Bachelor of Midwifery FAQ
How long is the course?
The programme is four years full-time.
How many intakes per year?
There is one intake per year. This usually begins in February.
Can I study the course outside of Hamilton via distance learning?
The Bachelor of Midwifery programme is a mixed delivery programme. This means you need to attend compulsory block courses in Hamilton, but for the other times, you will study online from where you live and attend scheduled Hub Education days in your regional hub. Hud Education days are compulsory sessions held on Friday mornings, where a local hub tutor will be providing extra clinical teaching. This hub tutor will also organise your clinical placements, which will mostly happen in your area, however, please note that there will be occasions where your clinical placement will be outside of your area.Students can only sign up for hubs if they live in the catchment area of the regional hub location. This refers to areas in Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatane, Gisborne, and Hastings (Hawkes Bay). Currently, Gisborne students need to travel to Hastings for Hub Education days but will be able to have most of their clinical placements in Gisborne. Tokoroa students belong to the Hamilton hub, as that is the catchment area for the WDHB.
What do I need to supply to enter this programme?
Everything you need to supply is detailed here.
I am a registered nurse, can I apply for a transfer of credit and will the programme be shorter?
- A person with a Bachelor of Nursing may receive a transfer of credit (ToC) for no more than 5 modules (75 credits) and 200 clinical hours. An interview with the Head of Midwifery is required to confirm this.
- Transfers of credit are determined by a candidate’s previous study and may include a challenge exam.
- Students who are awarded a transfer of credit should be made aware of the financial implications should they become part-time. We advise you to contact Studylink before considering ToC.
- The current Bachelor of Midwifery programme is 480 credits across four years, which equates to 36 weeks each year and 33.5 hours per week. You will not have to attend the modules for which you have been granted a transfer of credit.
How much are the fees and can StudyLink pay my fees*?
Fees are detailed on the course page and StudyLink may be able to help. You will need to contact them directly to determine your eligibility for funding
* Please note these fees are subject to change each year.
Additional costs
There are additional costs that you will need to cover while studying the Bachelor of Midwifery. Click here to find out more about additional costs.
The course structure
33.5 hours per week
36 weeks per year
26 weeks holiday/break weeks
24/7 on-call when on some placement, others are rostered shifts
2400 Practice Hours
2400 Theory Hours (including self-directed study)
Mainly full-time as you must complete within five years of starting.
What is the entry criteria?
You will need to have a background in maths, science, and English at UE level. For full details, please click here.
1. Students under 20 years must have NCEA University Entrance or equivalent.
2. Students 20 years and older will be eligible for special admission and can pathway into the Bachelor of Midwifery through a health foundation course such as Te Ara Pūtake My Academic Pathway. Students need to reach a passing mark of a B grade (65%) in each module.
3. Students aged 19 who will turn 20 at the start of the programme or who can demonstrate capability and/or maturity in some way, can be directed to the Te Ara Pūtake My Academic Pathway to pathway to the Bachelor of Midwifery as long as they attain a B grade (65%).
