Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Midwifery

The Bachelor of Science in Midwifery is a four-year program that prepares students to become competent midwives sensitive to the needs of pregnant women, mothers, and their families. The program leads to registration as a midwife (R.M.).

Key Information

• NFQ Level: 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
• Course Code: LM156
• Duration: 4 Years
• Fees: See the fees section for detailed information
• Subject Area: Health Sciences
• Course Director: Barbara Lloyd

Why Study Midwifery at UL?

This course may be the ideal pathway to a rewarding career in midwifery for those passionate about supporting women, babies, and families. The program focuses on woman-centered care, and students will learn about midwifery based on a wellness model.

What You Will Study

The program is divided into four years, with a balance between theory and midwifery practice. The curriculum includes:

• Maternal and neonatal health
• Reproductive health
• Physiology
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Pharmacology
• Research
• Management
• Law and ethics

Year 1 Modules

• Shared Module: Promoting Safety within a Healthcare Context
• Shared Module: Foundations for Engaged Learning
• Introduction to Midwifery
• Midwifery Care in Pregnancy
• Biological Sciences applied to Nursing & Midwifery 1
• Biological Sciences applied to Nursing & Midwifery 2
• Introduction to Psychology applied to Nursing and Midwifery
• Communication and interpersonal Relationships in Nursing & Midwifery

Year 2 Modules

• Practice Placement Midwifery 2
• Practice Placement Midwifery 3
• Midwifery Care for the Postnatal Mother, Baby and Family
• Responding to Complex Needs During Pregnancy
• Maternal and Infant Nutrition
• Reproductive Health & Wellbeing
• Law and Ethics for Nursing and Midwifery Practice
• Principles of Infection Prevention & Control for Nurses and Midwives
• Sociology of Health and Illness for Nursing and Midwifery
• Pharmacology for Nurses and Midwives
• Obstetric Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth

Year 3 Modules

• Practice Placement Midwifery 5
• Contemporary Midwife Practitioner
• Research and Evidence in Healthcare
• Responding to Complex Needs in the Postnatal Period
• Responding to complex Needs of the At Risk and Ill Neonate
• Transition towards a Competent Practitioner

Year 4 Modules

• Practice Placement Midwifery 6
• Practice Placement Midwifery 7
• Practice Placement Midwifery 8
• Practice Research Project
• Leading and Managing in Quality Practice
• Consolidating Midwifery Practice

Entry Requirements

• CAO Points History: 444
• Minimum Grades: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.
• Subject Requirements: An O6/H7 grade in one of the following Laboratory Science subjects: Biology; Physics, Chemistry; Physics and Chemistry; or Agricultural Science.
• QQI Entry: Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this program.
• Mature Students: Applicants who wish to be considered for a place on the grounds of mature years must satisfy Bord Altranais agus Cn壾mhseachais na h仝reann as to their suitability by means of an assessment test.

How to Apply

Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.

Fees and Funding

• EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant: HEA pays Tuition Fees (4,606), SUSI pays Student contribution (2,500), Student pays Student Levy (104).
• EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant: HEA pays Tuition Fees (4,606), Student pays Student contribution (2,500), Student pays Student Levy (104).
• Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant: Student pays Tuition Fees (4,606), Student pays Student contribution (2,500), Student pays Student Levy (104).

Scholarships

Several scholarships are available for this course, including the Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme, All Ireland Scholarships, and others.

Your Future Career

Graduates of this program will have a wide range of employability skills, including:

• Utilising research and evidence-based practice
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Working in partnership with different disciplines
• Professional responsibility and accountability
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Compassion
• Leadership
• Determination and tenacity
• Empathy
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Organisational skills and time management

Possible job titles for graduates with this degree include Midwife and Maternity Nurse. Further study options are available, such as the Structured PhD in Nursing & Midwifery and the MSc in Advanced Practice (Midwifery).