Midwives offer a most comprehensive array of healthcare services to women and their families. These services include continuous support and counselling during pregnancy, managing childbirth and providing care for the mother and the newborn during the postpartum period and breastfeeding. In doing so, they work in a spirit of partnership and empathy with the women and their families.

A full-time study programme with all its additional modules takes four years to complete. The BSc in Midwifery offers a double benefit:

• first, the licence to practice as a fully qualified midwife
• second, the academic degree Bachelor of Science ZFH in Midwifery

Study achievements are evaluated with ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) which make your degree comparable across Europe. The study programme covers 180 ECTS credits, with a total of approximately 30 working hours.

Our bachelor degree programme in Midwifery fulfils the required national and international standards as well as the educational requirements. The study programme is divided into 40 percent of classroom teaching and 60 percent of self-directed study. The teaching consists of a combination of presentation-based teaching and independent and action-oriented learning (exercises, case studies, project work, workshop instruction and role playing).

• Teaching of midwifery: focuses on women’s health, rule conformity, rule deviations and rule infractions during the antenatal and postpartum period
• Fundamentals in medicine: anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, hygiene, genetics, gynaecology, neonatology, paediatrics
• Professional role: professional profile, sociology, professional law, psychology, ethics, consulting, research, health promotion, independent work, quality management, public relations, history of midwifery, maternal health care systems, leadership
• Interprofessional teaching: scientific work, communication, health and society, interprofessional collaboration, health promotion and prevention
• Skills, medical examinations and interventions:  training of practical skills and abilities
• Bachelor thesis: systematic processing of a profession-related issue using scientific methods

Students complete 4 practice modules of 10 weeks each at different institutions and in various professional fields during their studies. At the end of their studies in midwifery, students must undertake another ten-month clinical placement (additional module C) in order to obtain the licence to practice.

The ZHAW organises clinical placements in clinics in birthing centres and with self-employed midwives in Switzerland and abroad.

Midwives work in hospitals, birthing centres, with women and their families at home, in midwife practices, breastfeeding consulting or general counselling centres. Targeted continuing education programmes open midwives the opportunity to work in education, teaching or research.

Students will acquire the necessary skills to successfully perform in the following seven roles:

• As an expert, the midwife carries out specific tasks and makes appropriate decisions. Applied degree and licence to practice
• As a communicator, the midwife facilitates the building of trusting relationships and a selective sharing of information.
• As a collaborator, the midwife proactively participates in interdisciplinary team work.
• As a manager, the midwife assumes technical leadership and contributes to the effectiveness of the organisation as well as develops her own career.
• A a health advocate, the midwife is committed to the health of the woman and her family.
• As a scholar, the midwife is committed to lifelong learning and the transfer of knowledge.
• As a professional, the midwife promotes health and quality of life. She is committed to the ethical standards and values of her profession and pays attention to her own health.