BSc (Hons) Midwifery
Course
options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- B720
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
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Why you should choose us
100%
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcome Survey 2020Course Overview
To excel as a midwife the BSc Midwifery degree at the UEA will equip you with the skills, knowledge and leadership qualities you'll need to practice in all maternity settings. Discover a pathway where every lecture and every practice experience shape you into a compassionate midwife, armed with expertise and resilience. You'll graduate ready to support women and their families to navigate their pregnancies as their lead practitioner in all midwifery care, and able to manage and coordinate more complex care for those with additional needs.
In UEA’s cutting edge Midwifery degree, you'll study the latest research underpinning current midwifery practices and develop both your critical analysis and ability to evaluate evidence. You'll learn how to work in partnership with women as individuals and make judgments based on their specific situations. You'll then consolidate your learning by putting it into practice whilst on placement.
Our BSc Midwifery degree will also help you to develop in-depth knowledge and clinical skills related to the examination of the newborn. And you'll also learn how to support new parents emotionally and physically as they bond with their babies. With our Midwifery degree, you'll not only witness the miracle of birth but also become the pillar of strength and wisdom that new families cherish during this profound chapter of their lives.
Upon graduation, you'll be well-prepared to navigate the registration process with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), seamlessly marking the beginning of a successful and rewarding professional journey.
Follow UEA Midwifery socials:
Instagram: @ueamidwifery
Accreditations
The course is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Study and Modules
Structure
The UEA midwifery degree balances theory and practice. In your first year, you'll be introduced to and explore the theoretical foundations of all areas of physiological birth and Public Health. After the first few weeks of theory, you'll experience a real-world NHS placement to apply your newfound knowledge and skills
Complementing this academic theory, you'll embark on a year long practice-based module laying the groundwork for your practical skills and real-world application from the outset. You also have the opportunity to choose your placement and vacation weeks over the calendar year enabling flexibility and inclusivity.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our blended approach to teaching includes lectures, seminars, skills laboratory activities, tutorials, enquiry-based learning, e-learning and practice-based learning.
Through practice and theory, we’ll help you develop clinical skills and knowledge essential for midwives.
You’ll be able to share experiences and learn from other students. Moreover, you’ll be given time for independent and personal study, exploring the areas of your interest in midwifery.
Assessment
You’ll experience a wide range of assessments methods.
You’ll have frequent opportunities to receive feedback through formative assessments, so you can understand your strengths and the areas you need to focus on in your learning journey.
Structure
Building upon the solid foundation laid in your first year, you'll further develop your skills and expand your knowledge in the world of maternity care in year two. Modules are undertaken guided by lecturers and a range of other health care professionals. You'll negotiate diverse subjects including situations when pregnancy becomes more complex.
In year two, you'll also cultivate the essential expertise and capabilities required to perform thorough examinations on newborns.
As you approach the end of your second year, there is an exciting opportunity to embark on your choice of voluntary experiences. This opportunity will broaden your horizons and deepen your understanding of midwifery. You can opt to explore local healthcare systems, or on a global scale. Turing funding may be available through a competitive process to undertake study at partner organisations in a number of international locations.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
As in year one, you’ll experience a variety of teaching and learning methods. Through practical and theoretical methods, you’ll improve your clinical skills and understanding of the midwife's role and the care needed.
You can exchange experiences and learn from fellow student midwives. Plus, you'll have time for self-directed study, delving into your favourite aspects of midwifery.
Assessment
Your learning will be assessed through various methods. You'll receive regular feedback through formative assessments, helping you grasp your strengths and identify areas for further development in your knowledge and skills.
Structure
The final year of your degree will prepare you to consolidate your knowledge and skills with the continued support from registered midwives. You'll enhance your ability to critically analyse, research and evidence your practice. This pivotal stage of your degree is designed to refine your skills to an exceptional standard, ensuring that you'll graduate not only as a competent practitioner but as an innovative leader in the field of midwifery.
In collaboration with our practice partners, we’re committed to guiding and supporting you every step of the way to ensure that you meet all the registration requirements necessary to become a proud member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching method blends lectures, seminars, skills lab activities, tutorials, inquiry-based learning, e-learning, and practice-based learning. Revisiting practice areas and theoretical concepts will continually enhance your clinical skills and knowledge of the midwife's role and required care.
You'll have opportunities to share experiences and learn from fellow student midwives. Additionally, time will be allocated for independent study, allowing you to explore the areas of midwifery that interest you the most.
Assessment
You'll encounter a diverse range of assessment methods. Regular formative assessments will enable you to recognise your strengths and pinpoint areas for further development in your knowledge and skills.
Employability
After the Course
Embrace the culmination of your journey with confidence, knowing that our rigorous and well-respected programme has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and resilience needed to embark on a fulfilling career as a registered midwife.
The training you receive will be well regarded by NHS Trusts, so you can look forward to a lifelong role caring for pregnant women and their families during pregnancy, at the time of their babies’ birth, and in the postnatal period.
As a registered midwife, maintaining a professional portfolio is not just a requirement—it’s a testament to your commitment to excellence and lifelong learning in the field of midwifery. Your portfolio serves as a comprehensive record of your ongoing professional development, showcasing your dedication to keeping your skills and knowledge up to date in alignment with the standards set out by the NMC. This also forms part of the NMC’s revalidation requirements to remain on the professional register.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- NHS Midwife in a hospital or community setting
- Specialist opportunities – e.g. diabetes, vulnerable/disadvantaged pregnant people, fetal medicine, perinatal mental health.
- Infant Feeding Consultant
- Consultant Midwife
- Midwifery educationalist or researcher
- Independent midwife (midwives are autonomous practitioners and may work independently of the NHS).
- Managerial/Leadership roles.
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider:
- Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics
- Essential Skills Wales L2 Application of Number
- Essential Skills Northern Ireland L2 Application of Number
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB.
Contextual offer: BBC.
General Studies or Critical Thinking are excluded.
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM in Health, Care, Science or Sport.
Contextual offer: DMM
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
See BTEC / OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 section below for further information on accepted subjects and combinations.
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Health, Care or Science Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3.
Contextual offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and Pass in 15 credits at Level 3
T levels
Obtain an overall Merit. Accepted subjects: Health, Healthcare or Science
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
Bachelor's Degree (hons)
- 2.1 or above
- 2.2 with CCC or above at A Level
BTEC / OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3
Grade requirements:
- DDM (made up of Extended Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma subjects)
- DD (made up of Extended Certificate or Diploma subjects) plus B at A level
- D (Extended Certificate) plus BB at A level
Subject requirements:
-
Extended Diploma in any Health, Care or Science subject
-
A combination of BTEC/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 subjects, of which all grades must be in Health, Care or Science
-
Any Health, Care or Science BTEC/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 subjects taken in combination with any A levels
If you have taken a Sport subject, rather than a Health, Care or Science subject, please contact Admissions.
BTEC Public Services, BTEC Uniformed Services and BTEC Business Administration are not accepted to make up any grades.
Certificate of Higher Education
60% or above.
Diploma of Higher Education
60% or above in Year 2.
Foundation Degree
60% or above in Year 2, in a Health, Care or Science subject.
Foundation Year
65% or above in a Foundation Year of an undergraduate degree programme at a UK university, in a Health, Care or Science subject.
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall.
Irish Leaving Certificate
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3.
NCFE/CACHE Level 3 Diploma
Grade A or above in Child Care and Education (Early Years Educator).
NCFE/CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma
Grade A or above in one of the following subjects:
- Children's Care, Learning and Development
- Children and Young People's Workforce
- Health and Social Care (including Technical Level)
Open University
60 credits at 60% or above, in a Health, Care or Science subject.
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCCor above.
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
Scottish Highers
AAABB or above.
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
Additional Information
We welcome and value a wide range of alternative qualifications, and we also recognise that some students might take a mixture of some of the qualifications above. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
Please note that we do not consider A Levels in General Studies or Critical Thinking, Apprenticeships, NVQs (any level) or Work-based Level 3 Diplomas (previously NVQs) to meet the minimum academic entry requirements, although these can be used as evidence of recent study.
Graduates may wish to consider our accelerated Masters programmes.
- Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Offers will be made to applicants after completion of successful interviews and will be subject to a satisfactory occupational health check (including evidence of appropriate immunisations), an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and two satisfactory references. We will let you know what you need to do (and when) to meet these conditions if you are successful in gaining an offer.
If you have previously studied at degree level in a health based subject, we will want to see that you have passed all of the study that you have undertaken. We’ll be unable to consider you for this course if you’ve obtained an academic fail from a previous health based degree programme, including where an exit award has been achieved.
- Interviews
The strongest applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that meeting (or being predicted to meet) the minimum academic entry requirements will not guarantee that you will be selected for interview.
Interview invitations will be sent by email. Please keep a close eye on all emails from UEA after you submit your UCAS application. For more information on the application process and what to expect at each step, take a look at our handy Applying to HSC infographic, which explains the application journey from start to finish.
Interview format
Our interviews for 2025 will take place on our campus. You will be invited to book your interview for a morning or afternoon session by email. The email will include the arrival time and building location. We use a variety of the buildings on our campus for interviews, but they will either be on our Main Campus or on our West Campus (which is around a 20-minute walk from the centre of the Main Campus, near the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital). The session will last no longer than 3 hours in total. Applicants who are based outside of England at the point of applying will be offered an online interview. The format will match the process outlined below as closely as possible.
As part of the session, you will take part in ‘multiple mini-interviews’ with academic members of staff from the School of Health Sciences at UEA, clinicians from the profession, service users* and/or current UEA students from the course.
*A ‘service user’ is someone who has access to use health or social care services or could be affected by the services of health and social care professionals.
A representative will greet you in the entrance foyer and take you to a room to be seated, alongside other applicants. You will be briefed on the interview process and timings for the session. You will be registered (which will include a check of photo ID) and provided with name stickers to take with you into your interview. The briefing and registration will take no longer than 15 minutes.
You will be split into groups of three applicants and there are two separate rooms for your interview. The first room will be furnished with two interview stations (a desk with interviewer(s) on one side, and a chair for you on the other), station 1 and station 2, so two applicants will be directed to the first room. The second room will be furnished with one interview station, so one applicant will be directed to the second room.
In the first interview room there will be two chairs in the centre of the room. You will be directed to one of the chairs in the centre of the room, which will face interview stations 1 and 2. You will be given 1 minute to read some information about the interview station you are sitting in front of. The information will include the interview questions or topics that you will be asked about. When the minute has elapsed, you will be told to sit down at the interview station in front of you. You will then be given 6 minutes with the interviewer(s), who will ask you the questions verbally. They may elaborate or ask follow-up questions to guide conversation. You will also have a written copy of the questions in front of you. When the 6 minutes has elapsed, the applicant at station 1 will be asked to move back to the chairs in the centre of the room, to take a seat in front of station 2. They will complete the process above again for the second interview station. The applicant that has completed station 2 will be directed to move to the second interview room.
In the second interview room you will be directed to a chair in the centre of the room, which will face interview station 3. You will be given 1 minute to read some information about the interview station. The information will include the interview questions or topics that you will be asked about. When the minute has elapsed, you will be told to sit down at the interview station in front of you. You will have 6 minutes at this interview station. You will be shown a recording of questions being asked to you by school children, by your interviewer. The recording will be paused between each question to provide you with the opportunity to answer, and your interviewer may elaborate or ask follow-up questions to guide conversation. You will also have a written copy of the questions in front of you. After the 6 minutes has elapsed the applicant that has completed station 3 will be directed to move to the first interview room, to station 1.
Once the interviewers have asked all questions, you will be guided out of the interview rooms and taken back to the room that you were registered in. This ‘multiple mini-interviews’ process will take no longer than around 25 minutes.
During times that you are not being interviewed you will have an opportunity to take part in some other sessions, for which you will not be assessed. The sessions are an opportunity for you to learn more about the course, the university, and the students that study here. You will also be able to ask questions of current students and teaching staff. There may be an opportunity to undertake some practical skills during some of these sessions, or to tour the teaching facilities. These parts of your interview day are not compulsory, and do not form part of the assessment.
Interview questions
At each interview station you will be asked questions that focus on a particular domain. The order in which you are asked about these domains will be variable. The domains are:
- Your knowledge of the professional field for which you are applying.
- Your personal qualities and suitability for the profession. To help with discussion around this domain, you may be asked to consider a scenario and asked questions about how you would respond to it. You will be given time to read the scenario before you approach the interview station, and it will also be read to you by the interviewer(s).
- Your understanding of and suitability for the course at UEA.
On all interview stations, interviewers will also consider your ability to clearly present information and communicate your responses effectively.
Interview Skills for Nursing Applicants - Free Course
Take advantage of our free course through Future Learn: Interview Skills for University Nursing Programme Applicants
This free one-week course aims to increase your chances of being accepted onto a UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved Nursing programme in the UK. You’ll be guided through the interview process to help you understand the purpose of the interviews and how they’re conducted. We introduce a range of resources, which will help you develop your knowledge of the Nursing profession and potential career pathways. Through information, guidance, and activities, you’ll learn how to identify transferable skills and relevant experiences that you can draw upon during your Nursing course interview, giving you the best chance of success.
Experience of healthcare
We are aware that it is a difficult time to try to gain relevant experience in healthcare. First time applicants to Nursing, Midwifery and the Allied Health Professions will all be in a similar situation.
Clinical work experience will not generally be a requirement for applying to train in healthcare. We will be looking for you to show that you are able to work with people, that you appreciate the health and social care setting, and that you understand what a career in health will involve. While we will expect you to show some understanding of what it is like to be the professional of your choice, part of this involves demonstrating that you know what it is like to work in a responsible role, particularly with the public.
Note that your experiences are only as valuable as the way you talk about them and what understanding you take from them. It is important that you think about how you might be able to demonstrate your understanding of healthcare, that you can relate this to experience or research, and that you can explain what you have learned.
What type of experience or research do you need?
Any activity, life experience or research that helps you to prepare for training to be a healthcare professional will help. This means any activity that allows you to demonstrate that you have:
- Had people-focused experience of providing a service, care, support or help to others, and that you understand the realities of working in a caring profession.
- Developed some of the values, attitudes and behaviours essential to being a Nurse, Midwife or Allied Health professional such as conscientiousness, effective communication and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people. The values that we are looking for are set out in the NHS Constitution.
- A realistic understanding of Health and Social Care and in particular, the physical, organisational and emotional demands of the career.
Practical ways to gain experience
Keep a reflective diary on what is happening in the news and online. Listen to what healthcare professionals have to say and reflect on this. All healthcare professionals can be a valuable source of information and experience, not just those that work in the specific profession that you are applying for. Demonstrating that you have a sense of all healthcare professions (and how they work together) will help you in both your personal statement and interview.
Volunteer in your spare time if you can, all forms of voluntary work can provide helpful work experience. If volunteer work in the NHS isn’t something that is available to you, think about what else you could explore i.e. working with other people in a caring or service role. Voluntary commitments to community groups (for example groups related to the work of churches, mosques and temples, or other groups such as Scouts or Guides) and online community support groups may also provide valuable experience of taking on responsibility, dealing with people and communicating effectively.
Remember: what is important is what you learn about yourself and about other people, and what you learn about how effective care is delivered and received. How you learn these things is only a small part of the story; it is how you communicate what you learnt that matters.
- Placements
During the course, no less than 50% of your time will be spent on practice placement. This might be in a variety of settings that include hospitals, community services, general practice, social services and voluntary or private organisations. Placement allocation occurs throughout the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
As this course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
Assessing your fitness to become a registered healthcare professional
Please see our guidance on assessing your fitness.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
- Age on Entry
Applicants for this course need to be aged 18 or over by 31 December 2025. This is owing to the integrated nature of placements within the first year of the course and safeguarding implications. In view of this, applicants who will not be 18 years old or over by this date, should consider applying for deferred entry.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider:
- Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics
- Essential Skills Wales L2 Application of Number
- Essential Skills Northern Ireland L2 Application of Number
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB.
Not accepted: Critical Thinking and General Studies.
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall.
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in reading, speaking and listening, with 6.5 in writing)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
-
- Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Offers will be made to applicants after completion of successful interviews and will be subject to a satisfactory occupational health check (including evidence of appropriate immunisations), an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and two satisfactory references. We will let you know what you need to do (and when) to meet these conditions if you are successful in gaining an offer.
If you have previously studied at degree level in a health based subject, we will want to see that you have passed all of the study that you have undertaken. We’ll be unable to consider you for this course if you’ve obtained an academic fail from a previous health based degree programme, including where an exit award has been achieved.
- Interviews
The strongest applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that meeting (or being predicted to meet) the minimum academic entry requirements will not guarantee that you will be selected for interview.
Interview invitations will be sent by email. Please keep a close eye on all emails from UEA after you submit your UCAS application. For more information on the application process and what to expect at each step, take a look at our handy Applying to HSC infographic, which explains the application journey from start to finish.
Interview format
Applicants who are based outside of England at the point of applying will be offered an online interview. You will be invited to an online interview by email. These are typically 40 minutes long and the email will include a link to your online interview. This is conducted on Blackboard Collaborate.
The interview will be conducted by one or multiple interviewers including academic members of staff from the School of Health Sciences at UEA, clinicians from the profession, service users* and/or current UEA students from the course.
*A ‘service user’ is someone who has access to use health or social care services or could be affected by the services of health and social care professionals.
After an initial introduction, the lead interviewer will conduct an ID check and then explain how the interview will unfold.
The interview will cover three distinct domains which will be introduced to you by the interviewer at the start of your interview. The interview questions will be shared in the chat with you so you can read them.The domains are:
- Your knowledge of the professional field for which you are applying.
- Your personal qualities and suitability for the profession. To help with discussion around this domain, you may be asked to consider a scenario and asked questions about how you would respond to it. You will be given time to read the scenario before you approach the interview station, and it will also be read to you by the interviewer(s).
- Your understanding of and suitability for the course at UEA.
During the interview, the interviewer(s) will also consider your ability to clearly present information and communicate your responses effectively.
Interview Skills for Nursing Applicants - Free Course
Take advantage of our free course through Future Learn: Interview Skills for University Nursing Programme Applicants
This free one-week course aims to increase your chances of being accepted onto a UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved Nursing programme in the UK. You’ll be guided through the interview process to help you understand the purpose of the interviews and how they’re conducted. We introduce a range of resources, which will help you develop your knowledge of the Nursing profession and potential career pathways. Through information, guidance, and activities, you’ll learn how to identify transferable skills and relevant experiences that you can draw upon during your Nursing course interview, giving you the best chance of success.
Experience of healthcare
We are aware that it is a difficult time to try to gain relevant experience in healthcare. First time applicants to Nursing, Midwifery and the Allied Health Professions will all be in a similar situation.
Clinical work experience will not generally be a requirement for applying to train in healthcare. We will be looking for you to show that you are able to work with people, that you appreciate the health and social care setting, and that you understand what a career in health will involve. While we will expect you to show some understanding of what it is like to be the professional of your choice, part of this involves demonstrating that you know what it is like to work in a responsible role, particularly with the public.
Note that your experiences are only as valuable as the way you talk about them and what understanding you take from them. It is important that you think about how you might be able to demonstrate your understanding of healthcare, that you can relate this to experience or research, and that you can explain what you have learned.
What type of experience or research do you need?
Any activity, life experience or research that helps you to prepare for training to be a healthcare professional will help. This means any activity that allows you to demonstrate that you have:
- Had people-focused experience of providing a service, care, support or help to others, and that you understand the realities of working in a caring profession.
- Developed some of the values, attitudes and behaviours essential to being a Nurse, Midwife or Allied Health professional such as conscientiousness, effective communication and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people. The values that we are looking for are set out in the NHS Constitution.
- A realistic understanding of Health and Social Care and in particular, the physical, organisational and emotional demands of the career.
Practical ways to gain experience
Keep a reflective diary on what is happening in the news and online. Listen to what healthcare professionals have to say and reflect on this. All healthcare professionals can be a valuable source of information and experience, not just those that work in the specific profession that you are applying for. Demonstrating that you have a sense of all healthcare professions (and how they work together) will help you in both your personal statement and interview.
Volunteer in your spare time if you can, all forms of voluntary work can provide helpful work experience. If volunteer work in the NHS isn’t something that is available to you, think about what else you could explore i.e. working with other people in a caring or service role. Voluntary commitments to community groups (for example groups related to the work of churches, mosques and temples, or other groups such as Scouts or Guides) and online community support groups may also provide valuable experience of taking on responsibility, dealing with people and communicating effectively.
Remember: what is important is what you learn about yourself and about other people, and what you learn about how effective care is delivered and received. How you learn these things is only a small part of the story; it is how you communicate what you learnt that matters.
- Placements
During the course, no less than 50% of your time will be spent on practice placement. This might be in a variety of settings that include hospitals, community services, general practice, social services and voluntary or private organisations. Placement allocation occurs throughout the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
As this course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
Assessing your fitness to become a registered healthcare professional
Please see our guidance on assessing your fitness.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
- Age on Entry
Applicants for this course need to be aged 18 or over by 31 December 2025. This is owing to the integrated nature of placements within the first year of the course and safeguarding implications. In view of this, applicants who will not be 18 years old or over by this date, should consider applying for deferred entry.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You can find information regarding additional costs associated on our Fees and finance webpages.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: