The Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery aims to:
ModeFull-time | Duration2 years | Start dateJanuary | Application code5766 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.
If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.
To be eligible for this programme Applicants will need to meet the following entry criteria:
The following is the alternative to the IELTS or OET
Select country here:
£9250
Tuition fees for home students
£
Tuition fees for international students
Tuition fees are subject to annual inflationary increases. Find out more about tuition fees
UK fee: £9250 | International fee: £ |
AOS/LSBU code: 5766 | Session code: 1FS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £18500 |
International: £0 |
UK fee: £9250 | International fee: £ |
AOS/LSBU code: 5766 | Session code: 2FS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK: £18500 |
International: £0 |
Please note that this course is not currently open to international students.
This course is fully funded by Health Education in England
For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 391 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.
The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.
Since August 2018 new postgraduate pre-registration nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students have been able to access loans from the Student Loans Company. Accessing loans provides at least 25% more up-front living cost support whilst you study. You will also have access to the Learning Support Fund, which is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority, for support while attending clinical placements.
Background to these changes can be found on Gov.uk.
Council of Deans have prepared a briefing paper and Student Finance have outlined who qualifies. The Funding Clinic provides further information on what support is available.
NHS Bursary will produce guidelines and information once the information has received parliamentary approval.
We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on funding your studies on the scholarships and fee discounts page.
Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.
The course is not currently open to international students.
International (non Home) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Mode Full-time | Duration 2 years | Start date January | Application code 5766 | Application method Direct to LSBU |
Applicants are required to be interviewed via their selected Trust and offered a job before undergoing academic enrolment at LSBU.
Applications are made through local Hospital Trusts (Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust; Guys & St Thomas' Hospital (GSTT); Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust), University College London Hospital, Newham University Hospital, Royal London Hospital.
These Trusts advertise on the NHS jobs website vacancies available and applications should be made online directly to them.
The process to apply is:
Students should apply for accommodation at London South Bank University (LSBU) as soon as possible, once we have made an offer of a place on one of our academic courses. Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
It's a good idea to think about how you'll pay university tuition and maintenance costs while you're still applying for a place to study. Remember – you don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as a postgraduate student.
Book a session with one of our specialist Postgraduate Advisors. Over a one on one Advice Session they'll advise you on postgraduate degrees at LSBU that match your interests and experience.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
The main focus of the course is the promotion of normality, i.e. the framing of childbirth as a normal physiological process which the majority of women will undergo in their lifetime. The course also acknowledges that a number of women have more complex needs where technological help will be needed.
You are expected to achieve the theoretical and practice standards stipulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to enable you to perform the role and responsibilities of the Midwife within the context of promoting normality, using preventative measures, detecting complications, accessing appropriate assistance and carrying out emergency measures in the absence of medical aid.
Some compulsory skills sessions may take place in the evening.
During the course you will spend 50% of your time involved in academic study and 50% in clinical practice within a broad variety of healthcare settings. A clinical practice placement allows you to put theory into practice by working with a range of health professionals in clinical situations to develop the skills, knowledge and experience required to become a competent midwife. Although sometimes initially challenging, practice learning is one of the most interesting and exciting aspects of learning to be a midwife.
You'll experience a variety of clinical settings, such as NHS acute Trusts, community placements, and a variety of specialist roles within maternity and outside of maternity settings.
We are proud to partner with:
Whilst in the clinical placement we ensure our midwifery students receive continuous support and guidance from a dedicated Midwifery placement facilitators and other supervisors and assessors made up of registered Midwives and other health practitioners. This is strengthened by the support of academics who help bridge the gap between university and practice such as Link lecturer, personal tutor and Academic assessor roles.
Our midwifery students have an opportunity to participate in a skills week once a year which encourages inter-cohort working and learning to simulate real scenarios and provide a realistic perspective for students.
The nursing and midwifery wards have simulator mannequins: SimBaby and SimMom. These life-size mannequins are computer controlled and can be programmed with various clinical conditions. These are operated by a computer in real-time and so respond to a student's actions. They also allow students to see the outcome of specific interventions in certain scenarios, which could make the client better or deteriorate quite quickly. They can be set up to simulate the range of delivery environments available to labouring women. The students can rehearse dealing with emergencies in a simulated setting.
The mannequins are used to teach students how to recognise clinical signs, and to also associate those clinical signs with the actions they are taking to care for the patient. SimMom has fully accurate anatomy and can breathe, blink, sweat, speak and groan in pain as well as have a pulse.
A range of high fidelity and low fidelity equipment is used to simulate practice and support students to consolidate their skills.
During the course you will spend 50% of your time involved in academic study and 50% in clinical practice within a broad variety of healthcare settings. A clinical practice placement allows you to put theory into practice by working with a range of health professionals in clinical situations to develop the skills, knowledge and experience required to become a competent midwife. Although sometimes initially challenging, practice learning is one of the most interesting and exciting aspects of learning to be a midwife.
You'll experience a variety of clinical settings, such as NHS acute Trusts, community placements, and a variety of specialist roles within maternity and outside of maternity settings.
We are proud to partner with:
Whilst in the clinical placement we ensure our midwifery students receive continuous support and guidance from a dedicated Midwifery placement facilitators and other supervisors and assessors made up of registered Midwives and other health practitioners. This is strengthened by the support of academics who help bridge the gap between university and practice such as Link lecturer, personal tutor and Academic assessor roles.
Our midwifery students have an opportunity to participate in a skills week once a year which encourages inter-cohort working and learning to simulate real scenarios and provide a realistic perspective for students.
The nursing and midwifery wards have simulator mannequins: SimBaby and SimMom. These life-size mannequins are computer controlled and can be programmed with various clinical conditions. These are operated by a computer in real-time and so respond to a student's actions. They also allow students to see the outcome of specific interventions in certain scenarios, which could make the client better or deteriorate quite quickly. They can be set up to simulate the range of delivery environments available to labouring women. The students can rehearse dealing with emergencies in a simulated setting.
The mannequins are used to teach students how to recognise clinical signs, and to also associate those clinical signs with the actions they are taking to care for the patient. SimMom has fully accurate anatomy and can breathe, blink, sweat, speak and groan in pain as well as have a pulse.
A range of high fidelity and low fidelity equipment is used to simulate practice and support students to consolidate their skills.
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
Many graduates take their first posts as qualified practitioners in the NHS Trusts and hospitals where they gained experience during their training. The degree enhances employability through its emphasis on a vocational approach to teaching, leading to a professional qualification and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The majority of roles are in the NHS, although there are opportunities at private hospitals, clinics and abroad. Day-to-day the work can be varied, as midwives have a range of responsibilities. Providing advice to women and their families; diagnosing, monitoring and examining women during pregnancy and co-ordinating with other professionals and agencies are all typical activities. There are also opportunities to enter education such as; practice development midwife, midwifery lecturer or lecturer-practitioner, research and management.
Recent graduates have become specialist midwives in teenage pregnancy, HIV, and smoking cessation counselling, whilst others have gone on to work in children's centres or become consultant midwives.
Being able to keep a calm head under pressure is essential, as are excellent people skills and good physical and mental stamina. Due to the nature of the work, many midwives do shift work around the clock, including weekends and bank holidays. Salaries for newly qualified midwives are set at Band 5, which starts at £24,907 – with band 6 midwives earning between £31,365 to £37,890. Midwives working at a senior level Band 7, can earn in the region of £38,890 to £44,503 with consultant midwives earning from £51,168 to £73,664.
As a graduate from this course, you will be able to apply for further study at postgraduate level. Find out more about postgraduate study through our online CPPD prospectus.
The programme has been jointly validated by LSBU and the NMC. On completion of the course, you are eligible to be placed on the NMC professional register.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council regulates nurses and midwives in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands.
The Midwifery academic team is made up of qualified midwives with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the midwifery profession. The team members hold professional teaching qualifications, Masters and PhDs which enable a more rich and invigorating learning experience and ability to adapt to new and innovative teaching methods and strategies.
Students will also have input from Midwifery placement facilitators, specialist clinicians and practice educators who hold joint appointments between the university and the Trusts.
LSBU prides itself on the support that is offered to the students in university and placement and are committed and dedicated to ensuring all students have an excellent learning experience to enhance their professional development.
Assessment methods are specified in each module descriptor with details in the individual module guides; these are designed to test the module and course learning outcomes. These are mapped to the professional standards outlined in the Future midwife: Standards of proficiency for midwives (NMC, 2019) and will be assessed through either coursework and/or clinical proficiencies.
The types of assessments adopted include:
A variety of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills. These include;
Students are expected to be in theory block 50% and practice block 50% each year
Expectation from students to complete:
Note all clinical and theory hours will be accounted for.
The proficiencies expected for each year reflect the theme for the learning and teaching for the modules undertaken building from the first year where the focus is very much on normality and on complexities, culminating in the midwife’s role as a colleague, scholar, and leader in the second year.
Learning in practice level 6 and level 7 – Contribution Universal care, Continuity of care, Relationship building, Infant feeding, Communication, Public health, Medicines administration, Record keeping. In addition - Interdisciplinary working and Additional care
Learning in Practice level 7– Demonstrate Proficiency Universal care, Continuity of care, Relationship building, Infant feeding, Communication, Public health, Medicines administration, Record keeping, Interdisciplinary working, Additional and emergency care In addition -Supervision and delegation, Management, Responding to vulnerability
Practice skills teaching, learning and assessment are a key focus of the curriculum and continue to be enhanced and developed. The Standards for student supervision and assessment (NMC 2018) and NMC Standards for pre-registration midwifery programmes (2019) provide the framework on which the strategy for practice skills learning, teaching and assessment is built. This dictates that all skills in Domain 6 will be assessed in practice and have been incorporated in the MORA.