Degree Programme in Midwifery
Key learning outcomes
Graduates of the Degree Programme in Midwifery are Bachelors of Health Care who are also qualified to serve as nurses. Midwives focus on strong promotion of sexual health. Graduates have comprehensive evidence-based nursing and midwifery competence, with a focus on health promotion and clinical competence as well as digital skills and data security as required for midwifery.
The studies allow for development of professional competence in midwifery from the points of view of international activities and entrepreneurship. You have the chance to strengthen your innovation and project competence in multidisciplinary working life oriented studies, such as the Jamk Future Factory activities.
Education content and professional growth and know-how
The contents of the studies in the degree programme in midwifery (bachelor’s degree) are based, besides nursing science, on other health sciences and branches of science supporting it, such as natural science and medicine, social science and behavioural science.
The first three years of studies comprise studies belonging to the degree programme in nursing (bachelor’s degree). The first year studies focus on customer relationships, multidisciplinary studies supporting nursing and nursing fundamentals. The second and third year of studies centre around evidence-based theoretical and clinical competence in nursing, guidance and teaching competence, sexual health competence as well as competence related to the quality and safety of social and health services.
The studies in the degree programme in nursing include a bachelor's thesis that is a research, development or innovation project implemented based on the development needs of working life.
The last one and a half to two years are spent in deepening one’s professional skills in midwifery, which includes professional conduct in midwifery, customer relationships in midwifery, promotion of sexual and reproductive health and clinical expertise as well as development of midwifery. Approximately half the studies are implemented as practical training promoting professional skill in social and health care services in the public and/or private sector as well as projects. The student can also develop his or her competence by completing theory studies and/or practical training promoting professional competence abroad either in English or some other language that he or she has mastered. A part of the studies included in the degree programme are completed in English in Finland.
A part of the studies is completed in research and development projects, such as in Future Factory labs according to the Personal Learning Plan.
Flexible studies
Students have a choice of alternative or elective studies offered by partner universities in Finland and abroad, such as other universities of applied sciences (CampusOnline), universities and educational institutions involved in the EduFutura collaboration (University of Jyväskylä and Gradia). Higher level studies completed elsewhere may be accredited as part of your degree. The student must have a certificate or some other document to prove that they have completed the studies. Skills acquired elsewhere can also be described and demonstrated to enable accreditation. Further information is available on the web pages for students.
Working life oriented learning
Working life oriented learning is included in bachelor’s degree courses throughout the studies. These include practical training to promote professional skills, the thesis and various working life projects. At Jamk University of Applied Sciences, the operating model for working life oriented and student-driven learning is called Jamk Future Factory®. It combines working life operators, students, Jamk experts and working life oriented LAB environments and other learning environments. In addition to multidisciplinary and working life oriented project studies, it offers students a chance to develop their future working life skills, career paths and networks.
Studification is also among the options offered by working life oriented learning. It refers to combining work, project work, Future Factory activities, etc. with studies. Studification involves students drafting a studification plan and documenting it in the manner agreed with the teacher. Further information is available on the web pages for students.
Career opportunities and employment
A midwife (bachelor’s degree) can be employed in a wide range of nurse and midwife positions in social and health services in the public and private sector as well as in associations. A midwife (bachelor’s degree) works, for example, in delivery rooms, maternity wards, gynaecological clinics and wards as well as maternity and family planning clinics. A midwife (bachelor’s degree) can also work as an entrepreneur.
Qualifications
The occupational titles of midwife (bachelor’s degree) and nurse (bachelor’s degree) can only be used and the professions practised by a graduated registered midwife (bachelor’s degree) and registered nurse (bachelor’s degree). The degree programme in midwifery (bachelor’s degree) includes the degree programme in nursing (bachelor’s degree) (Health Care Professionals Act 559/1994, Section 5: dual registration). The National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (VALVIRA) registers a person having completed the degree programme in midwifery (bachelor’s degree) as both a nurse and midwife health care professional.
The degree programme in midwifery (bachelor’s degree) meets the requirements set for the education in the Health Care Professionals Act (559/1994) and Decree (564/1994) as well as in the directive (2005/36/EC) / (2013/55/EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications.
A registered midwife (bachelor’s degree) can independently carry out the follow-up check of a normal childbirth and issue a certificate for the parental allowance according to the Health Insurance Act (437/2010) and the related Government Decree (No. 1090/2010).
Further studies
Students may, after graduation and a working career of at least two years, apply for studies leading up to a master’s degree. Studies can also be continued by applying for a university master’s degree programme or similar programmes as well as professional teacher education. After a bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences, it is also possible to continue studies at higher education institutes abroad on master’s degree level programmes. A university of applied sciences also provides opportunities for continuing education in the form of specialisation studies, open studies, an online study portal (CampusOnline) and working life based continuing education.
A student who completes a master’s degree at a university of applied sciences may apply to continue on to postgraduate studies in science or arts at universities (Act 558/2009, Section 37).
Education planning
The curriculum has been drafted in cooperation with students and representatives from working life by utilising results from Periodic Evaluation of Degree-Awarding Education.
Contact Information
Tiainen Elina
Senior Lecturer, Health Studies
+358400989451
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi