Midwifery

The Division of Midwifery is part of the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy. The strength of the School lies in its ability to enhance collaboration in teaching, research and practice, enabling you to learn from experts across a range of healthcare subject areas. Our teaching has been rated excellent in an independent assessment and the latest Research Assessment Exercise (2008) put Nottingham among the top five universities in the UK for midwifery research of international importance. We offer inter-professional learning with medical and other healthcare students and have a number of locations throughout the region in hospital settings.

What is midwifery?
Midwifery is a profession that requires students to develop the academic abilities, technical skills and personal qualities to take responsibility for the overall care of women in pregnancy and childbirth in a variety of settings.

Midwives can work in the community, in hospitals, or both. Their role goes much further than delivering babies; they are involved in antenatal and postnatal care, in counselling, in offering support and education, and in helping mothers and their partners to prepare for parenting.

How will I study?
IAll our programmes adopt a modular structure, and teaching staff employ a variety of learning methods, including problem-based learning, seminars, interprofessional education, project work and simulation. You'll be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning and to be active in the learning process.

Our programmes are largely practice-based and you will be given the opportunity to observe midwifery, nursing and healthcare in a variety of settings and to learn the skills of midwifery in wards, departments, clinics and in women’s own homes. You will undertake practice at one of seven units within Nottingham, Derby, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Lincoln and Boston.

The introduction of student case-holding to the curriculum enables you to experience continuity of midwifery care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

Assessment
Assessment is viewed as an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Students are involved in self-assessment of their progress through reflection. A range of assessment methods is used including case studies, seminar presentations, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), exams and essays.

Professional regulation
On successful completion of our programmes, students are eligible to register as practising midwives with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Application and interview
Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend a selection interview. A teacher from the Division of Midwifery and a midwifery service representative normally conduct the interview. Applicants are expected to demonstrate potential for academic progression, commitment to a career in midwifery and an understanding of the role of the midwife. Applications from mature students are welcomed. They will be expected to show evidence of personal motivation and recent academic studies.

Open days
We have a number of open days throughout the year; please visit our website for details. University-wide open days are held in June and September – for details, please see www.nottingham.ac.uk/opendays