Midwifery and going to uni as a 39yr old?!

[LivingMyBestLifeNOT]

Hi everyone.
Always wanted to be a midwife. There is a uni near me that does midwifery, 3 year course. Currently fed up with my job and want a change.
However how would I afford it? I’m a single parent to 3 children although my eldest will go to uni next year too!
Any advice please?

I have just finished my midwifery degree I started at 35. But I'm in Scotland so got a bursary and help with childcare. I also saved up so I could give up my full time job to do it.
It is s very competitive course to get on to. Then Its nice you get a place it is a very full on degree. 50% theory 50% placement, 46 weeks a year. You don't get to choose your shifts on placement you follow your mentor so potential 3, 12 hour shifts in a row, it's not just Monday-friday either so childcare at the weekends needs to be considered.
It has s the hardest work I have ever done in my life. But I couldn't imagine doing anything else now.

I went to university as a single parent at 45. I've not finished yet but I've already got a well paid job as a result of the course I'm doing. I've actually been quite well off. You get extra funding for being a lone parent and I work too. I'm not sure how well work would fit in with a midwifery course but hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be able to help you on this.
Good luck and remember you are definitely not too old.

Look at for a midwifery apprenticeship. They do this for nursing now and have started to do this for midwifery. You get paid to train, takes four years rather than three. You still go to uni but work as a support work at the same time.

Thank you! Sounds intense and my worry would be my 6 yr old and how I work childcare. Sounds like an amazing course though. I will look at the apprenticeship

Totally. In times gone by women woukd have had their children and then become midwives. You have a lot to offer!

I had a lovely student midwife in her 40s when I was pregnant, and I felt so priviledged to have had her looking after me.

A good starting point is to speak to your local uni ask if their are students you could speak to to see how they find it. Apprenticeship is definitely a great way to do it to avoid the student loans. I think some folk struggle to do midwifery (In England certainly) as they lose their tax credits/ universal credit so are totally reliant on student loans. However the apprenticeship will still involve long shifts not of your choosing and juggling that with academic work and family.

It is also good to speak to the uni and find out what experience, qualifications they want. I had to do my maths exam again as didn't get good enough grades when I was at school. Alot of the older girls on my course had done 2/3 years of college courses before getting on the midwifery course, to boost their qualifications and experience. I was fortunate I worked for n a related field so that gave me lots of work /life experiences to put in my application