Introduction

This is a three year full-time or six year part-time programme in Midwifery. Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Midwifery and eligibility for entry to Part 2 of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) professional register.

The Midwifery pathway is part of the Pre-registration Interprofessional Learning programme. Learning takes place in collaboration with the other pathways of Adult, Child and Mental Health Nursing, Medical Imaging, Occupational Therapy, Operating Department Practice and Social Work. Applications are made for the Midwifery pathway via the Universities and Colleges Admissions service (UCAS).

The programme lasts for 156 weeks with an annual intake at the Medway Campus each September and at the Canterbury Campus each April. Holiday periods for the programme are interspersed between the theory and practice blocks.

The aim of the programme is to prepare the student for the role of the Midwife as an autonomous practitioner. Such a midwife must demonstrate the required skills to enable this process to take place, and to act in the capacity of lead professional for designated client groups, and to function as a co-equal within a team of other health care professionals.

At the end of the programme the student midwife should be able to provide supervision, care and advice to women throughout the childbirth continuum; preconceptually, through the antenatal period, during labour and in the postpartum period. The student will be expected to critically analyse and discuss the evidence-base that informs contemporary maternity care so as to be able to provide appropriate care to women and their families based on best practice.

Content and Structure

The main themes of the programme are the issues of normality; provision of professional identity and the awareness of safe practice within an ever changing maternity service. Level 1 facilitates the student’s ability to review the drivers of maternity care and enables the student to gain an insight into the role of the midwife. At Level 2 and Level 3 the students will engage in the issues of altered health states and complicated events in pregnancy. They will develop their professional identity further, in that they will also consider the issues of empowerment, and the political and legislative agendas which have an impact on midwifery practice. The Programme consists of six modules of learning per year. Each module is for 20 credits, making a total of 360 credits on completion of the programme.

The dove-tailing of theory and practice within the programme will reflect the holistic philosophy of care and client focus. Theory and practice allocations are interwoven within the programme, and in this way the students are able to underpin their theoretical content with consolidation of issues from a practice perspective. Equal weight will be given to theory and practice. Students are allocated a clinical placement in a Maternity Unit in Kent for the duration of the programme; students are expected to be able to travel to their allocated Hospital Trust which may be some distance from the University campus site. Allocations in Levels 2 and 3 have proven to be very exciting for prospective students in that the midwifery team has extended the portfolio of placements to meet an ever changing maternity service. These placements enable students to identify and support the needs of vulnerable women within the maternity services.

Interprofessional Learning is undertaken through shared theoretical modules with the other pathways, and offers significant learning opportunities for the development of collaborative practice with colleagues in all health and social care professions.

Further information about options within degree programmes can be found here.

Methods of Assessment

The assessments strategy will measure whether the student has attained the academic level required for the award of Bsc (Honours) in Midwifery. The level of knowledge and expertise will provide eligibility for entry to Part 2 of the NMC Register as a Registered Midwife.

Students will therefore be required to pass both their theoretical assignments and their assessments in practice placements in order to complete the IPL Midwifery Programme. This will embrace the assessment of knowledge, skill and attitude.

Important Information

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants wishing to enter the Bsc (Hons) pathway will need to meet the minimum entry requirements:

• Five separate GCSE passes at grade C or above, or an approved equivalent. This should include English and Mathematics. A grade C in Science is also desirable.
• A minimum of three A2 Level passes at grade C or above, or the equivalent. See the entry requirements page.

Offers of a place are only made following successful interview. Please see below for detail of the selection procedure.

Applicants are offered a place subject to a satisfactory health clearance and a Criminal Records Bureau check. For information about the (CRB) process please click here.

ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS TO MIDWIFERY

When selecting applicants a number of factors are taken into account. These include evidence of some understanding of the role of the midwife and the challenges that this involves. This can be gained in a range of ways, for example talking to friends, relatives, midwives, and through accessing Maternity/health focused websites. It is suggested that candidates visit a local Maternity Unit or attend a Maternity open day offered by the three Kent NHS Trusts Maternity Units supporting this programme. Relevant experience can also be obtained through volunteer placements, such as those offered by CSV (Community Service Volunteers). Visit www.csv.org.uk for information. However actual experience within the maternity services is not required.

You should set aside time to complete the application form (further information can be found here) as the decision as to whether you are called for interview is based on the form. The personal statement is very important and you must say why you want to become a midwife and demonstrate your commitment to and understanding of the profession.

We take into account what your referees say about you, and it is important that you give us the names and addresses of relevant referees, for example you should not use friends or relatives. We also look at your academic background and we take into account any criminal convictions or police cautions that you might have.

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

Applicants offered an interview will have an introductory talk and an individual interview. The interview panel consists of a member of staff and a practising midwife. The interview panel has a set of criteria by which all applicants are judged. In general they are looking for applicants who can:

• Communicate clearly in spoken and written standard English
• Convey enthusiasm about their chosen profession
• Explain why they want to become a midwife and be able to explain and give evidence that they have some understanding of the role of the midwife
• Show that they have an appropriate educational background

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are online through UCAS, see the UCAS codes page. Offers of a place on the programme will only be made after applicants have successfully passed an interview.

BURSARIES

Please see the NHS bursary page.

DEGREE APPLICANTS

Attached to the Degree is a means tested Department of Health bursary (for further information see the NHS bursary page). The bursary covers the payment of tuition fees. A means-tested allowance for day-to-day living is available and there are other allowances depending on individual circumstances. Students are also able to apply for a student loan.

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> Department of Health, Wellbeing and the Family Website