Midwifery (BSc (Hons)) at University College Cork

On completion of the BSc Midwifery, you will be recommended to NMBI for registration as a Registered Midwife (NFQ Level 8).

The course is designed to meet all the requirements and standards for Midwifery Education (ABA 2005). A broad-based curriculum helps to produce critical, analytical and reflective practitioners capable of functioning in a variety of settings as midwives.

Each year of the course has two components that consist of theoretical modules and midwifery practice modules.

On completion of this course you will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective care for antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care
• effectively coordinate, organise and manage midwifery care on your own initiative and in consultation with the multidisciplinary team
• critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for midwifery.

Course Practicalities

Theory modules

These comprise lectures, seminars, workshops, clinical skills training, experiential learning sessions, field visits, and protected study time. These modules are taken at the university during blocks of study weeks throughout each year of the course.

Clinical practice modules

These require you to be in supervised clinical practice in hospital, community and other healthcare settings for 35 hours per week for a number of weeks each year. In semester two (after Christmas) of Year 4, you will undertake a 36-week paid internship with your parent health service provider (HSP). 

Garda Vetting and Infectious Diseases Policy

Fitness to Practise

This programme is subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy – full details may be found here.

Assessment

Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May. Not all modules will have formal examinations. Many modules use other types of assessment including essays, projects, seminar presentations, assessment of clinical skills and learning, in-class tests, self and peer assessment. You will be assessed by registered midwives while on clinical placements.

Who teaches this course

The midwifery component of the course will be delivered by midwife lecturers. The shared modules will be delivered by appropriately qualified lecturers either from nursing or other departments.

Why Choose This Course

The BSC (Hons) Midwifery course at UCC is a highly sought-after course, as evidenced by the consistently high points required for entry to the course.

We can offer you a wide variety of clinical placements across a number of university hospitals and community facilities, with the majority of clinical placements in Cork University Maternity Hospital.

We can also offer opportunities to study abroad and have a large suite of postgraduate courses available to our graduates to facilitate further study needs.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The School of Nursing and Midwifery at UCC participates in a number of international research and educational programmes which afford you the opportunity to undertake part of your BSc studies abroad. Currently we have links with Finland, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Netherlands, France, England, and the U.S. Study abroad opportunities in other countries is also a possibility.

In Year 3,Midwifery students are encouraged to arrange an elective clinical placement of one week, to observe and participate in care in any maternity setting in the EU or any area in Ireland outside the provision of care in the local maternity placement. 

Skills and Careers Information

The course aims to provide you with good midwifery practice sound clinical skills necessary for starting your professional career as a Registered Midwife. These skills will be further developed through clinical experience and further study at postgraduate and in-service levels.

You will also develop skills in independent thinking, problem solving and analytical and clinical decision-making, as well as fundamental research utilisation and application skills.

On graduation, you may seek employment as a Registered Midwife. Midwives are highly sought-after to work in other countries, enhancing work opportunities abroad, in particular wihtin the UK, Canada and Australia.