Midwifery

Midwifery is a profession centred on one of the most important transitions in human life: the journey through pregnancy, birth, and the early days of parenthood. Midwives are the lead professionals for normal, low-risk pregnancy and childbirth, supporting women and their families through antenatal care, labour and birth, and the postnatal period. They also work closely with obstetricians and other healthcare professionals when complications arise.

The role requires clinical expertise, the ability to make sound judgements under pressure, and the kind of compassionate, women-centred care that recognises birth as both a physiological event and a deeply personal experience.

At the University of East Anglia this three-year full-time programme leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, qualifying you to practise as a midwife. The degree divides your time between academic study and supervised clinical practice in NHS settings, including labour wards, antenatal and postnatal care, and community midwifery. You will develop skills in assessment, clinical decision-making, communication, and the evidence base for midwifery practice, alongside an understanding of the physiological, psychological, and social dimensions of childbearing.

UEA's strong connections to NHS health services in East Anglia support a well-structured and varied clinical placement programme.

Qualifying as a midwife opens a career across the full range of maternity services, from community midwifery and birth centres to consultant-led obstetric units and neonatal care. With experience, midwives can move into specialist roles such as bereavement support, complex social needs, diabetes in pregnancy, or infant feeding. Leadership, education, and advanced practice are all available career progressions.

The qualification is internationally recognised, and many midwives choose to work abroad at some point in their careers. Postgraduate study in midwifery, public health, or women's health is available for those who want to develop specialist expertise or move into academic roles.