How to become a student

While midwifery is a very fulfilling career it is also demanding in many ways. You will need to be passionate about midwifery, about childbirth and about women’s rights to midwifery and maternity services that meet their needs and those of their families. You will need to take responsibility for your learning as a student and for your practice as a midwife. Midwifery offers flexible work hours, widely variable experiences and significant personal and professional autonomy. It also demands excellent organizational skills, high level communication skills, deep theoretical and practice knowledge and skills and high levels of accountability. Midwives are often in the public eye and inevitably midwifery involves politics as well as its strong professional focus.

If you are thinking about midwifery as a career it is a good idea to talk with some practising midwives about the reality of life as a midwife; its pleasures and its demands. You should also explore the New Zealand College of Midwives website and that of the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

Entry requirements

ACADEMIC:
A Minimum of 42 National Qualifications Framework (NQF) credits at Level 3 or higher including a minimum of:

14 credits at Level 3 or higher in biology or chemistry, AND
14 credits at Level 3 or higher in an English language rich subject (such as English, history, art history, classics, geography or economics) AND
A further 14 credits at Level 3 or higher in two additional subjects or domains, AND
A minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics/Pangarau on NQF.
OR demonstrate equivalence to the above academic entry criteria.

Note: A minimum of 14 credits at Level 2 in chemistry, if applicant holds 14 credits at Level 3 in biology; or a minimum of 14 credits at Level 2 biology, if applicant holds 14 credits or more at Level 3 in chemistry, will be an advantage to applicants.

Alternative Academic Criteria:
Passes in relevant and Midwifery School approved Pre-Health courses. Otago Polytechnic and CPIT both offer such courses both on campus and by distance; and they can be undertaken either part time or full time. These courses will also suit those who need to update specific knowledge and skills, and demonstrate their academic ability.

Registered Nurses and Registered Health Practitioners from other disciplines should contact Otago Polytechnic or CPIT for details regarding entry to the degree.

Potential international students should contact the Otago Polytechnic (Dunedin campus) or CPIT (Christchurch campus) for details regarding entry to the degree.

OTHER:
Midwifery applicants will be selected into the programme on the basis of the following criteria:

Demonstrated commitment to practising midwifery
Life experience relevant to midwifery and/or women's health
Demonstrated strong communication skills and self-responsibility in relation to learning and practice
Demonstrated good health and good character via referee reports, declarations and a police check sufficient for safe and effective practice as a midwife.

You will be required to submit an essay which demonstrates your commitment to midwifery

A current First Aid Certificate (NQF Unit Standards 6401 and 6402 or equivalent).
A Curriculum Vitae
A Health declaration/medical certificate, and
Two referee reports (from an employer or representative of a community group and from a person of standing in community who is not a relative or friend).

Computer skills and word-processing skills are required, as all written work must be word-processed.

Online learning is a significant component of this programme.

Students must also have good academic skills, as many assessments require strong writing ability and critical thinking.

Preference will be given to applicants who are 20 years, or older who can demonstrate equivalence in the above academic requirements, or evidence of the ability to study successfully at degree level.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Otago Polytechnic has a preferred application date of 1 September each year but applications will be assessed as they are received providing they are complete and late applications may be accepted.

At CPIT applications will be assessed together after the closing date of 1 September, although late applications may be accepted.

Applicants may be invited for interview by phone or face to face if further information is required.
Final selection is based on both academic and other entry criteria.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL):
Registered nurse applicants must hold registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand as a registered comprehensive nurse or registered general and obstetric nurse, and provide a Certificate of Good Standing from NCNZ, if seeking credit through RPL on the basis of their nursing qualifications and experience.
Registered health practitioners from other disciplines must hold registration with the relevant regulatory authority in New Zealand, and provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the relevant New Zealand regulatory authority, if seeking credit through RPL on the basis of their professional qualification and experience.

Note: Applications for credit on the basis of prior learning and experience must be made to the School of Midwifery at the Polytechnic at which you intend to enrol. The decision as to whether a registered health practitioner applicant's prior learning receives credits, is made on a case by case basis by the Polytechnics.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
International students must meet the same entry criteria as those listed above and those for whom English is not their first language must also meet the language requirements listed below.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds:
Must meet all stated entry requirements and demonstrate English language skills equivalent to an IELTS (academic) overall score of 7.0 (with writing and
comprehension no less than 6.5, and speaking and listening no less than 7.0).

Note: That the Midwifery Council of New Zealand requires all applicants for registration as a midwife for whom English is not their first language to demonstrate an IELTS score of 7.5. The Polytechnics' entry score of 7.0 will not guarantee that you will be able to score 7.5 on completion of the midwifery programme, and you are likely to need to undertake your own further study in English during the programme, in order to meet the criteria. You will also need to meet any cost associated with any additional tuition or IELTS assessment examinations you may need to undertake.

DURATION:

Three Years, Full-Time (45 weeks per year).
It is possible, although not recommended, to study part time in either the first or second year of the programme, and complete it in four years.
Note: that the Midwifery Council of New Zealand requires programmes to be completed within four years.

LOCATION (2010):

CPIT enrolled students: Christchurch, Nelson/Marlborough.
Otago Polytechnic enrolled students: Dunedin, Central Otago, Southland and North Otago and the North Island locations are Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Wairarapa, Palmerston North and Whanganui.
Four, two-week blocks at respective Christchurch or Otago Polytechnic campuses during year one. Four blocks in year two and two blocks in year three. Midwifery practice placements outside of your 'home' area are required during the programme.

Note; North Island based students travel to Dunedin for the first Intensive with further intensives held in Porirua.

APPLICATIONS:

Due 1 September (late applications may be considered).

To apply at Otago click here
To apply at CPIT click here

COURSE START:

February

FEES:

Domestic student fees (approx)
Year 1: OP - $8,136 (incl GST); CPIT $8,015 student fees (approx)
OP $25,500 (per year), CPIT $23,800 International student (per year)

Additional costs (Estimates):
Text books: Year 1 $1035.00 (if all compulsory texts are purchased new)
Midwifery equipment (Pinard stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, digital thermometer, suturing set) $200.
Telepager, cell phone (and operating costs).
Professional membership and indemnity insurance (New Zealand College of Midwives) First year (in three year BM course) $54; RN and second/third year students $90.
Additional readings throughout the course approx $45.
Reliable car for travel to client’s homes, hospitals etc for midwifery practice experience.
All travel and accommodation costs related to midwifery practice placements. Photocopy and printing costs for personal work, assessments and downloading of course notes.

STUDENT LOANS and ALLOWANCES:
Full-time students of this programme, who are New Zealand residents, are eligible for student loans and allowances (dependent on age and financial circumstances.) Please contact Studylink for additional information. Phone 0800 88 99 00 or click on the following web address to be linked to Studylink: www.studylink.govt.nz.