Midwifery degree - entry requirements and chances

[raevans]

Hiya,

Just hoping for a bit of advice... I have reached out to a university about applying to study midwifery and am yet to get a reply. I’m really wondering what my chances are given my educational background and work experience etc. I appreciate it’s a very competitive course to get onto but just looking for some insight really from anyone who went through the process and what experience grades you needed..

Some background..

I am 28 years old and have a first class undergraduate degree already in health and social care, I have been working in a care home for the last 7-8 years doing care, administering medication, running shifts etc.. I intend on applying to the same university I got my prior degree from. I achieved grades C and above in all GCSEs and an A,B and a C at A level in Health & Social Care, Psychology and Sociology.

I can only apply to the one university as I have a baby and am not in a position to apply elsewhere. If anybody has any advice I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance x

You're quite clearly a great candidate.

When I applied for a healthcare degree 15 years ago, I needed evidence of recent study despite past degree etc. I did another A-level by distance learning.

I'd look for an open day and go and talk to the heads of the course.

Hi, I've supported lots of Access to HE Health Professions with Midwifery applications - you sound like an excellent candidate

With your background and experience I can guarantee you'd be offered a place on the course (I'm a midwife)

I should add, in your Personal Statement, ensure you make reference to fact the role is to support women - too many applicants make mistake of focusing on babies. In addition, at interview, ensure you do your research on the sector and its relevant challenges, as you will be asked - good luck!

@pancakestastelikecrepe ah thank you so much! Really appreciate your advice!

@raevans You're most welcome 😊

I would apply to more than one university to show you are committed to securing a place. If offered an earlier interview at an alternative, go for it for the experience b

@caramac04 the uni OP applies for won't see her (if any) other choices - UCAS ensures this

Hi OP, I am a midwifery lecturer and agree that it sounds like you have many skills to offer. However you’d need biology for my uni. Is this part of the entry requirements where you want to apply? You should be able to search the course on the uni website and find the criteria and information about how to apply (via UCAS). All the best

I'm afraid I disagree @caramac04 - I applied to one university because it was the only one that I could have attended. When I attended the group interview for mature students, a majority of us said that we'd applied to this particular university for practical reasons - though we then went on to add other reasons.

If I'd had to I would have applied to the same one several times.

Entry requirements vary so much between units so I'd ring admissions and ask. They're really helpful and know the entry requirements and alternative things they'll accept etc

My local uni just ask for an Access course with certain grades within the course.

No GCSE's required at all. I did have functional skills but later discovered my specific uni weren't interested so long as the Access course was done and the grades they needed

thank you every one for your responses, really helpful advice, really appreciate it x

@beitasmalltown I think what you mean is they will ask for a certain number of credits in Biology at Distinction level (Access).

OP, just be clear in your application which modules were Biology in your UG BSc

You will have a massive advantage being PG

I have supported students who have successfully been accepted on to Midwifery with L3 quals, provided they are at Distinction level in Biology

You'll be fine 😊

@beitasmalltown Not to be a bore but English and maths are entry requirement essential for any Access to HE pathway - some providers will let you study one if you have one ( but not both) alongside, but this is rare..

@pancakestastelikecrepe, no they're not always

Most places yes. But a local college to me just did a maths module within the Access course. The English module was just evidenced throughout the course in various essays etc

This was only 4 years ago

Well I’m a midwifery lecturer and could make no such guarantee. We are inundated with applications, all of which meet the entry requirements. Yes the OP would meet entry requirements for my course but it’s no guarantee. Even with the work experience.

I turn maternity support workers down without interview if their personal statement isn’t strong enough. I can’t interview everyone, I’d say we interview about a quarter of applicants and less than 10% get a place.

some universities will want evidence of more recent study (in the last five years) some will be ok if it’s in the last ten years. Hopefully the uni replies soon. Open days won’t start up again till June/July time. UCAS deadline for this cycle is end of this month so I assume you’re not applying this time? Though it’s possible if you’re quick. You need a great personal statement which really demonstrates your passion for and understanding of midwifery. Good luck.

They'll prob want evidence if recent study (ie 5 years) so maybe consider an access course. Midwifery is very limited on places and competition is fierce

I disagree - midwifery is very competitive - recent study is an absolute must

My local uni is in clearing every year for it and can't fill the spaces!

@beitasmalltown just because it's in clearing doesn't mean it not competitive!

People have several offers and so those places not taken up doesn't mean they've not had enough applicants it's means that people may have taken their 1st choice and your uni was their 2nd

Clearing places don't mean there haven't been enough applicants. I'm a nurse and DP has worked in HE for 20 years

And even the clearing will be very competitive with all applicants having to interview still. Like previous poster said they’ve just estimated their conversion rate a bit too cautiously. Which is no bad thing. We make about double the amount of offers that there are places on the understanding that hopefully 50% of people either will go elsewhere or not get their grades.

I get nervous every year and for the last three years we’ve got it slightly wrong and had too many people start. Which is a nightmare because we then have to find placements for them and that’s out of our control, if a trust says no to extras then they say no.

so this year we won’t make as many offers as I said I’d rather go into clearing than be oversubscribed. I’ve still got 10x the amount of applicants as I have places.

Indeed but my local uni and the 2 hospitals connected for placements have not managed to fill the clearing either for a few years

Meaning there's a couple of places left over even after clearing is complete

The course use to be a lot more popular but has dwindled a bit recently