This is a four-year full-time undergraduate programme, leading to the award of a BSc (Hons). On successful completion of the programme, students will also be recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for registration as a midwife.

NOTE: This programme is being revised with changes being implemented on a phased basis commencing in 2018/19.

Two Year Rule
Students of Midwifery must pass/progress within two academic years of first registration for each year of the programme, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme. After failing a resit examination, students may be allowed to repeat the year. Any individual year can be repeated only once, however, a maximum of two failed years may be repeated during a student's programme of studies. Thus, students must complete their studies ordinarily within six years of registering for the First Year of the BSc (Hons) Midwifery Degree programme. Note: Students on the programme may not graduate without achieving a pass in the Fourth University Examination and a pass in the relevant Part B module.

Applicants who are under 23 years of age must satisfy the minimum entry requirements of the College of Medicine and Health as set out here.

Entry on the Grounds of Mature Years
Applicants who have not satisfied the minimum entry requirements may, on the recommendation of the College, be considered for admission on the grounds of mature years (see the "Admission to Undergraduate Programmes" section of the University Calendar).

Garda Vetting and Health Clearance
All students entering programmes in the College of Medicine and Health will be working with vulnerable people in clinical areas during their time in UCC. Most of these clinical areas will be under the ownership and authority of the Health Services Executive (HSE). As per legal requirements, the HSE, the Private and Voluntary Hospitals and COPE Foundation require all students working within their organisations to obtain Garda Clearance.

For all BSc (Hons) Nursing and BSc (Hons) Midwifery Degree programmes, students undertaking CK710, CK712, CK720, CK730 and CK740: students are required to do the following before their registration for their chosen BSc programme is finalised and for continued access to a clinical placement area:

1. Successfully complete all health* and Garda vetting requirements (and International Police Screening as appropriate).
2. Sign affidavit(s) as prescribed by the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
3. Sign a practice placement agreement.

*Entry to year two of the programme is also contingent on completion of the prescribed occupational health vaccination programme. In addition, continued occupational health clearance is a requirement for accessing clinical placements.

In view of the long lead time required to obtain Garda clearance, particularly in relation to non-European Union countries, applicants are strongly advised to begin seeking police clearance from jurisdictions outside of Ireland on receipt of confirmation of a place on the BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme.

Fitness to Practise
Commencing with the 2013/2014 intake of first year students (including repeats), this programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

Exemptions
Students who have undertaken relevant studies may be exempt from particular modules. This will be at the discretion of the Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, and subject to the approval of the College of Medicine and Health.

Advanced Entry
Successful advanced entry applicants into Second Year of the BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme may be required to undertake NU2101 (5 credits) in addition to the 60 credits in Second Year (making a total of 65 credits).

REGULATIONS FOR THE BSc (Hons) (MIDWIFERY) DEGREE

The programme is defined in terms of modules, which are measured in terms of credits. A module may correspond to 5, 10, 15 or 20 credits. Each year of the degree programme consists of modules to a total value of 60 credits.

In order to be admitted to the First University Examination in Midwifery, each student must have attended lecture modules in Part A to the value of 50 credits and a Practice Module in Part B to the value of 10 credits as follows:

Part A
50 credits of Midwifery modules:
NU1040 Infection Prevention and Control for Nursing and Midwifery Practice (5 credits)
NU1052 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn I (10 credits)
NU1053 Midwives and Professional Practice I (10 credits)
NU1055 Interpersonal Communication and Applied Psychology for Midwifery Practice (10 credits)
NU1064 Midwifery Theory and Practice for Various Clinical Settings I (10 credits)
SC1016 Sociological concepts for Midwifery (5 credits)

Part B
plus 10 credits of Midwifery Practice:
NU1056 Midwifery Practice I (10 credits)

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

A student may not register for the Second Year of the programme until the First University Examination in Midwifery and the relevant Part B module have been passed. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Midwifery, each student must have attended lecture modules in Part A to the value of 50 credits and a Practice Module in Part B to the value of 10 credits as follows:

Part A
40 credits of Midwifery modules:
NU2092 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn II (5 credits)
NU2093 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn II – Complications (10 credits)
NU2094 Midwives and Professional Practice - Bereavement and Loss (5 credits)
NU2095 Biological Basis for Midwifery Practice (10 credits)
NU2096 Midwifery in Various Health Care Contexts II (10 credits)

plus 10 credits of Nursing and Midwifery modules:
NU2003 Pharmacology and Medication Management for Nurses and Midwives (5 credits)
NU2050 Research for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Care (5 credits)

Part B
plus 10 credits of Midwifery Practice:
NU2083 Midwifery Practice II (10 credits)

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS NOT COMPLETING SECOND UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION IN MIDWIFERY
The Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health) is an alternative diploma pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module Part B Practice module (NU2083). For students who do not pass the Part B Practice module for Year 2 of the BSc (Hons) Midwifery at the Autumn Examinations or at the first attempt in a Repeat year, the student will re-register for the non-clinical Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health). This pathway does not confer eligibility to practice as a Registered Midwife. To complete the Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health), a student must pass all Part A modules for the second BSc Midwifery Examinations and achieve a pass in the Part B independent study module NU2084 Independent Study in Health Studies (Women's Health) (10 credits). Students who complete the Part B Study Module are required to exit the programme with a Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health) (Level 6) award. Programme requirements are outlined below:

SECOND YEAR - SECOND UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION IN HEALTH STUDIES (WOMEN'S HEALTH)

Leading to: NFQ Level 6, Minor Award - Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health)

A student may not register for the Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health) programme until the First University Examination in Midwifery and the relevant Part B module have been passed. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health), each student must have attended lecture modules in Part A to the value of 50 credits and a Study Module in Part B to the value of 10 credits as follows:

Part A
40 credits of Midwifery modules:
NU2092 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn II (5 credits)
NU2093 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn II - Complications (10 credits)
NU2094 Midwives and Professional Practice - Bereavement and Loss (5 credits)
NU2095 Biological Basis for Midwifery Practice (10 credits)
NU2096 Midwifery in Various Health Care Contexts II (10 credits)

plus 10 credits of Nursing and Midwifery modules:
NU2003 Pharmacology and Medication Management for Nurses and Midwives (5 credits)
NU2050 Research for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Care (5 credits)

Part B
plus 10 credits of the following Study Module:
NU2084 Independent Study in Health Studies (Women's Health) (10 credits)

Examinations
Students who complete the Part B Study Module are required to exit the programme with a Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health) (Level 6) award. Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

A student may not register for the Third Year of the programme until the Second University Examination in Midwifery and the appropriate Part B module have been passed. In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Midwifery, each student must have attended lecture modules as detailed in Part A to the value of 50 credits and a Practice Module in Part B to the value of 10 credits as follows:

Part A
45 credits of Midwifery modules:
NU3058 Midwifery Practice in Various Health Contexts III (10 credits)
NU3070 Pregnancy, Childbirth and Newborn III (15 credits)
NU3071 Midwives and Professional Practice III (5 credits)
NU3073 Parenthood Education: Promoting Normal Birth (10 credits)
SS3044 Contemporary Social Issues in Midwifery Practice (5 credits)

plus 5 credits of Nursing and Midwifery modules:
NU3083 Research for Evidence-based Nursing and Midwifery Care (5 credits)

Part B
plus 10 credits of Midwifery Practice:
NU3069 Midwifery Practice III (10 credits)

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS NOT COMPLETING THIRD UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION IN MIDWIFERY
The BSc Health Studies (Women's Health) is an alternative ordinary bachelor's degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module Part B (NU3069). For students who do not pass the Part B Practice module for Year 2 of the BSc (Hons) Midwifery at the Autumn Examination or at the first attempt in a Repeat year, the student will re-register for the non-clinical BSc in Health Studies (Women's Health). This pathway does not confer eligibility to practice as a Registered Midwife. To complete the BSc Health Studies (Women's Health), a student must pass all Part A modules for the third-year BSc Midwifery Examinations and achieve a pass in the Part B independent study module NU3084 Health Studies (Women's Health) (10 credits). Students who complete the Part B Study Module are required to exit the programme with a BSc Health Studies (Women's Health) (Level 7) award. Programme requirements are outlined below:

THIRD YEAR - THIRD UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION IN HEALTH STUDIES (WOMEN'S HEALTH)

Leading to: NFQ Level 7, Major Award - BSc in Health Studies (Women's Health)

A student may not register for the Third Year of the programme until the Second University Examination in Midwifery and the appropriate Part B module have been passed. In order to be admitted to the Third University Examination in Health Studies (Women's Health), each student must have attended lecture modules in Part A to the value of 50 credits and a Study Module in Part B to the value of 10 credits as follows:

Part A
45 credits of Midwifery modules:
NU3058 Midwifery Practice in Various Health Contexts III (10 credits)
NU3070 Pregnancy, Childbirth and Newborn III (15 credits)
NU3071 Midwives and Professional Practice III (5 credits)
NU3073 Parenthood Education: Promoting Normal Birth (10 credits)
SS3044 Contemporary Social Issues in Midwifery Practice (5 credits)

plus 5 credits of Nursing and Midwifery modules:
NU3083 Research for Evidence-based Nursing and Midwifery Care (5 credits)

Part B
plus 10 credits of the following Study Module:
NU3084 Independent Study in Health Studies (Women's Health) (10 credits)

Examinations
Students who complete the Part B Study Module are required to exit the programme with a BSc Health Studies (Women's Health) (Level 7) award. Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

A student may not register for the Fourth Year of the programme until the Third University Examination in Midwifery and the relevant Part B module have been passed. In order to be admitted to the Fourth University Examination in Midwifery, each student must have attended lecture modules in Part A to the value of 45 credits and a Practice Module in Part B to the value of 15 credits as follows:

Part A
30 credits of Midwifery modules:
NU4079 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn IV (10 credits)
NU4081 Midwifery and Professional Practice including Ethics and Legal Issues (10 credits)
NU4082 Health Promotion for Midwifery Practice (10 credits)

plus 10 credits of Nursing and Midwifery modules:
NU4073 Research for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Care (10 credits)

plus 5 credits from the following:
NU4025 Health Care Informatics for Nursing and Midwifery (5 credits)
NU4034 Complementary Therapies in Healthcare (5 credits)
NU4037 Wound Management (5 credits)
*NU4114 Personal and Professional Development in Nursing and Midwifery (5 credits)
SC4001 Sociology of Health: Contemporary Debates and Holistic Healthcare for the 21st Century (5 credits)

Note: * Students intending to select NU4114 should seek the prior approval of the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Part B
plus 15 credits of Midwifery Practice:
NU4075 Midwifery Practice IV (15 credits)

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS NOT COMPLETING FOURTH UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION IN MIDWIFERY
The BSc (Hons) Health Studies (Women's Health) is an honours bachelors' degree pathway for students who do not satisfy the pass standard for the placement module Part B Practice module (NU4075). For students who do not pass the Part B Practice module for Year 4 of the BSc (Hons) Midwifery at the Autumn Examinations or at the first attempt in a Repeat year, the student will re-register for the non-clinical BSc (Hons) in Health Studies (Women's Health). To complete the BSc (Hons) Health Studies (Women's Health), a student must pass all Part A modules for the fourth-year BSc Midwifery Examinations and achieve a pass in the Part B independent study module NU4044 Independent Study in Health Studies (Women's Health) (15 credits). This pathway does not confer eligibility to practice as a Registered Midwife. Programme requirements are outlined below:

FOURTH YEAR - FOURTH UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION IN HEALTH STUDIES (WOMEN'S HEALTH)

Leading to: NFQ Level 8, Major Award - BSc (Hons) Health Studies (Women's Health)

A student may not register for the Fourth Year of the programme until the Third University Examination in Midwifery and the relevant Part B module have been passed. In order to be admitted to the Fourth University Examination in Health Studies (Women's Health), each student must have attended lecture modules in Part A to the value of 45 credits and an Independent Study Module in Part B to the value of 15 credits as follows:

Part A
45 credits of Midwifery modules:
NU4079 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn IV (10 credits)
NU4081 Midwifery and Professional Practice including Ethics and Legal Issues (10 credits)
NU4082 Health Promotion for Midwifery Practice (10 credits)

plus 10 credits of Nursing and Midwifery modules:
NU4073 Research for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery Care (10 credits)

plus 5 credits from the following:
NU4025 Health Care Informatics for Nursing and Midwifery (5 credits)
NU4034 Complementary Therapies in Healthcare (5 credits)
NU4037 Wound Management (5 credits)
SC4001 Sociology of Health: Contemporary Debates and Holistic Healthcare for the 21st Century (5 credits)

Part B
plus 15 credits of the following Study Module:
NU4044 Independent Study in Health Studies (Women's Health) (15 credits)

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Hons) Midwifery (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Actively fulfil a philosophy of midwifery and a commitment to high standards of professional practice within the scope of midwifery practice and the health care services;
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills about pregnancy and childbirth and the newborn and provide safe and effective antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care for women and their families;
• Conceptualise the process of the childbirth cycle utilising the contribution of biological and social sciences;
• Establish and maintain effective caring and interpersonal relationships with women and articulate and represent the needs of individual women, babies and families while supporting shared decision-making throughout the woman's childbirth experience;
• Effectively coordinate, organise and manage midwifery care on own initiative and in consultation with the multidisciplinary team;
• Proactively effect change in response to women's needs and preferences that will benefit mothers and babies locally, nationally and internationally;
• Promote the concepts and politics of normal birth;
• Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for midwifery and its implications for practice in a variety of settings;
• Facilitate lifelong learning for self and others to enhance competent, flexible and responsive midwifery practice.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health) (NFQ Level 6, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of life and social sciences relevant to health studies (women's health);
• Demonstrate knowledge of team working with individuals, groups and communities;
• Promote health and wellbeing when working with women as individuals, groups and communities across the lifespan.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Ord) Health Studies (Women's Health) (NFQ Level 7, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of life and social sciences relevant to health studies (women's health);
• Demonstrate knowledge of team working with individuals, groups and communities;
• Promote health and wellbeing when working with women as individuals, groups and communities across the lifespan;
• Demonstrate reasoning skills in a broad range of settings related to health studies (women's health);
• Work in an ethical manner that respects social, cultural differences and confidentiality;
• Demonstrate literacy and numeracy in report writing and in oral communication.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Hons) Health Studies (Women's Health) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of life and social sciences relevant to health studies (women's health);
• Demonstrate knowledge of team working with individuals, groups and communities;
• Promote health and wellbeing when working with women as individuals, groups and communities across the lifespan;
• Demonstrate reasoning skills in a broad range of settings related to health studies (women's health);
• Work in an ethical manner that respects social, cultural differences and confidentiality;
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of health policies and legislation in Ireland;
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing education and lifelong learning, for self and others in respect of health studies (women's health);
• Engage in research to advance knowledge and best practice in health studies (women's health).

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Hons) Midwifery (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Establish and maintain effective caring and interpersonal relationships with women using a salutogenic approach and represent the needs, choices, values and beliefs of individual women, babies and families while empowering her decision-making throughout the childbirth experience;
• Promote the process of the childbirth cycle as a normal physiological process within the context of a healthy lifestyle and the context of 'Making every contact count';
• Actively fulfil a philosophy of midwifery practice with a commitment to high standards of safe evidenced based care as guided by the scope of midwifery practice;
• Practice in line with legislation and use professional guidance and be responsible and accountable, demonstrating knowledge and skills of the activities of a midwife (EC Directive 2005/36/EC), with competence, kindness, compassion and respect for women, their families and community;
• Facilitate and communicate with women to establish relationships based on partnership, trust and confidentiality;
• Demonstrate reflective, lifelong learning for self and others to enhance competent, flexible and responsive midwifery practice;
• Demonstrate safe effective practice to recognise deviations from normal pregnancy, to communicate care of women appropriately and to provide emergency care to mothers and babies as part of the multidisciplinary team;
• Critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for midwifery and its implications for practice in a variety of settings.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Diploma in Health Studies (Women's Health) (NFQ Level 6, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of life and social sciences relevant to health studies (women's health);
• Demonstrate knowledge of team working with individuals, groups and communities;
• Promote health and wellbeing when working with women as individuals, groups and communities across the lifespan.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Ord) Health Studies (Women's Health) (NFQ Level 7, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of life and social sciences relevant to health studies (women's health);
• Demonstrate knowledge of team working with individuals, groups and communities;
• Promote health and wellbeing when working with women as individuals, groups and communities across the lifespan;
• Demonstrate reasoning skills in a broad range of settings related to health studies (women's health);
• Work in an ethical manner that respects social, cultural differences and confidentiality;
• Demonstrate literacy and numeracy in report writing and in oral communication.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Hons) Health Studies (Women's Health) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of life and social sciences relevant to health studies (women's health);
• Demonstrate knowledge of team working with individuals, groups and communities;
• Promote health and wellbeing when working with women as individuals, groups and communities across the lifespan;
• Demonstrate reasoning skills in a broad range of settings related to health studies (women's health);
• Work in an ethical manner that respects social, cultural differences and confidentiality;
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of health policies and legislation in Ireland;
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing education and lifelong learning, for self and others in respect of health studies (women's health);
• Engage in research to advance knowledge and best practice in health studies (women's health).