Key Info
Bachelor of Science in Midwifery
Are you interested in providing a vital, caring service to women and the community during the life-changing event of childbirth? Have you got good observation and communication skills? Do you like applying your learning in practice? Are you willing to learn, practise and take on the responsibilities in providing skilled midwifery care? If so, then this course might suit you.
Why Study Midwifery at UL?
The BSc Midwifery course will prepare you to become a competent midwife who is sensitive to the needs of pregnant women and their families. The course leads to registration as a midwife (R.M.)
The word ‘midwife’ means being with women. A midwife gives care and support to women and their families during pregnancy, labour, birth and to new mothers and their babies. Today’s midwife is responsive to the socio-economic, cultural, educational, physical and psychological needs of women.
This course is full-time with practice placements currently in the University of Limerick Hospital Group, and in the maternity services of Waterford Regional Hospital, South Tipperary General Hospital Clonmel and St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny. You will learn about midwifery based on a wellness model of women-centred care. The course will give you the knowledge and skills of normal midwifery care. It includes the study of physiology, sociology, research, management, law and ethics. A midwife recognises and initiates action when deviations from normal occur. As this course leads to academic and professional qualifications, students will need to put time and effort into study.
What you will Study
This is a four-year programme with a balance between student time in UL, and midwifery practice, as follows:
- 69 weeks Theory (minimum)
- 45 weeks un-rostered Clinical Placement
- 36 weeks Internship
The University offers a number of access places on all University courses for socio-economically disadvantaged students. Financial documentation in support of each application is required. Potential applicants should make advance contact with the UL Access Office - telephone 061 213104.
Midwifery is a demanding profession both physically and emotionally. Successful applicants must be of good physical and mental health and have the ability to achieve the required competencies of a midwife. Offers of places on the midwifery programmes are subject to satisfactory completion of Garda Vetting & Health Screening, including vaccination. This will be organised by the Department of Nursing and Midwifery. Prospective students should be aware that there is likely to be a cost implication to be borne by the student for health screening and vaccination.
To find out more, go to www.ul.ie/nm
| CODE | SEMESTER 1 | CODE | SEMESTER 2 | SUMMER |
| NM4131 | Shared Module: Promoting Safety within a Healthcare Context |
NM4182 | Practice Placement Midwifery 1 | |
| NS4121 | Shared Module: Foundations for Engaged Learning |
NM4092 | Shared Module: Introduction to Health and Health Promotion |
|
| NM4191 | Introduction to Midwifery | NM4192 | Midwifery Care in Childbirth | |
| NM4231 | Midwifery Care in Pregnancy | NM4152 | Shared Module: Biological Sciences applied to Nursing & Midwifery 2 |
|
| NM4151 | Shared Module: Biological Sciences applied to Nursing & Midwifery 1 |
PS4062 | Shared Module: Introduction to Psychology applied to Nursing and Midwifery |
|
| NM4161 | Shared Module: Communication and interpersonal Relationships in Nursing & Midwifery |
| Year 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | Summer | |
| NM4232 | Practice Placement Midwifery 2 |
NM4524 | Practice Placement Midwifery 3 | |
| NM4253 | Midwifery Care for the Postnatal Mother, Baby and Family | NM4264 | Responding to Complex Needs During Pregnancy | |
| NM4242 | Maternal and Infant Nutrition | NM4284 | Reproductive Health & Wellbeing | |
| NM4173 | Shared Module: Biological Sciences applied to Nursing & Midwifery 3 |
NM4104 | Shared Module: Law and Ethics for Nursing and Midwifery Practice |
|
| NM4183 | Shared Module: Principles of Infection Prevention & Control for Nurses and Midwives |
S04014 | Shared Module Sociology of Health and Illness for Nursing and Midwifery |
|
| NM4022 | Shared Module: Pharmacology for Nurses and Midwives |
NM4274 | Obstetric Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth | |
| NM4135 | Practice Placement Midwifery 4 |
| Year 3 | Semester 5 | Semester 6 | Summer | |
| NM4145 | Practice Placement Midwifery 5 | NM4155 | Contemporary Midwife Practitioner | |
| NM4086 | Shared Module: Research and Evidence in Healthcare |
|||
| NM4136 | Responding to Complex Needs in the Postnatal Period | |||
| NM4146 | Responding to complex Needs of the At Risk and Ill Neonate | |||
| NM4116 | Shared Module: Transition towards a Competent Practitioner |
| Year 4 | Semester 7 | Semester 8 | Summer | |
| NM4117 | Practice Placement Midwifery 6 | NM4088 | Practice Placement Midwifery 7 | |
| NM4067 | Shared Module: Practice Research Project |
NM4098 | Practice Placement Midwifery 8 | |
| NM4077 | Shared Module : Leading and Managing in Quality Practice |
|||
| NM4127 | Consolidating Midwifery Practice |
Entry Requirements
| CAO points history |
521
|
|---|---|
| Minimum grades |
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: 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 |
In addition applicants must hold an O6/ H7 grade in one of the following Laboratory Science subjects: Biology; Physics, Chemistry; Physics and Chemistry; or Agricultural Science. |
| Additional considerations |
QQI EntryCertain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Go to the UL Admissions QQI page for a full list of modules. Mature Students
Applicants who wish to be considered for a place on the grounds of mature years must satisfy Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann as to their suitability by means of an assessment test. Mature applicants should be 23 years old on or before January 1st of the year of enrolment. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. Application information for mature student applicants (PDF) In addition to the CAO application, mature applicants must also register for an assessment test with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Mature applicants may also be considered on the basis of educational qualifications. Such applicants should also consult the booklet: Nursing and Midwifery A Career for You, published by the Nursing Careers Centre, An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Tel +353 (0)1 6398500 Website: www.nursingcareers.ie |
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
Filters |
How to Apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
Fees and Funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Centre Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €7,198 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €10,290 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €7,198 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €10,290 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €7,198 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €10,290 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €24,719 |
| Student pays | Student Centre Levy | €92 |
| €24,811 |
Student course fees are comprised of three components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The curent student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Centre Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Centre Levy of €90. Please note the Student Centre Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
-
Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
-
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
-
Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €5,000 | 5 |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your Future Career
Employability skills from this degree
- 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
The year after graduating with this degree
The University of Limerick Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) is a detailed review of the employment outcomes of UL graduates conducted annually by the University and supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The survey forms part of a nationwide review of the employment outcomes of Irish University Graduates. The table below illustrates a five-year trend for UL graduate employment levels and location the year after graduation.
| Employed in Ireland | Employed abroad | Further study | Not available | Seeking employment | No. of responses | Total no. of graduates | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 83% | 11% | 0% | 0% | 6% | 18 | 18 | 2014 |
| 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 12 | 16 | 2015 |
| 82% | 9% | 0% | 9% | 0% | 11 | 13 | 2016 |
| 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 9 | 18 | 2017 |
| 86% | 14% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 7 | 13 | 2018 |
Further Study Options
Job titles for graduates with this degree
Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:
- Midwife
- Maternity Nurse
Graduate Profile - Sandra Healy
The maternity unit in which I work is a 30- bed antenatal/postnatal unit with 3 labour wards and an admission area. My day will involve providing essential midwifery care to women and their babies but also dealing with any emergencies that may arise. Health promotion & health education regarding baby-care, infant feeding, diet, family planning etc. also form part of my care for women on a daily basis.
Working in the labour ward involves caring, supporting & assessing the well-being of both mother and baby throughout the birth. As a student midwife, you will participate in care, under supervision, from your very first clinical placement. By the end of my first semester at UL, I was on a placement in the maternity labour ward where on the first day I witnessed a woman giving birth. With the help of my supervising midwife, I also supported another woman to give birth.
UL was my first choice to pursue a degree in midwifery. The variety of facilities at UL also appealed to me with a new, modern Health Sciences Building incorporating state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.
For me, being a midwife is primarily about developing relationships with pregnant women and their families at every stage of their contact with the maternity services. If you like working and interacting with people in a dynamic environment then this is definitely a career for you - it will bring you a wonderful sense of fulfilment and achievement.