Campuses and locations
The University of Newcastle is a multi-campus institution offering programs in a number of locations.
Undergraduate degree
Bachelor of Midwifery
I am a prospective
student, looking to study at
Duration3 years full-time.3 years full-time.
Mode of deliveryFace to Face
Start datesSemester 1 (22 Feb 2021),
Semester 1 (22 Feb 2021),
Program Code12200
Entry requirements
Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools.
Study midwifery
Working with women and families, promoting optimal health outcomes for today and future generations.
As a midwife, you will focus on caring for women during their pregnancy, labour, birth and the early postnatal period. You will work in partnership with the woman and her family to achieve the best health outcomes for her and her newborn during the transition to parenthood. This degree will prepare you for midwifery practice through providing direct clinical care and support for childbearing women and their newborns under the supervision of a registered midwife, with an emphasis on woman-centred care and relational continuity with women and practice experiences in all midwifery contexts.
Our Bachelor of Midwifery degree has been developed in partnership with the Hunter New England Area Local Health District and supported by the Hunter New England Local Health District, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford Private Hospital and Newcastle Private Hospital. These close relationships mean that the learning experiences of our midwifery students are guided and supported by clinicians who are a part of the workforce.
Why study with us?
- Rural clinical placements available – you now have the option to undertake your studies at Manning Education Centre (Taree) and undertake your professional experience in a rural clinical placement location. These locations include Manning Base Hospital, Port Macquarie Hospital and Kempsey Hospital, and you will be allocated at one of these hospitals for the full three years.
- Be work-ready – students complete a minimum of 1,400 hours of clinical experience throughout their degree.
- Access to state-of-the-art simulation labs – Students gain extensive hands on experience within state-of-the-art simulation labs which provide you with a safe environment to practice your clinical skills.
- Professional recognition – upon graduation you are eligible to join a close community of midwives by applying for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Flexible delivery – learn with a mix of face-to-face and online activities, with plenty of hands-on experience in clinical settings.
1,400 hours
of clinical placement
ANMAC
?
accredited degree
94% Employed
?
within four months of graduating
12
?
Medical and Health Sciences areas rated at 'well above world standard'
What you will study
The Bachelor of Midwifery is designed to sequentially build midwifery knowledge and skills. In the first-year, you will study courses in fundamental concepts of the midwifery profession and normal pregnancy and birth psychophysiology.
In the second year, you will expand your knowledge base and learn about women with complex care needs including:
- Mental health conditions
- Pregnancy related conditions
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Care of the unwell newborn
- Birth emergencies
- Consultation and collaboration
In the final year, you'll continue to build skills and knowledge and progress to beginner level practitioners, consolidating clinical skills and integrating research into practice.
A mix of both face-to-face and online learning is provided to ensure you are able to be with childbearing women when required, including births, which occur at all hours.
Program plans
Download a program plan for further details on your degree's structure and what courses you will study.
These program plans are applicable to new students. Current students should refer to the program handbook to access the plan relevant to the year they commenced.
Career
Practical experience
Midwifery at the University of Newcastle gives you the opportunity to obtain approximately 1,400 hours of clinical experience in a maternity service environment.
There are two forms of clinical practice that you will participate in; clinical placement in a hospital and continuity of care relationships with childbearing women.
Clinical placement in a hospital
You will spend a minimum of 880 hours (over the three year period) in an allocated hospital in one of the health facilities listed below.
You will have hands-on experience with women during:
- the antenatal period
- labour and birthing
- the postnatal period
Locations
Detailed information on each of the available Clinical Placement locations.
Continuity of care relationships with childbearing women
During your midwifery degree, you will also participate in a minimum of 10 relationship-based, continuity of care experiences (CCE) with childbearing women. Each relationship equates to approximately 20 hours of interactions. You will have a real-world experience as an on-call clinician for these women. The hours for this component of clinical experiences totals a minimum of 200 hours over the three years.
The remaining 320 hours will be spent in further CCE relationships OR additional allocated hospital experiences, depending on your allocated clinical placement venue and the models of care available.
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Midwifery is a specialised program that qualifies graduates to become registered midwives in Australia. Below is a list of the typical job titles for Midwifery graduates, including advanced roles that will require further study and experience beyond the undergraduate Midwifery qualifications.
- Registered Midwife
- Clinical Midwife Educator
- Clinical Midwife Specialist
- Midwife Consultant
- Midwife Manager
- Midwife Researcher
Professional recognition
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
Graduates are eligible to apply for registration to practise as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (under AHPRA)
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme administered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Study with us
Hear from our students
Listen to our students talk about their degree and life at the University of Newcastle.
How to apply
Applying for Bachelor of Midwifery
I am a prospective
student, looking to study at
Let's just check you are eligible
Pick your situation from the list below for more information.
If you are an international student, read the information below before completing an application.
As someone who recently completed secondary education, either at high school, TAFE or another VET provider, you will generally be considered for entry based on your Selection Rank (SR). Some degrees have additional entry requirements such as auditions or interviews and where required you will find these listed on the relevant degree page.
Try to choose what you are most interested in and then research some back up options with lower Selection Ranks (SR) to put as your later choices. A good tip is to look at degrees that may have similar first year subjects. This will help you reduce your overall study time if you want to apply to transfer to your degree of choice after the first year. We also recommend choosing one of our free pathway programs as a backup option as your fifth preference on your UAC application. Selection Ranks (SR) requirements for our degrees do change from year to year so only use the Selection Rank (SR) as a guide.
You should start planning your way into uni from Year 10 onwards. Think about:
- Using our study areas to narrow down study options based on what you are interested in
- Come and speak to us at events like Open Day, Schools Visit Day and campus tours
- Check the Assumed Knowledge and Recommended Studies of the degrees you are interested in
- If you are a high performer you can get a head start by completing some uni subjects while still at school
- Sign up to our mailing list for regular updates
- Have a look at adjustment points and other entry schemes that may give you an extra boost
- Decide on some back up options like Newstep and other entry pathways if you don't get the required marks
- See our Application FAQs .
- Have questions? Ask a student. We know you must have heaps of questions about university life – what’s needed to get into your degree, where to go for support, what on-campus accommodation is available and of course, where to find the best coffee. Jump on our website to chat to one of our Student Ambassadors.
Secondary results don’t have a use-by date, so even if you completed high school 20 years ago, these results may be used to apply to the University of Newcastle. You can use your ATAR or equivalent (UAI, TER etc) to apply irrespective of when you completed Year 12.
It can be complicated to calculate your Selection Rank (SR) based on high school results prior to the introduction of the ATAR in 2009. Contact us at 1300 275 866 and let us do the calculating for you.
If you don’t think you will meet the Selection Rank (SR) for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:
- Open Foundation
Complete this one year or six-month program to get a new mark for entry. - Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Admission Scheme
Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. - Elite Athlete Program
Get adjustment points and support by applying as an elite athlete. - Special Tertiary Admissions Test
Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.
For advice on these other options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866.
If you studied vocational education and training, the type of qualification, whether or not you completed it, and if it was graded or competency-based will all be taken into consideration to assess your eligibility for admission. TAFE and private providers, as well as some universities, typically offer Certificate III, IV and Diploma Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) awards. Some also offer Advanced Diploma and Associate Degrees.
For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. Selection ranks from different individual qualifications are not combined or added together to form a rank. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission. Different selection ranks are assigned to VET courses with graded assessment and competency based (ungraded) assessment. The tables below provide information on how to assess your selection rank based on your AQF qualification.
TAFE Guaranteed Entry
Many of our students come to us after completing TAFE studies. You can gain guaranteed entry into many of our 2021 undergraduate programs if you have previously completed an accredited Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma at TAFE or another registered training organisation (RTO).
Complete Graded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma
| Grade Point Average | Rank - AQF Diploma | Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5+ | 95 | 96.95 |
| 6.25-6.49 | 93 | 95.25 |
| 6.00-6.24 | 90 | 93 |
| 5.75-5.99 | 88 | 91 |
| 5.50-5.74 | 86 | 89 |
| 5.25-5.49 | 83 | 86 |
| 5.00-5.24 | 81 | 83 |
| 4.75-4.99 | 78 | 80 |
| 4.00-4.74 | 75 | 76 |
Complete and Incomplete Ungraded AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma
| Rank - AQF Advanced Diploma | Rank - AQF Diploma |
|---|---|
| 76 | 75 |
Complete Graded AQF Certificate III or AQF Certificate IV
Please note: Certificate III qualifications and below are not accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing program.
| Grade Point Average | Rank - AQF Certificate III | Rank - AQF Certificate IV |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5+ | 78 | 90 |
| 6.25-6.49 | 78 | 88 |
| 6.00-6.24 | 77 | 86 |
| 5.75-5.99 | 76 | 84 |
| 5.50-5.74 | 75 | 82 |
| 5.25-5.49 | 73 | 80 |
| 5.00-5.24 | 71 | 78 |
| 4.75-4.99 | 69 | 75 |
| 4.00-4.74 | 67 | 73 |
Complete Ungraded AQF Certificate III and AQF Certificate IV
| Rank - AQF Certificate III | Rank - AQF Certificate IV |
|---|---|
| 67 | 73 |
Note: Incomplete VET studies must be AQF Diploma level or above and more than 0.2 of a full time student (FTE) to be considered for admission.
It is probably best to contact our Enquiry Centre on 1300 275 866 to discuss your qualifications and grades. Our team are happy to advise you on your options.
Your previous qualifications may also make you eligible for credit to your degree. This will cut down on your study time. You can apply for credit before you start. See our credit page for more information.
If you don’t think you will meet the requirements for admission there are other options to get in depending on your situation:
- Open Foundation
Complete this one year or six-month program to get a new mark for entry. - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admission Scheme
Get entry help by identifying you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. - Educational Access Scheme
Get up to four points if you have experienced educational or other disadvantage. - Elite Athlete Program
Get adjustment points and support by applying as an elite athlete. - Special Tertiary Admissions Test
Complete this test for a mark for entry into some of our degrees.
If you completed higher education or partial higher education studies your grade point average (GPA) (or Grade Average as a percentage for pathway programs like Newstep, Open Foundation or Yapug) can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. To ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, all assessable qualifications are converted to a selection rank. The selection rank from this qualification is not added to your ATAR. The highest of the two numbers will be the one used to assess your eligibility for admission.
If you have completed a degree and want to move onto postgraduate study please see our Postgraduate website.
Bachelor degree studies
| Min GPA (>0.5FTE*) | Selection Rank |
|---|---|
| 6.5+ | 97.30 |
| 6 | 93.40 |
| 5 | 86.30 |
| 4 | 77.65 |
| 3 | 67.25 |
*Your GPA can only be calculated if you have completed at least 20 units of study. A full-time study (FTE) load is usually 80 units per year.
Completed pathway (also known as enabling or tertiary preparation) programs
| Overall Grade Average | Selection Rank |
|---|---|
| >97 | 99.55 |
| 80 | 84 |
| 70 | 77 |
| 60 | 70 |
| 50 | 65 |
If you are currently studying a degree at the University of Newcastle and want to transfer across to another degree, please see our Internal Transfers page for current students for more information.
If you have completed or are soon to complete an Enabling Pathways program (Newstep, Open Foundation, or Yapug) you can apply with us directly for free for most degrees. Please visit the Your Next Move website for more information.
If you want to transfer or complete a tertiary preparation program at another university you will need to apply through UAC. Please contact our Enquiry Centre 1300 275 866 for information and advice.
If you think you may be eligible for credit please visit our credit section.
If you’re applying on the basis of overseas secondary qualifications, there are some that are considered as equivalent to an Australian Year 12 qualification. Note that equivalence of qualifications alone does not guarantee entry into programs. For admission purposes, and to ensure fairness and transparency among applicants with different types of qualifications, your overseas qualification will be converted to a selection rank so you can be compared to other applicants.
For advice on your options please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or visit AskUON.
If you haven’t completed any formal secondary, VET or higher education studies we offer a range of options to get you on the pathway to your dream degree. Our recommended pathways are:
Pathway programs (Newstep, Open Foundation and Yapug)
The University of Newcastle is the largest provider of pathway programs in Australia. If you haven’t studied for a while, or your high school results weren’t what you expected, you can start at university with one of our pathway programs. Our pathway programs offer guaranteed entry to over 40+ University of Newcastle degrees. When you complete this program your Grade Point Average as a percentage can be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. The programs on offer are:
- Newstep
If you are aged 18-20 you can get a second chance for entry by completing our one year Newstep program. We recommend putting this as your fifth UAC preference, or you can apply to us directly. - Open Foundation
Completing our Open Foundation pathway program will award you a new rank to apply to uni. Finish Open Foundation in just a single semester or take your time - up to 2 years. Flexible study supports you to learn at your own pace, including online, part-time or full-time options. - Yapug
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student you could complete our one year Yapug pathway program.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
The Special Tertiary Admissions Test or STAT is an aptitude test, organised through the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), that assesses a range of competencies considered important for successful tertiary study. If you are over 18 and not a current Year 12 student, results from the STAT multiple-choice test can be used for entry into some (but not all) of the degrees offered at the University of Newcastle. Make sure you look into which degrees accept STAT for entry.
If your qualification is not listed and you are unsure whether you can use it to gain entry please contact us on 1300 275 866 or AskUON.
If your qualification is not listed and you are unsure whether you can use it to gain entry please contact us on 1300 275 866 or AskUON.
Non-Award Admission
If you want to do one or two subjects at the University of Newcastle but not a full degree you can apply for non-award admission. You may want to do this for preliminary work for a higher degree, professional requirements or because of an interest in the area.
Find out more and apply by visiting Non-Award Admission.
Cross-Institutional Study
If you are currently at another university and want to do one or more subjects at the University of Newcastle for credit you can apply for Cross-Institutional Study.
Find out more and apply by visiting Cross-Institutional Study.
If you have more than one of the qualifications listed above they may all count towards your application. We are always happy to provide advice and discuss your circumstances so please contact us by calling 1300 275 866 or by submitting a question using AskUON. Otherwise check out our application FAQ.
Senior secondary school qualification
Admission to our undergraduate degree programs usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools. To check if your qualification is recognised for direct entry into the University of Newcastle, please refer to the entry requirement tables below.
International Undergraduate Admission Requirements - Asia
International Undergraduate Admission Requirements - Rest of World
International Undergraduate Admission Requirements - South Asia
Post-secondary study
Further education like diplomas and university study can also be assessed for admission.
Additional requirements
Some of our programs have additional requirements like an audition, or portfolio.
Applicants who do not speak English as a first language must demonstrate that they meet the University's English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy.
The Australian Government operates a student visa program that enables people who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents to undertake study in Australia. A person who wants to undertake a course of study under the student visa programme must obtain a student visa before they can commence a course of study in Australia. A successful applicant must be both a genuine temporary entrant and a genuine student.
An applicant who is a genuine temporary entrant will have circumstances that support a genuine intention to temporarily enter and remain in Australia, notwithstanding the potential for this intention to change over time to an intention to utilise lawful means to remain in Australia for an extended period of time or permanently. All Australian education providers must have strategies and arrangements in place to ensure that all students and prospective students meet the requirements with Direction 69 as a condition of admission to the institution.
When your application for admission is received, the University of Newcastle will assess this against university entrance requirements including: minimum age, English and academic entry requirements. To comply with Australian law your application will also be assessed to check that you are genuinely seeking temporary entry to Australia to study. You may be asked to provide the University of Newcastle with evidence addressing Ministerial Direction 69 as part of finalising your admission. If the University forms the opinion that you are not a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) it may refuse to assess your application, withdraw an offer of a place, or cancel your confirmation of enrolment.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Australia will also assess each application for a student visa (subclass 500) against the applicant’s intention to stay temporarily in Australia as a genuine student. The criteria for this assessment are outlined in Ministerial Direction 69. Applicants that don’t satisfy the criteria under Direction 69 will not be granted a student visa.
For more information, please refer to the following areas of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website:
Other things to consider
Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:
Admission to this program is available to Australian citizens and residents only. Admission information is available from http://www.newcastle.edu.au/study.
All Candidates must lodge an application through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC).
Current Australian Year 12 Students:UAC application is based on Selection Rank or equivalent.
During the admission process adjustment factors may be applied to your Selection Rank. Find out if you are eligible.
Non school leavers and previous Australian Year 12 students:UAC application is based on:
- Previous Year 12 studies and/or
- Higher education, tertiary, post-secondary qualifications and/or
- Overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications.
Selection of applicants will be made on the basis of their academic performance (Selection rank or equivalent).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants apply through UAC and have the opportunity to access the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entry program which incorporates an interview process considering personal attributes as well as educational qualifications.
Admission is not available to International Applicants (non Australian Citizens/ Residents).
All applicants for the Bachelor of Midwifery are required to have English language skills at International English Testing Service (IELTS) (Academic) overall band 7, with a minimum score of 7 in each band.
Further information regarding the University's English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficency for Admission Policy here.
Before being considered for admission to the Bachelor of Midwifery, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council requires all applicants to demonstrate a high level of English language proficiency. To do this, applicants must do one of the following:
- Declare that:
- English is your primary language (ie the language you primarily use for reading, writing, listening and speaking and the language you know best and are most comfortable with)
- before the program start date you will have completed six years of schooling in English - including at least two years of secondary school in English - in one of the following countries: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United States, Canada, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom. All the requirements for schooling are on the UAC website.
- Undertake an English language proficiency test accepted for entry to the Bachelor of Midwifery no more than two years before the program start date. You will need to achieve specified minimum results. Minimum test results are outlined in the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy.
- Declare that you are currently registered as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse or registered midwife with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Nursing and Midwifery (AHPRA).
Upon graduation and application for registration as a midwife in Australia, you will also need to meet the English language skills registration standard of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
HSC English Band 4 or higher, General Mathematics, Biology and/or Chemistry. Computer skills, including word processing, email, web and web searching.
Computer skills - word processing, email, web, web searching.
HSC Biology and/or Chemistry, General English and General Maths.
Applicants who do not have the relevant qualifications for admission may enrol in one of the University's enabling programs and are formally advised to undertake Chemistry and the Life Sciences, and 20 units of Humanities courses as part of their enabling program.
A significant component of the program is conducted online via the internet and therefore you need to have computer skills, including word processing, email and web searching. If you do not have these skills you are advised to undertake a preparatory course.
If you have not studied HSC biology, chemistry and maths you are advised to undertake preparation courses during January and February, prior to commencing first year. Further information on preparation courses can be found online at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/future-students/uonprep-bridging-courses/about-uonprep-bridging-courses
Over the course of the Bachelor of Midwifery program, you will complete 1468 hours in a range of diverse clinical contexts. You will spend between 928 and 1268 hours (over the three year period) in an allocated maternity service in one of the following health facilities: Taree, Scone, Muswellbrook, Singleton, Maitland, John Hunter and Belmont, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Newcastle Private, Gosford Public or Gosford Private where you will have hands-on experience with women during:
- the antenatal period;
- labour and birthing;
- the postnatal period.
During your midwifery degree, you will also participate in a number of (10-26 depending on the health facility and models of care available) relationship-based, continuity of care experiences with childbearing women. Each relationship equates to approximately 20 hours of interactions. You will have a real-world experience, as an on-call clinician for these women. The hours for this component of clinical experience ranges from 200 - 540 hours over the three years.
NSW Health Verification Requirements
Mandatory NSW Health Verification Requirements must be met. For more information please visit www.newcastle.edu.au/health-medicine-placement.
Senior First Aid Certificate
Students must hold a current WorkCover approved Senior First Aid Certificate.
In addition to meeting the University's overall requirements for academic progression, students must satisfactorily complete the following courses in order to progress in their program.
MIDI1101 - Introduction to Midwifery and the Childbearing Woman
MIDI1204 - Midwifery Practice and the Well Woman
MIDI2105 - Midwifery Practice and Women with Complex Care Needs
MIDI2204 - Midwifery Practice and Women with Complex Care Needs B
MIDI3105 - Midwifery Practice and Contemporary Maternity Care
MIDI3202 - Transitioning to Professional Midwifery Practice
NURS1101 - Foundations of Professional Practice 1A
You can look at NUPrep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.
You should also think about degree add-ons like combined options or a Diploma in Languages. If you would like to learn an additional language alongside your main bachelor degree, then this program is for you. Languages offered include: Australian Sign Language (Auslan), Chinese, French, German and Japanese.
Ok, great, let's go!
Apply to study this degree through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
You can select up to five preferences in your UAC application, so have a look around and select some back-up options. Put the degree you are most interested in first.
Important: This degree has additional application requirements. All applicants MUST ensure they read the information provided regarding the Bachelor of Midwifery Application Process.
Apply to study in Australia
Both students and education agents can submit applications online. This is our preferred way of application. You can save your application after you have started, and come back to it later.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.