Can anyone give me some info on studying Midwifery?

[NewBethlehemGirlwithsparkles]

I'm seriously thinking about it and have been doing a bit of research on the net.
I gave the NHS careers advice line a call and got absolutely no advice from them at all apart from they would send me a pack out (sigh!)


What I want to know is would I be accepted on to a course with the GCSE grades I have? If I was accepted, when would I start? What course would I have to do? and does everyone get a grant?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
TIA.

[lovelybird]

Contact NMAS the nursing and miswifery admissions service (probably through UCAS). They will be able to send you an application form and details of all the institutions you can train at. They should also be able to answer all your questions about entry requirements.
As a mature student the entry requirements are different to those for 18 yr olds, and you may be required to do an access course first before you can apply. I think if you applied now you would be looking to start sept 06.
As for grants/burseries you would get somthing but not sure how much. Often you get paid by the NHS trust you train/work for.
HTH

[NewBethlehemGirlwithsparkles]

Thanks

I looked at that site nellie, thanks. I was just after some more specific info really.

I'll have a look on the net at Nmas.

[paolosgirl]

I've been looking into the same thing! I got a bit of a shock, as the course is one of the most popular there is, and there is a 2 year (and in some cases, 3 year) waiting list up here in Scotland. What about phoning the local uni and speaking to the person in charge of the course for advice?

[NewBethlehemGirlwithsparkles]

Thats one big waiting list!

Good idea about ringing the Uni.

[tiredemma]

cant do links,but this site- www.studentmidwives.co.uk has just about every kind of info that you need re midwifery.

[NewBethlehemGirlwithsparkles]

Oooh great thanks

[Smurfgirl]

It is hard to get into.

This related to my uni (Hull) but you get the idea.

The first year is spent studying with the student nurses, the midwives do one module different. The modules they do are anatomy and physiology, psychosocial perspectives, and a research module. Different for every uni I know but thats the sort of thing you study.

Your course is 50% theory and 50% practise. You can and will be put on placement anywhere within the trust associated to your uni and are expected to work 24hr wrap around care from day one. It can make life difficult...

There is a lot of competition, the best way to get on the course is experience with babies/pregant women. Everyone applying will have the qualifications, but not everyone will have the experience.

Good luck x

[NewBethlehemGirlwithsparkles]

Thanks SG.

That studentmidwives site is quite informative.
My nearest uni (sheffield) only do Diplomas.

Tbh I'm not getting my hopes up because my GCSE grades weren't fantastic (C in English and French and D's for the other subjects).
The other thing was getting a grant because otherwise I couldn't have done it. It says on that site that I should be entitled to £5000 per year and £390 for having a child under 11 however dh works so that might not be the case IYSWIM.

[littledonkeyrach]

I think, though am not positive, that if you do a diploma then you get a bursary, whereas if you do a degree then it is means tested. And so Diplomas are often over subscribed. But I could be wrong.

[Smurfgirl]

Diploma busary is not means tested NBG.

You need C or above in maths and english at GCSE level to get onto the course thats the law

I love being a student nurse its worth it. I would maybe consider an access course at your local college if you want to do midwifery.

You can do adult nursing and then train to be a midwife later, I might do that one day.

[NomDePlume]

smurfgirl, does the GCSE thing apply to all nursing courses at all colleges/unis ? I got B's at GCSE level (6 years ago) would they stillcount ? Or is it different for mature students (19+) ?

[Smurfgirl]

Oh and the NMAS site is a bit inaccuarate, like it doesn't say that Hull does midwifery, and it does and some other bits are off...

[Smurfgirl]

I got my GCSEs 5 years ago and mine still counted NDP [SMILE] they do ask for certificates though! And its true of every university, I think the NMC has set that guideline.

IME its relatively easy to get onto adult nursing courses, its the other branches that are harder (esp. children's nursing).

You are not a mature student in nursing until you are 26 or over, I am 21 and one of the young people on the course.

[NomDePlume]

Argh, just worked it out. I got my GCSEs 8 years ago ! How did I manage a B in maths with adding up like that ?!

I've just looked at the course spec for the diploma at my local Uni, they are as follows....

"- Minimum age 18 years

• Must have at least 3 GCSE's Grade C and above including English Language (minimum 5 points - 1 GCSE A-C = 1pt, A level A-E = 2.5pts)
  
• Plus A level (GCE or VCE) or equivalency (e.g. BTEC National Diploma or Certificate, GNVQ Advanced Level Three)
  
• Or other equivalent acceptable qualifications approved by the NMC or Access to Nursing (overall pass) or Access to HE (overall pass) or NVQ 3.
  
  Plus - evidence of direct care relevant to Adult, Mental Health, Learning Disabilities or Child Branch choice (excluding family and friends)
  All applicants will be interviewed by appropriate academic and professional staff "
  
  So it would appear that I wouldn't be able to get on with just my GCSE grades, no matter how good. Bugger

[Smurfgirl]

Thats dead high for diploma it is just GCSEs at Hull...what is your local university?

I would ring them, they usually do have lower entry requirments for people who have not just left school. Umm. I would recommend getting experience, you could work on the bank as an auxilliary at your local hosp or as a carer in a care home/nursing home. Great experience and will help your course.

Or you can do the acsess course.

[NomDePlume]

University of Worcester, just got Uni status, but it was the same when they were offering the course as University College Worcester, too.

[NomDePlume]

I have worked in the NHS before, in a number of guises. Might look for a part time HA post though, the hospital is only over the road ! Shortest commute to work ever

[Smurfgirl]

If you have experience, it is worth ringing them now and asking about entry for september 06 or even jan 06 (they advertised for places in Hull for Jan 06, low applications!)

Any other local unis...some have quite a wide area in which they do their placements!

Like I said before I really enjoy my course and the placements are fab.

[NomDePlume]

I'll try for Sept 06, as DD is sue to start school then, thanks for the info smurfgirl . I wanted to do Radiography, but the commute to the Uni will take me approx 45min to an hour each way on the motorway, not fun.

[NomDePlume]

dd is Due to start school...

[Smurfgirl]

Good luck !

There are loads of posts about nursing applictions on the student parent forum.

[NewBethlehemGirlwithsparkles]

Looks like an access course for me then. I wouldn't be classed as a mature student because I'm only 23.

Are the access courses for a year?
I got a D in Maths, it's certainly not my favoured subject although SIL is a secondary maths teacher so she could help me

[longwaytogo]

this is an interesting thread, been thinking about doing my nurse training. I am 34 have one c grade GCSE 4 D's so i guess i would have to do an acess course too, or could i do NVQ's if i got a job as a HCA