Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery

  • About the School...

    At Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery, we draw upon a rich history of healthcare education to build new paths into the future. The School combines timeless values of care and compassion with modern skills, expertise and partnerships to empower students and professionals to carry the profession forwards.

    Nursing and midwifery education in Oxford and Swindon goes back over 125 years. The first formal training in Oxford began at the Radcliffe Infirmary in the late 19th century. While the GWR Medical Fund (later Great Western Hospital) in Swindon was established in 1847 and became part of Aneurin Bevan’s blueprint for the NHS.

    Throughout this history, Oxford and Swindon have stayed at the forefront of new developments in healthcare. You can see it in the way nursing and midwifery developed into the highly skilled, care-based roles we see today, as they moved from apprentice-style training to degree-level education. You can see it in the collaborations that Oxford Brookes (then Oxford Polytechnic) developed over the years with its NHS partners.

    Now, the School represents the next step in the evolution of the partnerships between University and NHS Trusts.

    Inspired by the exemplary models of such institutions as John Hopkins University in the US, we are building a way of working together that is unique in the UK.

    This will include such work as:

    • Continuing to develop our curriculum in line with best evidence and research, from both the UK and internationally.
    • Working together to provide better, more cohesive opportunities in Continued Professional Development.
    • Fostering an interest in research from an early level, focusing on projects that improve outcomes for patients and embrace the potential of digital health.

  • About Nursing...


  • • We offer a range of pre-qualifying and postgraduate courses, suitable for all points of your professional journey.

    • The chance to choose your nursing specialisation – or study a dual qualification – with top class tutelage. Students have said “I would enthusiastically recommend the course to others” and “the sessions are run by experts in the field and their anecdotes make it interesting and easier to remember things.”

    • We work with local NHS and social care employers to deliver foundation degrees and apprenticeships.

    • Our degrees have extremely high employability. For example, 98% of Adult Nursing students are in employment or further education six months after completing the course (Unistats).

    • A chance to be part of vibrant healthcare community in Oxfordshire and Swindon – 80% of our students go on to make a difference in local trusts.

    • The student experience is essential to us. Our students frequently report that they work at their best when they have a sense of a community and a home at Oxford Brookes. So we work hard to put your experience at the centre of our efforts.

    • We work with our partners and our campus team to help students maintain a positive work/life balance and rise to the challenges of the course.

    Students have said:

    “Oxford Brookes has vibrant and fun social life and there’s something for everyone.”

    “The facilities are very good, the library at Headington campus is amazing! It covers over six floors and has got everything you need.”

    “The staff are incredibly supportive and are heavily invested in every student.”

    “I’ve learned a variety of essential nursing skills in the skills labs…Oxford is a great student city with great placement opportunities and a good nightlife.”

    • We benefit from excellent collaborative working with leading local health care providers such as the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Swindon.

    • We offer a selection of placements at world class institutions. And our international connections include an exchange with the world’s number 1 School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania (the longest running exchange of its kind).

    Students say:

    “The wide variety of placements that are available in Oxford are not easily come by elsewhere.”

    “I have had a great and varied experience; everyone on the course experiences surgical nursing, medical nursing, and a variety of community settings.”

  • About Midwifery and Community...


  • • We provide a range of undergraduate, post-registration and postgraduate courses in midwifery and community nursing.

    • Our midwifery programmes have been accredited as Baby Friendly by UNICEF, a prestigious award.

    • The School is developing an international reputation in research. We have developed a specific research group for Maternal and Women's Public Health: OXBUMP.

    • We have worked to continually improve our modern education and healthcare facilities – one student said “I loved going to the JHB building for lectures; it’s very modern and the library space is exceptional. For healthcare students, it’s great to be on your own campus at Marston Road as you get to mix with the other professions.”

    • We have an excellent reputation for the quality of our education, research and student support. Leading one student to say: “I had great support from my academic tutor and my research supervisor, which meant that I was able to push myself academically."

    • The student experience is essential to us. We work tirelessly with our partners and with the team at Oxford Brookes to ensure you are at the centre of what we do.

    • We offer a friendly and supportive environment and regularly receive high feedback via student surveys.

    Students have said:

    “When I visited Brookes, it felt like home.”

    “The course is intense but your cohort is so supportive and encouraging. It’s a bond that will never break.”

    “I would absolutely recommend this course to others. If you are passionate about midwifery, the best advice is just to go for it; be prepared for a busy, intense, rewarding, emotional rollercoaster ride!”

    • We work with a variety of local and national healthcare partners to provide the best opportunities for education in practice and professional development

    • We are constantly growing our links with research groups, and overseas universities to ensure we keep pushing to higher levels of excellence.

    • These collaborations give students opportunities for placements, mentorship and growth.

    Recently, students have said:

    “The John Radcliffe hospital is fantastic in terms of placement opportunities. Also, the teaching staff are really friendly and always there if you need help.”

    “The best way to learn in this profession is by observing and then doing and I loved the hands on experience this course provided.”