Midwifery

Midwifery is the profession dedicated to supporting women through one of the most significant experiences of their lives, guiding them through pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of new parenthood with both clinical expertise and the human presence that makes an enormous difference in vulnerable moments. Midwives are autonomous practitioners who work primarily with physiological pregnancy and normal birth, referring and escalating when medical complications arise, and the role demands a combination of scientific knowledge, practical skill, professional judgement and deep interpersonal sensitivity.

At the University of Nottingham this three-year, full-time programme, which includes a foundation element, leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and prepares you for practice in NHS and independent midwifery settings. The programme includes a foundation provision alongside the main degree, providing a supported entry for students who meet the academic potential but benefit from additional preparation before the full clinical training begins. You will develop knowledge of obstetrics, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, alongside the assessment, care planning and clinical decision-making skills that midwifery demands.

Clinical placements are central to the programme, with a substantial proportion of your training spent in antenatal clinics, labour wards and postnatal settings under the supervision of experienced midwives. Nottingham's NHS partnerships provide access to a wide range of clinical environments.

Graduates register as midwives and work in NHS and independent practice, supporting women through every stage of the maternity journey. Specialist roles in areas such as bereavement, perinatal mental health, high-risk obstetrics and home birth become accessible with experience and further training. Senior career paths include consultant midwife, midwifery educator, clinical manager and researcher.

Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in maternal health, public health or related fields, contributing to the improvement of maternity care at a systems level.