Master in Midwifery

«With the MSc in Midwifery, we offer you an exciting and contemporary degree program. You will learn to further develop your competencies as a midwife in an evidence-based, needs-oriented manner and to analyse and optimise conditions for high quality obstetric care.»
Dr. Astrid Krahl, Head of the Master's degree programme in Midwifery
The Master of Science (MSc) in Midwifery is a consecutive Master’s degree programme in Switzerland that can be completed full-time or part-time.
Three Reasons for a Master of Science in Midwifery
- Midwives with a Master of Science degree are capable of serving as midwifery experts, researchers and educators, as well as managers. They develop solutions to the many challenges in interdisciplinary obstetric health care and promote midwifery-led care for women and their families.
- The Master’s degree programme is designed to prepare midwives for the role of advanced practice midwife (APM) in specialised practice as well as positions of leadership, in research, and in teaching.
- The Master of Science in Midwifery is designed to meet the growing demand for highly qualified midwives with an expanded set of skills and in-depth expertise. The degree is internationally recognised and paves the way to a PhD at universities in Switzerland and abroad.
Programme Structure
The programme is weighted at 90 ECTS credits and has a modular structure. It is divided into four module groups:
- Practice Fields and Competencies
- Research Methods
- Advanced Practice (AP)
- Master’s Thesis
A 13-day internship is integrated into the programme. This can be completed at a research institute, in higher education or in practice. This gives you a realistic insight into the work of researchers, teachers or midwifery experts with specialist responsibility.
Optionally, you can complete an internship abroad and earn an additional 10 ECTS credits. These are documented in the Master's certificate.
The full-time course takes four semesters to complete. If preferred, it can also be completed in three semesters. When studying full-time, you can work around 30 % of the time. In a part-time course, you study for six semesters and can work approximately 50 % of the time.
The MSc Midwifery combines classroom and online teaching. This is intended to support a better work-life balance and make it easier for students with long commutes to study.
Profession-Specific Focus Points
At the Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, the Research and the Master’s degree programme work closely together. As a result, current research priorities are embedded in the academic programmes and reflected in the module content.
This results in the following profession-specific focus points in the Master's degree programme in Midwifery:
- Leadership in complex situations
- Conception and implementation of interventions
- Direct clinical practice
- Global Health
- Development of nursing practice and the nursing profession
- Family and Community Care
- Midwifery – science and practice
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery from a university in Switzerland or abroad
- A midwifery diploma (Hebamme HF) with additional qualifications, such as an NTE (nachträglicher Titelerwerb) post qualification
- Good knowledge of scientific work and clinical assessment
- Good knowledge of English
From MSc in Midwifery to Advanced Practice Midwife
The Master's degree programme provides you with specific specialist knowledge as well as in-depth scientific competencies and prepares you for the role of Advanced Practice Midwife (APM). In this role, you will analyse and deal with complex obstetric situations, develop family-oriented care concepts, and actively participate in processes of change in the health care system. You will also be able to work on clinically relevant research questions and coach as well as supervise staff in various processes.
As a midwifery expert, you ensure that women and their families receive the best possible care according to their needs and the current state of knowledge.
In research and development as well as teaching, you convey evidence-based content. You initiate and evaluate the further development of the profession both on a practical and scientific level.
In a leadership position, you help to shape the quality of care for women and their families as well as the working conditions of the staff you work with.

«To ensure that midwives can fully realize their potential in promoting health care and design coordinated care models, they need advanced clinical abilities as well as research and leadership skills. A Master’s degree programme provides them with a practically oriented set of tools to further develop the quality of obstetric care with a family-centred approach.»
Dr. phil. Elisabeth Kurth, MSc midwife, practising midwife and director of Familystart beider Basel
Postgraduate PhD Studies
A Master of Science in Midwifery entitles you to earn a doctorate opening up further perspectives in research and teaching. The PhD programme «Care and Rehabilitation Sciences» offers you a postgraduate course of study in which you will acquire advanced knowledge of the principles and methods of research at a university level and get the opportunity to conduct a research project.
Double Degree Programme
A double degree consists of two degrees awarded by two different universities. This type of study enables students to specialise in a specific field or gain a deeper insight into a second or neighbouring field.
Midwives who are interested in earning a Master’s degree and could imagine studying in Germany or in Switzerland can enroll in the double degree programme with Witten/Herdecke University (ZW/H) in Germany.
MSc in Midwifery at a Glance
Degree: Master of Science ZHAW in Midwifery
Workload: 90 ECTS credits
Duration of Study: three or four semesters (full-time), six semesters (part-time)
Start of the Course: September (calendar week 38)
Registration Deadline: April 30th
Location: Winterthur
Language of Instruction: German, partly English
Tuition Fees: CHF 720 per semester + additional expenses related to studies