Midwifery with Foundation Year

At BNU, we’ll help prepare you for your career in midwifery so you can then help parents through one of the most vulnerable times in their lives and meet the growing demand for midwives.

You’ll benefit from our combined learning approach of theory and practice, supportive and experienced course team, and our specialist facilities. Upon completion of the degree, you’ll be eligible to register with the Nursing & Midwifery Council.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
At BNU, you will gain the skills and knowledge that will help you to become a competent, confident and compassionate midwife able to provide sensitive, evidence-based and person-centred care.

Throughout this programme you will develop an understanding of pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period on the early weeks of life and the longer-term health and well-being of society.

Throughout the degree, you’ll develop your skills to build effective relationships, working in partnership with women and their families to:

provide safe and compassionate maternity care
demonstrate sensitive and systematic knowledge
show a detailed understanding of the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual factors that may affect the maternity journey.
Designed in collaboration with practice partners, service users and the University, our degree focuses on:


- continuum of care


• Optimise physiological processes, whilst ensuring that students are equipped to recognise when processes run outside of our scope



- supporting safe physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual situations


- working to promote positive outcomes and to anticipate and prevent complications.


You will also gain the skills to support all aspects of infant feeding and understand the long-term implications on infant development, and the wider health of society.

On successful completion of this degree, you will also be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the processes, resources and policies influencing organisational change, within healthcare, utilising developments in digital health technology.

As a qualified midwife, you will also be able to promote, protect and advocate for the public health needs of women, newborns and their families, using evidence-based practice to mitigate against health and social inequalities.

Our experienced and supportive lecturers are passionate about midwifery and maintain close links with practice, ensuring that the programme is always kept up-to-date. In addition, guest speakers will deliver sessions, so you can benefit from their specific experiences, expertise, and insights.

At BNU, we recognise roles in this field are hands-on – that’s why you’ll take part in simulated learning experiences throughout the course using our specialised facilities. This will enable you to recreate authentic scenarios and practise your skills in a safe environment.

Midwifery Placements

Clinical placements make up 50% of the course, providing experience across a range of maternity services with local NHS Trusts, including Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. You'll also gain leadership experience with different maternity providers through placement opportunities across multiple Trusts.

What Facilities Can I Use?

At our Uxbridge and Aylesbury campuses, you'll have access to specialist simulation facilities and state-of-the-art equipment that replicate real maternity care environments. These facilities allow you to practise clinical skills safely and confidently before placement. Equipment and learning resources are replicated across both campuses to ensure a consistent learning experience for all students.

At Bucks New University, you'll benefit from career-focused teaching, hands-on learning and a supportive community that helps you thrive throughout your degree and beyond.

You'll learn from lecturers with industry experience, gain practical skills in professional-standard facilities and receive personalised support through smaller class sizes. Beyond your course, The Big Deal gives every student free access to sports clubs, societies, fitness facilities, social events, trips, volunteering opportunities and career-boosting workshops. It's Bucks way of helping you discover new interests, meet like-minded people, build your CV and make the most of university life – all without paying extra membership fees.

Whether you're preparing for your future career, growing your confidence or looking for an unforgettable student experience, Bucks offers the opportunities and support to help you achieve your goals.