research careers, or advanced study pathways.