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Undergraduate

Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry)

Domestic students
Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) (BMID)
Study mode
  • External
Campus
  • -
Duration
  • 2 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb
 

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Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) overview

  • Are you a Registered Nurse (RN) looking to become a midwife? Our hands-on Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) just might be the answer. By studying a Bachelor of Midwifery in Australia with USQ, you will receive broad experience in all care contexts in accordance with ANMAC Standards, including Indigenous health and human rights.
  • Gain over 1200 hours of clinical experience during Semesters 1 and 2 within a range of settings such as hospitals, family planning clinics, community health, and home visiting.
  • Under the supervision of a registered midwife you will experience the continuity of care of a minimum of 10 women throughout their pregnancy. You will experience placements in birth suites, antenatal clinics, postnatal and neonatal units.
  • You have the opportunity to do a rural placement with the Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry), and be supported by a midwife facilitator, Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH). Find out what’s involved in the placement process and what opportunities and support USQ and SQRH offer for rural and away placements.
  • Planning on studying while you work? This Nursing & Allied Health qualification, offers flexible options for you. However, we encourage you to talk to us before applying so we can step you through the study commitments in this degree. 

Professional accreditation

The Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) program is accredited with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and upon successful completion, students will be qualified to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Career outcomes

  • All graduates are highly trained, industry ready and in demand. You will be equipped for a career as a midwife in clinics, maternity hospitals or primary care settings, family planning clinics, neonatal units and community health.

Entry requirements

  • Be a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with a bachelor degree in nursing, or equivalent. (You will be required to provide a certified copy of your Bachelor of Nursing degree, or equivalent.)
  • Provide evidence of current registration as a nurse with a Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) certificate.
  • Interview with Midwifery degree representative/s and a service provider representative to demonstrate ability to commit to the requirements of the degree.

Satisfaction of admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Places within the Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) are limited by quota. Selection from applicants who met admission requirements will be based on ranking by GPA from previous Nursing studies. Quota size is determined by the availability of hospital placements. Where the quota is filled, no further places will be offered.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of Category 4 - IELTS 7.0, or equivalent score. If you do not meet the English language requirements you will be required to submit a formal English language test result that meets the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)'s minimal requirements prior to degree entry.

If you need to prepare for the English language test, you can apply for USQ's Academic Communication Skills Program to improve your skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Additional requirements for placements

All students must provide the following documents prior to commencing residential schools and clinical placements:

  • Blue Card or Working with Children Check or evidence of registration with AHPRA
  • Australian Police Certificate
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate (CPR)
  • USQ Student Declaration
  • Queensland Health Student Orientation Checklist (Queensland students only)
  • Queensland Health Student Deed Poll (Queensland students only)
  • Queensland Health iLearn Modules (Queensland students only)
  • Completed Vaccine Preventable Evidence Form.

Plus evidence of the following immunisations:

  • Hepatitis B immunisation
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis, and Varicella immunisation
  • Tuberculosis risk assessment
  • Influenza immunisation
  • COVID-19 vaccinations as directed by health services.

Tasmanian students residing outside of Queensland must provide evidence of:

  • HIV and Hepatitis C of having antibodies.

Note: Students may not be allocated a placement if any of the above documents are not current. Residential schools will be conducted at the Ipswich campus or in Tasmania (only students who reside in Tasmania will attend residential schools at the Southern Simulation Centre at the Royal Hobart Hospital's Clinical School, Liverpool St, Hobart).

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

To enter this degree, you need to be a Registered Nurse with a bachelor degree in nursing, or equivalent, and with a current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration. If you do not meet these requirements there are pathway options available to you.

Additionally, if you would like to apply to this degree using previous nursing studies, you will require a GPA of at least 4. If you would like to increase your ranking from previous nursing studies, it is recommended that you study a short postgraduate course related to midwifery.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 16 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 16
Total 16

Refer to the USQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Clinical experience

You will need to complete clinical experience and practice the provision of maternity services to women and their families under supervision of a registered midwife. You will also undertake simulation learning during residential schools.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional practice placement requirements within this program.

Residential schools

Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) students must attend mandatory residential schools at USQ Ipswich or in Hobart (Tasmanian students only). You will attend nine days over three residential schools – two residential schools in February prior to Semester 1 commencement in both years of study, and one in May during Semester 1. The dates and location of the three mandatory residential schools are available from the Residential School Schedule.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 3950
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 23120

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2022. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Professional experience costs

This degree includes a professional experience component that may involve travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Residential school costs

This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP. 

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At USQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Apply via QTAC

Complete your online application via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre).

Mode QTAC Codes
External 906295

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC
  • Applications for Semester 1, 2022 - Major round applications close Friday 19 November 2021. A top-up round of applications close Thursday 13 January 2022. Where the quota is filled, no further places will be offered.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at USQ that is relevant to you.

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Begin your study journey today with Australia's #1 university for graduate starting salary* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide, 2022

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What is midwifery?

Midwifery is a specialised healthcare profession that focuses on providing antenatal care during pregnancy, labour and birth, and postnatally. Midwives provide care and support to mother and baby in the first 6 weeks after birth.

A Bachelor of Midwifery will give you the knowledge and skills you need to work in partnership with women and other health care professionals, working in many different maternal settings.

How to become a Midwife in Australia 

At USQ you can complete a nursing qualification, such as a Bachelor of Nursing and go on to study a postgraduate Nursing and Allied Health degree, such as the Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry.

Once you have completed your midwifery degree you need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) which will allow you to work in a variety of maternal settings.

How long does it take to become a midwife?

A Bachelor of Midwifery or our Bachelor of  Health (Honours) (Midwifery) qualification will take you approximately 3 to complete. If you are a Registered Nurse and study a postgraduate Nursing and Allied Health degree, such as USQ’s Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry, it will take you approximately 2 years to complete. Some students choose to study part-time which increases the time it takes to finish the required courses.

Can you become a midwife with a nursing degree?

Yes, you can! If you are a Registered Nurse (RN) with a current Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration and obtained a GPA of at least 4 from your previous nursing studies you can apply to study USQ’s Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry.

Is midwifery for me?

Like any career or industry, a passion or specific skillset will help you naturally align your strengths to a job you love. Midwifery is no different. Some important qualities many midwives have include:

  • The ability to empathise and sympathise with others – showing care and compassion for your patients and their babies at a momentous time in their life is a big part of the job. 
  • Patience and people skills – many first time mothers have a lot of concerns or questions so being able to patiently answer any and all questions is important. You will also be required to work in different medical settings with a variety of health care professions so being able to relate to people and get along well with others is imperative. 
  • A strong stomach – a midwife needs to capably handle many medical situations which may involve blood, bodily functions and medical procedures, so having a ‘squeamish’ stomach isn’t going to pair well in this career.

Are flexible study options available?

Yes! You study the Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry externally which means you can learn your subject theory online and in your own time. You complete your clinical experience in a range of settings, such as hospitals, family planning clinics, community health and home visits.

You also have the choice of studying full-time or part-time, allowing you to balance your life, work and family commitments.

Discover more about the ways you can study at USQ. 

What pathways are available?

If you aren’t a Registered Nurse (RN) with a bachelor degree in nursing or equivalent you can apply to study a Bachelor of Nursing and then continue your studies with a Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry to qualify as a Midwife.

Please view the entry requirements section of this page for details. 

Can I study midwifery online?

Our Nursing and Allied Health Bachelor of Midwifery Graduate Entry degree is available to study externally which means you learn your subject theory online and attend clinical experience in a variety of health care environments during Semester 1 and 2 of your studies.

Why study a Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) with USQ?