Midwifery

Midwifery is a profession defined by its commitment to being with women during one of the most significant periods of their lives. Midwives support women and their families through pregnancy, labour, birth, and the early postnatal period, providing not just clinical care but the kind of continuous, relationship-centred support that makes a real difference to outcomes and experiences. The role demands clinical expertise, sound judgement, and the empathy and communication skills that working with people in vulnerable and emotionally charged circumstances requires.

At the University of Plymouth, this three-year full-time degree prepares you to qualify as a registered midwife through a programme that integrates professional clinical skills with the underpinning scientific and theoretical knowledge that midwifery practice requires. You will develop competence in the full range of midwifery skills, from antenatal assessment and fetal monitoring to supporting normal birth and managing complications, alongside the ability to provide holistic, woman-centred care that respects individual needs, preferences, and cultural backgrounds. Clinical placements are central to the programme, taking you into hospital maternity units, community settings, and other care environments where you can develop and apply your skills under supervision.

Theory and practice develop together throughout the degree, with each informing the other. A typical entry tariff of 152 points applies.

You will develop the clinical competencies required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council alongside the professional values, communication skills, and reflective capacity that the profession demands. Safeguarding, ethics, public health, and the ability to advocate for the women in your care are all central themes.

On registering with the NMC, you will be eligible to practise as a midwife across NHS and independent settings. Career development can lead to specialist roles in high-risk obstetrics, neonatal care, community midwifery, education, or research, and further postgraduate study supports those aiming at advanced clinical or leadership roles.