Access to HE Midwifery: How to Get Into a Midwifery Degree

Yes, an Access to HE Diploma can get you onto a midwifery degree without A-levels. Most midwifery courses accept a Diploma in health, science or nursing, usually with a set number of Distinction and Merit credits and often some biology or science. You'll also need the right GCSEs and a successful interview.

If you're thinking about midwifery as an adult, this route is designed with you in mind. This guide explains what you'll study, what five universities ask for in 2027, and how your Access grades turn into UCAS points.

What is an Access to HE Diploma for midwifery?

An Access to HE Diploma is a full level 3 qualification for adults who want to go to university but don't have the qualifications they need. QAA's Access to HE site says Diplomas "are made up of 60 credits. 45 of these are at level 3 and graded. The remaining 15 credits are not graded and may be at level 2 or level 3." Courses are "usually completed in one year", though you can also study part-time over two or more years.

You'll see courses called Access to HE Diploma (Nursing and Midwifery), (Health Professions), (Health Science) or similar. There isn't a separate "midwifery" Diploma standard. Instead, QAA publishes a subject descriptor for Nursing and Health Professions, and its FAQ uses midwifery as an example of a Diploma that can be approved as meeting that standard.

What do you study on an Access to Midwifery course?

Every college designs its own course, but Diplomas that follow QAA's Nursing and Health Professions descriptor must include some essential content:

That's 21 credits. The rest of your 60 credits are set by the college, so compare course content before you enrol.

QAA is clear that a compliant Diploma "does not guarantee entry to higher education". Universities can ask for extra subject content, work experience or Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on top. That's why the next section matters.

What grades do midwifery degrees ask for from Access students?

Here's what five universities list for their 2027-entry midwifery degrees. Each figure is from the university's own course page.

A few patterns stand out:

• Offers range widely. Sheffield Hallam's asks for fewer Distinctions than Birmingham's, so apply to a spread.
• Science counts. Most of these courses name biology, science or physiology credits.
• GCSE rules differ. Some accept Functional Skills or Access credits in place of GCSEs; Nottingham doesn't, and says you must have your GCSEs "at the point of application".
• Timing can matter. Birmingham says Access courses "must have been completed within the last two years to be valid".

Sheffield Hallam also gives its offer in UCAS points: a standard offer of 128, or 120 as a contextual offer. For more courses, see our guide to UCAS points for midwifery.

Do you need to be a nurse before you train as a midwife?

No. The National Careers Service says: "You can do a degree in midwifery as long as it's approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council." The entry routes it lists include "access to higher education in health, science or nursing". Every course in the table above is this kind of degree, open to people who've never worked as a nurse.

Registered nurses do have an extra option. The National Careers Service says: "If you're a registered adult nurse you may be able to take a conversion course to become a midwife. These usually take between 18 and 24 months." The University of Suffolk, for example, runs a BSc Midwifery Shortened for adult nurses with current NMC registration, which it says takes two years.

What else do midwifery courses look for?

Grades get you through the first door. After that, universities want to see that you're ready for a caring, demanding profession. From the course pages above:

Swansea University says it looks for applicants "that embody the NHS values", and the National Careers Service says you'd "be expected to have an understanding of how the NHS values would apply in your work". Reading up on them before your interview is time well spent.

How many UCAS points is an Access to HE Diploma worth?

Your UCAS points depend on how many of your 45 graded credits you get at Distinction, Merit and Pass. QAA's Access to HE site confirms that "Access to HE Diplomas awarded from July 2017 are included in the UCAS Tariff tables". Here's how the grades convert:

Most midwifery offers are set in credits rather than points, so use the table above for the courses that ask for points, like Sheffield Hallam. Our Access to HE UCAS points calculator works out your exact total from your predicted grade mix.

Calculate your Access to HE points

Can you study an Access to Midwifery course online?

QAA's Access to HE site says you can study a Diploma in about a year, or part-time over two or more years. If you're looking at an online or part-time course, check three things with the universities you're aiming for before you sign up:

1. The subject. Nottingham lists Nursing and Midwifery, Health Professions, Social Science or Science. Leeds lists Health and Social Care, Nursing and Midwifery, or Science.
2. The science credits. Leeds wants 15 science credits at Level 3, and Birmingham wants Physiology or Biology.
3. How recent it is. QAA says a Diploma is yours "for life", but "some universities have entry criteria that require you to demonstrate evidence of recent study".

If a university's page doesn't answer your question, email its admissions team before you enrol. It's a quick way to avoid a costly surprise.

How do you pay for an Access to Midwifery course?

In England, if you're aged 19 to 23 and don't already have a full level 3 qualification, you may be entitled to a free place. If you're 24 or over, you can use an Advanced Learner Loan, which gov.uk says is written off once you complete a degree that's eligible for student finance. Our guide to paying for an Access to HE course explains each option.

What should you do next?

1. Shortlist three to five midwifery degrees and note each one's Access requirement.
2. Choose an Access course whose subject and science credits match those requirements.
3. Check your GCSEs against each university's rules, and fill any gaps early.
4. Read our guide to the Access to HE Diploma to understand how grading works across the year.

The path is clear, and a lot of it is in your control.