Midwifery

Midwifery sits at the heart of healthcare, combining clinical expertise with deeply human care at one of the most significant moments in people's lives. Midwives support women and birthing people throughout pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period, and play a central role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of newborn infants and their families. The profession demands both technical competence and emotional intelligence, requiring practitioners who can make sound clinical judgements while remaining sensitive to individual needs and circumstances.

This three-year full-time programme at the University of Keele will equip you with the knowledge and clinical skills needed to qualify as a registered midwife. You will study the physiological and psychological dimensions of childbirth, learn to manage routine and complex births, and develop the ability to provide holistic care that treats each woman and family as an individual. Theory is integrated closely with practice throughout the degree, with substantial clinical placements giving you hands-on experience in a range of settings including hospitals, birthing centres, and community environments.

You will build competence in monitoring maternal and fetal wellbeing, supporting infant feeding, and recognising and responding to complications.

The programme also addresses the broader context of midwifery practice: public health, safeguarding, cultural competence, and the ethical dimensions of care. You will learn to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and to advocate effectively for the women in your care. A typical tariff of 152 points reflects the academic commitment the programme requires.

On graduating and registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, you will be eligible to practise as a midwife in the NHS, independent sector, or internationally. Many graduates go on to develop specialist interests in areas such as high-risk obstetrics, neonatal care, or public health midwifery. Further study at postgraduate level opens pathways into advanced clinical practice, education, or research within the maternity services.