Bachelor of Midwifery
Course information for - 2024 entry
Offered at 3 locations
- Duration
- 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- QTAC code
- 115512
- ATAR
- 82.70 for Brisbane
- Fees (first year)*
$7051 CSP
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2024Applications open August 2023Midyear (Semester 2) intake: to be advised
Overview
The Bachelor of Midwifery is for those who want to become registered midwives and work in maternity settings such as hospitals, birth centres and other community agencies.
This midwifery course will teach you how to:
- manage normal pregnancy and childbirth
- provide effective postnatal, maternal and newborn care to women and their newborn infant
- provide safe and reliable care that meets the individual psychological, emotional, physical, social and spiritual needs of women.
Bachelor of Midwifery students will do midwifery clinical practice throughout the course in hospital and community settings. The students will also engage with a minimum of ten women to follow their pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care journey called their Continuity of Care Experiences (CCE). This experience involves the student recruiting the woman in early pregnancy and attending appointments throughout. If possible, the student attends the labour and birth and follows the woman after discharge home up to six weeks following birth.
There has never been a better time to study Midwifery, with the Victorian Government offering up to 10,000 scholarships for nursing and midwifery students in 2023 and 2024. Learn more https://www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing-and-midwifery/undergraduate-nursing-and-midwifery-scholarships.
A graduate entry program is available to registered nurses and paramedics.
Professional experience
Bachelor of Midwifery students will do over 1000 hours of midwifery clinical practice throughout the course in hospital and community settings.
Work placement
Students will undertake clinical placements at maternity hospitals and community facilities across Australia. The first clinical placement begins in the first year of the program. Our clinical partners are very important to us and range from small maternity units to large tertiary hospitals. Examples of partners in Victoria include The Mercy Hospital for Women, Monash Health, The Royal Women’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Private Hospital. In Queensland partners include the Mater Health Service, St Vincent’s Private Hospital and Redcliffe Hospital. There are many more partners including rural health services where students experience placement.
As part of your course, you will be placed in a range of organisations to integrate the theory you learn with practical workplace experiences (placements). As part of your enrolment, you must complete the Faculty of Health Sciences pre-placement requirements. To ensure you meet these requirements you need to start as soon as possible. Visit ACU’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) website to view your Pre-Placement Requirements checklist.
Students may also apply to take part in a community engagement elective in the third year of their studies that offers the opportunity to study a number of women during their pregnancies and undertake approved available overseas study. This presents students with the opportunity to experience different cultural health practices and services.
Professional recognition
Eligible graduates can apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). To obtain further information relating to Registration Standards for Midwives visit the Ahpra website .
Careers
Our graduates have pursued career in:
- registered midwife within maternity settings
- consultant midwife
- clinical specialist
- antenatal educator
- researcher
- family care
- independent midwifery practitioner.
- special care nurseries
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Midwifery, a student must complete 240 credit points (cp).
Course map
AQF framework
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
All students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy .
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent.
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
Queensland | English (Units 3 & 4, C) |
Victoria | Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL. |
New South Wales | Assumed knowledge: Nil |
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2024 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
View transparency admission information
Applicants with recent secondary education
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If your school result was affected by circumstances outside of your control, such as financial hardship, illness, disability or a challenging home environment, you may qualify for an access scheme. You can apply through your TAC as part of your application process.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
For current year 12 students
If you’re a current Year 12 applicant you can be given a selection rank separate from, and in addition to, your ATAR if you’ve completed a competency-based and graded AQF Certificate III or above.
For non-school leavers
If you’ve completed, or are completing a competency-based AQF Certificate IV or AQF diploma you will be assigned a selection rank by your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC). This is an entry score based on your individual qualifications and achievements.
ACU has partnerships with ACU College, TAFE, and many private education providers. If you have completed a qualification with one of these partners, you may be eligible for guaranteed entry and/or credit into a related ACU degree. Please apply through your local TAC and then submit a credit application for your previous study.
Applicants with higher education study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, you’ll be assigned a selection rank based on your study level, duration and grade point average that will be applied during the admission process.
If your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner.
Applicants with work and life experience
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have no formal education qualifications you may be eligible for a selection rank based on your work, life or service experience.
- If you’ve been in paid employment, relevant to the course you’re applying for, for a minimum of six months full-time (or equivalent), this work may be assessed for your selection rank.
- If you’re 21 years or older you can sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) through your local TAC.
- You can apply for an ACU bridging course. Our bridging courses allow you to transition back into studying and can give you a head start on the relevant undergraduate degree.
- If you have served in the defence force, your rank and time in service may contribute to your selection rank.
English language requirements
Applicants for Midwifery courses should carefully review the details outlined in Schedule 4, Section 3b of the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy to check how they must demonstrate their English Language Proficiency.
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Pathways into course for current or recent Year 12 students
If you can’t meet the ATAR requirement for your choice of course and you’re currently completing Year 12 or finished Year 12 in the two years previously, we have entry programs to get you where you want to be.
Pathways into course for applicants with previous study and/or life experience
Are you applying to ACU as a non-school leaver?
By that we mean, you’re not currently completing Year 12 and haven’t completed it in the two years previously. If the answer is yes and your selection rank isn’t enough to meet the requirements for your desired course you still have a number of options to help you achieve your study goals.
If you’re over 21, you can sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), or you can complete a diploma or bridging course relevant to your desired course.
Further study
An Honours year is available to meritorious students, with a grade point average of 5.5, who meet the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Midwifery (Honours).
The Faculty of Health Sciences offers a suite of postgraduate coursework degrees with specialties including mental health, clinical education, health administration as well as leadership and management in health care.
Fees
Course costs
$7051 CSP
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- the number of units studied per semester;
- the choice of major or specialisation; and
- elective units.
The University reviews fees annually.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
Domestic applicants
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Dr Kate Dawson
Lecturer (Midwifery) and Course Coordinator Bachelor of Midwifery, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Dr Dawson is a lecturer and researcher in midwifery, her research focuses on midwives’ role and value in protecting, promoting, and practicing
midwifery, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore this area. Dr Dawson has taught midwifery programs for 10 years and is currently teaching and coordinating the Bachelor of Midwifery program at ACU. She shares her passion for midwifery with the students and through her experience working in a range of models of midwifery care including, caseload, family birth centre, tertiary level care and home birth is inspiring a new generation of graduate midwives.