On completion of the BSc Midwifery, you will be recommended to An Bord Altranais for registration as a Registered Midwife (NFQ Level 8).

The course is designed to meet all the requirements and standards for Midwifery Education (ABA 2005). A broad-based curriculum helps to produce critical, analytical and reflective practitioners capable of functioning in a variety of settings as midwives.

Each year of the course has two components that consist of theoretical modules and midwifery practice modules.

On completion of this course you will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective care for antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care
• effectively coordinate, organise and manage midwifery care on your own initiative and in consultation with the multidisciplinary team
• critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for midwifery

Year 1
Modules:

• Pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal care and the newborn
• Midwives and professional practice writing skills
• Introduction to evidenced based practice
• Databases, library skills
• Infection control
• Introduction to care of women with medical, surgical, mental health issues
• Care of the baby in the neonatal unit
• Gynaecological problems
• Midwifery care in the community
• Communication and applied psychology
• Sociological and cultural perspectives

Year 2
Modules:

• Pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal care and the newborn
• Midwives and professional practice
• Food, nutrition and health for pregnancy
• Infant/Breast Feeding
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Care of women with medical, surgical, mental health issues
• Neonatal unit
• Gynaecological problems
• Care in the community
• Pharmacology and medication management for midwifery practice
• Research

Year 3
Modules:

• Pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal care and the newborn
• Midwives and professional practice
• Midwifery practice in various healthcare contexts
• Parenthood education
• Promoting normal birth
• High dependency care in maternity
• On-going care for medical, surgical, mental health issues
• Neonatal unit
• Gynaecological problems
• Care in the community
• Social Policy for Midwifery Practice
• Research

Year 4
Modules:

• Pregnancy
• Childbirth, postnatal care and the newborn
• Health promotion for midwifery practice
• Research, midwifery and professional practice, ethics and legal issues
• Ethics (an elective module)
• Healthcare informatics
• Advanced communication skills
• Complementary therapies in healthcare
• The therapeutic value of the arts: wound management
• Contemporary debates in health and illness
• Multiculturalism, gender and social policy

See the College Calendar for more detailed information on the programme and the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of programme modules.

Leaving Certificate entry requirements:

H5 in two subjects, and O6 in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate from Irish, English, Mathematics, one Laboratory Science subject (i.e Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physics with Chemistry (joint) or Agricultural Science) and two other subjects recognised for entry purposes. 

Mature students: Applicants should apply directly through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and are not required to meet any minimum entry requirements. Mature Applicants must also register and apply for the Assessment Test through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website. This is required as PAS undertakes the written assessment on behalf of the Nursing Careers Centre (NCC).  Approximately four places are available for mature students.

International Students should visit the International Education website.

Garda Clearance

All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and assume positions of trust through educational and training opportunities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme.

Garda vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC once a student has accepted their place on the programme. It involves a police check to establish whether the individual being vetted has had criminal convictions in the past or whether any criminal proceedings are pending. The Garda Siochána provide this information for students who have resided in Ireland for a period of six months or more (including permanent residence).

All students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of six months or more must furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from their country or countries or residence. This certificate should state that the student has had no convictions recorded against them while residing there.

Fitness to Practise
Commencing with the 2013/2014 intake, this programme will be subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy — full details may be found here.

EU Applicants: Application to Year 1 of the degree programme is made directly through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applicants should apply online at www.cao.ie. The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of entry.

Non-EU Applicants

Mature Applicants:  Application is made through the CAO (www.cao.ie) and the closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of proposed entry.

Theory modules: These comprise lectures, seminars, workshops, clinical skills training, experiential learning sessions, field visits, and protected study time. These modules are taken at the university during blocks of study weeks throughout each year of the course.

Clinical practice modules: These require you to be in supervised clinical practice in hospital, community and other healthcare settings for 35 hours per week for a number of weeks each year. In semester two (after Christmas) of Year 4, you will undertake a 36-week paid internship with your parent HSP. 

Garda Vetting and Infectious Diseases Policy

Fitness to Practise
This programme is subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy – full details may be found here.

Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May.  Not all modules will have formal examinations.  Many modules use other types of assessment including essays, projects, seminar presentations, assessment of clinical skills and learning, in-class tests, self and peer assessment. You will be assessed by registered midwives while on clinical placements.

The midwifery component of the course will be delivered by midwife lecturers. The shared modules will be delivered by appropriately qualified lecturers either from nursing or other departments.