Midwifery - BSc (Hons)
Qualify as a confident and compassionate midwife. Gain the clinical skills and knowledge to provide holistic, safe, and effective care for women, newborn infants, and their families.
Year of entry
- 2023
Course type
- Single Honours
Location
Subject area / School
UCAS code
- B720
Duration of study
- 3 years
Why study Midwifery at Keele University?
Approved programme
Midwifery is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and has been designed to meet the seven NMC platforms which underpin pre-registration nursing education. The course is taught by lecturers who are expert clinicians, and qualified teachers in different specialisms. Their research feeds into our teaching. On successful completion of this course, you can apply for NMC nursing registration.
Additional opportunities
There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.
Entry requirements
The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.
Additional information
Please note in addition to our academic entry requirements, to be accepted onto a Nursing or Midwifery programme at Keele you must also fulfil a range of additional requirements. Details of these additional requirements and expectations can be found here.
If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, Foundation Year offers an alternative route to study for this degree.
GCSEs: Unless stated in the table below, a minimum of 5 GCSE subjects at Grade C (or 4) including English Language and Maths or equivalent qualifications (e.g. Functional Skills Level 2 / Key Skills Level 2). GCSE or equivalent qualifications must have been achieved prior to application.
If English is not your first language, normally applicants will have IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 7.0, including least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7.0 in the reading, listening and speaking sections. The University may be able to accept alternative English Language qualifications from applicants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) on a case by case basis in line with the appropriate Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines.
Plus one of the following level 3 qualifications:
|
Qualification |
Required A level Grade Profile |
Further Information |
|
A levels (Full A2) |
ABB |
The applicant must hold Biology, Human Biology, Health and Social care, Psychology or Sociology. |
|
Access to Higher Education Diploma |
60 Credits |
Health/ Science subjects only will be accepted. Maths and English Language at Grade C/ Grade 4 or above or equivalent, or 12 credits at Level 2 or 3 in English and 12 credits at Level 2 or 3 in Maths. Maths and English qualifications can be pending if studied alongside a pending Access to Higher Education Diploma. |
|
Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma / Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) |
DDM |
Health / Science subjects only will be accepted. |
|
BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (QCF) and National Extended Certificate (previously known as the Subsidiary Diploma) (QCF) are acceptable combined with additional A level or equivalent Level 3 qualification(s). |
128 UCAS Tariff points from the equivalent of 3 A Level qualifications. Use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth. |
Subjects must include one of: Biology, Human Biology, Health and Social care, Psychology or Sociology.
|
|
Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma (CTEC) |
DDM |
Health / Science subjects only will be accepted. |
|
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma/Technical Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care |
Grade A |
|
|
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma/ Technical Level 3 Diploma in Child Care and Education |
Grade A |
|
|
NCFE CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma for the Children & Young People's Workforce |
Grade A |
|
|
Open University K101/K102 - An Introduction to Health and Social Care |
Pass - 60 points at Level 1 |
GCSE requirements: Maths and English Language at Grade C / Grade 4 or above or equivalent. |
|
Previous degree |
Pass |
Any subject accepted. GCSE requirements: Maths and English Language at Grade C/ Grade 4 or above or equivalent. |
|
International Baccalaureate |
H6,H5,H5 or 32 overall. Must include H5 in Science Subject |
One Higher Level science subject is required (Biology preferred) at grade 5. |
|
Irish Leaving Certificate |
128 UCAS tariff points from 5 Highers Use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth. |
Biology, Human Biology, Health and Social care, Psychology or Sociology required at Higher level. |
|
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma (core) acceptable combined with additional A level or equivalent Level 3 qualification(s). |
128 UCAS Tariff points from the equivalent of 3 A Level qualifications. Use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth. |
Subjects must include one of: Biology, Human Biology, Health and Social care, Psychology or Sociology. |
|
T Levels |
Distinction overall in Health |
Vocational qualifications: NVQ or equivalent qualifications are not accepted.The School will consider applicants who hold a relevant Higher National Diploma, Foundation Degree or other health related higher education qualifications. Please contact enquiries@keele.ac.uk for advice.
If your qualifications are not listed here please contact enquiries@keele.ac.uk for advice.
We recognise that applicants have different backgrounds and experiences and that some applicants may not have had the same opportunities to demonstrate their suitability for HE. Therefore, we will consider the additional data and information provided on your application (the contextual data) as part of the selection process to help identify applicants whose academic performance to date may not be a true reflection of their potential to succeed at University. Our offer will reflect our recognition of individual circumstances.
We recognise the skills and knowledge acquired whilst studying an EPQ qualification and therefore will take this into consideration when assessing your application. If your EPQ is in a relevant subject to the course you have applied for, it will be included in your offer. If you are also eligible for another offer scheme, for example our Contextual Data Offer Scheme, your offer will reflect this and your EPQ qualification will not form part of your offer.
FURTHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Offers are subject to Occupational Health clearances and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance. The University follows the DBS Code of Practice in these issues and can provide a copy of the Code on request.
A reference for the applicant must be completed on the UCAS form by the referee. This is normally from an academic tutor. For applicants invited for interview, a second reference may be required. Friends, relatives or neighbours are not eligible to act as referees. All offers are subject to satisfactory references.
All candidates for pre-registration Nursing and Midwifery programmes are required to meet or exceed NMC requirements, including literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills.
In addition, we prefer applicants to have gained some experience of working with people in a caring environment.
Applicants are advised not to submit a ‘mixed’ application, but to focus on midwifery.
We are unable to consider late applications, submitted after the 26 January equal consideration deadline.
Application Process: Application is via UCAS. The UCAS application is scored. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. This can be either in person or remotely as appropriate.
INTERNATIONAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The following information is for applicants with overseas qualifications and / or classed as overseas for fees.
If you are unsure of your fee status, please check the guidance on the fee assessment pages.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Please view equivalent entry criteria for your country.
Subject specific requirements also apply for this course. Please contact us for advice.
If the qualifications you have are not listed, or you are unsure whether you meet our criteria, please contact the admissions office for advice: enquiries@keele.ac.uk
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
All students must provide evidence of a recognised qualification in English Language, such as:
- GCSE (first language) English Language – Grade C (Grade 4 for applicants taking the reformed GCSE qualifications in England)
- International English Language Testing Service (IELTS, academic) -7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7.0 in the reading, listening and speaking sections
- Pearson (PTE) Academic - 65 (components 55)
- Cambridge English First (foundations) and Advanced - 185 (subtests 176)
If you have taken a school qualification in English we may be able to accept this: please email enquiries@keele.ac.uk for advice.
Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for International students.
English Language Requirements
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Alternative and contextual offers
We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.
General information
The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.
Baby Friendly Initiative
This course has achieved Stage 1 accreditation from the Baby Friendly Initiative.
Additional requirements
In addition to our academic requirements, to be accepted onto a nursing or midwifery programme you must also fulfil a range of additional requirements and expectations to esnure you can practice safely and complete the programme effectively.
Your Nursing and Midwifery Checklist
|
DBS Check An enhanced DBS clearance prior to starting your course is required so that the public are protected, and their safety can be assured. You'll need to provide additional documents to support your DBS application which may include a current passport, valid driving licence, birth certificate and utility bill. |
Shifts Programmes are demanding but rewarding. You are expected to work a variety of shift patterns including early, late and night shifts to enable you to participate in care over a 24 hour period. Shift work provides you with excellent experience and builds your skillset. |
Travelling to placements You are expected to fulfil your placement requirements which may require you to travel. Organisation is therefore key to ensure you are able to complete a range of placements. |
|
Occupational Health Occupational Health Clearance is required to assess medical fitness to engage in pre-registration nursing and midwifery programmes. |
Placement circuits are fixed Placements during your course are fixed to ensure you get the range of experiences required to become a nurse or midwife. |
Personal care You will care for a diverse group of people and will deliver personal care to patients with different gender identities. |
|
Vaccines You must have the required vaccinations so that you protect yourself and those whom you are caring for. |
Uniform Uniform must be worn smartly, as you represent Keele University and also the nursing and midwifery professions. |
Hours Programmes are full time and can be demanding. You can expect your time to be split into 50% theory and 50% practice. |
Foundation year
Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.
This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.
Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.
Course content
Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.
This Foundation Year is a is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Midwifery. For example, in the Academic and Professional Development for Health module you will begin to develop an awareness of professional standards that you will be working to in your degree and professional career. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.
You will gain a greater appreciation of historical and contemporary approaches to health and social care within the UK, considering key health issues and challenges facing health and science services. At the same time, we will advance your knowledge of human biology and chemistry, giving you a solid grasp of body systems, science and lab work. You'll develop safe, professional laboratory skills and get to know the mathematical techniques and quantitative methods used across health science-related and social care programmes.
Throughout the programme, you will develop subject-specific and broad based skills that will be invaluable in your academic career and beyond. You can find out more about our Foundation Year, Including Information on learning, teaching and assessment methods and further opportunities available to you by visiting our homepage.
Course structure
The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.
Semester one modules
| FYO-00237 | Foundations of Human Biology for Health | 15 credits |
| FYO-00241 | Foundations of Chemistry - Health | 15 credits |
| FYO-00213 | Foundations of Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Health Students | 15 credits |
Semester two modules
| FYO-00239 | Advancing Human Biology for Health | 30 credits |
| FYO-00245 | Foundations in Health and Society | 15 credits |
Year long modules (semesters one and two)
| FYO-00181 | Academic and Professional Development | 30 credits |
Entry requirements
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.
Candidates who progress from the Health Foundation Year onto year 1 of the degree course will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced plus Barring Lists) and health check.
For admission enquiries please contact enquiries@keele.ac.uk
English Language Requirements for International/EU Applicants
In addition to meeting the Level 3 requirements, candidates whose first language is not English will need IELTS with an overall score of 7.0, including at least 6.5 in the writing section and at least 7.0 in the reading, listening and speaking sections, or GCSE English Language at 4 (C) or above.
|
A-levels |
Alternative Qualifications |
Additional GCSE requirements |
|
BBB |
A minimum of 3 GCSE subjects at Grade C (or 4) including English Language and Maths or equivalent qualifications (e.g. Functional Skills Level 2 / Key Skills Level 2). Must have been achieved prior to application (unless studied alongside a pending Access to Higher Education Diploma). Please see the Alternative Qualifications section for further details. |
How to apply
UCAS Applications
Visit UCAS for applications. You should apply for Midwifery with Foundation Year
UCAS code: B721
Direct entry students
If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.
We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business courses.
Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.
In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.
Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but in a slightly different order and pattern.
For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.
Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.
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