Nursing - Midwifery
On completion of the BSc Midwifery, you will be recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for registration as a Registered Midwife (NFQ Level 8).
The course is designed to meet all the requirements and standards for Midwifery Education (ABA 2005). A broad-based curriculum helps to produce critical, analytical and reflective practitioners capable of functioning in a variety of settings as midwives.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate Requirements
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish.
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O6/H7
A Lab Science O6/H7
The following are considered Lab Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Chemistry and Agricultural Science.
Students are subject to Garda vetting.
Students are subject to Fitness to Practise Policy.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme LCVP
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
The course aims to provide you with good midwifery practice sound clinical skills necessary for starting your professional career as a Registered Midwife. These skills will be further developed through clinical experience and further study at postgraduate and in-service levels.
You will also develop skills in independent thinking, problem solving and analytical and clinical decision-making, as well as fundamental research utilisation and application skills.
On graduation, you may seek employment as a Registered Midwife. Midwives are highly sought-after to work in other countries, enhancing work opportunities abroad, in particular within the UK, Canada and Australia.
Further information
September 2026
Approximate Available Places 3
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 40
Entry 2026
Early online application (discounted): Fee €35 Closing Date: 20 January 2026 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €50 Closing Date: 1 February 2026 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: €65 Closing Date: 1 May 2026 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2026 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2026 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2026. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2026, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2026 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €65 applies.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2026 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Course Outline
On completion of the BSc Midwifery, you will be recommended to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for registration as a Registered Midwife (NFQ Level 8).
The course is designed to meet all the requirements and standards for Midwifery Education (ABA 2005). A broad-based curriculum helps to produce critical, analytical and reflective practitioners capable of functioning in a variety of settings as midwives.
Each year of the course has two components that consist of theoretical modules and midwifery practice modules. On completion of this course you will be able to:
demonstrate knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective care for antenatal, childbirth and postnatal care
effectively coordinate, organise and manage midwifery care on your own initiative and in consultation with the multidisciplinary team
critically appraise and evaluate current research evidence and best practice for midwifery.
Year 1 Modules
NU1040 Infection Prevention and Control for Nursing and Midwifery Practice (5 credits)
NU1052 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn I (10 credits)
NU1053 Midwives and Professional Practice I (10 credits)
NU1055 Interpersonal Communication and Applied Psychology for Midwifery Practice (10 credits)
NU1056 Midwifery Practice I (10 credits)
NU1064 Midwifery Theory and Practice for Various Clinical Settings I (10 credits)
SC1016 Sociological concepts for Midwifery (5 credits)
Year 2
Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postnatal Care, and the Newborn; Midwives and Professional Practice; Food, Nutrition and Health for Pregnancy; Infant/Breast Feeding; Anatomy; Physiology; Care of Women with Medical, Surgical, and Mental Health Issues Neonatal Unit; Gynecological Problems; Care in the Community; Pharmacology and Medication Management for Midwifery Practice; Research.
Year 3
Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postnatal Care and the Newborn; Midwives and Professional Practice; Midwifery Practice in Various Healthcare Contexts; Parenthood Education; Promoting Normal Birth; High Dependency Care in Maternity; On-going Vare for Medical, Surgical, and Mental Health Issues; Neonatal Unit; Gynaecological Problems; Care in the Community; Social Policy for Midwifery Practice; Research.
Year 4
Pregnancy; Childbirth, Postnatal Care, and the Newborn; Health Promotion for Midwifery Practice; Research, Midwifery and Professional Practice, Ethics and Legal Issues; Ethics (an elective module); Healthcare Informatics; Advanced Communication Skills; Complementary Therapies in Healthcare; The Therapeutic Value of the Arts: Wound Management; Contemporary Debates in Health and Illness; Multiculturalism, Gender, and Social Policy.
Clinical Practice Modules
These require you to be in supervised clinical practice in hospital, community and other healthcare settings for 35 hours per week for a number of weeks each year. In semester two (after Christmas) of Year 4, you will undertake a 36-week paid internship with your parent health service provider (HSP).
Dr Margaret Murphy
mgt.murphy@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 1644
http://www.ucc.ie/en/nursingmidwifery/
SONM UnderGrad Support
sonmundergrad@ucc.ie