Midwifery

Midwifery is both a clinical profession and a vocation grounded in the belief that pregnancy and birth, though complex and sometimes risky, are fundamentally normal life events that deserve skilled, compassionate, and woman-centred care. Midwives support women and their families throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postnatal period, working autonomously and as part of multidisciplinary teams to ensure that outcomes are as safe and positive as possible. The profession draws on biomedical science, public health, psychology, and ethics, and demands clinical excellence alongside outstanding communication and relational skills.

At the University of Manchester, this three-year, full-time programme leads to registration as a qualified midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Manchester is a research-active university with strong connections to NHS trusts across the North West, providing a rich clinical training environment. The programme combines academic study with substantial supervised practice in both hospital and community settings, so from early in the degree you will be working alongside qualified midwives and caring for women and babies under appropriate supervision.

Academic content covers anatomy and physiology of pregnancy and childbirth, pharmacology, neonatal care, public health, the management of obstetric and neonatal emergencies, and the legal and ethical frameworks of professional practice. A typical entry tariff of 152 UCAS points reflects the standards expected for entry to a regulated clinical profession.

Midwifery demands emotional resilience alongside clinical competence. You will develop the capacity to support people through some of the most significant experiences of their lives, including those that are joyful and those that are deeply difficult.

Graduates register as midwives and work in NHS hospitals, birth centres, and community settings. Specialist pathways include research midwifery, public health, obstetric emergencies, and midwifery education. Senior roles in clinical leadership and management are open to experienced midwives, as is postgraduate study.