Program Overview
The Midwifery with Registered Midwife BMid (Hons) program at Kingston University is a 3-year full-time course that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and empathy necessary to excel as midwives. The program offers both a degree and a professional midwifery qualification, preparing graduates to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Students benefit from placements in maternity units, access to dedicated facilities, and an NHS Training Grant.
Program Outline
This course equips students with the scientific knowledge, practical skills, interpersonal skills, and empathy necessary to excel in this essential role. The program offers both a degree and a professional midwifery qualification. Graduates are prepared to enter the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and register as qualified midwives.
Key Features:
- Placement Opportunities: Placements are available in maternity units in hospitals and community settings across South London and Surrey.
- Dedicated Facilities: Students have access to a new Simulated Learning and Clinical Skills suite, along with a dedicated Midwifery Skills space. This flexible learning environment can be adapted to simulate home or hospital settings.
Outline:
The Midwifery with Registered Midwife BMid (Hons) program is a 3-year full-time course.
Year 1:
- Bodies and Birth 1 (30 credits): Introduces the biological basis of midwifery care, including pharmacology, genomics, and genetics.
- Social and Political Context of Birth 1 (30 credits): Examines the social, political, and cultural factors shaping maternity care provision. Students explore feminist theory, psychology, sociology, and public health as they relate to childbearing.
- Midwifery Profession and Practice 1A (30 credits): Introduces the concepts of professional midwifery, defining the contemporary role and scope of the midwife. Professional values and culture are explored.
- Midwifery Profession and Practice 1B (30 credits): Focuses on midwifery professional practice, identifying the midwife's role and responsibilities in providing universal care for women, birthing people, and their newborn infants.
Year 2:
- Bodies and Birth 2 (30 credits): Builds upon Year 1 knowledge, exploring the complexities that can occur during pregnancy for some mothers and babies. Topics include fetal and neonatal development, pharmacology, and pathophysiology.
- Social and Political Context of Birth 2 (30 credits): Delves deeper into the socio-economic, political, and cultural factors impacting health outcomes. Students critically analyze the interconnected issues affecting women's and birthing people's health and care needs.
- Midwifery Profession and Practice 2A (30 credits): Emphasizes optimizing normal processes in various contexts, including those with additional care needs. Students gain a systematic understanding of the midwife's role in collaborating with other healthcare practitioners.
Year 3:
- Bodies and Birth 3 (30 credits): Further develops midwifery knowledge and understanding, preparing students for autonomous practice. Covers advanced topics in human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, genomics, genetics, sexual and reproductive health, and contraception.
- Social and Political Context of Birth 3 (30 credits): Investigates historical and socio-political influences related to childbearing, critically analyzing how these factors shape midwifery practice.
- Midwifery Profession and Practice 3A (30 credits): Enhances students' confidence and responsibility as accountable, autonomous, critical, and analytical practitioners.
- Midwifery Profession and Practice 3B (30 credits): Equips students with the skills to provide and evaluate safe and effective universal care across the childbearing continuum. Covers advanced aspects of practice, including managing common symptoms, anticipating complications, and providing first-line management in emergency situations.
Assessment:
- Year 1: Coursework (50%), exams (25%), practical exam (25%)
- Year 2: Coursework (63%), exams (20%), practical exam (18%)
- Year 3: Coursework (62%), practical exam (38%)
Teaching:
- Scheduled Learning and Teaching: Timetabled activities include lectures, seminars, small group tutorials, placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences, and field trips.
- Guided Independent Study: Outside scheduled hours, students engage in self-study, reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments.
- Academic Support: Kingston University provides a dedicated academic support team offering help in various areas.
- Personal Tutors: Each student is assigned a personal tutor who provides academic guidance, support throughout their studies, and guidance on utilizing university resources.
- Faculty: The teaching staff consists of leaders in the field who regularly contribute to research, particularly in the care of mothers and children before, during, and after pregnancy.
Careers:
- Career Paths: Midwives work in the NHS, independently, and in the voluntary sector. They can pursue clinical practice, teaching, research, or service management roles.
- Accreditation: This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in midwifery.
Other:
- Links with the Health Sector: Students participate in placements in various settings, including hospitals, community settings, and continuity of care. Kingston University has partnerships with NHS Trusts, such as:
- Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
- Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (including Frimley and Wexham Park hospitals)
- Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (St Peters Hospital)
- Future Skills: Embedded within the curriculum and Kingston University experience are "Future Skills," which aim to equip graduates with the skills most valued by employers, such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.
Fee category Amount Home (UK students) £9,250 International Year 1 (2025/26): £18,800Year 2 (2026/27): £19,600Year 3 (2027/28): £20,400 A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Fee category Amount Home (UK students) £9,250 International Year 1 (2024/25): £18,100Year 2 (2025/26): £18,800Year 3 (2026/27): £19,600 A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits.
Funding
Salary support Support for students starting in September 2024 is subject to confirmation. This decision only applies to new EU students starting after 2021/22.
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships. Textbooks You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year. Computer equipment Photocopying and printing In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees; this may cost up to £100 per year. Uniform and equipment We provide you with a uniform. You will need to purchase appropriate shoes (£20 to £60) and a fob watch (£5 to £20) for practice. Travel Placements DBS check Occupational health The minimum fee recommended by the BMA is £30. Membership and professional fees Professional body membership fees whilst on course are approximately £10.
