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MSc|Postgraduate Taught

Midwifery - Feb intake

Entry year
2024/25
Entry requirements
2.1
Duration
2 years (Full-time)
Places available
TBC (Full Time)

The MSc Midwifery programme will enable you to build on your existing skills as an adult nurse, and develop professional competency as a midwife. You will graduate with a Masters in Midwifery and you will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Midwife.

Midwifery is a rewarding, dynamic and highly skilled profession. This course will equip students with the knowledge, skills and attributes to deliver woman-centred, compassionate, safe and effective care. You will have the opportunity to learn in our new state-of-the-art Simulation Centre and complete practice placements in a range of settings.

Our personal tutor system for student support is highly regarded, and we were awarded the Best Student Experience award in the 2021 Student Nursing Times Awards.

This programme has been co-designed with all relevant stakeholders including maternity service users and carers, midwifery students and practice partners to ensure adequate preparation for midwifery practice on completion. The programme will ensure you meet all requirements for registration as a midwife on successful completion including systematic examination of the newborn.

The programme is taught by experts in Midwifery who will support you in becoming a caring, autonomous and evidence based practitioner incorporating leadership skills and working in partnership with women, families, and communities. Our focus on interdisciplinary learning throughout the two-year programme will enrich your experience and help prepare you for professional practice.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be currently employed as an Adult Nurse by a HSC Trust within N Ireland. Successful applicants will be exempt from programme tuition fees.

Applicants should consider implications and/or changes to their contract of employment to which QUB assumes no responsibility. Applicants must discuss financial or contractual considerations directly with their employer, QUB is unable to advise. QUB will not be liable for any financial or other associated losses.

Placements during your midwifery programme are normally within one HSCT in NI, however you may also be required to undertake placements in other NI HSCTs.

Successful students will graduate with a Masters and will be eligible to register with the NMC as a midwife.

Midwifery - Feb intake highlights

Professional Accreditations

Graduates from this programme will be eligible to register with the NMC as a midwife. This course is designed to meet the NMC Future Nurse: Future Midwife standards of Proficiency for registered midwives and has been approved by the NMC.

Career Development

This programme provides graduates with a fast-track to an exceptional midwifery career.

World Class Facilities

Students on this programme will use our new, high specification Simulation Centre, which is the first of its kind in Europe. Students will learn in teams alongside students of other disciplines, including Nursing, Medicine and Pharmacy, and will be able to access the latest learning technologies.

Student Experience

Students in the School of Nursing & Midwifery at QUB are well supported through a network of Personal Tutors inside the University, as well as Link Lecturers, academic assessors and practice assessors/supervisors on placement.

Course Structure

The two-year programme will comprise of 50% academic modules and 50% in practice learning. All modules are listed below.

Academic Modules

Students will be required to complete all compulsory modules, plus a Portfolio of evidence to successfully complete this programme.

Applied Pharmacology for Midwifery practice

Midwifery students will be able to critically analyse and evaluate legal and ethical issues for administration and prescribing medicines across the trajectory of childbirth. Students will also be able to critically examine issues associated with breast feeding, multiple co-morbid conditions, complex drugs, polypharmacy and stewardship.  

Developing Skilled Midwifery Practice

This module introduces midwifery students to the knowledge and skills they will acquire in order to provide safe and effective maternity care (integrated person-centred, universal and additional care).

Foundations of Midwifery Practice

Midwifery students will build upon their existing knowledge and develop application of essential life sciences and pharmacology to midwifery practice. The theory and practice of midwifery as a profession including the role of the midwife, the underpinning philosophy of care, continuity of care and carer and the provision of universal and additional care will be included.

Health for All: Women, Families and Midwives

Students will explore women’s health from a salutogenic perspective across the reproductive life span. This will be explored through the following themes: concepts and determinants of health and wellbeing for women, families and midwives; perinatal mental health; personal health and wellbeing including resilience, self-care and team-working; antenatal and reproductive health.

Infant Feeding

Students will demonstrate positive knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in supporting and caring for women and the rights of the child at the beginning of their feeding journey.

Leading Professional Midwifery

Students will demonstrate positive knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in leading and managing care in the maternity healthcare system. This will be achieved through the following themes:   Leadership and management; Analysis of national and global health frameworks; Principles of supervision and assessment in practice; Professional values.

Midwives as Skilled Practitioners

Building on students’ knowledge and skills acquisition in year 1 and all other modules, this module will enable students to consolidate their knowledge and skills as they are challenged to take the lead in providing safe and effective maternity care (integrated person-centred, universal and additional care), as an autonomous practitioner and key member of the interdisciplinary team

Quality Improvement in an Interprofessional Context - Part A

Students will work with practice partners to identify a Quality Improvement project, plan, implement all aspects of the project, analyse the data and report/ disseminate the findings.

Quality Improvement in an Interprofessional Context - Part B

Students will demonstrate the skills to lead, facilitate and disseminate a Quality Improvement project to promote the embedding of outcomes as part of an interprofessional team. This will include: how to implement a PDSA cycle (e.g team working, principles and methods of data collection and consent); analysing QI data, dissemination and interprofessional team working.

Safe Medicate 3 Midwifery

Students will engage and apply previous knowledge in more complex scenarios preparing students for safe clinical practice as they prepare for entry to the midwifery register. Using Safemedicate is a NMC approved online platform in which students complete interactive exercises and practice assessments similar to solving dosage calculation problems in the real world.

People teaching you

Lead Midwife for Education

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Contact Teaching Hours

Medium Group Teaching

25 (hours maximum)
This is a full-time programme using blended learning. Students should be available to attend class and complete all online elements across the week. 100% attendance is required for face-to-face teaching.

Personal Study

0 (hours maximum)
Students will be expected to prepare for classes and develop assignments during unscheduled time.

Learning and Teaching

At QUB, we aim to deliver a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

The MSc Midwifery Programme provides a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

  • E-Learning technologies

    Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Canvas. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example: interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space, podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities.

  • Lectures

    Introduce information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers)

  • Personal Tutor

    Students are allocated a Personal Tutor who meets with them on several occasions during each year to support their academic development.

  • Practical and Simulation Based Education

    Where you will have opportunities to develop technical skills and apply theoretical principles to real-life or practical contexts in our groundbreaking simulation centre. All midwifery students have opportunities to engage in interprofessional education (IPE) activities. You will be expected to attend 100% of classes within your midwifery modules.

  • Self-directed study

    This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and research work for assignments is carried out.

  • Seminars/tutorials/workshops

    Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students). These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups

  • Work Practice placements

    Students will undertake clinical placements regularly throughout the programme. This enhances the link from theory to practice in nursing and provides students with a wide variety of opportunities and experiences in all fields of nursing. It is an essential component of the programme, ensuring that the student has sufficient opportunities to develop skill and competence in care provision and decision making, meeting the requirements for professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2020).

    Placements during your midwifery programme are usually within one HSCT in NI, however you may also be required to undertake placements in other NI HSCTs. Clinical placements are undertaken in hospital and community settings and are unpinned by the principles of providing continuity of midwifery care and carer. When on placement every student is assigned a practice assessor/supervisor, who will support learning in clinical practice.

    It is a requirement of the NMC for registration as a midwife, that students on the programme experience provision of care across the range of hours expected by practising midwives, so students should expect to work night shifts and/or long days on a regular basis while on placement

Assessment

Assessments will be carried out in a variety of formats, including written assignments, exams, presentations etc.

  • The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the learning objectives of each module. Modules are assessed through project work, written assignments, written and oral examinations and clinical skills assessment. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Module Handbook which is provided to all students at the start of each module.

Facilities

In 2020 the Faculty opened a new, fully integrated teaching facility, designed to enable teaching of nursing, midwifery, medical and pharmacy students. The facility includes treatment rooms, operating theatres and immersive simulation. Students work in teams in simulated scenarios where they will learn to manage real-life situations.
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofNursingandMidwifery/ClinicalEducationCentre/

What our academics say

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2023/24). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

  • Year 1

    Core Modules

    Infant Feeding (10 credits)
  • Year 2

    Core Modules

Entrance requirements

Graduate

All applicants must hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree in Adult Nursing of 2.1 standard, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Applicants with a Bachelor (Honours) degree in Adult Nursing of 2.2 standard, or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

All applicants must provide evidence of their registration as an adult nurse within the NMC.

All applicants must have at least 6 months' post-registration experience as a nurse.

Applicants should provide details of two referees as part of their application. Where possible, applicants should provide one educational and one employment referee. However, if this is not possible, two employment referees would be acceptable. Two satisfactory references are required as part of the application process.

Please note: This course is not open to international applicants.

Please note: Applicants must be currently employed as an Adult Nurse in a HSC Trust within Northern Ireland.

Closing date for applications for February 2024 entry is Wednesday 22nd November 2023 at 12 noon. It is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing Monday 27th November.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 7.0, with not less than 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking, and no less than 6.5 in writing, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

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Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

Studying for an MSc Midwifery degree at Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions. Graduates from Queen’s are well regarded by employers both nationally and internationally.

The majority of our graduates pursue a career in midwifery which is an interesting, rewarding and challenging career where work can be in a variety of health care settings from hospitals and midwife-led units to working in community settings with women. Midwifery can also offer a diverse range of post registration opportunities to specialise in areas such as perinatal mental health or ultrasound scanning, and provide career development opportunities in education and research.

Employment after the Course

Graduates of this programme will have the potential to become leaders in midwifery, building an exceptional career from the point of registration.

Professional Opportunities

Further study is also an option open to Midwifery graduates, and some may choose to follow a to engage in further professional and academic development. There is a range of MSc and PhD opportunities available within the School; click here for more information.
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-research/nursing-midwifery-phd.html

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 N/A
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 N/A
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 N/A
EU Other 3 N/A
International N/A

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

To be eligible for a place applicants must be employed as an Adult Nurse in a HSC Trust within N Ireland. Successful applicants will be exempt from programme tuition fees.

Applicants should consider implications and/or changes to their contract of employment to which QUB assumes no responsibility. Applicants must discuss financial or contractual considerations directly with their employer, QUB is unable to advise. QUB will not be liable for any financial or other associated losses.

All students entering this programme are required to undergo an enhanced disclosure check with Access NI which costs £33.

In Year 1 students must buy a uniform from a QUB uniform supplier (approximate cost £180) and a name badge (£10).

All students on this program will undertake clinical placements, students are responsible for funding travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. These costs vary depending on the location and duration of the placements. Some reimbursement may be available.

In year 1 students must buy a uniform from a QUB uniform supplier (approximate cost £180) and a name badge (£10) from the University.

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

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Apply

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

When to Apply

The deadline for applications is normally 30th June 2021. In the event that any programme receives a high volume of applications, the university reserves the right to close the application portal earlier than 30th June deadline. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Entry Portal (DAP) against the programme application page.

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

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