Bachelor of Midwifery

About the programme

Qualify in just three years* with this internationally renowned programme.

Our degree gives you real-world practice from your first month, working with midwives and women/pregnant people in your community. This programme takes passion, determination and commitment but we'll give you all the support you need to succeed. And, with the flexibility of blended learning, it's possible to do most of your study from your home base. 

Lots of support

We have a lot of support available to help you succeed in your studies.

Blended learning means you'll learn through weekly face-to-face hui ākonga (tutorials), online learning, midwifery practice experiences (such as hospital shifts and community-based midwifery experience) and wānanga (block courses) held on our campus in Dunedin and Porirua. Each site has a designated kaiako (midwifery lecturer) who provides support and runs the face-to-face hui ākonga. 

Māori and Pasifika tailored support

We also have a national programme, Te Ara Ō Hine - Tapu Ora, to support our learners who whakapapa Māori or Pasifika. We provide resources and tailored support to help you complete your midwifery qualification, so that Māori and Pasifika babies can be born into Māori and Pasifika hands. 

Registration and careers

Our Bachelor of Midwifery leads to registration with Te Tatau O Whare Kahu (Midwifery Council of New Zealand). Our graduates are highly sought-after and there is a particularly high demand for Māori and Pasifika midwives.

Career options include being a community-based, case loading midwife, working within a maternity facility, being involved in education and research in the field of midwifery, and providing advice to professional and regulatory bodies, government departments and maternity stakeholders.

Studying part-time

We know that full-time study isn't always possible. 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 Three, and
• then your final year must be full-time.

Find more information about this part-time option in the Workload section below.

***Please note:**We are currently involved in the development of a four-year midwifery degree. This will be delivered over four calendar years. The degree is awaiting final NZQA/Midwifery Council approval. If we get approval, this new degree will start in 2025.

Entry

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• University Entrance as defined by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, consisting of:
• NCEA Level 3:
  • a minimum of 18 credits at Level 3 in biology, chemistry or physics
  • a minimum of 16 credits at Level 3 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 two approved subjects 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 or physics
• 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, or
• Demonstrated evidence of ability to study successfully at degree-level.

English Language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must complete an assessment of your English Language and pass the required standard.

You need either an:

• Overall Academic IELTS of 7.0, with scores in the following areas:

  • Comprehension band 6.5
  • Writing band 6.5
  • Speaking band 7.0
  • Listening band 7.0

OR

• Occupational English Test (OET) with passes at A or B in the four areas.

Scores for both IELTS and OET assessments must be achieved in one sitting. 

Evidence of successful completion must be provided at the time of application. 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.

Applicants with Te Reo as their first language should contact the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.  

Additional entry criteria

You must also:

• provide testimony of two referees who can attest to your suitability to train as a midwife. 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 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 health.
• provide a current comprehensive or standard First Aid Certificate, including proficiency in CPR (NQF unit standards 6401 and 6402 or equivalent).
• 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 and have access to a vehicle for on-call practice.
• 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.

Don't meet the entry requirements?

OurHealth Bridging Certificateacts 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.

Health and vaccination information

You don’t need to supply evidence of your vaccination status to apply for this programme.

However, the placement component of this programme has a higher risk of exposure to vaccine preventable diseases. Therefore, most placement providers will require evidence from you that you are fully vaccinated and have immunity for tuberculosis, varicella, measles, hepatitis B and pertussis (within the last 10 years).

Evidence of immunity to vaccine preventable diseases is ascertained by a blood test and your vaccination records.

Placements are an integral part of this programme, and you’ll need to complete the vaccine requirements to be able to successfully achieve your qualification.

If you have concerns or questions about this requirement, please feel free to contact us.

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.