Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
The Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice course aims to enable registered midwives to build on and enhance their midwifery knowledge, clinical reasoning and decision making skills. The resulting abilities of independent thinking and autonomous practice are highly desirable for midwives seeking career development opportunities.
Teaching and Employability:
- work-based education enables midwives to engage in theoretical analysis of practice in the workplace
- teaching team has a wealth of experience in work-based learning
- builds on the success of the existing Enhanced Professional Practice programme which has offered an excellent learning experience to all students
- close professional and clinical links with clinical colleagues and senior midwifery colleagues
- contributes to a culture of scholarship and enhanced practice in clinical areas
Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practise is a work-based modular postgraduate degree specifically geared towards the needs of practising and registered midwives. It is practice focused but also supports the student to develop skills in reflection and critical thinking.
Work-based learning is a student-centred approach where the student directs their own learning objectives so they reflect on what is important to their roles in their practice, and use these practice issues to drive forward their learning within the modules.
Midwives completing the Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice programme will have developed as autonomous learners who can think more critically and apply theory, experience and academic literature to the development and enhancement of their practice.
They will have gained not only academic and enhanced clinical skill, but also a number of transferable skills. This can only be of benefit to the midwife in terms of employability, the maternity service of the Health Board in which they work, and ultimately the standards of care for mothers and babies.
Modules on the Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice programme typically include:
Starting Your Professional Development
Developing Expertise in the Supervision of Midwives
Leadership and Professional issues in Midwifery
Developing Expertise in the Supervision of Midwives (CPD)
Professional Practice in Sexual & Reproductive Health
Policy Influences on Your Practice
Assessing Your Current Practice
How the Evidence Base Can Help You Change Your Practice
How Can I Make a Change in Practice?
Advancing Your Own Practice
Teaching and Learning in Practice
Professional Midwifery Practice Portfolio
The Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice course is a flexible part-time degree and students can study a maximum of 60 credits per year and complete in not less than 36 months and no more than 5 years including submission of the dissertation. Most students will be in full time employment and this programme allows them to undertake postgraduate studies whilst they are working.
The first module students will study is SHGM90 Starting your Professional Practice. In addition to this module and SHGM91 Personal Practice Development Portfolio, students will undertake SHMM01 Leadership and Professional Issues in Midwifery or SHMM00/SHMM02 Developing Expertise in the Supervision of Midwives, as an additional core module.
Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice students may also access up to 30 credits from the College of Human and Health Sciences’ postgraduate catalogue of modules. To be awarded the MSc Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice, the student must achieve 180 credits at level 7 which must include the three core modules.
Delivery of the Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice programme is a tripartite arrangement between the student, personal tutor and practice facilitator. Learning for each work-based module is based on the development of a learning contract and consequently the following process will be adopted for each module.
Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice students who do not wish to complete the full MSc have alternative exit qualifications:
- Students will be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice on successful completion of 60 credits at level 7.
- Students will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Enhanced Professional Midwifery Practice on successful completion of 120 credits at level 7.
The Midwifery team has a strong background in academic support at all levels. For this programme the academic supervision and support is given by Midwifery lecturers experienced in work based learning. The support is offered through a combination of individual tutorials and Action Learning Sets in groups. Close links between the Midwifery team and Clinical colleagues in the practice setting ensures supportive and nurturing culture of learning.
The College of Human and Health Sciences has a vibrant postgraduate community with students drawn from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities. The College is known for its friendly, welcoming and supportive environment, which combined with its extensive facilities, state-of-the-art technology and superb beachside location, helps to ensure that students benefit from an exceptional student experience.
In addition, students have access to a wide range of excellent facilities and equipment for realistic workplace experiences.
The University of Salford is a supportive and thriving student community with modern learning spaces, shops and cafes. The dedicated team of midwifery and neonatal lecturers pride themselves on tailoring study to your needs and helping you reach your full potential. The MSc Midwifery will empower you to take forward your practice in any environment such as clinical, management, leadership and research roles. There is also a dedicated pathway for those with, or planning to have educational responsibilities.
You will be taught by a dynamic multidisciplinary team of academics and clinicians who are recognised experts in their disciplines and who have strong practice links across the North West. The teaching environments are equipped with state-of-the-art classroom facilities and dedicated midwifery and neonatal clinical skills simulation suites. Creative learning and participation is encouraged through reflection and critical discussion.
Please note that some modules require a clinical placement which must be in place prior to application. In some circumstances assessment and practice can be undertaken via simulation.
One to one support and preparation is provided for assessments which emulate the real life environment and allow practitioners to develop their skills and confidence. Although this might seem daunting you have opportunity to learn at an achievable pace with a group of like minded peers which students find friendly and supportive.
You will be encouraged and supported to present and publish your work.
The MSc Midwifery is underpinned by a student centred teaching and learning philosophy. A range of teaching strategies are used, including seminars, lectures, action learning, online learning, directed study, practice based assessments and peer supported learning. Online material will use live streaming and pre-recorded sessions. A variety of methods including recorded lecturers, blogs, discussions boards and live stream lectures will form the learning and teaching strategy. You will have access to tutorial support via email, phone, facetime, Skype or any other appropriate methods that can be supported dependent on student and lecturer preference.
As students have a variety of different learning styles, the mode of delivery is varied and includes:
Contemporary midwifery requires a diverse range of skills and the programme is designed to nurture and develop these according to individual need. The MSc Midwifery allows for a variety of assessments related to the real world, depending on the module undertaken, and includes:
Simulation Suite and Immersive Suite
The University has state-of-the-art simulation facilities for clinical skills and simulation scenarios in a variety of high and low risk environments. The immersive suite, one of only a handful of its kind in UK universities – will enable students to practice dealing with any kind of incident in a virtual setting. A series of cameras project realistic images onto three walls of the room as well as onto the floor, while sounds can be piped into the room by specialist technicians working from a separate control room.
The room can be transformed into anything from the back of an ambulance transporting women between hospitals or from home to hospital or to a challenging environment such as a house boat where a woman has chosen to give birth.
The dedicated counselling suite with therapy and psychotherapy rooms can also be utilised for learning such as debriefing and coaching sessions.
Birth Simulators
We use a maternal and fetal simulation system called Sim Mom which allows you to appreciate the birthing experience from the onset of labour, through delivery, to treatment of the mother after the birth.
Past students have gone on to take up posts as midwifery managers, educationalists and consultant midwives. Others have continued their studies at PhD level, for example undertaking the Professional Doctorate offered at this University.
This course is mapped against the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework, which was introduced to provide greater flexibility and benefits for individuals and employers. It provides a single, consistent, comprehensive and explicit framework on which to base the review and development of all staff. By undertaking this programme, you can therefore demonstrate you have the knowledge and skills to deliver a high quality service for childbearing women.
This course has close links with the maternity and neonatal services and module teaching teams are multidisciplinary. This means your learning will be current and relevant to contemporary midwifery practice.
The MSc Midwifery: Education confers NMC accredited teacher status for those wishing to move into midwifery education.
After completing the MSc in Midwifery you may wish to further your study with a research degree or PhD.
This course has been specifically designed for experienced adult nurses who are looking to change their career direction and become a midwife.
The course provides a fast track route into midwifery and is completed within an 90 week teaching period.
As a midwife you will be working with families and parents at one of the most important times of their lives. You will be caring for and supporting women and their partners during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.
The Postgraduate Midwifery Diploma (90 week shortened course for Nurses) prepares qualified adult nurses to pursue a rewarding and challenging career in midwifery.
The programme will enable you to develop your skills, professional knowledge and understanding of the midwife's role, understand childbirth and the current issues in midwifery practice. It will provide knowledge and skills on the promotion of health and well-being of childbearing women and their families.
Experience will be gained in all areas of maternity services including community clinics, birthing centres, the antenatal clinic, delivery suite, antenatal/postnatal wards and women's homes. You'll also understand the value and importance of working within a multi-professional team to ensure the best possible outcome for women and babies when complexities arise.
This course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Our specialist Clinical Skills Centre at our Northampton Square Campus has been designed to give students a safe environment in which to practise their clinical and caring skills. Designed to reflect working wards and clinical environments, you will be able to familiarise yourself with equipment and practices before commencing placements.
We have a range of specialist equipment that is used to simulate birthing situations from normal to emergency, to enable you to develop the skills you need no-matter the birthing situation you are supporting.
You will have access to a simulated 6-bedded high dependency unit (HDU) with realistic equipment including piped oxygen, call bells, medicines and emergency equipment; laboratories, including a biology laboratory, allow students to rehearse their skills in preparation for practice in a range of placements, including clinics and women’s homes.
Approximately 60% of your time on the course will be spent on placement.
Students will be allocated to a community of practice for their clinical learning experiences. City, University of London currently has four communities of practice in Newham, City and Hackney (Homerton), Camden and Islington (UCLH) and Tower Hamlets (Royal London).
Teaching and learning involves lecture sessions, workshops, small group activities and discussions and whole class discussion.
You will split your time between clinical practice and the institution, with 60% of your time gaining clinical practice experience and 40% of your time being theory based. Some of the student-directed study time is used for reflective practice sessions held within the practice setting.
Modules are assessed through a combination of group work, written coursework, written and clinical examination. All assessments are focused on issues in midwifery practice.
The course is delivered through a mixture of clinical practice and academic study. You will experience a wealth of opportunities for learning with midwives, women and their families within the hospital and community settings. From the outset of your journey you will be able to apply your growing knowledge and skills holistically through the undertaking of a small caseload of women. This will be with the support of your mentors and supervisors of midwives. A portfolio of practice will help to steer your learning and integrate the theoretical strands into your practice.
The course commences with an orientation module followed by modules related to the following themes:
Students will be able to combine theoretical study and develop clinical skills within our excellent clinical simulation facilities. The course has a theory/practice split of 40%-60%.
Students will be allocated to a clinical area and supported by a trained midwifery mentor and practice education facilitator.
Independent study time is also given so students can develop their individual learning.
Midwifery is a challenging career which allows you to develop your skills and interests within a range of specialisms within the profession. Successful graduates gain registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which provides an internationally recognised professional qualification allowing you to practice in the UK and overseas. Some countries require additional local registration.
Careers prospects are excellent; 90% of our graduates go on to employment or further study within 6 months of graduation. Our graduates secure employment with trusts including Barts Health NHS Trust, Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
As a graduate midwife in London you should expect to start your career with an annual average salary of £29,000. Progression within the midwifery profession is common, with many graduates advancing to a Band 6 role within 6-12 months of graduating (qualified midwives start on a Band 5 contract) and continuing to steadily progress throughout their career.
Graduates from the PG Dip Midwifery (90 week) course are also able to top-up their qualification to an MSc by taking addition modules and completing a dissertation.
A range of career opportunities are available for midwives in midwifery led stand-alone birth centres, acute units, and independent practice, consultant and specialist roles. Midwives can also work independently and self-employed as independent midwives.
The course is designed for qualified midwives looking to advance into senior, advanced and educational posts within the midwifery profession, where a Masters qualification is often desired.
Completing an Advanced Practice (Midwifery) MSc at City, University of London will not only demonstrate your ambition and aptitude for learning, it will increase your chances of success in your chosen career progression. Furthermore, our uniquely flexible programme provides you with the opportunity to tailor your learning to your unique learning needs and interests.
City’s Advanced Practice (Midwifery) MSc is a natural progression from your preregistration Midwifery education as it provides you with the opportunity to build upon your specialist knowledge and skills in a way that will widen your career opportunities.
Our programme offers an exciting and flexible learning environment where compulsory modules are kept to a minimum. This means that you can choose some of your modules from a wide range optional modules, building a unique and challenging learning programme tailored to your individual development needs and interests.
The Masters programme offers teaching in the latest theoretical and clinical developments by academics belonging to the Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research who carry out leading world class research aimed at improving the health and care of women, children, families and communities.
In the programme’s core modules you will gain a solid foundation of research skills and applied data analysis to support and extend your role as an evidence-based practitioner.
Our specialist Clinical Skills Centre at our Northampton Square Campus has been designed to give students a safe environment in which to practise their clinical and caring skills.
We have a range of specialist equipment that is used to simulate birthing situations from normal to emergency, to enable you to develop the skills you need no-matter the birthing situation you are supporting.
You will have access to a simulated 6-bedded high dependency unit (HDU) with realistic equipment including piped oxygen, call bells, medicines and emergency equipment; laboratories, including a biology laboratory, allow students to rehearse their skills in preparation for practice in a range of placements, including clinics and women’s homes.
A blended approach to learning and teaching is adopted including institution-based taught modules, e-learning and work-based learning. Modules are run by experienced practitioners and leading researchers, using a variety of direct and interactive teaching methods. Students will learn in large and small multidisciplinary groups and will be supported and encouraged to participate in independent learning.
A variety of assessment methods are used to assess the course learning outcomes. The choice of assessment method will be influenced by the focus and learning outcomes of the modules. Assessment strategies include coursework, examinations, reports, seminar presentations, skills schedules and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs).
The programme is taught using a variety of learning techniques. These vary depending upon the modules and will include:
The time you spend in each of these activites will vary. You will be allocated one hour’s learning activity per academic credit. This time will include assessment preparation time.
Core multidisciplinary modules
Core discipline specific modules
Elective modules
You may choose two 15 credit elective modules to study.
This Advanced Practice (Midwifery) MSc allows practitioners flexibility in developing specialist skills and knowledge at a highly demanding academic and practical level. The course will prepare students for a range of roles including midwife consultant, academia and clinical leadership.
Previous alumni have entered into midwifery leadership posts, education and research following their completion of this programme
This 85 week PgDip course has been designed for registered adult nurses who have already studied at degree level who would like to gain the knowledge, skills and values necessary to register as midwives on the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) professional register. This is an NMC approved course.
You will be offered clinical experience within local NHS trusts and the surrounding community. We aim to co-ordinate your clinical placements to reflect the modules being studied, integrating theory and practice.
The themes that run through the programme are midwifery profession and practice, research, biological science, social science, health promotion/public health, and law and ethics.
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
Modules
Our MSc Advanced Midwifery Practice and Leadership course gives registered midwives the knowledge and skills they need to enhance their practice and prepare for leadership roles.
The course is aimed at midwives registered with a relevant professional, statutory or equivalent regulatory body. You will study content that reflects professional, UK-wide government and international benchmarks for advanced level practice in health and social care, enhancing your suitability for revalidation.
This includes contemporary knowledge and skills in clinical and direct care practice, leadership and collaborative practice, improving quality and developing practice, and developing self and others.
You will learn how to develop efficient and ethical ways of working that offer a better quality of life and care by placing service users and carers at the centre of decision-making and service redesign.
Flexible learning
Study this course full-time over one year or part-time for a maximum of five years depending on your other commitments.
Tailor your course
Choose from a wide range of course units to suit your own interests, with midwifery-specific units including Leadership and Managing Change.
We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including face-to-face, blended and online learning.
The course focuses on an active learning approach and is designed to prompt the discovery, processing and application of knowledge through collaboration and cooperation.
You will draw on your own experiences - both academic and work-based - when learning. The course will promote the construction of understanding through task-related activities and reflection.
We have extensive experience and good practice in online learning, with dedicated e-learning technologists to support you and our staff in making the most of the e-learning platform.
Find out more by visiting the postgraduate teaching and learning page.
You can undertake standalone units as short courses for professional development purposes only, or build up a selection of optional and compulsory course units to complete a PGCert or PGDip academic award and, on completion of a dissertation unit, an MSc.
The dissertation unit enables you to consolidate your learning by completing a piece of work from a range of options:
We use a range of assessments throughout the course to assess your knowledge and understanding and to develop your intellectual and practical skills.
You can study individual units as standalone short courses or build up units of study towards a PGCert or PGDip award, and undertake a dissertation to complete the MSc award. See the CPD Units page for more information.
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) (60 credits)
You will initially develop your specialist knowledge and clinical practice relating to midwifery, particularly in relation to leadership and management.
Recognising your key role in practice, these clinically-focused units of study will enable you to enhance practice and service delivery.
45 credits can be undertaken from a variety of optional course units to best suit your professional specialism.
15 credits will comprise one core unit on Developing Practice and Managing Change.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) (120 credits)
You will further explore and develop advanced clinical practice in midwifery by selecting further optional units from the portfolio of units available.
30 credits can be undertaken from a variety of optional course units to best suit your professional specialism.
30 credits comprising two compulsory course units - Research Design and Critical Appraisal and Evidence Synthesis - will also be taken.
Master of Science (MSc) (180 credits)
After successfully completing the 120 credits for the PGDip, you may be eligible to undertake a dissertation from a range of options:
Some course units are delivered in partnership with the Christie and the Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust , which are National Centres of Excellence.
The University of Manchester offers extensive library and online services to help you get the most out of your studies.
For those students who declare a disability, practical support and advice is available from the Disability Support Office. Email: [email protected]
You can take individual units from this course as standalone courses for continuing professional development (CPD). See the nursing, midwifery and social work CPD page for further information.
Our course is structured around the real challenges facing advanced level practitioners, and each unit will draw from, and build on, your own professional experience.
This will enable you to apply your new knowledge to midwifery and mould the course to best suit your learning requirements.
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has validated the following units:
The General Pharmaceutical Council has also validated the Independent Prescribing unit, which is also available as a standalone short course
Start date to be confirmed.
This three-year PgDip course has been designed for health and science graduates who would like to gain the knowledge, skills and values necessary to register as midwives on the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) professional register. This is an NMC approved course.
You will study a wide range of subjects that provide the scientific knowledge base for midwifery practice, such as maternal and neonatal physiology and care; health promotion and education; professional, ethical and legal issues; and research. You will be exposed to a variety of educational and practice settings and encouraged to view learning as a lifelong process. Reflection is emphasised throughout the course to enhance the integration of theory and practice.
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
The postgraduate Midwifery programme adopts a holistic approach to developing experienced registered midwives into skilled leaders of the profession.
The programme is designed to develop the skills in complex reasoning, critical thinking and analysis required to undertake these roles. The awards offer you the opportunity to apply knowledge to a range of clinical and professional situations through reflection and practice experience, supported by an experienced mentor. Learning and teaching is designed to equip you with skills in using a range of information, data, tools and techniques to improve the quality of patient care and health outcomes as well as demonstrate impact and value.
The MSc in Midwifery and its nested awards are designed to address current and future demands of midwifery practice services, including the recommendations from Midwifery 2020 (DoH 2010). The awards recognise the changing clinical environment and allow you to develop key advanced skills or those associated with service delivery and enhancement within the current social and economic climate.
Your programme of study and the collection of modules you may choose to study will contextualise your learning. Modules such as the research or work based project modules, for example, enable you to shape your own focus of study within the modules aims and learning outcomes by learning the principles being taught and applying them to your own professional/employment area.
There are a number of approaches to the manner in which modules are delivered and these include block attendance, study day attendance, distance learning and blended learning using face to face and on-line activities/ materials. When devising your study plan with your academic supervisor you will be informed regarding which delivery methods are utilised for which module and in which semester your chosen modules are being delivered.
The programme was written specifically for registered midwives, but shares modules throughout the Faculty of Health Studies and a multi-professional approach is used in teaching and learning.
PGCert and PGDip options
MSc options
Whilst following this programme of study you will engage with learning through a range of teaching methods. These methods will be dependent on modules studied, however student centred approaches to learning are a feature of the modules and you will be expected to take responsibility for your learning as you develop your academic skills.
The aims of the teaching and learning strategies have been designed so that you will be given the opportunity to develop theoretical and experiential understanding, advance your knowledge and critical thinking with the assistance of research informed teaching, and to develop a range of skills appropriate to your professional field. This may include work based learning with competencies undertaken in your organisation or with an additional clinical area.
The Midwifery modules and awards nested within the framework offer you the capacity to acknowledge and build upon the knowledge and skills you may have acquired through previous learning experiences including those in the work place.
At the Faculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, you can choose to study for individual modules, a named award or build module credits through the SSPRD Framework for Flexible Learning to achieve an award relevant to your professional needs.
The Framework for Flexible Learning in Health and Social Care is a Faculty-wide academic structure for Specialist Skills and Post-Registration Development.
It offers students increased flexibility and choice in the modules and courses that can be undertaken and it is also responsive to employer needs.
The flexibility also allows you to move from one award to another if your career changes or you take time out from regular studying.
Shared teaching and research expertise from across the Faculty is offered through interdisciplinary teaching across our core research modules.
The Faculty of Health Studies is regionally, nationally and internationally recognised for its teaching and research, and works with a number of healthcare partners to ensure clinical excellence.
The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careerswebsite.
Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.
