Bachelor of Midwifery

Enrol in our groundbreaking Bachelor of Midwifery!

Real-world practice is at the core of this three-year programme. From the start, you'll apply theory to practice. You'll work with a midwife in the community to provide antenatal and postnatal care to women and whānau, and you'll graduate with essential knowledge and skills for your health and maternity career.

This programme leads to registration with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

As a registered midwife you can be a:

• Lead Maternity Care – working with women and families in the community
• Core Midwife – working at a hospital or birthing centre. 

Programme content

The Bachelor of Midwifery degree is 3 years of full-time study, but the credit value is equivalent to 4 years of full-time study (compressed into 3 calendar years).

YEAR ONE

Year One focuses on the woman/wahine and her family/whānau and explores the wider context of New Zealand's maternity services and the options and choices available to women and families. It provides a context for midwifery practice and development of specific midwifery knowledge and skills.

Gain practice experience in maternity facilities and through one-on-one continuity of care with women and midwives, where you provide a support role for women throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period.

YEAR TWO

Year Two focuses on the midwife and her developing professional framework for practice. It provides the opportunity for you to develop specific midwifery practice knowledge and skills. Courses focus on the knowledge and skills required for you to work in the Midwifery Scope of Practice and to work collaboratively with other health professionals when required.

Gain experience in a variety of settings including one-on-one continuity of care experiences with women and midwives, and undertake placements in a range of maternity facilities, particularly secondary and tertiary facilities.

YEAR THREE

Year Three focuses on the partnership between each midwife and woman in the shared experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. It enables you to integrate and consolidate your learning from Years One and Two and demonstrate your readiness to meet the Competencies for Entry to the Register of Midwives.

Qualification structure

Studying part-time

You can choose to study part-time over four years at any of our locations. If you choose this option, you will:

• only do theory in Year One (not practice)
• complete the Year One practice and Year Two theory in Year Two
• complete Year Two practice in Year There, and
• then your final year must be full-time. 

Please note that this part-time pathway will mean that you don’t qualify for Studylink funding in Year One (Studylink funding is for domestic students only during this programme). 

There is some limited flexibility in the first three years of this study path depending on your personal circumstances; our Student Advisor will contact the successful applicants who have requested part time study in the month before orientation. 

If you’re keen to find out more, please email our Student Advisor – [email protected] or phone 0800 786 762 and ask to speak with the School of Midwifery about studying part-time.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

NCEA Level 3 consisting of:

• 60 credits at Level 3 or higher including:
  • a minimum of 18* credits at Level 3 in biology and/or chemistry 
  • a minimum of 16* credits in an English language rich subject (such as English, history, art history, classical studies, geography, economics or media studies) 
  • a further 16* credits at Level 3 or higher in one other subject on the National Qualifications Framework^
• 20 credits at Level 2, including:
  • a minimum of 16 credits in biology
  • and a further 16 credits in chemistry
  • 16 credits in another Level 2 subject
• Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:
  • 5 credits in reading, and
  • 5 credits in writing 
• Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:
  • specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or
  • unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required). 

For those over 20

• Evidence of academic equivalence of the above qualifications, such as through successful completion of a Level 4 bridging programme for health-related degrees. A Level 4 average of 75/B+ is required for entry, including a 75/B+ in a level 4 Bioscience course, or
• Demonstrated evidence of ability to study successfully at degree-level, such as applicants who have already successfully completed a degree programme and have demonstrated transferable study skills.

English Language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide:

• Overall Academic IELTS of 7.0 from one test completed in the last two years, or equivalent (an OET test with passes at A or B in the four areas): 
  • Comprehension band 6.5
  • Writing band 6.5
  • Speaking band 7.0
  • Listening band 7.0

Evidence of successful completion must be provided at the time of application. Applicants with Te Reo as their first language should contact the Midwifery Council. If you believe that you should be exempt from this requirement, please contact the Midwifery Council by emailing [email protected]. Any exemptions are at the discretion of the Midwifery Council and applicants must provide written proof of exemption or IELTs results to be accepted to the Bachelor of Midwifery.

Additional entry criteria

You must also:

• provide testimony of two referees. One referee report should be provided by an employer or community group representative and the other must be from someone who can comment on your academic ability. Referees must be people of standing in the community who are not friends or relatives of the applicant. If you have not studied in the last five years a second professional referee may be contacted instead of an academic referee.
• submit your curriculum vitae and an application essay (essay instructions included in Completing your application section below) demonstrating your commitment to midwifery and any life experience relevant to midwifery and/or women’s health.
• demonstrate self-responsibility in relation to learning and practice and the personal qualities appropriate for midwifery practice such as strong communication skills and a demonstrated interest in women's and children's health. 
• provide a current First Aid Certificate which includes proficiency in CPR.
• demonstrate that you have good health and good character via a medical report/health declaration, and identity confirmation
• provide a conviction declaration and permission for a Police Check to ensure you meet the requirements of the Children's Act 2014.
• provide a copy of your full driver’s licence. 
• have good computer skills. 

Please note: Registered health practitioners from other disciplines who seek Recognition of Prior Learning on the basis of their health professional qualification and practice experience must hold registration with the relevant regulator authority in New Zealand and provide a Certificate of Good Standing from that authority.

Immunisation status

Covid-19 vaccination information

If you want to apply for this programme, we’ll need to see evidence of your Covid-19 vaccinations (including types and dates). You need to have had three doses. We’re legally obliged to collect this additional information from you as this programme is covered by the Covid-19 Public Health Response (Vaccination) Order 2021. 

Please just complete our online application process as normal. As part of the application process, you’ll be asked to provide your vaccination record. 

The Government have advised that the only proof of vaccination that we can accept is a vaccination record PDF from your My Covid Record. 

Find out how to get your vaccination record here >

Other risks and information

The nature of midwifery practice means that, at times, you may be at risk of:

• Physical injuries that may occur as a result of hazards in the classroom, laboratory or practice setting
• Allergic reactions through contact with latex, exposure to drugs or chemicals
• Issues affecting your emotional and physical wellbeing
• Infection or cross-infection through contact with infective agents in the laboratory or practice setting.

Once you have been accepted into the programme, you will be notified that you must produce current evidence of immunisation status. Immunisation status is determined by a blood test and your vaccination history. 

How we manage these risks

We will provide health and safety information relating to computer use and to practice equipment, and advise you how to reduce any risk of injury. You will have access to copies of relevant hazards registers and processes for reporting accidents and injuries so our Health and Safety Officers can follow them up.

You are required to undergo screening tests for infectious diseases and immune status prior to the commencement of the programme.

Bridging options

The Health Bridging Certificateoffered by the College of Community Development and Personal Wellbeing acts as a bridging programme into this midwifery qualification. A minimum B+/75 average pass, achieved across four courses during semester two, is required to meet the academic entry requirements into the Bachelor of Midwifery. This MUST include a B+/75 in Bioscience 2.

The Health Bridging Certificate is also ideal if you need to update specific knowledge and skills, and demonstrate your academic ability. Distance options are available.

Please note: Due to the high demand for places, successful completion of the Health Bridging Certificate (Level 4) will not automatically guarantee you entry into the Bachelor of Midwifery programme. 

Completing your application

Before you apply, ensure you understand the application process and all the requirements you need to meet. 

You can enter information and upload documents directly into the application form. You may wish to prepare some of the required documentation beforehand.

To begin your application, click the Apply button at the top of this page.

You will need to provide:

1. Copies of all of your official tertiary transcripts (including those which don't relate to Midwifery).
2. Your Curriculum Vitae.
3. An essay (1800 to 2200 words), answering the following:
   1. why you want to be a midwife.
   2. the qualities you bring to the midwifery profession in Aotearoa New Zealand.
   3. your life experiences relevant to a career in women's health. (Do not give details of personal birth experiences).
   4. the role and relevance of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand.
   5. the demands, as you understand them, of being a midwifery student in our blended programme.
   6. your plan to manage the social, academic and financial demands of this course.
4. A First Aid Certificate which includes CPR (or confirmation of booking).
5. a copy of the front and back of your full driver licence (or restricted licence with an explanation of how you will meet demands of the programme until you have a full licence).
6. A health declaration.
7. A conviction declaration and permission for a Police Check to ensure you meet the requirements of the Children's Act 2014.
8. Contact details for two referees - (one academic and one employer - if you have not studied in the last five years, two professional referees can be considered. If you are not currently employed, a referee from community engagement i.e. Playcentre can be considered instead of an employer. Family friends are not a suitable referee).
9. Certified copies of proof of identity.
10. Proof of residency (where appropriate).

Initial selection decisions will be made in late September. Applicants who complete their applications after 20th September can expect to hear our decision in four-six weeks.

Scholarship for Māori applicants

The Irihapeti Ramsden Memorial Midwifery Scholarship offers fees subsidies to one Māori midwifery student accepted for the Bachelor of Midwifery programme at Otago Polytechniceach year. Nga Maia facilitates provision of whanau support for the Scholarship recipients during their studies. Applications are submitted to Nga Maia at the start of the academic year and the scholarship is awarded before June of applicants’ first year of study.

Find out more about this scholarship. 

Student loans/allowances

Student loans and allowances are for domestic students who have lived in New Zealand for three years. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful.