University of Adelaide

What you'll study

The programme develops contemporary midwifery knowledge and skills across the continuum of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Core study areas include anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, antenatal assessment and care, labour and birth management, postnatal care and infant feeding, family-centred care, pharmacology for midwifery, and public health approaches to maternal and newborn screening.

Students undertake modules in professional practice and ethics, cultural safety and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and evidence-informed midwifery practice that introduce research methods and appraisal skills. Practical skill development is supported through simulation-based learning and structured clinical placements in a variety of settings: tertiary hospitals, birthing centres, community and primary-care services, and rural or regional services where available.

The programme is usually delivered as an intensive, practice-focused curriculum over the equivalent of one year full-time, with part-time study options. Assessment typically includes clinical competency sign-off, case-based assignments, reflective portfolios and written examinations.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to be registered nurses with current registration in the jurisdiction where they practise (for Australia this will be registration with AHPRA or equivalent). Relevant clinical experience in maternity or acute care is highly regarded. Applicants must meet the University’s academic entry standards for postgraduate coursework and satisfy professional suitability checks, which commonly include criminal history screening, immunisation and health checks, and evidence of current nursing registration.

International applicants are required to meet English language proficiency requirements and provide evidence of registration as a nurse in their home country or the jurisdiction in which they intend to practise. Meeting programme entry requirements does not automatically confer registration as a midwife; graduates should consult the local nursing and midwifery board about any additional requirements for endorsement or registration as a midwife.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to work as midwives in a range of settings including public and private hospitals, birth centres, community midwifery services, and primary health clinics. Career paths commonly pursued include hospital-based midwife, continuity-of-care midwife, community maternal and child health nurse-midwife, rural and remote midwifery, and roles in breastfeeding support and neonatal care. With further experience or study, graduates may move into clinical education, service leadership, policy or research roles focused on maternal and newborn health.

The qualification also provides a pathway into higher research degrees and master’s-level study for those interested in advanced clinical practice, leadership or academic careers.

Why study at University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide offers a practice-oriented midwifery programme embedded within a research-active medical and health sciences environment. Students benefit from access to clinical placements across metropolitan and regional South Australia through established partnerships with local health services, and from simulation and clinical skills facilities that prepare them for hands-on practice.

Teaching staff include experienced midwives and researchers, and the programme emphasises culturally safe care and interdisciplinary learning. The University’s focus on evidence-based practice and its links with regional maternity services make it well suited to nurses seeking a supported transition into midwifery practice.