MIDWIFERY access course through OU?

[Dalrymps]

I would like to study to be a midwife when my dc are older. I graduated from uni (design course) in 2003.

I understand I would need to do an access course to show evidence of recent study and be considered for a place at uni.

I live in Berwick upon tweed which is over an hour from Newcastle and Edinburgh, almost right in the middle. There is a college here but it doesn't do the access courses. The nearest college that does them is about 50 mins away. I could study for it there but wondered if it is possible to do it through the OU. Does anyone know?

All info grately appreciated

Is it the degree you are wanting to do? The diploma course doesn't require an access course as far as I am aware, just the relevant GCSE's. It's worthwhile asking at the Uni you are considering attending.

I would say it will be the degree. I won't be doing it for a few years and they are phasing out the diploma by 2013 as far as i'm aware...

I started a paediatric nursing course in 2005 (I get around a bit), the midwives and the nurses all started off doing the diploma, if they did really well in the coursework they could do the extra to get a degree. They all started off with the same qualifications, if they didn't have the relevant GCSE's they did an access course. I think there is an OU one but you'd need to check whether you need to do this and whether it's relevant. Things do change quickly, what applies now may be different in a couple of years.

Ah I see, thanks for the info. I'm pretty sure I need to do an access course even if to just show evidence of recent study but will double check

Depends on what they mean in 'recent'.

I looked in to it sometime in the last year and at that point I think they wanted evidence of study during the last few years... So my uni study wouldn't be recent enough.

Anyone else have any idea whether this is possible through the OU?

Distance Learning Centre do one. Details here.

Ah! thanks very much, will take a look

I'm pretty much in the same situation. Received prospectus from Univeristy today & the don't seem to offer the diploma at all! Like you my degree (graduated 2006) is in a design field. I was thinking about maybe doing a distance learning AS/A2 course which would give me the 80 credits in a science that I need according to the prospectus. Hoping this would count! Going to contact the University & make sure!

Just looked at the Uni website, they do a foundation diploma (access course in disguise, not detailed in prospectus ) is this something your Uni might do?

Ah thanks for the info. Think, like you i'll probably be best ringing the uni and asking them directly what I need then. Don't want to end up doing more than necessary!

I looked at the course at distance learning centre but it isn't enough credits for me! I figured if they would be ok with me just having ALevel biology I could do it at home over 2 years rather than have to spend an extra year at Uni full time!

Yeah I know... not looked in to how many credits I need yet but I know they need 'evidence of recent study'. There is a college that does the access course but it's a 50 mon drive away and as you say it's classed as full time...

Mine is prob 50mins away in traffic but on the plus side they do have free nursery places for children of students so hopefully that would help! Doing the diploma would be good as I think the NHS pay the course fees, and doing the A Level is about £300 plus extra for the exams plus you actually have to be disciplined enough to do it at home! I think I need a total of 250 credits for the midwifery course which I do have with my curerent A Levels, but don't have a science which is what I need 80credits in or do the access course! I also need evidence of recent study as it will possibly be 5-6 years since I graduated by the time I get around to training!

Ah I see, you seem to know a lot more about it than I do! I'll need to get some more research done I think!