Midwifery is a challenging but rewarding career. If you’re passionate about caring for women and families throughout pregnancy, during childbirth and beyond, then this is the perfect job for you.
What is a midwife?
A midwife is a medical expert on antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. In other words, midwives provide care for patients throughout their pregnancy, during labour and after birth.
As a midwife you’ll build knowledge and develop skills that will help you to support women and families. This will enable you to safely assess and screen women throughout their pregnancies.
You’ll help women from different cultures and religions, as well those from difficult backgrounds. Communication skills are essential as you’ll need to explore sensitive topics with women and families. You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure safe care is provided.
After completing your course, you'll need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The NMC ensure that all midwives uphold professional standards and remain up to date with their current training.
How to become a midwife
There are a few options you can take to become a midwife. You will have to complete a Bachelor's degree (BSc) course to quality and register with the NMC. This usually means you will have to go to university - or attend a partner institution awarding bachelor's awards.
Undergraduate degree
Most people looking to get into midwifery will complete a university degree. These degrees are approved and accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). At The University of Central Lancashire, that would be our BSc (Hons) Midwifery course.
Our BSc Midwifery course provides you with academic, theoretical and practical skills. On top of this learning, you’ll also complete placements – working with real midwives in real situations. This combination of learning and real-life placements provides you with the experience you need to become a midwife.
Full-time undergraduate degrees in midwifery take 3 years to complete. You will be awarded with a full registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This allows you to apply for and secure job vacancies in midwifery.
Degree apprenticeship
Studying a Degree Apprenticeship is ideal if you want to earn money while working. It's also a perfect opportunity if you’re already working in healthcare and want to become a midwife for your career.
At The University of Central Lancashire, you can enrol on our BSc (Hons) Midwifery – Degree Apprenticeship course.
You learn all the same knowledge and skills as the undergraduate degree, while spending more time in clinical settings during your working hours. Once you have completed your degree apprenticeship, you’ll be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. This allows you to apply for job vacancies in midwifery.
Other options
If you’re already a practicing registered nurse, you can complete a shortened course to earn your midwife registration. This allows you to earn your qualification and registration in a shorter time, usually about 2 years.
At The University of Central Lancashire, we offer the MSc Midwifery (Shortened) course. This provides registered nurses the opportunity to become registered midwives.
Why become a midwife?
Midwifery is a very rewarding career. You’ll build many professional relationships with your colleagues and patients. You will occupy an essential, secure role both in healthcare and society.
If you’re a compassionate person who loves helping people, then midwifery is an amazing career choice. You’ll be helping women and their families, relying on your expertise and knowledge to provide the best care possible for your patients.
Salary
Midwife average salaries vary from £25,655 - £75,000 (2024).
Newly qualified midwives in the NHS start their career on Band 5, starting at around £25,655 (2024).
As you spend more time in your career, you’ll be able to improve your skills through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and specialise in different areas which can .allow career progression with the potential to earn a higher salary. With specialisation and experience comes higher salaries, and a consulting midwife on Band 8b can earn up to £75,000 (2024).
Frequently asked questions
Midwifery comes with many opportunities, challenges and memories. You'll help women and families through life-changing moments, building professional relationships for years throughout your career. Once you have completed your degree and earned your NMC registration, your future as a qualified healthcare professional will have just begun.
Next steps
Midwifery, BSc (Hons)
Midwifery is a rewarding career and at the University of Central Lancashire, we aim to help you develop into a confident and competent midwife, effectively supporting women and their families through pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Midwifery, BSc (Hons) - Degree Apprenticeship
Study for a career in midwifery via our new Degree Apprenticeship route. The course will prepare you to be a confident and competent midwife. You'll support women, birthing people and their families through pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Why choose us?
Find out more about why you belong at The University of Central Lancashire – with insight from our current students.
