Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Bridging professions: From nurse to midwife developing a digitally-enabled, blended learning MSc to expand and diversify the midwifery workforce
1
University of Bradford, Faculty of Health Studies, Bradford, United Kingdom
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A737
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The innovative MSc Midwifery (shortened) programme at the University of Bradford was specifically designed for registered adult nurses in response to the national maternity workforce challenges. The two-year Level 7 blended (80% online, 20% face-to-face) programme offers an inclusive and flexible route to dual registration as a midwife by supporting accessibility for adult learners balancing education, family, and work.
DISCUSSION:
The programme was co-created with input from students, service users, maternity voices, and stakeholders across the North East and Yorkshire region. The curriculum is grounded in feminist and constructivist pedagogies and underpinned by problem-based and flipped-classroom learning; digital literacy and simulation, critical thinking and integration with key community initiatives (Better Start, Born in Bradford). The programme reflects the national shift towards digitally competent, culturally responsive midwives. By recruiting from the adult nursing workforce, this programme accelerates midwifery registration while introducing complementary clinical expertise into maternity teams, an increasingly vital strategy in the context of rising medical, psychological, and social complexities among the women and families within current maternity services. With national recruitment now approved for 2026, this model represents a strategic workforce pipeline ready for scalable implementation across the UK.
EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
The MSc Midwifery (Shortened) programme at the University of Bradford aligns with the NMC (2023) Standards for Pre-registration Midwifery Programmes, Education Framework, and Supervision and Assessment Standards, ensuring regulatory compliance and high-quality delivery. Co-designed with LMNS, NHS Trusts, students, and experts by experience, it responds to national imperatives including the Ockenden Report (2022) and NHS England’s Three-Year Delivery Plan (2023) by offering a flexible, inclusive route to dual registration.
KEY MESSAGE:
An MSc Midwifery (shortened) programme rooted in workforce diversification, regulatory standards, pedagogical innovation, and stakeholder engagement can offer an academically rigorous, practice-ready pathway for dual registration in midwifery. Poster session 3 (Group B)
The innovative MSc Midwifery (shortened) programme at the University of Bradford was specifically designed for registered adult nurses in response to the national maternity workforce challenges. The two-year Level 7 blended (80% online, 20% face-to-face) programme offers an inclusive and flexible route to dual registration as a midwife by supporting accessibility for adult learners balancing education, family, and work.
DISCUSSION:
The programme was co-created with input from students, service users, maternity voices, and stakeholders across the North East and Yorkshire region. The curriculum is grounded in feminist and constructivist pedagogies and underpinned by problem-based and flipped-classroom learning; digital literacy and simulation, critical thinking and integration with key community initiatives (Better Start, Born in Bradford). The programme reflects the national shift towards digitally competent, culturally responsive midwives. By recruiting from the adult nursing workforce, this programme accelerates midwifery registration while introducing complementary clinical expertise into maternity teams, an increasingly vital strategy in the context of rising medical, psychological, and social complexities among the women and families within current maternity services. With national recruitment now approved for 2026, this model represents a strategic workforce pipeline ready for scalable implementation across the UK.
EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
The MSc Midwifery (Shortened) programme at the University of Bradford aligns with the NMC (2023) Standards for Pre-registration Midwifery Programmes, Education Framework, and Supervision and Assessment Standards, ensuring regulatory compliance and high-quality delivery. Co-designed with LMNS, NHS Trusts, students, and experts by experience, it responds to national imperatives including the Ockenden Report (2022) and NHS England’s Three-Year Delivery Plan (2023) by offering a flexible, inclusive route to dual registration.
KEY MESSAGE:
An MSc Midwifery (shortened) programme rooted in workforce diversification, regulatory standards, pedagogical innovation, and stakeholder engagement can offer an academically rigorous, practice-ready pathway for dual registration in midwifery. Poster session 3 (Group B)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
