Midwifery theory and practice

This course incorporates midwifery theory, science and clinical practice in a range of health facilities. Graduates of the course are competent midwives who have the skills, knowledge and confidence to practise midwifery according to the international definition of the role and scope of practice of the midwife.

Part of the Faculty of Health.

Bachelor of Midwifery

CODE

UTS: C10225 (version 4)

UAC: 606010 (Autumn Session)

LOWEST SELECTION RANK

85.4

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DURATION

3 years full time

INTAKE

Autumn Session 2026
Autumn Session 2027

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COURSE FEES

Indicative total tuition fee for government-supported domestic students
$14,572.00

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LOCATION

City campus

What you’ll study

The Bachelor of Midwifery program aims to prepare graduate midwives to be competent midwives with the skills, knowledge and confidence to practise midwifery according to the international definition of the role and scope of practice of the midwife.

You must complete a minimum of 144 credit points to finish the course. Full-time students study four subjects a session, incorporating midwifery theory, science and clinical practice.

Subjects at a glance

  • Core subjects

    Subject Code Subject Name
    92667
    Midwifery Practice 1: Preparation for Practice
    92668
    Foundation of Midwifery Practice
    92669
    Transition to Parenthood
    92670
    Anatomy and Physiology: Pregnancy and Childbirth
    92671
    Midwifery Practice 2: Supporting Women
    92672
    Translating Research into Midwifery Practice
    92673
    Promoting, Protecting and Supporting Breastfeeding
    92354
    Introductory Pharmacology and Microbiology
    92674
    Perinatal Mental Health
    92675
    Midwifery Practice 3: Working with a Woman who has a Complex Pregnancy
    92676
    Power, Politics and Midwifery
    92677
    Care of the Newborn
    92678
    Midwifery as Primary Healthcare: a Public Health Strategy
    92679
    Midwifery Practice 4: Working with a Woman who has a Complex Labour, Birth and Puerperium
    92680
    Optimising Physiological Processes in Childbearing
    92681
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Women and Babies
How to become a midwife

What it's really like to be a midwife

Associate Professor Vanessa Scarf, midwife, researcher and academic at UTS, shares what the profession actually looks like. From providing antenatal and postnatal care to supporting physical and emotional wellbeing throughout pregnancy, midwives play a vital role in helping women, babies and families navigate one of life’s most significant experiences.

Combining clinical knowledge, communication and compassionate care, midwifery is a people-focused career that supports health, confidence and continuity of care across diverse communities. 

What it's really like to be a midwife transcript

0:00:00.280,0:00:02.200
Hello, I'm Associate Professor Vanessa

0:00:02.200,0:00:05.280
Scarf,
a midwife, lecturer and researcher at UTS.

0:00:06.000,0:00:08.880
Have you ever wondered what it takes
to be a midwife?

0:00:08.880,0:00:11.360
Today I'll be answering your questions.

0:00:11.360,0:00:12.520
Let's get started.

0:00:12.520,0:00:15.040
What do I need to study
to become a midwife?

0:00:15.040,0:00:18.080
At UTS,
we offer two programs to become a midwife.

0:00:18.160,0:00:21.880
There's the Bachelor of Midwifery,
and that's a three year course.

0:00:22.080,0:00:26.160
And you can enter that straight
from school or as a mature age student.

0:00:26.280,0:00:30.040
The other option that we offer at UTS
to become a midwife is the Graduate

0:00:30.040,0:00:31.520
Diploma in Midwifery.

0:00:31.520,0:00:33.960
Now that course is available
to registered nurses

0:00:33.960,0:00:35.640
who would like to become a midwife.

0:00:35.640,0:00:38.520
What different career
paths exist within midwifery?

0:00:38.520,0:00:41.320
Midwifery has many different career paths.

0:00:41.320,0:00:45.600
There's the clinical midwife role,
where the midwife can work in a hospital,

0:00:45.600,0:00:48.840
they can work in a birth centre
or they can work in private practice.

0:00:49.080,0:00:52.840
Within the hospital system,
there's a midwifery educator role,

0:00:52.920,0:00:55.200
there's a midwifery manager role,

0:00:55.200,0:00:58.720
and there's also the clinical midwifery
consultant role.

0:00:58.880,0:01:01.040
There are also midwifery academic roles.

0:01:01.040,0:01:05.040
After 20 years in clinical practice,
I came into academia.

0:01:05.200,0:01:08.120
And so now I teach the future
generation of midwives.

0:01:08.120,0:01:10.320
And I also do research in midwifery.

0:01:10.320,0:01:12.440
What kinds of settings to midwives
work in?

0:01:12.440,0:01:15.480
Midwives work in hospitals,
birth centers, community

0:01:15.480,0:01:19.320
centers, home birth programs,
and they also work in universities.

0:01:19.520,0:01:22.320
What does a midwife
typically do in their day to day work?

0:01:22.320,0:01:26.200
Well, this varies greatly depending
on what setting a midwife is working in.

0:01:26.880,0:01:30.360
Midwives routinely
see women during pregnancy.

0:01:30.360,0:01:32.560
They may be caring
for a woman during labor.

0:01:32.560,0:01:35.440
They may be looking after a woman
in the postpartum period.

0:01:35.440,0:01:39.000
That's when she's had the baby, and she's
helping the woman with breastfeeding

0:01:39.000,0:01:40.920
and adapting to new motherhood.

0:01:40.920,0:01:44.160
What skills and qualities are important
for a midwife to have?

0:01:44.280,0:01:46.080
Midwives need to be adaptable.

0:01:47.120,0:01:50.000
They need to be good listeners,
and they need to be able

0:01:50.000,0:01:53.400
to form a relationship very quickly
with the women that they're working with.

0:01:54.120,0:01:56.600
They also need to be reliable as they work

0:01:56.600,0:02:00.840
in a really big team of people
to help look after women who are pregnant.

0:02:01.040,0:02:04.240
What are some of the biggest challenges
midwives face in their work?

0:02:04.560,0:02:08.760
There's so much variety in the work of
a midwife, particularly in the hospital.

0:02:09.120,0:02:10.520
You could have a very busy shift

0:02:10.520,0:02:13.520
and that can be really challenging
to keep up with your workload.

0:02:13.680,0:02:16.680
Then of course, there are the days
when things don't go to plan

0:02:16.720,0:02:19.720
and there’s outcomes
aren't what we were hoping for.

0:02:20.080,0:02:22.200
That's really challenging to deal with.

0:02:22.200,0:02:24.600
What do you enjoy most
about being a midwife?

0:02:24.600,0:02:29.400
The thing I enjoy most about being
a midwife is watching a new family emerge.

0:02:29.880,0:02:35.120
Watching a baby being born, a new mother
being born, and a family being built.

0:02:35.280,0:02:38.280
That magic of that absolutely
never gets old.

0:02:38.280,0:02:41.880
What are some common misconceptions
about working as a midwife?

0:02:42.040,0:02:45.040
One of the most common misconceptions
about working as a midwife

0:02:45.120,0:02:48.120
is that midwives
sit around holding babies all day.

0:02:48.680,0:02:50.280
That is certainly not what happens.

0:02:50.280,0:02:53.040
And that's the role of the mother
or the partner.

0:02:53.040,0:02:53.920
What's your top tip

0:02:53.920,0:02:57.160
or best piece of advice
for someone who wants to become a midwife?

0:02:57.320,0:03:01.320
I would say my best piece of advice
would be stay adaptable.

0:03:02.040,0:03:03.480
Every day is different.

0:03:03.480,0:03:05.440
That's all the questions for today.

0:03:05.440,0:03:08.600
If this got you interested,
check out the UTS website

0:03:08.920,0:03:12.280
and search up midwifery
to learn more about working in this field.

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Bachelor of Midwifery

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Why UTS?

Why study Health at UTS

Health is a dynamic and multidisciplinary field dedicated to improving the health of individuals and populations. With a degree from UTS, you'll develop transdisciplinary skills and a solid understanding of health and health systems.

Our degrees combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on learning and practical placements. You’ll study in world-class learning spaces that mimic professional health environments and get the latest information from experts connected to industry, sporting and healthcare organisations, preparing you for a lifelong career. 

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