Studying midwifery abroad

What is midwifery?

Midwifery is the practice of providing care and support to people and families during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. As a midwife you will focus on promoting healthy birth experiences, while ensuring the safety of both parent and baby.

If you choose to study midwifery at university, you will learn about offering personalised care, including prenatal check ups, education, emotional support, and assistance throughout the labour and delivery process.

You will also cover topics such as postpartum care, which includes breastfeeding support and newborn care guidance.

As a qualified midwife, you could work in a range of settings, such as hospitals or homes, and often collaborate with healthcare providers to address complications if needed. Midwifery emphasises holistic, patient-centred care, and empowerment throughout the pregnancy and birthing journey.

Why study midwifery abroad?

Studying midwifery abroad offers you unique advantages, including exposure to diverse healthcare systems, practices, and cultural approaches to pregnancy and childbirth. It can broaden your perspective on global maternal and neonatal care while enhancing your adaptability and communication skills.

Studying abroad provides you with opportunities to work with a range of patient populations, develop your language skills, and build an international professional network.

This experience can make you a well-rounded, culturally competent midwife, increasing your career opportunities both locally and internationally.

How long is a midwifery degree?

The duration of a midwifery degree typically depends on the country you will study in, and the structure of the degree you are taking:

• Undergraduate Degree: In most countries, a Bachelor of Midwifery or a similar degree takes 3 to 4 years of full-time study.
• Postgraduate Pathway: If you already hold a nursing degree, a midwifery postgraduate diploma or Master’s program usually takes 1 to 2 years.
• Integrated Nursing and Midwifery Programs: Some countries offer combined degrees in nursing and midwifery, which may take 4 to 5 years.
• Part-time options, if available, take longer. Clinical placements are a key component, contributing to the program’s length.

What you will study

During your midwifery degree you will cover a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for providing comprehensive care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Core areas of study typically include:

• Anatomy and Physiology: Understanding the human body, particularly maternal and foetal development.
• Prenatal Care: Learning to monitor and support healthy pregnancies.
• Labour and Delivery: Gaining skills in managing childbirth, including natural and assisted delivery methods.
• Postnatal Care: Supporting recovery, breastfeeding, and newborn care.
• Complications and Emergencies: Training in recognising and responding to obstetric emergencies.
• Ethics and Professional Practice: Focusing on patient-centred care and legal responsibilities.
• Research and Public Health: Exploring maternal health trends and evidence-based practices.

Clinical placements complement coursework, allowing you to gain hands-on experience in real world environments.

If you are interested in subjects related to midwifery, you might want to consider these:

• Nursing
• Biology
• Psychology
• Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Accreditation

The award type you gain for completing a midwifery degree or master’s degree depends on your program and academic level. Here’s an overview:

Undergraduate Midwifery Degree

• Bachelor’s Degree: Typically, upon completion of an undergraduate midwifery program, you receive a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Midwifery (BMid) in countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada.
• Some programs may award a Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery) or similar.

Master’s Degree in Midwifery

• Master of Science (MSc): Common for specialised or advanced midwifery training.
• Master of Midwifery (MMid): A dedicated master’s degree focusing on midwifery practice.
• Master of Public Health (MPH): If the focus includes public health and maternal health policies.
• Master of Advanced Clinical Practice (MACP): In some regions, advanced midwifery studies fall under this category.

These awards reflect academic achievement and can enhance career prospects or enable advanced roles such as leadership, research, or teaching in midwifery.

The professional accreditation you need to be able to work as a midwife varies by country but generally involves obtaining a recognised qualification, passing licensing exams, and registering with a governing body. Here are examples from different regions:

• United States: Certification as a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) or Certified Midwife (CM) through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), with state licensing.
• United Kingdom: Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after completing an approved midwifery program and passing assessments.
• Australia/New Zealand: Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.
• Canada: Licensing through provincial/territorial midwifery regulatory bodies after completing a recognised midwifery education program and examinations.
• European Union: Recognition through the Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications, with country-specific registration requirements.
• Global: Midwives trained under the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Standards are often eligible for accreditation in multiple countries, subject to local exams or additional training.

Requirements can include language proficiency and experience for international practitioners. Always verify specific regulations for your destination country.

Careers

As a midwifery graduate you will be able to pursue diverse careers in maternal and neonatal care. Common roles include working as a registered midwife in hospitals, birthing centres, or community health settings. Opportunities also exist in homebirth services, public health, and family planning clinics.

You can choose to specialise in areas like neonatal intensive care, lactation consultancy (breastfeeding), or perinatal mental health. Depending on what level of degree you graduate with, you might be able to take on leadership, education, and research roles.

You could also consider opportunities that come up with international health organisations if you like the idea of continuing to travel and meet new people.

A midwifery career is rewarding, focusing on supporting families through life’s most critical moments while promoting healthy births and maternal well-being.