Bachelor of Midwifery

General academic admission

a. Candidates who have no midwifery or nursing qualification must have gained University Entrance, including:

1. a minimum of 18 credits at NCEA Level 3 in either biology, or chemistry, or physics; and
2. a minimum of 16 credits at NCEA Level 3 or higher in an English language-rich subject (such as English, History, Art History, Classics, Geography, Economics, Religious Studies or Media Studies); and
3. a further 16 credits at NCEA Level 3 in an additional approved subject.

b. Candidates aged under 20 years must meet the general academic admission criteria as detailed above.

c. Candidates who have studied on a Midwifery Degree programme at another institution will need to meet the Bachelor of Midwifery programme entry requirements or equivalent. Candidates will only be accepted for year 1, year 2 or year 3 into the programme. They will also need evidence of a B grade average (i.e. above a B minus average) and a letter of recommendation from the Head of Midwifery of the previous programme before they will be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Midwifery programme.

d. Candidates who have completed an approved foundation, bridging or tertiary introductory programme in Health at Level 4, with 50% or higher in four subjects (one module must be science) will be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Midwifery programme.

UE 2020

Applicants who achieved University Entrance through NCEA in 2020 will be assessed under separate NZQA entry requirements that take into account the impacts of COVID-19. Candidates must have gained University Entrance, including:

• A minimum of 16 credits at NCEA Level 3 in Biology, Physics or Chemistry; or a minimum of 16 credits at level 2 biology or chemistry if the applicant has not studied these subjects at level 3; and
• A minimum of 14 credits at NCEA Level 3 in an English language-rich subject (such as English, History, Art History, Classics, Geography, Economics, Religious Studies, or Media Studies); and
• A further 14 credits at NCEA Level 3 in an additional approved subject; and
• Literacy  (10 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above made up of 5 credits each in reading and writing); and
• Numeracy  (10 credits at NCEA Level 1 or above)

Special admission

a) Domestic applicants aged 20 years or above who have not met the General Admission or entry requirements for a programme but whose skills, education or work experience indicate that they have a reasonable chance of success may be eligible for Special Admission. Applicants will be required to produce:

1. Evidence of academic equivalence of the above qualifications; or
2. Evidence of ability to study successfully at degree level; or
3. Have completed an approved foundation, bridging or tertiary introductory programme in Health at Level 4 with 50% or higher in all modules.

b) Special admission will be granted at the discretion of the Centre Director or designated nominee. Such applicants may be required to successfully complete a foundation, bridging or tertiary introductory programme as a condition of entry into higher level programmes.

Selection criteria

a) Candidates will be required to complete:

1. Self-declaration of criminal convictions, and
2. Self-declaration of mental and physical condition, and provide
3. One written reference

They may also be required to provide additional information and/or attend an interview/hui in order for their application to be assessed.

b) Candidates are required in their application to indicate whether they have been convicted of, or have been prosecuted for, a criminal offence. Candidates should be aware that, under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act (2003)), some types of criminal conviction may result in the Midwifery Council of New Zealand refusing to allow a person to register as a Midwife. Similarly, some types of criminal conviction may result in difficulty to obtain a clinical practice placement and therefore meet the requirements to pass the programme.

c) Candidates are required in their application to indicate whether they have had a mental and/or physical condition that may prevent them entering the Bachelor of Midwifery programme. Candidates are required under the HPCA Act (2003) to demonstrate that they are fit for registration as they progress through the programme. Candidates should be aware that, under the HPCA Act (2003), some types of convictions, physical or mental conditions, or professional or academic misconduct, may result in the Midwifery Council of New Zealand being unable to register a person as a Midwife.

d) Candidates are required to indicate in their application whether they hold a full driver’s license and if not, how they will meet the travel requirements associated with the on-call nature of clinical placements.

Safety check requirements

In order to comply with the provisions of the Vulnerable Children’s Act, 2014 and Child Protection Policies for all ‘specified organisations’ providing a ‘regulated service’, all candidates/students will be subjected to safety checks. These will include, but are not limited to;
1) Referee Checks,
2) A Police Vet Check,
3) A Risk Assessment.
Applicants may also be required to attend an interview.
Any unsatisfactory result arising from the full safety checking process may result in the candidate/student being precluded/declined entry or withdrawn from the programme of study. Furthermore, students must declare any pending or new convictions arising during any stage throughout the entire enrolment period. A conviction or failure to declare a conviction may also result in the student being immediately withdrawn from the programme. Persons who are convicted of ‘specified offences’ will not be accepted onto any programme that requires that person to work in an organisation providing a regulated service.

Clinical practice requirements

a) Before undertaking clinical practice within the programme, candidates will be required to provide a signed Medical Certificate and immunisation status and/or evidence of vaccination from their health practitioner or designated registered health professional. 

b) Candidates must hold a current Comprehensive (or full) First Aid Certificate covering NZQA Units 6400, 6401 and 6402 prior to undertaking any clinical practice module in the programme.

c) For registered health professionals entering the programme, a current Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) covers the First Aid Certificate requirements listed in b).

d) Candidates must meet all the clinical passport requirements on Moodle to be able to commence clinical practice placements.

English language requirements

Candidates who have English as an additional language are required to achieve in the International English Language Test System (IELTS) (academic version) with an overall score of 7.0 with not less than 6.5 in writing and comprehension; and not less than 7.0 in speaking and listening. A pass in the Occupational English Test (OET) is either A or B in each section. These scores must be achieved in one sitting of the IELTS or OET test.

What happens if I do not meet the entry criteria?

There are pathways to help you get where you want to be. You could start with the Te Ara Pūtake My Academic Pathway, or if you need to brush up on your science knowledge, we have an online health science module that we can refer you to.

Please note, if you are under 20 years of age, you will not be eligible to apply for entry into the Bachelor of Midwifery unless you have met the requirements of NCEA Level 3.