Midwifery

Midwifery is one of the oldest caring professions, and it remains one of the most demanding and rewarding. Midwives provide expert care and support to women and birthing people throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postnatal period, and to newborn infants in the critical first weeks of life. The role requires deep clinical knowledge alongside exceptional interpersonal skills, the ability to make sound clinical judgements under pressure, and a genuine commitment to supporting people through one of the most significant experiences of their lives.

This three-year full-time programme at the University of York equips you to become a skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate midwife capable of providing excellent care in a range of settings. The curriculum places research and enquiry at its centre, developing your ability to engage critically with evidence and to apply contemporary thinking about midwifery and maternity care to your practice. Alongside academic study in midwifery science, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and the social and psychological aspects of childbirth, you will complete extensive practice placements in clinical settings.

The programme also includes a sandwich year in industry, a year abroad, and additional work placement experience, which together provide an unusually broad range of professional and international contexts for your learning. With a typical entry tariff of 136 points, the programme is competitive and attracts students with a clear vocation for this career.

Graduates from this programme are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as qualified midwives. NHS trusts are the primary employers, with midwives working across hospital labour wards, community midwifery teams, and specialist antenatal and postnatal services. Independent midwifery is a smaller but established sector.

The year abroad element of this programme may open routes into international practice or research. With experience, midwives move into specialist practice, including high-risk obstetrics, neonatal care, and midwifery-led units, as well as into education, leadership, and research roles. Postgraduate study in midwifery or related health sciences is available for those who want to develop specialist clinical or academic expertise.