Degree program
The degree program Midwifery is offered by the EHB in cooperation with numerous practice partners within clinical and out-of-hospital obstetrics. The theoretical and practical courses take place at the university. The theoretical knowledge is trained during practical exercise hours in the newly established skills lab (practice rooms) at the EHB.
Advantages, perspectives, focus
- The study of Midwifery has been established at EHB since 2013. This means that the EHB is one of the few universities in Germany that already has several years of experience in the academisation of midwifery training.
- Alternation of both study and practical phases; therefore, students gain an in-depth insight into everyday professional life from day one.
- Remuneration according to collective agreements throughout the entire course of study.
- Health-promoting care for women with their newborns and families.
- Professional cooperation with other health professions.
Contents and procedures
In the Midwifery studies program, knowledge and skills are acquired that enable students and graduates to act in complex obstetric situations in a science-based, health-promoting, family-oriented and empathetic manner and to make decisions about care together with the woman. To this end, students learn to understand, evaluate and responsibly apply scientific knowledge in the care of pregnant women, women in labour as well as mothers with their newborns and families.
Study structure
In the Midwifery program, students learn to base their actions on a scientific grounding, to evaluate and responsibly apply obstetric knowledge and to make decisions about obstetric care together with the woman and her family.
The study program is based on a spiral curriculum: In the 1st year of study, the basics of midwifery, health science, evidence-based midwifery and biomedical principles are taught and learned using practical application in the areas of pregnancy, birth and gynaecology.
In the 2nd year of study, the focus of the program is on Midwifery care in the case of an irregular course of events, in the inpatient and outpatient care sector as well as midwifery science and research. Practical placements for students are organised in pregnancy and birth, neonatology, postpartum and breastfeeding. In addition, a practical placement is planned in the outpatient care sector in midwife-led facilities (birth centres) and with freelance midwives.
In semesters 5 to 7, the knowledge of the first two years of study is further deepened and expanded in order to be able to act professionally and safely in care situations when irregularities and emergency situations occur as well as being able to place midwifery work within an international context and to contribute constructively to the further development of the profession. Elective courses are integrated into the curriculum. The practical assignments are once again in the fields of pregnancy and birth as well as in the postpartum period and breastfeeding.
In principle, a stay abroad is possible in semesters 4 and 5 but must be approved by the responsible institution for the practical work phase.