Bachelor of Midwifery

The Bachelor of Midwifery at Adelaide University is a three-year undergraduate degree that prepares you to register and work as a midwife in Australia. Midwifery is a hands-on profession, and the degree reflects that from early on. You study anatomy and physiology, normal pregnancy and birth, postnatal care, and the social and cultural side of maternity care. You also learn about complications, medicines used in maternity settings, and how to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.

Australian bachelor degrees are built on units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You typically enrol in full-time study across two semesters a year, with a mid-year break. Over three years you complete a sequence of core midwifery units, plus supervised clinical practice. The degree includes a substantial practice component, often around half the course, where you work alongside registered midwives in hospitals, birth centres and community settings. You need to complete a set number of continuity of care experiences, following women through pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period. That is a requirement for registration, not an add-on.

Adelaide University sits in South Australia, and the clinical placements are arranged across metropolitan and regional health services. You learn in simulation labs before you go out on placement, practising skills like taking blood pressure, palpating a pregnant abdomen, supporting breastfeeding, and recognising when something is going wrong. Assessment mixes written exams, assignments, clinical skills checks and feedback from supervising midwives while you are on placement.

This degree suits people who want a health career with direct patient contact and are comfortable with shift work, hospitals and the emotional range of childbirth. It is a good fit if you are practical, calm under pressure, and want to work with women and families over time. Entry usually requires Year 12 or equivalent, and some applicants come in after a health-related diploma or as a mature-age student. English language requirements apply for international applicants, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, but midwifery sits with nursing and medicine, so expect the higher end of that range or above. Check the official course page for the exact score and any recent changes. The Student visa also has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. On a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances and the rules at the time. Midwifery registration in Australia is handled by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through AHPRA, and you apply for registration after you finish the degree. Confirm all details, English scores, placement requirements, registration steps and tuition, on the official Adelaide University page or the CRICOS register entry (CRICOS course code 115734F).

• Registered midwife in public and private hospitals, birth centres and community maternity services.
• Midwife in regional and remote health services, where you often work with more autonomy and a broader scope of practice.
• Continuity of care midwife in caseload models, where you follow a group of women through pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
• Postnatal and neonatal care roles in maternity wards, special care nurseries and early parenting centres.
• Child and family health services, supporting parents and babies in the community after discharge.
• Clinical education or research assistant roles, often after some years of practice and further study.
• International aid and humanitarian health organisations, where Australian midwifery qualifications are recognised.

Australian industries that hire midwives include public hospital networks, private hospital groups, state and territory health departments, community health organisations, Aboriginal community controlled health services, and not-for-profit maternity care providers. Demand is steady across metropolitan, regional and remote areas.