Midwifery / Registered Midwife BSc (Hons) (for registered nurses)
Why choose this course?
If you're a registered adult nurse who is planning to change your career to midwifery, we can offer you a shortened course which combines the benefits of excellent teaching, personal support and extensive placement opportunities. The course is part of a unique joint faculty between Kingston University and St George's, University of London, the only UK university dedicated to medicine and healthcare sciences, giving you excellent opportunities for personal and professional growth. It is taught at the St George's Tooting campus in South London and Kingston Hill campus.
This course is delivered over just 85 weeks, in recognition of the skills and knowledge you will have already gained as a registered adult nurse. It concentrates on the specific range of subjects you will need to learn to become a registered midwife. Comprising large amounts of both theory and clinical skills teaching, you'll gain the scientific knowledge base and practical abilities for your future midwifery practice.
With teaching based on the site of a major hospital, you'll experience regular contact with other working health professionals who may bring their practical knowledge to your learning on occasions. You will have joint learning opportunities with other allied health students in our simulation suites and classrooms.
As a nurse you'll know the importance of teamwork. We pride ourselves on being a very supportive team and we'll take an individual and personal interest in your progress. Kingston University has a well-established and highly effective Student Life Services team, which could be useful if you're coming back to study after a period working.
| Attendance | UCAS code | Year of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 85 weeks full time | 4K56 | 2019 2020 |
| Location | St George's, University of London (for majority of the course) and Kingston Hill |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- 100 per cent of students from this course are in highly-skilled employment or further study six months after graduating (DHLE 2016/17).
- Kingston University is ranked in the top three universities for Nursing and Midwifery in London (Guardian League Tables 2019).
- St George's, University of London, is the only UK university dedicated to medicine and healthcare sciences.
What you will study
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. These modules will be subject to change in accordance with the new pre-registration midwifery education standards from the Nursing and Midwifery Council for 2020.
Modules
You will cover a range of midwifery theory and practice to enable you to become a registered midwife.
Core modules
Improving Practice through Research
30 credits
This module will facilitate you to understand the evidence base underpinning midwifery theory and practice and build on your knowledge of research. The focus is on informing professional practice using relevant evidence and research techniques. The module will enable you to appraise evidence and critically evaluate and contribute to the strategies for improving care through research, audit and clinical governance.
Transition to Midwifery Practice
30 credits
This module provides you with the requisite knowledge and skills to support the normal physiological processes of childbirth and provide safe and effective midwifery care.
Social and Political Context of Midwifery Care
30 credits
This module will enable you to apply social sciences (including psychology, sociology, health and social policy, politics and economics) to midwifery practice and maternity services provision.
Midwifery and Complicated Childbearing
30 credits
This module facilitates your knowledge and understanding in relation to the pathophysiological aspects of childbirth to enable you to provide care for women with complex health needs during childbirth and for women and families when complications arise.
Effective Midwifery Practice
30 credits
This module enhances your professional development in preparation for the role of an autonomous and reflective midwife. You are facilitated to critically explore and analyse the factors that influence decision making, including your own attitudes and beliefs and influence upon your practice. The contribution of effective midwifery care to the provision of safe and sustainable maternity services is also considered.
The information above reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. Updates may be made on an annual basis and revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. The regulations governing this course are available on our website. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered.
What our students say
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Teaching includes academic study and clinical practice experience. You will have access to well-equipped skills laboratories and simulation suites where you can use clinical equipment and practise on mannequins and teaching models that are relevant to maternity care.
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.
Academic support
Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.
Dedicated personal tutor
When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.
Your workload
| Year 1 | |
| % of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity: | 30% |
| Scheduled teaching and learning: | 456 hours |
| Guided independent study: | 114 hours |
| Clinical Practice: | 930 hours |
Contact hours may vary depending on your modules.
How you will be assessed
There is a continuous assessment of theory and practice. This includes extended essays, examinations, reflective journal writing and projects.
| Year 1 | ||
| 75% coursework | 13% practical exams | 38% written exam |
Feedback summary
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Who teaches this course?
You will be taught by leaders in the field who regularly contribute to research, particularly in the care of the mother and child, before, during and after pregnancy. Our teaching has an extensive focus on practical skills development, in partnership with local NHS Trusts to ensure you are fully equipped and competent to practice.
Course fees and funding
Facilities
Kingston University's unique partnership with St George's, University of London (SGUL), means that health and social care students can access the combined resources of both Kingston University and SGUL.
Kingston University's Kingston Hill campus offers you modern facilities and include well-equipped laboratories where you can practise within a safe environment. Our clinical skills laboratories house all the equipment needed to simulate clinical practice.
The St George's, University of London campus in Tooting is based alongside St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and offers you the specialist teaching environment of a medical school.
After you graduate
Registered midwives can choose to develop their skills and experience in the NHS, or the independent or voluntary sectors. Midwives can elect to work clinically, teach, undertake research or even manage a complete maternity service. Extensive postgraduate study opportunities are also available at Kingston and St George's.
Midwifery today is a highly attractive career with good financial rewards and excellent employment prospects in the UK and overseas.The majority of midwives work in the NHS, either in the community working alongside GPs, district nurses and social workers, or in hospital environments in partnership with obstetricians, anaesthetists and neonatologists.
Others work in private maternity hospitals or practice independently.There are many practice-based roles and also management opportunities in both midwifery and general health care which can enable midwives to develop and support modern midwifery practice. Midwives may also take on consultant roles.
Links with business and industry
We have a range of practice partners for midwifery from the NHS including:
- Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
- Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Frimley
- St Peters, Chertsey
Accreditation
This degree confers both an academic award and a professional qualification in midwifery. On completion of the programme, students are recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Council or professional registration.
