Midwifery

Midwifery is the profession concerned with supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. Midwives are autonomous practitioners who provide continuity of care across the entire journey from conception to the weeks after birth, offering clinical expertise, emotional support, health education, and advocacy for the women and families they care for. The role requires both precise clinical skills and deep interpersonal sensitivity, and it occupies a uniquely intimate and significant place in healthcare.

At Swansea University, this three-year full-time degree prepares you for registration as a midwife through a programme that is internationally recognised and practically focused. You will develop the clinical knowledge and competencies needed for safe and effective midwifery practice, studying pregnancy physiology, obstetric complications, neonatal care, and the broader health and social context of childbearing. Substantial clinical placement experience is woven through the programme, giving you hands-on practice in a range of maternity settings under the supervision of experienced midwives.

Swansea describes the degree as internationally recognised and designed to equip you for a rewarding and valued career, reflecting the seriousness of its commitment to producing well-prepared graduates.

Graduates who qualify as midwives are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and can work in NHS trusts, independent birth centres, home birth services, and maternity units across the UK and internationally. Career progression into specialist roles such as consultant midwife, independent midwife, lecturer, and neonatal care is well supported by postgraduate study and professional development. Many midwives go on to pursue advanced practice qualifications, specialist clinician roles, or academic positions in midwifery education and research, building careers that extend the scope and influence of the profession.