Everything you need to know...
-
What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
-
How long will I study?
4 Years
-
Where will I study?
-
What are the entry requirements?
-
What is the UCAS code?
BB20
-
When do I start?
September 2025
Course summary
- Gain the skills you need to provide compassionate midwifery.
- Become a knowledgeable and respectful midwife.
- Learn to care for women, newborn infants and their families.
- Respond to increasing complexity in antenatal care.
- Home students can access a non-repayable maintenance grant of at least £5,000 per year.
This is an exciting and innovative course covering all aspects of 21st-century midwifery. You’ll learn to practise as the lead professional for the care of women and newborn infants, partners and families – as well as working in integrated care teams.
The Foundation Year course is designed for anyone who feels they would benefit from extra preparation before undertaking degree-level study or who does not meet the entry requirements for the BSc (Hons) course (due to lower predicted grades or lower performance at a selection event). The academic staff leading selection event processes are well placed to advice on the benefits of additional study or wider preparation in advance of joining a degree course.

Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
How you learn
The course is designed to promote independent, lifelong learning – with half of the programme spent in study and half on a clinical placement You’ll learn with, from and about students from other health and social care courses. These experiences give you both a sound basis in midwifery and an understanding of how other professionals contribute to health and social care services.
You learn through
- Practice placements
- Lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials
- Practical sessions
- Independent learning
- Technology-enhanced learning
- Oxford Medical Simulation virtual reality software for remote or on-campus learning
Applied learning
Work placements
On this course you’ll be given opportunities across a range of clinical settings. After your first year you’ll rotate to a different Trust, and then return to the first Trust in your third year. You’ll work both in hospitals and out in the community, with our placement partners there to support you at every step.
As part of your clinical practice, you’ll be allocated a small group of expectant mothers as part of your caseload. This means you get to experience the long-term challenge of providing quality care to a mother and her newborn, including being on call for the birth.
In your second year, you’ll also have the option of choosing a module that allows you to work nationally or internationally.
Networking opportunities
You’ll be able to take part in a range of activities with students from other health and social care courses. These activities are designed to improve your employability skills – such as the Hallam Leadership Award, which helps you prepare to become a future midwifery leader.
Our students are also able to build strong relationships with our trust partners and are able to apply for any vacancies upon completion of their degree and registration.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- Clinical midwifery
- Specialisms such as smoking cessation, bereavement care, perinatal mental health, sonography, substance misuse and teenage pregnancy
- Consultant midwifery, with specific responsibility for leading and developing midwifery services
- Management positions in clinical midwifery, such as a lead midwife or head of midwifery services
- Research midwifery
- Lecturing
- Further study, such as health visiting and masters and doctoral education
Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work in
- Hospital and community midwifery environments
- Health centres
- GP surgeries
- The armed forces
- Education
In 2022-23 and 2023-24 all of our students wanting employment in the South Yorkshire area were offered a post in a relevant NHS trust, this is subject to the demand for roles at the time of graduation, but is a strong indicator of our links to our practice partners.
Where will I study?
You study at Collegiate Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
Collegiate campus
Collegiate Campus can be found just off Ecclesall Road, a bustling student district.
Collegiate Campus map | Campus facilities

Collegiate library
Collegiate Library can be found just off Ecclesall Road. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- A range of clinical midwifery placement environments
- Our purpose-built Robert Winston Building
- Simulated practice, such as mock birthing facilities
- Technology-enhanced learning
- Clinical skills laboratories
We’ve invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
360 tour - nursing and midwifery facilities
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 64
This must include at least 24 (Grade D) from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- DDE at A Level.
- MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma
- Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core
- A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- Science at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents**
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents***
*GCSE Science equivalents
- OCR Science level 2
- Science units gained on a level 3 BTEC or OCR National Diploma or Extended Diploma qualification
- Science credits gained on Access to Higher Education Diplomas (at least 12 credits at level 2 or 6 credits gained at level 3)
- Science equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
**GCSE Maths equivalents
- Level 2 Key Skills/ Application of Number/ Level 2 Maths credits from an Access course
- Maths equivalency test from www.equivalencytesting.co.uk
***GCSE English equivalents
- Level 2 Literacy
- Level 2 Key Skills
• Access - an Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course in a science based subject. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 7.0 or above, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each skill.
Additional information for EU/International students
This course is not open to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK. If you are an international applicant but do not require a student visa, email our Admissions Team to find out whether you’re eligible to apply.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Module Aim
This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of academic, personal, and professional skills that enable transition into Level 4 study and future employability.
The module will be delivered through a combination of face-to-face and digital lectures and seminars, practical's, Academic advising, and simulations.
Indicative content
Content of the module is agile and flexible to allow for changing professional situations and contemporary perspectives. Typical indicative content includes:
-
Fundamental principles of health care
-
Key organisations, agencies, services, professional bodies.
-
Professionalism, Professional standards, and code of conduct/ethics/practice within relevant work-related roles.
-
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
-
Academic writing conventions
-
Sciences related the 11 health professionals including biology, physics and chemistry.
-
All sciences will cover fundamentals and basic overview also exploring links to professional specific knowledge.
Module Aim
In this module you will develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of contemporary issues that currently influence healthcare. It will focus on developing your ability to find, select and apply appropriate research and evidence.
The module will be delivered through workshops and seminars.
Also, Academic advising session within this module.
Indicative content
Content of the module is agile and flexible to allow for changing professional situations and contemporary perspectives. You should be able to:
-
Search and identify appropriate evidence.
-
Explore issues impacting on Healthcare.
-
Identify policies and actions that lead to sustainable healthcare.
-
Explore the challenges of working with diverse communities.
-
Recognise strategic delivery partners Healthcare.
-
Examine the use of interventions to address challenges in healthcare.
Year 2
Compulsory modules
This module introduces you to the biopsychosocial, cognitive, political, economic, and medical factors which influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, diverse populations and communities. You’ll work with peers from other professions to consider how collaborative practice impacts on health and wellbeing outcomes, and helps you thrive in your own professional practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Models of care, support and empowerment
-
Social capital and cultural humility
-
Social accountability and determinants of health
-
Safeguarding practice
-
Public health agendas, inquiries and evidence-based reports
-
Building effective, trusting relationships
-
Community profiles and place-based care systems
-
Person-centred service delivery
-
Behaviour change and microaggressions
-
Diversity and inclusion
-
The effects of planetary health on wellbeing
This module introduces the midwife’s role in public health – and in optimising normal physiological processes – working to promote positive outcomes and prevent complications during the antenatal and postnatal period.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Anatomy and physiology related to pregnancy
-
Psychological principles and sociological constructs
-
Antenatal assessment and care, screening and health promotion
-
Postnatal screening, health promotion and education
-
Public health, infant feeding and relationship building
-
The fundamental principles of pharmacology
-
Midwife professionalism and compassionate care
-
Models of care, continuity and caseloading
This module allows you to access support and demonstrate you’ve achieved the proficiencies set out in the SHU Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA) and met the requirements for progression to level 5.
You’ll apply your learning and skills to:
-
Practice placements
-
Academic Adviser sessions
-
The required theory and practice hours
-
Passing numeracy assessment at 80%
This module consolidates your progression to graduate-level study and professional practice, reflecting on your role as a professional who delivers safe and effective person-centred care. You’ll be supported to identify influencing factors on your professional practice – developing strategies which support you to thrive personally, professionally and academically.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Reflective practice and writing skills
-
Personal and professional development and identity
-
Emotional intelligence
-
Self-perception, privilege and introduction intersectionality and allyship
-
Self-management, feedback and leadership
-
Ethics in professional practice
-
Communication methods and techniques
-
Contemporary policy for professional practice
-
Teamwork and collaborating across professional boundaries
-
Personal behaviour and self-assessment techniques
-
The impact of behaviours, values, research and anti-oppressive and inclusive practice
This module introduces the midwife’s role in optimising normal physiological processes, working to promote positive outcomes and prevent complications during labour and birth.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Anatomy and physiology of labour
-
Fetal circulation and adaption to extra-uterine life
-
Clinical skills relating to labour and birth
-
Assessment of maternal and fetal wellbeing
-
The role of the midwife during labour and birth
-
Compassion, trauma and cultural sensitivity
-
Evidence-based medicines management
-
Working with pain, analgesia and complementary therapies
Year 3
Compulsory modules
This module is your chance to apply your professional knowledge, skills and values in an integrated manner. You’ll work collaboratively with peers from other disciplines to assess, intervene and overcome the challenges of complex health and social care situations – supporting individuals, groups and communities.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Drivers for integrated and person-centred health and social care
-
Inter-professional teamworking across multiple service interfaces
-
Shared ethical decision-making, collaboration and co-production
-
Assessment, treatment planning, evaluation and risk management
-
The realities of living with long-term conditions and multi-morbidities
-
Mental capacity, best interest assessment, equality and reasonable adjustments
-
Resilience, communication, breaking bad news, difficult conversations
-
Interpersonal and systemic discrimination in health and social care
-
Inclusive language and terminology including challenging microaggressions
-
Technology-enabled care and digitalisation within integrated care systems
This module introduces you to research and enquiry design and methods. You’ll be able to apply them to an area of investigation – considering factors that impact on literature appraisal – preparing you to undertake and manage an investigation as a professional practitioner.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
What makes a good question
-
Research design, types of evidence and suitability of methods
-
Co-production – patient and public involvement
-
Inclusive perspectives of research
-
Data collection methods, strengths and weaknesses
-
Analysis techniques
-
Usefulness/impact and implications for practice
-
Ethics and governance
-
Sample of existing appraisal tools
-
Searching and critically reviewing the literature
This module develops your knowledge and understanding of the role of the midwife in evaluating the individual care needs of women, birthing people and neonates.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Physiology and pathophysiology of conditions in pregnancy
-
Interdisciplinary care of pregnancy-related conditions
-
Management and communication with families
-
Evaluation of the role of the midwife
-
Developing competence in clinical midwifery skills
-
Perinatal mental health including fathers and family
-
Local, national and global context of maternity care provision
-
Cultural competency and social vulnerability
This module develops your knowledge and understanding of complex maternity care provision, including the application of the clinical skills required to manage obstetric emergencies and interdisciplinary working.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Physiology and pathophysiology of conditions
-
Identification and management of additional care
-
Pre-existing, current and emerging complications
-
Evidence-based approaches for additional care scenarios
-
Developing clinical midwifery skills for practice
-
Infant feeding and relationship building
-
Positive family attachment following complex births
-
Cultural competence and social vulnerability
Final year
Compulsory modules
This module develops your systematic understanding of leadership and education concepts in practice. You’ll critically reflect on these in the context of collaboration within health and social care practice – considering how you can effectively support people who use services, their carers and families, and communities who have complex health and care needs to thrive.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Differences between management, leadership and the role of the critical follower
-
Leadership theories, models and styles most relevant to health and social care
-
Self-awareness and seeing ourselves as leaders
-
Recognising our own personal impact, rank, power and privilege
-
Professional cultures, traditional hierarchies and becoming an agent of change
-
Leading psychologically safe, anti-racist and inclusive teams
-
Resilience, volatility and acknowledging the wellbeing needs of the workforce
-
Sustainable practice, quality improvement and leadership
-
Tackling inequalities in health and social care through advocacy and education
-
Technology-enabled care and digitalisation within integrated care systems
This module enables you to critically reflect on key components of integrated health and social care, for the effective provision of universal and additional care for women and newborn infants.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Physical, mental health and psycho-social case studies
-
Working with other professions to deliver care
-
Cultural competency and social vulnerability
-
Planning and delivering health promotion interventions
-
Health and care management for marginalised families
-
Funding and commissioning of services
-
Clinical midwifery skills enhancement
-
Communication skills for leadership
-
Conflict resolution
This module allows you to demonstrate you’ve met the requirements for registration with the NMC. You’ll
complete the requirements throughout the course – mainly in practice placements, of which there are 60 weeks over the three years.
You’ll apply your learning and skills to:
-
A self-declaration of good health and good character
-
Achievement of the practice learning experiences
-
Achieve 10 witnessed and 40 personally managed systematic examinations of the newborn
This module allows you to access support and demonstrate you’ve achieved the proficiencies set out in the Hallam Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement (MORA). Across the year and in practice placements, you’ll be able to meet the requirements for registration with the NMC and for employment as a registered midwife.
You’ll apply your learning and skills to:
-
Proficiencies in the SHU MORA context document
-
Completion of the required theory and practice hours
-
Pass the numeracy assessment at 100%
-
Attend Academic Adviser sessions
This module consolidates your knowledge and skills to provide safe, effective, respectful and compassionate care to women, newborn infants and their families. You’ll learn to lead holistic woman-centred care in preparation for accountable, autonomous and professional midwifery practice.
You’ll study topics such as:
-
Strategies to optimise normal physiological processes
-
Complex care planning, management and risk assessment
-
Communication skills to prepare for practice supervision
-
Preparation for ward management
-
Improvement strategies for quality and safety
-
Clinical midwifery skills enhancement
-
Compiling and presenting evidence for review panels
-
Employability and career pathways
This module enables you to undertake a sustained, in-depth piece of independent learning, demonstrating a critical understanding and applying appropriate research methods within a piece of work. This work will challenge and contribute to improvements in areas of practice through the dissemination of findings to professional communities.
You’ll apply learning and skills such as:
-
An individual independent project/dissertation
-
Creating and contributing to research and evaluation for practice
-
Application of approaches to research
-
Research, improvement and evaluation methodologies
-
Addressing inclusivity in your research process
-
Dissemination of project outcomes
-
Challenges in applying research outcomes to practice
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year (capped at a maximum of 20% of this during your placement year). These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 165.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.