Midwifery and Women's Health MSc

About the course

The MSc Midwifery and Women’s Health is a post-registration midwifery course that reflects the contemporary education and practice requirements of the midwifery profession. It incorporates growing public awareness of the importance of health promotion and psychosocial well-being as well as changes to the pre-registration preparation of midwives.

This post-registration midwifery course is suitable for registered midwives who are looking into extending their educational qualifications from diploma level to first degree level. It is also suitable for registered midwifes who have not studied at all for some time.

The key benefit of MSc Midwifery and Women’s Health course is that you can still develop your skills and knowledge while continuing to work and earn.

You will learn from the best as our Midwifery team has won the prestigious Royal College of Midwives Annual Award for Excellence in Midwifery Education in January 2012.This success is due to the expertise of our staff and the content of our course which gives students the opportunity to combine theory with practice through the practice placements.

Course structure

The MSc Midwifery and Women’s Health course is modular in structure and you can choose to study for stand alone modules only or gain credits towards a Master's degree. If you choose to study towards a BSc(Hons) Midwifery and Women’s Health degree you need to collect 120 credits.

Below is a list of modules and credits that you could choose to study:

Compulsory modules

Research for practice development (15 credits**)

This module needs to be taken only when you want to obtain a BSc degree

Optional modules

• Complex social issues in maternity care (30 credits)
• Fundamentals and philosophies of statutory supervision of midwives 1 (30 credits)
• High dependency midwifery care (30 credits)
• Leading and advancing the practices of statutory supervision of midwives 2 (30 credits)
• Physical examination of the healthy neonate (30 credits)Preparation for mentorship (15 credits)
• Return to contemporary midwifery practice (15 credits)
• Theory and practice of contraception and sexual health (30 credits)
• View the Midwifery and Women’s Health brochure

For more information about the course please contact Sue Carr

Why choose this course?

• The MSc Midwifery and Women’s Health course is for registered midwives who want to extend their educational qualifications from first degree level to Master's degree level
• It reflects the contemporary education and practice requirements of the midwifery profession
• It gives you the option to study stand alone courses or gain credits towards a Master's degree
• Our Midwifery team has won the prestigious Royal College of Midwives Annual Award for Excellence in Midwifery Education in January 2012

For more details about the course view the course details

View the Midwifery and Women’s Health brochure

Study routes

• Part Time, 5 Years
• Full Time, 1 Years
• Full Time,
• Full Time, 3 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Teaching methods

A variety of learning and teaching approaches are chosen to deliver this module including: lectures, workshop and student led presentations.

 

Professional Accreditations

Supervisors of Midwives pathway

The Principles of Statutory Supervision of Midwives Module and Leading and Advancing the Practice of the Supervision of Midwives Module are compulsory modules provide a programme of preparation for experienced midwives and leads to the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Supervision of Midwives, which is a recordable qualification. On completion, students may then choose to continue with their students on the MSc programme

 

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

Optional

• Dissertation Module

  The course is designed to enable students to engage in independent study and apply further skills to conduct a substantial project which will be of value in the students area of work. The project will be EITHER 1) a research project 2) an innovation in practice 3) a policy analysis or 4) an audit. Each option will require the student to critically review the theoretical and empirical literature and design and conduct a systematic investigation by applying appropriate and robust methods

• Dissertation Project

  The module is designed to enable students to engage in independent study and apply further skills to conduct a substantial project which will be of value in the students area of work. The project will be from one of the following: 1) a research project 2) an innovation in practice 3) a policy or practice analysis 4) an audit. Each option will require the student to critically review the theoretical and empirical literature and design and conduct a systematic investigation by applying appropriate and robust methods.

• Integrating Research with Professional Practice

  This module will examine the epistemology of research, the principles and history of ethical research and a critical analysis of how it is used in practice. Key aspects of content will address to develop a research / audit tool, concepts of reliability, validity and methods of standardising direct measurement techniques. The emphasis throughout this module will be on the use and relevance of research skills to practitioners seeking to assess, improve or evaluate services. The module will harness students existing personal and life skills and knowledge of care as a basis for developing learning that is relevant and focussed on their practice needs and stage of professional development.

• Leading and Advancing the Practice of the Supervision of Midwives

  This module is a required co-requisite course for students being prepared to undertake the role and responsibilities of a Supervisor of Midwives. It facilitates experienced midwives to develop knowledge and skills to effectively lead practice within the remit of a Supervisor of Midwives. Students will be required to integrate their theoretical learning with practical experience by developing a project on an aspect contextualised in midwifery supervision throughout the duration of the programme. Emphasis will be placed on how the skills of a professional leader may be utilised to lead practice and to enable midwives to achieve their full professional potential. In addition students will gain, through personally managing their supervision project, the complementary behaviours, skills and attitudes which will enable them to promote best midwifery practice in the maternity services and contribute towards achieving excellence in midwifery.

• The Principles of Statutory Supervision of Midwives

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £5,250 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply