Nursing - Midwifery

Overview

The MSc Midwifery programme will enable you to build on your existing skills as an adult nurse, and develop professional competency as a midwife. You will graduate with a Masters in Midwifery and you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Midwife.



Midwifery is a rewarding, dynamic and highly skilled profession. This course will equip students with the knowledge, skills and attributes to deliver woman-centred, compassionate, safe and effective care. You will have the opportunity to learn in our new state-of-the-art Simulation Centre and complete practice placements in a range of settings.



Our personal tutor system for student support is highly regarded, and we were awarded the Best Student Experience award in the 2021 Student Nursing Times Awards.



This programme has been co-designed with all relevant stakeholders including maternity service users and carers, midwifery students and practice partners to ensure adequate preparation for midwifery practice on completion. The programme will ensure you meet all requirements for registration as a midwife on successful completion including systematic examination of the newborn.



The programme is taught by experts in Midwifery who will support you in becoming a caring, autonomous and evidence based practitioner incorporating leadership skills and working in partnership with women, families, and communities. Our focus on interdisciplinary learning throughout the two-year programme will enrich your experience and help prepare you for professional practice.



To be eligible to apply, applicants must be currently employed as an Adult Nurse by a HSC Trust within N Ireland. Successful applicants will be exempt from programme tuition fees.



Applicants should consider implications and/or changes to their contract of employment to which QUB assumes no responsibility. Applicants must discuss financial or contractual considerations directly with their employer, QUB is unable to advise. QUB will not be liable for any financial or other associated losses.



Placements during your midwifery programme are normally within one HSCT in NI, however you may also be required to undertake placements in other NI HSCTs.



Course Structure

The two-year programme will comprise of 50% academic modules and 50% in practice learning.



Work Practice placements

Students will undertake clinical placements regularly throughout the programme. This enhances the link from theory to practice in nursing and provides students with a wide variety of opportunities and experiences in all fields of nursing. It is an essential component of the programme, ensuring that the student has sufficient opportunities to develop skill and competence in care provision and decision making, meeting the requirements for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2020).



Placements during your midwifery programme are usually within one HSCT in NI, however you may also be required to undertake placements in other NI HSCTs. Clinical placements are undertaken in hospital and community settings and are unpinned by the principles of providing continuity of midwifery care and carer. When on placement every student is assigned a practice assessor/supervisor, who will support learning in clinical practice.



It is a requirement of the NMC for registration as a midwife, that students on the programme experience provision of care across the range of hours expected by practising midwives, so students should expect to work night shifts and/or long days on a regular basis while on placement.



Professional Accreditations

Graduates from this programme will be eligible to register with the NMC as a midwife. This course is designed to meet the NMC Future Nurse: Future Midwife standards of Proficiency for registered midwives and has been approved by the NMC.

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.



Year 1

Core Modules

• Quality Improvement in an Interprofessional Context - Part A (0 credits)

• Safe Medicate 3 - Midwifery (0 credits)

• Developing Skilled Midwifery Practice (20 credits)

• Foundations of Professional Midwifery (20 credits)

• Infant Feeding (10 credits)

• Health for All: Women, Families and Midwives (20 credits)



Year 2

Core Modules

• Quality Improvement in an Interprofessional Context - Part B (60 credits)

• Midwives as Skilled Practitioners (20 credits)

• Leading Professional Midwifery (20 credits)

• Applied Pharmacology for Midwives (10 credits)

Graduate

All applicants must hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree in Adult Nursing of 2.1 standard, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Applicants with a Bachelor (Honours) degree in Adult Nursing of 2.2 standard, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, may be considered in exceptional circumstances.



All applicants must provide evidence of their registration as an adult nurse within the NMC.



All applicants must have at least 6 months' post-registration experience as a nurse.



Applicants should provide details of two referees as part of their application. Where possible, applicants should provide one educational and one employment referee. However, if this is not possible, two employment referees would be acceptable. Two satisfactory references are required as part of the application process.



Please note: This course is not open to international applicants.



Please note: Applicants must be currently employed as an Adult Nurse in a HSC Trust within Northern Ireland.

Closing date for applications for February 2026 entry will be confirmed later but will be towards the end of August 2025.

2 years full-time.



Contact Teaching Hours

Medium Group Teaching

25 (hours maximum)

this is a full time programme using blended learning. Students should be available to either attend class or complete all online elements across the week. 100% attendance is required for face to face teaching.



personal study

0 (hours maximum)

students will be expected to prepare for classes and develop assignments during unscheduled time.

Entry Year: 2025/26

Midwifery - February intake - please see Application Date below for details.

Career Prospects

The majority of our graduates pursue a career in midwifery which is an interesting, rewarding and challenging career where work can be in a variety of health care settings from hospitals and midwife-led units to working in community settings with women. Midwifery can also offer a diverse range of post registration opportunities to specialise in areas such as perinatal mental health or ultrasound scanning, and provide career development opportunities in education and research.



Employment after the Course

Graduates of this programme will have the potential to become leaders in midwifery, building an exceptional career from the point of registration.



Professional Opportunities

Further study is also an option open to Midwifery graduates, and some may choose to follow a to engage in further professional and academic development. There is a range of MSc and PhD opportunities available within the School; click here for more information.

https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/nursing-midwifery-phd.html