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Midwifery student with patient

Bachelor of Midwifery

HL0901

Course details

On-campus block courses are held at our Hamilton City Campus. Attendance at these block courses is compulsory for all students. Further compulsory attendance is required on scheduled Education Fridays at either one of the Wintec regional hubs (Tauranga, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay, Whakatane, and Gisborne) or the Hamilton City Campus.

Please note that 2025 applications for the Hamilton City Campus Hub are now closed. Limited places are still available in the regional hubs; however, these will likely close soon, and we encourage you to apply now.

Summary

This programme is for those who want to learn to confidently nurture and care for women through pregnancy, childbirth, and up to the first six weeks following birth. Students will gain a wide range of knowledge and skills to work autonomously, be fully responsible for the wellbeing of women and babies, and support families safely and appropriately.

Students study full-time and are required to complete the programme within five years, as prescribed by the Midwifery Council of New Zealand (MCNZ). On application to MCNZ, a sixth study year may be approved. The first year is mainly theory-based, with the second and third-year split between practical and theory, and the fourth year is predominantly practical.

Offered across the Midland region, students can enrol to a regional hub in their local area. Please note, students can only sign up for regional hubs if they live in the catchment area of the specific hub and local DHB.

On-campus block courses are held in Hamilton throughout the programme. Attendance is compulsory for all students, due to the intensive, theory-heavy content of these classes. Students are responsible for organising their own transport and accommodation. Block courses take place 11 times in Year 1, for a week at a time. Hours of block days are 8am–5pm, Monday to Thursday, and Friday 8am-12pm. Finishing at lunchtime on a Friday will enable hub students from outside Waikato to travel safely in daylight hours back home.

Compulsory clinical placements and several scheduled tutorials, called Hub Education days, are usually held in regional hubs so that students can complete most of their clinical experience close to home. Students will have to undertake one four-week clinical placement outside their area during their study, usually in either year three or year four. 

During the programme, students will be able to apply their knowledge in clinical placements at primary units (eg birth centres), secondary and tertiary DHB hospitals, with self-employed community midwives (LMC midwives), and other community services. Students will have the opportunity to follow women through their pregnancy, labour, birth, and postnatal care. On completion of the programme, students will be required to sit the National Midwifery Examination to become a registered midwife.

This unique programme structure has been designed to provide students with a direct pathway to starting a career as a midwife.

What you will learn

Modules are offered via mixed-mode delivery, so students must have computer competencies and be able to access a computer and the internet.

View programme modules

Level 5 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisites
HSMW511Introduction to Midwifery Knowledge and Skills515 
HSMW512Professional and Therapeutic Interaction in Midwifery515 
HSMW513Constructions of Knowledge515 
HSMW514Human Anatomy and Physiology A515 
HSMW521Developing Midwifery Practice515HSMW511, HSMW512, HSMW513, HSMW514
HSMW522Pregnancy and Birth A515HSMW511, HSMW512, HSMW513, HSMW514
HSMW523Te Whare Kōhanga - Bicultural Frameworks for Midwifery Practice515HSMW512, HSMW513
HSMW524Human Anatomy and Physiology B515HSMW514
HSMW531Mother and Baby Dyad530HSMW521, HSMW522, HSMW523, HSMW524
HSMW532The Childbearing Year and Midwifery Practice515HSMW521, HSMW522, HSMW523, HSMW524

 

Level 6 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisites
HSMW633Pregnancy and Birth B615HSMW522
HSMW641Continuity in Midwifery Practice630HSMW531, HSMW532, HSMW633
HSMW642Women's Health Assessment615HSMW531, HSMW532, HSMW633
HSMW643Women’s Health and Midwifery Practice615HSMW531, HSMW532, HSMW633
HSMW651Complications and Conditions630HSMW633, HSMW642
HSMW621Complications and Conditions in Midwifery Practice630HSMW641, HSMW643
HSMW661Pharmacology for Midwifery615HSMW524

 

Level 7 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisites
HSMW711Complexity, Diversity and Frameworks for Midwifery715HSMW651, HSMW652
HSMW712Complexity and Diversity in Midwifery Practice730HSMW651, HSMW652
HSMW771Integrating Midwifery Practice760HSMW761, HSMW762
HSMW713Rangahau and Research Methods for Midwifery715 
HSMW731Transition to Practice730HSMW771
HSMW732Elective Practicum715HSMW771

 

Career/further opportunities

Graduates will be eligible to sit the National Midwifery Examination to become a registered midwife. The Bachelor of Midwifery may lead to employment as a registered midwife in the community (self-employed), hospitals, or birthing units.

Application process

Covid-19 vaccination information
In light of the pandemic, it is highly recommended that you are vaccinated against Covid-19 if you want to apply for this programme. 
  1. Apply online or download and complete an Application to Enrol Form.
  2. Complete the online Self-Disclosure Form. If you have applied in hard copy, you will need to complete the Self-Disclosure Form, if you have applied online this form is included as part of the online application process. 
  3. If applying in hard copy, and if you are unsure that you meet the entry criteria, complete the Additional Information Form. This will enable us to further assess your application. If applying online, and if you are unsure that you meet the entry criteria, select discretionary entrance and this form is then included as part of the online application process. 
  4. If you have them, provide certified copies of your prior academic transcripts. Find out about supporting material for enrolment here.
  5. We may also need to verify your identity (your legal name and date of birth) as well as your residency status. If you are a domestic student, we may be able to do this through your National Student Number (NSN), if we can not access your NSN number, you will need to provide evidence of this by supplying verified copies of your birth certificate or passport. 

Once you have submitted your application

  • We will email you to confirm we have received your application and let you know if there is anything more we need from you.
  • We will assess your application and let you know the outcome.
  • If the number of applicants who meet the entry requirements exceeds the available places, applicants will be placed on a prioritised waitlist.
  • We will apply an affirmative action approach in regards to applicants who identify as Māori or Pacific and who meet the stated entry criteria.
  • If you are accepted to study, we will send you an enrolment offer letter. You will need to accept this to confirm your place on the programme. Click here to find out more about enrolment and accepting your offer.

After you have accepted your offer

  • If you do not have a current Comprehensive First Aid Certificate (NZQA units 6400, 6401 and 6402), you will need to complete this before you start the programme. You will not be able to start clinical placements in your first year without the First Aid Certificate.
  • At the start of the programme, you will need to provide evidence of your immunity status and declare the vaccinations you have had, as well as providing a medical certificate that confirms you are healthy and fit for clinical practice (eg frequent handwashing will not aggravate hand eczema etc). Your doctor or a delegated authority to a nurse practitioner will need to complete the Immunisation Status and Vaccination Declaration and a medical certificate. Unless these documents are received and the requirements confirmed, you will not be able to start clinical placements.
  • During your first week on campus, you will be required to complete a number of safety checks to comply with the provisions of the Children's Act 2014. This means you need to bring your laptop and two identification documents with you (one identification document must be a photo ID such as a birth certificate, passport, firearms licence, certificate of citizenship and your driver's licence, 18 plus card, student ID, IRD card, New Zealand Certificate of Citizenship, or Community Service Card). Please read further information here

Disclaimers

Entry criteria

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.

Do you want to see full details of the entry criteria?
Don't meet the entry criteria?

Pathways

Health and social practice pathway diagram

To check what you need to gain direct entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.

Your first day

Are you ready for your first day of class? Check out your start date and where you need to be. You can also find useful information about studying at Wintec on our welcome page.

Semester 1 2025

Whānau evening
Date: Wednesday 29 January 2025
Time: 5pm

Venue: Events Room 1, City Campus

Induction

Date: Tuesday 4 February 2025
Time: 8am-4pm 
Venue: To be confirmed,  City Campus

Returning students
Please check your timetable to find your first class date.

What you will need

What to bring on your first day:

  • Student ID Number, log in, and password details
  • Pen and notebook
  • Laptop or portable device

If not submitted to the Student Enrolment and Information Centre, if possible, please bring a copy of your:

Timetable information

All Wintec timetables are available online here.

How to find your way around

Campus maps can be found here.

Parking and bus information

Both the Rotokauri and City campuses have parking available - payment and permits may be required. The Gardens Campus has free parking available. Learn more about parking and find out about bus services here.

He reo pōwhiri, your official welcome to Wintec

Tēnei te mihi mahana ki a koe e piki nei, e kake nei ki te Kuratini o Waikato.

You are warmly invited to attend the official welcome to Wintec for all new students, staff and whānau (family) at either our marae, Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa or Rotokauri campus. The pōwhiri is a welcoming ceremony involving mihimihi (speeches), waiata (singing), and will conclude with kai timotimo (light refreshments). Please gather at the campus hubs, and a staff member will guide you through our pōwhiri.

Click here to find out when the next pōwhiri will be.

Paying for your study

Course-related costs

Please find the course-related additional cost for midwifery here.

Additional information

Child protection safety check
Wintec is required by law, under the Children's Act 2014, to safety check students enrolled in programmes that include placements where they could be working with children or young people under 18 years old.
The safety check will be completed at your induction and will require you to complete an NZ police vetting form, a questionnaire and provide the contact details of a referee we can email, as well as additional forms of ID (one of which must be a photo ID). If you would like more information about the Children's Act or the safety checking process you can click here.

Booklist

View the Bachelor of Midwifery Textbooks.

All midwifery textbooks are available digitally for free through our library. You may purchase books at your discretion.

Purchasing textbooks

If your programme requires you to have access to textbooks, these can be purchased through a range of suppliers listed below:

    New Zealand-based suppliers

    General book suppliers

    First aid certificate

    Health status

    At the start of your programme, you will be asked to provide evidence of your immunity and vaccinations; this is required for clinical placement. Your doctor or health provider may be able to confirm this from your medical records; otherwise, a blood test will be required. Please ask your doctor to complete the Immunisation Status and Vaccination Declaration. You will be required to cover the cost of any screening, treatment or vaccinations you may require.

    Vaccinations are also available from Wintec Health, Counselling and Wellbeing Centre, located in A Block, open 8am to 4pm, phone 07 834 8869 to make an appointment.

    Students are also required to submit a medical certificate. This must be signed by a medical practitioner.

    Uniform

    Uniforms cost are approximately $120-$160.

    Equipment

    Clinical placement

    Clinical practice placements in the programme may be out of your hub (Hamilton, Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty, or Gisborne). Transport to and from these placements, accommodation, and any extra costs required are the students' responsibility. Students with a restricted driver's licence will need to submit a plan on how they will get to clinical placements and births that happen between 10pm, and 7am for the first year of study. A full driver's license is required for year two, three and four of study.

    Prospectus (course guide)

    The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.

    Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus

    The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on the document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.

    Request an emailable or printed copy of the Prospectus

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