From the moment a woman becomes pregnant, it’s the start of a journey leading to one of life’s greatest miracles: the birth of a baby. The term “midwife” means “with woman”. Midwifery is a wonderful profession and if you’re interested in working with women, their newborn babies and their families during pregnancy and childbirth, then midwifery is the career choice for you. The focus and philosophy of midwifery in UCD is the promotion of women-centred care.

The initial focus is on the foundational knowledge and skills required for midwifery practice. Each year, these will be developed and strengthened through theory and practice. In your final year, you’ll also focus on professional issues. Modules include:

First Year

• Essence of Midwifery Practice
• Scholarship of Enquiry
• Anatomy, Sciences & Physiology
• Psychology related to the profession of midwifery
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Practice experience in a hospital setting for 11 weeks

Second & Third Year

• Midwifery Practice during Normal Pregnancy & Childbirth
• Complexities in Pregnancy & Childbirth
• Complexities of the Newborn
• Pharmacology
• Patient Safety
• Ethical & Legal Aspects of Midwifery Practice
• Practice Placement

Fourth Year

• Research, Leadership & Management
• Obstetric Emergencies
• Enhancing Knowledge & Clinical Skills for Midwifery Practice
• Practice Placement/Internship

Assessment is through a combination of end-of-trimester exams and continuous assessment, including assessment of performance on practice placements.

* Please Note: Curriculum may be subject to change in line with NMBI Midwifery Registration Programmes Standards and Requirements.

For detailed information on subject content click here.

You may be interested in the following Blog posts: Why study Midwifery at UCD (a student perspective).

Successful completion of your degree entitles you to register as a Registered Midwife (RM)‡ with The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). On registration, numerous career opportunities are available to you in both hospital and community settings in Ireland and abroad, including Europe, Australia and New Zealand. You can also pursue further specialist qualifications through graduate diplomas, and Master’s and PhD degrees.

‡Registration in Ireland does not automatically provide a licence to practise abroad.

Professional Work Experience

Practice Placements, which form a significant part of the course are completed across a number of sites throughout the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG). You will attend practice placements in the internationally renowned National Maternity Hospital (NMH) and a linked maternity unit in the IEHG e.g in Wexford General, Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar and St Luke’s General Hospital, Kilkenny. Students will be placed in any IEHG site on one or multiple occasions during their course to enable them to achieve the necessary clinical learning outcomes.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET
  
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
  
• HEAR Entry Route
  

UCD Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems Programme Office
Health Sciences Centre
Belfield, Dublin 4

Tel: +353 1 716 6407/6569
Contact: nmhs.ucd/contact-us