MSci in Midwifery with Public Health

If you’re looking to gain a professional qualification as a Registered Midwife and explore at an advanced level how midwives can contribute to public health, then our MSci Midwifery with Public Health is for you.

This four-year course aims to prepare you with leadership skills and practice experience in a research-informed way, enabling you to develop, design and evaluate health promotion interventions. This integrated Master’s degree combines three years of undergraduate study with an additional fourth year at the postgraduate level, in a single course. You could also gain 120 credits at the postgraduate level which you could use towards a Master's qualification.

In addition to academic and professional qualifications, you will complete the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) and UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative qualifications.

We are passionate about developing the best graduate midwives who support women and families during the most uplifting and sometimes challenging times of their lives. This course will prepare you to become a midwife who is able to meet the needs of women, newborn infants and their families.

Our approach to learning and teaching has been developed using a variety of frameworks and embraces the wealth of knowledge of the course team, practice partners and service users. The course will incrementally build on the skills and knowledge you will gain in practice and at university in order to support you to achieve the necessary level of competence and ability to make evidence-based decisions. Every aspect of the course has been carefully aligned with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019). Successful completion of this course provides eligibility to apply and be entered into the NMC register as a midwife.

What's covered in this course?

During the first two years, you will receive integrated theory and practice content. This will allow you to engage in teaching and learning activities in both the academic and practice setting. The third year consists of alternate theory and practice blocks. You will study various modules, which will allow you to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to care for women, and newborn infants across the care continuum from pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, labour and birth, postpartum, and the early weeks of a newborn infant’s life. Each year, you will engage in a yearlong practice module. This module, alongside varied clinical placements, will provide you with preparation and support to develop your confidence and competence in practice, working towards autonomously leading and co-ordinating care at the end of your course. Clinical practice will be assessed using the nationally, NMC-approved Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA).

The first three years of the MSci course will be experienced alongside your BSc (Hons) Midwifery student colleagues. The final fourth year at level 7 will have a public health and midwifery focus. Your MSci cohort will have the opportunity to study with other healthcare professionals and midwives as this year includes a module of your choice related to midwifery which is often accessed by other healthcare professionals too.

Practice learning experiences may be within community, hospital or home environment settings. You will be exposed to diverse populations and you will learn to work as part of interdisciplinary and multiagency teams. Whilst on placement you will be supported, supervised and assessed by suitably prepared practice and academic staff to develop your knowledge and skills. There will also be opportunities for exposure to alternative (including global midwifery) experiences during the elective placement. In your fourth year, you will enable to negotiate a placement related to public health.

The Midwifery Department is committed to providing excellent, innovative, learning, teaching and assessment experiences. We use technology to enhance your learning, through lectures, seminars, skills, simulation and virtual learning. The engagement of practice partners and service users in all areas of learning, teaching and assessment is integral to our approach. Our evidence-based curriculum will empower you to contribute to the provision of high-quality holistic care both during your studies and in your future profession.

Why choose us?

1. Funding – Healthcare students are eligible to receive at least £5,000 a year in additional funding for maintenance and associated study costs. Download the funding FAQs.
2. The university is an Approved Education Institution. This course has been redeveloped in line with the new midwifery education standards and is approved by the NMC.
3. Birmingham is one of the UK’s most diverse cities outside of London, which provides you with a wide variety of placement experiences that will be valuable to take forward into your future career.
4. Our specialist skills facilities include a home environment and birthing area. Teaching tools such as a birth simulator and neonatal manikins help to simulate a variety of birth scenarios.
5. By successfully completing this course you will have the opportunity to graduate with three qualifications: MSci in Midwifery with Public Health which is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC); Public Health England Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Programme (NIPE).
6. Recognition of studying the Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative. This is highly unusual for a university and shows how deep our best practice is around this vital area. NIPE is a qualification highly prized by employers.

You will have the opportunity to undertake an elective experience, either nationally or internationally.