I need help getting started!

Hi Everyone, im new here and just started to look into how to go about studying to become a midwife - something that i have wanted to do since having my first baby 4 years ago.

Ive been searching the internet trying to figure out best place to start, but there is so much info out there im confussed already!

Im educated to AS-Level but left school 11 years ago (god i feel old saying that). Im thinking i will have to do an access course of some kind, but what one?

Also, because i have two little ones, and a part-time job, i wanted to do it part-time - is that possible? Didn't really want to start the actual full-time midwifery course for another 2-3 years anyway, until my youngest is at school.

Also, can anyone local to me advise where best to apply to? I live in Haverhill, between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. Which colleges do i look into?

Sorry for all the Q's, im desperate to start but need a helping hand :-)

Sonya

Hi Sonya,

Welcome to the site, I am sure you will find it a friendly helpful place to be.

I did an access to nursing and midwifery course 2 evenings a week after work, and that was enough to satisy the uni criteria, I only needed it as evidence of recent study as I had the qualifications I needed already.

I would check out the uni's you are interested in applying to, and see what they are asking for before you decide which course would be best, that way you are sure it is the right one.

Sorry I can't help you with colleges local to you, as I live in a different area, but I am sure someone else will be able to advise you.

Hope this is some help to you, and good luck in staring your journey.

Pauline

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

hi, sonya I know that my collage runs an evening access course. I am sure most collages run one due to people having work and family commitments. My advice would be to contact your local collage and see if they can help you. I would reccomend you do it asap as the access health courses fill up quickly. The collage I attend are already interviewing for september 08. GOOD LUCK. x

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Hello There.

Most universities do not take into consideration AS levels as they're neither level two nor level three (Quote from admissions). You will need a qualification at level three .. maybe Access or an OU online course such as the Understanding Health and Social Care (make sure your chosen Uni accepts OU). Usually you will also need 3-5 GCSEs above C grade including English Language and Maths (sometimes science). Make sure you ask EACH university you're applying to.. I canno stress that enough... as each tailor their own requirements and you need to be working towards getting the requirements for the institution asking for the most!

I did Access over 2 years (though have pretty much completed it in 3 out of 4 semesters other than tutorials for HE opps) by attending 2 evenings per week for 2 semesters and then 1 evening per week for the third. I have a three year old (almost) and work 30 hours per week in a nursery, doing an NVQ level 3 at the same time... So its certainly do-able!!

Good luck! Don't hesitate to PM for more info xxx

Noo xx

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My AS sociology was counted when I applied but that was along with my other qualifications. You need to show recent study to A level standard, I think its two ?A levels? UCAS convert all your qualifications into UCAS points so any AS's that you have can be counted on top of your A levels. I know loads of people who did the access and loved it, the only down side is that the qualification only lasts a few years and isnt a stand alone, if you see what I mean, so if god forbid it takes a while for you to get a place you could be in danger of having to re take the access. I did A2 health and social care which was full time over two years, you can probably do it on a part time basis, call into your local college and see what they've got to offer. Good luck.

Hi,

I wondered if anyone could help me? I'm 32 and have decided to have a career change and really want to become a midwife. I've looked up the Access course after following the advice here (thanks ) but it says that I have to show that I have studied in the last 5 years. I've only done a certificate in web design in that time and I have no proof! I Just wondered if there is anything I will need to be before the Access course. I've got 8 GCSE's at C and above, including English, Maths, Biology and Chemistry, but obviously that was quite some time ago!!!!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
C

Hi Cazz

You can show evidence of study like a reference from a tutor/institution to show you have studied recently

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Thanks TallPoppy. It was with the OU so I'm sure they must have it on record somewhere. I'll see what I can get from them.

Hi Sonya,
I live in Bury St Edmunds and am doing an Access course in Health and Social Care. You can do this part time in the evenings or part time in the day. I did the day course and it was Mondays and Tuedays 10-3 for the first year and Thursdays 10-3 for the second year. It is an excellent course and I am now awaiting an interview for Midwifery at UCS

Heya! My name's Kimmie and I live in Girton, jusrt outside Cambridge on the other side to you. I recently did an Access to Nursing course which involves human biology, sociology and psychology at Cambridge Regional College, which is in Kings Hedges in Arbury. To do this course you need a C grade in Maths and English GCSE, but if you don't have them you can study them alongside. The course is really excellent and although I did it full time, you can study it part time, but i think it just works out a bit more expensive. Their website is camre.ac.uk

I recently applied to Anglia Ruskin University where i'm starting in March, a few people starting with me are from Haverhill I think so it wouldn't be too far to go. They hve an intake in September and March so double the chance of getting in! The placements are in Peterborough, Huntingdon or Cambridge.

I applied to four other Uni's in the area,

Northampton, University of East Anglia, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. I don't know how these relate to you.

Hope this helps!

Kimmie x

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