Institute of Technology or Polytechnic
Otago PolytechnicLevel of Study
Bachelor's Degree
Qualify in just four years* with this internationally renowned programme.
Our degree gives you real-world practice from your first month, working with midwives and women/pregnant people in your community. The Bachelor of Midwifery will nurture you to become capable and responsive Te Tiriti o Waitangi midwifery practitioners. You will have the knowledge, skills and attributes to work autonomously and meet the Midwifery Council competencies**.
As culturally competent, sustainable and reflective professionals, you will provide a 'cloak of midwifery care' that upholds the 'mauri***o te wahine^' and encompasses the relationship between the midwife and whānau. This programme takes passion, determination and commitment and we'll give you all the support you need to succeed. Plus, with the flexibility of blended learning, it's possible to do most of your study in your local rohe/area.
Lots of support
We have a wide range of support available to help you succeed in your studies. Kaiako (midwifery lecturer), Course Coordinators, Year Coordinators and our Student Advisor are all available to help you manage your transition to study and will continue to provide you with support while you are in our programme.
Blended learning means you'll learn through weekly face-to-face hui ākonga (tutorials) with a local Kaiako/Lecturer, online learning, midwifery practice experiences (such as hospital shifts and community-based midwifery experience) and wānanga (block courses) held on our campus in Dunedin and at Whitireia Porirua.
Registration and careers
Our Bachelor of Midwifery leads to registration with Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu (Midwifery Council of New Zealand). Our graduates are highly sought-after and there is a particularly high demand for Māori and Pasifika midwives.
Career options include being a community-based, Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) midwife, working within a maternity facility, being involved in education and research in the field of midwifery, and providing advice to professional and regulatory bodies, government departments and maternity stakeholders.
Studying part-timeWe know that full-time study isn't always possible. You can choose to study part-time over six years* at any of our locations. If you choose this option, you will:
Find out more information about this part-time option by contacting us at Midwifery@op.ac.nz.
*Please note: This degree is now delivered full-time over four years and part-time over six years. We will be updating the fees per year as soon as possible. **Competencies for the Entry to the Register of Midwives from Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu | Midwifery Council ***Life principle; material object that is a symbol of the hidden principle protecting vitality ^The use of the word wahine (with no macron) speaks to the lifegiving element, as opposed to the literal translation of woman (singular) # Please note that hui ākonga are in Hutt Valley and PoriruaUniversity Entrance as defined by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). In addition, Midwifery Council also requires that all applicants have NCEA level 3, consisting of:
20 credits at Level 2, including
16 credits in another Level 2 subject
Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:
Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:
If English is not your first language, you must complete an assessment of your English Language and pass the required standard. This is not applicable for applicants where any of the official languages of Aotearoa are their first language.
You need either an:
Overall Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0, with scores in the following areas:
Evidence of successful completion must be provided at the time of application. If you believe that you should be exempt from this requirement, please contact the Midwifery Council by emailingwiferycouncil.health.nz. Any exemptions are at the discretion of the Midwifery Council and applicants must provide written proof of exemption or IELTs results to be accepted to the Bachelor of Midwifery.
Additional entry criteriaYou must also:
provide testimony from at least two referees who can demonstrate you have good character and that you will be safe and effective to practice as a midwife, as required by the Childrens’ Act 2014.
a self declaration of any mental and/or physical conditions, to demonstrate that you are fit for practice as a midwife. Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 some types of physical or mental conditions may result in the Midwifery Council being unable to register a person as a midwife. A medical report may also be requested, where evidence of good health is required, as per Midwifery Council requirements.
personal statement, which demonstrates communication skills and self-responsibility in relation to your learning and practice, as required by the Midwifery Council.
provide a current comprehensive or standard First Aid Certificate, including proficiency in CPR (NQF unit standards 6401 and 6402 or equivalent).
provide a copy of your drivers licence and an indication that you have access to reliable transport for on-call practice. This programme has travel requirements associated with clinical placement; it is therefore recommended that you have a driver's licence to support you with meeting the programme clinical placement requirements.
Once you are accepted into the programme you are required to complete a safety check. The safety check is required to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Children’s Act 2014. This may include, but is not limited to:
Unsatisfactory results arising from the full safety checking process may result in you being declined entry or withdrawn from the programme of study.
Please note: Registered health practitioners from other disciplines who seek Recognition of Prior Learning on the basis of their health professional qualification and practice experience must hold registration with the relevant regulator authority in New Zealand and provide a Certificate of Good Standing from that authority.
Don't meet the en...Disclaimer