Midwifery (Shortened Programme) MSc

Attendance mode

Entry year

Duration: 2 years; 2 years
Start date: September; September
Location: Blended Learning; Blended Learning

Suitable for UKUK applications.

Overview

Our Midwifery (Shortened Programme) provides an innovative opportunity for adult nurses currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to acquire a registration in midwifery.

The course features a student-centred blended learning approach with practice-based learning in regional NHS trusts. The contemporary flexible delivery and supported distance learning using enhanced digital technologies, enables you to arrange your studies around both your commitments and learning needs.

Supporting women across the childbearing continuum, midwives provide safe, respectful, kind, compassionate, and holistic individualised care.

Your role will include public health promotion, providing evidence-based care and making positive contributions towards the health of women, babies and families, impacting the wider society.

As a skilled and competent practitioner, you will work in partnership with women to make decisions about their care, and with other team members you will demonstrate positive role modelling and leadership. You will develop skills that enable you to optimise normal physiological processes, promote positive outcomes and manage complications.

The MSc Midwifery (Shortened Programme) prepares you for this challenging and rewarding role using a problem-based learning approach which supports complex decision-making and teamwork.

You will develop your professional autonomy throughout the course by learning to apply critical thinking to clinical practice, which will prepare you to emerge as an innovative and dynamic midwife.

On completion of the programme, you will be entitled to register with the NMC as a midwife and practice within the UK.

Our Midwifery (Shortened Programme) provides an innovative opportunity for adult nurses currently registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to acquire a registration in midwifery.

Supporting women across the childbearing continuum, midwives provide safe, respectful, kind, compassionate, and holistic individualised care.

Your role will include public health promotion, providing evidence-based care and making positive contributions towards the health of women, babies and families, impacting the wider society.

The MSc Midwifery (Shortened Programme) prepares you for this challenging and rewarding role using a problem-based learning approach which supports complex decision-making and teamwork.

You will develop your professional autonomy throughout the course by learning to apply critical thinking to clinical practice, which will prepare you to emerge as an innovative and dynamic midwife.

On completion of the programme, you will be entitled to register with the NMC as a midwife and practice within the UK.

Entry requirements

This course is open to adult nurses on the Nursing and Midwifery Council professional register with evidence of at least 12 months experience working as an adult nurse, with:

an Honours degree in Adult Nursing with a classification of 2:2 or above
or
an Advanced Diploma in Nursing with evidence of professional practice

Plus:

Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) and Occupational Health clearance are requirements for entry to the course. These are undertaken by the University of Bradford.
Three GCSEs or equivalent at Level 2 in Mathematics, English Language or Literature, and a science subject
Please see the English Language requirements below

Interview and selection process

Applications for the course will be made through the individual regional partner NHS Trusts via NHS Jobs.

If you are shortlisted for this course, you will be invited to attend a joint interview with an academic member of staff from the University of Bradford and a member of staff from the NHS Trust you've applied for.

This course is open to adult nurses on the Nursing and Midwifery Council professional register with evidence of at least 12 months experience working as an adult nurse, with:

an Honours degree in Adult Nursing with a classification of 2:2 or above
or
an Advanced Diploma in Nursing with evidence of professional practice

Plus:

Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) and Occupational Health clearance are requirements for entry to the course. These are undertaken by the University of Bradford.
Three GCSEs or equivalent at Level 2 in Mathematics, English Language or Literature, and a science subject
Please see the English Language requirements below

Interview and selection process

Applications for the course will be made through the individual regional partner NHS Trusts via NHS Jobs.

English language requirements: A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (no sub-test lower than 7.0), or equivalent is required for those for whom English is not their first language.

English language requirements: A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (no sub-test lower than 7.0), or equivalent is required for those for whom English is not their first language.

Your learning journey

All module information is for 2026/7 entry and is subject to change.

First year

Core

Transition to Midwifery Knowledge 1: Universal Care

This module introduces student to the role of the midwife in optimising normal physiological processes throughout the childbearing continuum. Students will explore the role of the midwife in the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal period and their role in the promotion of public health. Students will develop their knowledge of anatomy and physiology in relation to childbearing and develop the theoretical knowledge that underpins universal personalised midwifery care for families during the childbearing period. This will include exploration of the wider context of public health relating to individual beliefs within social and cultural contexts. This underpinning theoretical knowledge is then applied within the practice-based module Transition to Midwifery Practice.

Transition to Midwifery Practice

This module will introduce you to develop your knowledge and understanding of the role of the midwife and the provision of Universal and Additional Care to childbearing women and their neonates, in addition to potential complexities. You will develop skills to support your transition to professional self and support the application of theory to practice using a range of learning and teaching strategies. It will support progression towards achievement of the NMC standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes (2023) and standards of proficiency for midwives (2019) to practice safely and effectively at point of registration.

Final year

Core

Consolidating Midwifery Knowledge 1: Managing Complexities

The aim of this module is to build on learning from Transition to Midwifery Knowledge and deepen your underpinning knowledge and understanding of the care provided to women and newborns throughout the childbearing continuum.

The module provides the opportunity for you to build insight and understanding of the factors that contribute to the quality and safety of maternity services and support sustainable midwifery practice for women, neonates, and families with additional or complex care needs. You will explore the role of interprofessional communication, information sharing, and leadership within the public health agenda, including the use of digital technologies, and develop a critical insight into the ethical dilemmas that impact on midwifery care and motherhood.

You will apply the knowledge and skills developed through this learning to their clinical practice within the year-long module 'Consolidating Midwifery Practice'.

Consolidating Midwifery Knowledge 2: Research, Scholarship and Leadership

This module builds on learning from 'Transition to Midwifery Knowledge 3: Research and Global Midwifery',

Within this module you will develop your research, scholarship, and leadership skills. You will explore the impact of health inequalities on women, babies and families' health and wellbeing. You will investigate the national and global context and consider ethical and political dimensions of maternity care. You will examine the evidence underpinning practice. The role of interprofessional communication within the public health agenda will be explored, including the use of digital technologies. You will develop skills to further transition to your professional self, supporting the application of theory to practice.

You will further develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours cognisant of the standards of proficiency for midwives (2019). You will apply the knowledge and skills developed through this learning to their clinical practice within the year-long module 'Consolidating Midwifery Practice'.

All module information is for 2026/7 entry and is subject to change.

First year

Core

Transition to Midwifery Knowledge 1: Universal Care

Transition to Midwifery Practice

Final year

Core

Consolidating Midwifery Knowledge 1: Managing Complexities

You will apply the knowledge and skills developed through this learning to their clinical practice within the year-long module 'Consolidating Midwifery Practice'.

Consolidating Midwifery Knowledge 2: Research, Scholarship and Leadership

This module builds on learning from 'Transition to Midwifery Knowledge 3: Research and Global Midwifery',

Teaching, learning and assessment

This programme provides an opportunity for you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the NMC (2023) Standards of Proficiency for Midwives.

You will be supported to develop enhanced leadership qualities, advocacy skills and research skills, through a spiralled curriculum, enabling you to become a change agent of the future.

Our vibrant and inclusive learning community will support you as you journey towards a career in midwifery, with the ability to make a positive difference in the midwifery world.

You will have the opportunity to study alongside the 3-year pre-registration BSc (Hons) Midwifery and MSc Midwifery programmes.

Learning and teaching strategy

This is a blended learning programme, consisting of:

80% online study
20% face-to-face on-campus study

Over the 2-year course of the programme, you will be supported to meet the NMC requirement of 1800 theoretical hours.

Learning and teaching will be facilitated through blended learning methods to provide a flexible and interactive student learning experience.

Our inclusive teaching and learning environment is designed to suit diverse learning needs and includes:

digital technologies
clinical skills simulation
case studies
workshops
online discussion groups
lectures
seminars
independent and directed study

Clinical placements

Over the 2-year course of the programme, you will be supported to meet the NMC requirement of 1800 clinical hours in practice. You'll have a planned 25 weeks of placement each year to meet the required 1800 clinical hours.

You will work alongside clinical practice supervisors to achieve your proficiencies and will be allocated a practice assessor and academic assessor to assess your progression through each stage of the programme.

Assessments

The assessment strategy is designed to support you with a diverse range of learning needs.

There is a variety of assessment methods to suit different student learning styles, including:

visual presentations
OSCEs
VIVAs
written assignments and examinations
e-portfolio of learning
MCQs

Teaching, learning and assessment

This programme provides an opportunity for you to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by the NMC (2023) Standards of Proficiency for Midwives.

You will be supported to develop enhanced leadership qualities, advocacy skills and research skills, through a spiralled curriculum, enabling you to become a change agent of the future.

Our vibrant and inclusive learning community will support you as you journey towards a career in midwifery, with the ability to make a positive difference in the midwifery world.

You will have the opportunity to study alongside the 3-year pre-registration BSc (Hons) Midwifery and MSc Midwifery programmes.

Learning and teaching strategy

This is a blended learning programme, consisting of:

80% online study
20% face-to-face on-campus study

Over the 2-year course of the programme, you will be supported to meet the NMC requirement of 1800 theoretical hours.

Learning and teaching will be facilitated through blended learning methods to provide a flexible and interactive student learning experience.

Our inclusive teaching and learning environment is designed to suit diverse learning needs and includes:

digital technologies
clinical skills simulation
case studies
workshops
online discussion groups
lectures
seminars
independent and directed study

Clinical placements

Assessments

The assessment strategy is designed to support you with a diverse range of learning needs.

There is a variety of assessment methods to suit different student learning styles, including:

visual presentations
OSCEs
VIVAs
written assignments and examinations
e-portfolio of learning
MCQs

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee

Home: Fees are currently under review and will be confirmed soon
International: Fees are currently under review and will be confirmed soon

Tuition fee

Home: fees to be confirmed soon

Additional course costs

While there are no compulsory additional costs associated with this course, there may be general additional costs that you may incur as a student. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Funding your studies

It can be hard to know what financial help is available to you as a student.

The course is currently being funded by NHS England Workforce, Training and Education (NHSE WTE) with a tuition fee contribution of £9250 per student per annum, pro rata for the length of the course and a salary support offer for all students aligned to the mid-point of AFC band 5.

Funding and the availability of student places are confirmed by NHSE WTE on an annual basis.

Students eligible for this funding offer will not be able to access the Learning Support Fund (LSF). However, students are entitled to seek support, if eligible, from the Student Loans Company for a maintenance loan.

Funding and the availability of student places are confirmed by NHSE WTE on an annual basis.

Further information about the variety of options that can help fund your studies and maximise the money available to you is available on our funding your studies section.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

There are a range of opportunities available for newly qualified midwives. You could work in a variety of settings, including:

hospitals
birthing centres
GP clinics
community teams
continuity teams

The majority of new midwives are employed by the NHS. However, opportunities do exist in private and independent hospitals and practices.

Career progression can include specialist roles, management and leadership roles, consultant midwife, research and education.

From 1 April 2023 (with the 5% NHS pay rise offered), the annual salary for a Band 5 midwife on the first pay point will be £28,407.

A midwife preceptorship tends to be approximately 6-24 months and varies between hospital trusts. Once the preceptorship is complete, a Band 6 is awarded. The annual salary for a Band 6 midwife (from 1 April 2023 with the 5% NHS pay rise offered) on the first pay point is £35,391.

Career opportunities

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the careers section.

Support for your studies

At Bradford, we’re committed to supporting your success, well-being and future ambitions. We’re here to provide everything you need to make the most of your time with us, ensuring you not only excel in your studies, but also step confidently into the world of graduate employment. In addition to the support you receive from your academic tutors, our Student Support Services are here for you throughout your journey - before, during, and after your studies.

Got a question?

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Terms and conditions of study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.