The Bachelor of Midwifery Honours program is a 36 unit course offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Admission requirements

A student who has completed all the requirements of the Bachelor of Midwifery, or another qualification which the Faculty Board agrees is equivalent, may be accepted as a candidate for the honours degree providing they have achieved a Credit average or better in fulfilling the requirements for the bachelors degree. 

Course aims

The Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) and Bachelor of Midwifery (Honours) aim to:

  • provide an opportunity for nurses and midwives to develop an understanding of research and the skills necessary to conduct a study in an area of the student's interest, with the assistance of one or more supervisors
  • prepare successful graduates for higher degree research studies and/or research in the clinical setting (Admission to a higher degree research program is usually restricted to applicants with an Honours Class 1 or 2A degree or equivalent).

Learning outcomes

At the completion of the course students will be expected to be able to:

  • pose and refine worthwhile research questions in Midwifery in an appropriate timeframe
  • design and use research; including performing literature searches, critically reviewing relevant literature, developing a logical research proposal, discerning the ethical considerations in research, applying ethical principles to the conduct of research
  • analyse and transmit solutions to complex research problems; for example, choose between a range of research methodologies and methods and provide a rationale for their choice, develop and effectively argue an understanding of one methodology for their thesis
  • transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others through collection and analysis of data, presentation of findings, defence of conclusions and construction of a thesis.

Program of study

To qualify for the honours degree, a student must complete satisfactorily 36 units of study within one year full-time or two years part-time.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion, or failure to complete the course within three consecutive years, may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University’s Policy on Student Progress.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • no topic may be attempted more than twice
  • the program must be completed within three years from commencement.

Core topics

NURS9218  Approaches to Research Designs  (4.5 units)
NURS9219  Introduction to Research  (4.5 units)
NURS9220  Developing a Literature Review  (4.5 units)
NURS9221  Writing Research Proposals for Ethical and Funding Requirements  (4.5 units)

plus 18 units from the following topics:

MIDW7000  Honours Thesis  (18 units)
MIDW7000A  Honours Thesis  (9 units) 
MIDW7000B  Honours Thesis  (9 units)