Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery)

What it is: an Access to HE Diploma, a QAA approved Level 3 qualification for adults who want to go to university without A Levels. QAA says Access to HE Diplomas are accepted at over 140 universities every year.

Where it leads: Midwifery degrees leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

UCAS points: up to 144. The diploma carries UCAS tariff points, which universities accept for entry to many degrees; 45 graded credits at Distinction give 144 points.

Credits: 60 in total, 45 graded at Level 3 and 15 ungraded.

Study: 100% online, start any time, typically 12 to 18 months at your own pace.

Assessment: coursework only, no exams. Tutor marking in 3 to 5 working days, and you can resubmit to improve your grade.

Price: £79.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, £67.99 a month if you start without the trial, or £815.99 for a year paid up front. No contract, pause or cancel any time, 14-day money back guarantee on every payment.

Awarding body: TBC.

Comparing providers? See the best online Access to HE Midwifery courses in the UK, with prices and study times from learndirect, Distance Learning Centre, Open Study College, Stonebridge, Academy Online Learning, Access Courses Online and Learning Curve Group.

The moment a midwife places a newborn in a parent's arms is among the most profound in healthcare. Midwives hold that responsibility, clinical, emotional, and relational, from first antenatal appointment to the postnatal weeks. The Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery) is the qualification that takes adult learners to the degree that earns that trust.

This Level 3 qualification is awarded by TBC Awarding Body, a QAA licensed Access Validating Agency. It is for adults aged 19 and over who want to study Midwifery BSc (Hons) at a UK university without the A level qualifications traditionally expected. An Access to HE Diploma can be accepted in place of A levels for midwifery degree entry. Check each university’s requirements for the exact diploma, science credits, grades and any additional qualifications; acceptance is not universal.

If you are weighing up the entry route, our full guide covers how the Access to Midwifery route works, from typical entry points to what universities actually ask for.

\nYou will study 60 credits covering human reproductive biology, antenatal and postnatal care, maternal health, safeguarding, pharmacology, public health, psychology, and the ethics of midwifery practice. Every unit is designed to prepare you for the academic and clinical demands of a three-year Midwifery BSc.

Studied 100% online, typically over 12 to 18 months, with no exams. Assessment is through essays, case studies, reflective pieces, and a final research project. You earn up to 144 UCAS points. Your tutor provides written feedback within 3 to 5 working days on every piece of work.

Registered Midwives enter the NHS at Band 5 (£32,073 starting salary), with progression through Band 6 community midwife, Band 7 specialist, and Band 8 consultant midwife roles. The profession offers flexibility, clinical depth, and a direct and profound connection to the families you serve. When your university interview is booked, our worked answers to typical midwifery interview questions shows how the values based prompts are usually structured.

You earn up to 144 UCAS points. Most midwifery BSc programmes ask for 112 to 144 points, Distinctions across your 45 graded credits earns the maximum 144. The diploma typically needs to include evidence of biological science study to meet UCAS entry conditions.

Start anytime. Study around your work and family. If midwifery is the career you have been working toward, the Access to HE Diploma (Midwifery) is the path that gets you there.

\nFor more on the career journey, read our step-by-step guide to becoming a midwife, see how Access to HE for social work, midwifery and paramedic science compare, or check the GCSE-standard entry route via Functional Skills Level 2 courses.