Midwifery - Pre-Registration
MSc
Key facts
Start dates
September 2023 / September 2024
Location
Course length
Full time: 36 months
Department
Accreditation(s)
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Overview
Our MSc in Midwifery (pre-registration) is for graduates with a first degree, leading to registration at master’s level.
You will have the opportunity to develop and refine your academic skills. This allows you to:
- critique and synthesise the best available evidence base which informs clinical midwifery
- identify areas to improve knowledge
- engage in undertaking research that aims to improve an aspect of care provision for women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.
Our lecturers are experienced in their specialist practice areas. They maintain excellent practice links with those areas locally and across the region.
You should have a deep understanding of the importance of woman-centeredness. Combined with excellent interpersonal skills and leadership potential.
A master’s degree in midwifery will provide you with a strong basis for a future career in clinical work. Alongside research, education, management, leadership or consultancy.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
GCSE: 4 GCSEs, including Mathematics, English Language and a science subject (ie Chemistry or Biology) at grade 5 (B) or above (or equivalent).
Relevant experience (e.g. in a hospital) or a suitable indication of your interest in, and understanding of, the relevant healthcare profession.
Three years MSc:
- an honours degree with a first or 2:1 classification or above (or equivalent)
- this previous degree should not be in adult nursing or midwifery
- all applicants must be screened for fitness to practise.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and from both genders.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Screening
All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.
Selection process
All Oxford Brookes University Health and Social Care Programmes conduct Value Based Recruitment (VBR). We recognise that values and attitudes have the greatest impact on the quality of people's care and their experiences.
VBR is a way of helping our Programme recruitment teams to assess the values, motives and attitudes of those who wish to work with people in health and social care settings. When we refer to values we mean, for example, the values included in the NHS constitution.
VBR focuses on 'how' and 'why' an applicant makes choices in how they act and seeks to explore reasons for their behaviour.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, an Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with 6.5 in Reading and Writing, and 6.0 in Listening and Speaking) is required.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
International applicants will need to apply early to allow enough time for obtaining visas.
If you are offered a place you may be asked to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure a place on the course. Applications are dealt with on a first come, first served basis, so please act early to avoid disappointment.
All Oxford Brookes University Health and Social Care Programmes conduct Value Based Recruitment (VBR).
We recognise that values and attitudes have the greatest impact on the quality of people's care and their experiences.
VBR is a way of helping our Programme recruitment teams to assess the values, motives and attitudes of those who wish to work with people in health and social care settings. When we refer to values we mean, for example, the values included in the NHS constitution.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
All eligible midwifery students on courses from September 2020 (new and continuing) will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year which they will not need to pay back. For more information please visit NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Placement costs:
These are costs that need to be paid for by midwifery students when travelling to and from clinical practice placements throughout Oxfordshire. As an example, a random sample of first year students spent approximately £30 - £700 travelling to placements during the first year of their programme. For students eligible for tuition fee and maintenance support from the Student Loans Company, these costs are recoverable through the Learning Support Fund. Midwifery students spend 50% of their programme in clinical placement.
Other costs:
- Books and other learning resources: £50 - £300
- Shoes for practice to be worn with clinical uniform: £30 - £60
- Equipment (for example stethoscope and watch) and suitable non clinical clothing for community placements; £60 - £250
Learning and assessment
This is a three year midwifery course aimed at those with a first class or 2:1 bachelors degree, plus Biology or Human Biology A level at grade B or above. Previous healthcare experience is desirable but not essential.
In Year 1 you will take level six modules.
In Years 2 and 3 you will study level seven modules.
The practice and educational content of the course is the same as the BSc course. But you will be assessed at master's level.
You will enhance your critical thinking skills, preparing you for further postgraduate studies. And you have the opportunity to carry out primary research as part of your dissertation.
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework. The module list may vary.
This course is currently approved by the NMC. Please note that this approval is subject to review and can be withdrawn at any time.
Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
At Oxford Brookes, no professional group works in isolation. We teach a wide range of pre-qualification and foundation courses. These include health and social care, all branches of nursing and occupational therapy.
On this course you will:
- learn in a friendly and stimulating environment
- share your learning with other healthcare students
- develop your teamwork skills
- gain understanding of the other roles which you will encounter in practice.
We have excellent teaching facilities, including:
- dedicated clinical skills suites and simulation resources
- a well-equipped movement laboratory
- a family of computerised simulation manikins (including a simman, simbaby and birthing mother)
- an extensive range of anatomy models.
You can access an extensive range of learning resources through 'Brookes virtual'. This is an online repository of:
- lectures
- handouts
- information and learning exercises.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
We use a wide range of assessments including;
- case studies
- reflection in and on practice
- observed structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) held in our skills labs
- a variety of written assessments, including some examinations.
- poster presentations.
These assessments ensure that you are competent at both;
- academic writing
- practical and emergency skills.
Grading of practice is a central feature of practice assessment.
Research
Our academic staff have extensive experience of NHS, clinical practice and general management at senior level. They also have a significant record of research and publications on a range of topics, including water birth and breastfeeding.
We have a strong research profile, with experienced researchers working in:
- maternal and women’s public health
- cancer care
- children and families
- drugs and alcohol
- physical rehabilitation and enablement
- interprofessional education and collaborative practice.
We have excellent library resources, accessible both online and through a range of locally based facilities on university and NHS sites.
After you graduate
Career prospects
Midwifery is an exciting and diverse career choice. As the main healthcare professionals for the pregnant mother and her family throughout the childbearing process, midwives play a fundamental role in providing care and advice during pregnancy and birth, and in the postnatal period. Midwives care for all women and their families during pregnancy, labour and the puerperium, liaising with other professionals as and when required, and are the lead professional for healthy women who experience a straightforward pregnancy.
All students graduating from our midwifery programs will be competent in the New Born Infant Physical Examinations (NIPE).
A master's degree in midwifery will provide a strong basis for a future career in research, education, management or consultancy. It is hoped that future graduates will influence midwifery practice in the UK and elsewhere.
Student profiles
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.