A taste of university life

Details can be found on the university's website

I would always advocate attending an open day at any university that you are thinking of applying to.  These give you an opportunity to visit the campus and accommodation, learn more about the structure of the course and get a feel for the atmosphere – after all, it will become your home for the next three years.  I knew as soon as I came to the University of Bedfordshire that I felt comfortable and liked the staff.  It is also helpful to attend an open day so you can understand and articulate why you want to attend that specific university – a common question in interviews.

I asked my friends why they attended university open days to see if they had any further insight.  These are their words of wisdom;

“I have always believed if you like a place on a rainy day you will be happy there.” Emily

“The open day gave me an insight into how the university worked before I applied.” Anne

Meet current students

“I appreciated being able to talk to the students and get an insight into their experience – lecturers and staff will always be positive; I wanted to know what it was really like.” Alex

“I found it helpful to learn the course structure and the type of assessments which are used so I could see if it suited me.” Daisy

“I was able to meet other applicants who I then contacted on Facebook so I already had friends when I started!” Joely

“I liked looking round the simulation lab – that made me really excited about starting the course.” Mary-Anne

“I went to one open day for a university which I had set my heart on going to, but once I got there it just didn’t feel right.  I am glad I realised that before I had gone through the application and interview process.” Jenny

See the facilities

I have previously written a post with lots of tips about choosing the right university (Where to go?).  I also spoke to my friends about what made them choose the University of Bedfordshire and how they made their decision. 

Many people only applied to institutions which were within a commutable distance from home, whereas others were drawn to the structure of the course.  They looked at league tables (such as The Guardian’s University Guide, The Complete University Guide, What Uni?), prospectuses, student forums, and asked college tutors and family members.  There doesn’t seem to be a magic formula for choosing the right university.  I think it is important to do some research and attend an open day to see if it feels right.  Trust your instincts.  See you next week!

How does it run?

I have just 12 weeks left.  This is an incredible thought.  I have just found out I have a job and next week we should be getting our results of our dissertation.  Eeek, reality is setting in.

Many university courses have already finished for the summer, final exams are being sat and third year students are packing up their things and going home for the last time.  The midwifery course is slightly different however.

but not for the midwifery students!

It was quite a shock to discover that I wouldn’t be getting the three month break that most students enjoy.  It does make sense though – we are training for a profession which has to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Typically, my week is split 50% practice, 50% university study.  Instead of having blocks of 6 weeks spent in university, followed by 10 weeks in practice like some universities do, we have always had three shifts of work a week and one day in university.  I have personally found this very helpful as it means I can immediately put theory into practice.  I just know I would forget what a pregnant woman looks like if I hadn’t been at work for 6 weeks – it's bad enough coming back after two weeks of annual leave at Christmas!

Our theoretical teaching takes many forms.  We have the traditional lectures, which are like classes at school or college, but we also have seminars which are smaller group discussions about a particular topic.  As so much of what we need to learn is practical, we often have sessions in the simulation labs in which we can practice our clinical skills in a safe environment.  They are fantastically well equipped; we even have mannequins which breathe and blink! 

Fantastic facilities

There are also self-directed study days, and practice based study days run by our practice educators.

There are also many different types of assessments both in theory and practice.  We have essays, written exams, VIVAs (a spoken exam), OSCEs (a practical exam), presentations, case studies and practice assessments.  We also have a checklist of clinical skills which we need to be ‘signed off’ as competent at. 

There is a lot to think about and keep on top off throughout the training, but this is reflective of the responsibility that is involved with the role.  We are encouraged to attend clinical governance meetings and participate in audits, which are all part of the midwife’s role and something which we will need to do when we are qualified.

Another fantastic opportunity we have is the University's annual midwifery conference.  In previous years this has focused on topics such as cultural diversity and sensitivity in midwifery and communication.  I have also attended conferences run by the Royal College of Midwives which has increased my knowledge base and introduced me to a wide range of midwifery specialities.

I have found the teaching to be excellent throughout my course – the lecturers are supportive, passionate and knowledgeable and I feel fantastically prepared to enter the working world of midwifery.  See you next week!

Memories

What do midwives actually do?

My final year has gone by in a flash.  Back in September, the year stretched ahead of me; a dissertation to write and 26 babies to ‘catch’.  Now that I am near the finish line (dissertation handed in, only 5 babies left) I find myself reflecting on the year that has gone and considering everything I have experienced.  This year has been about consolidation of our training so far, but I have also realised how much I still have left to learn.  Being a final year student is a balancing act between becoming an independent practitioner and not running before you can walk.  Whilst it is vital that you learn the clinical skills necessary to give excellent care, it is equally important to discover who you

Although there have been times and situations which challenge me, I have also had the most incredible year.  I was privileged enough to be present at a homebirth - an event which reaffirmed for me that all the hard work and stress is worth it.  It is such an honour to be present when a couple become a family for the first time, and this was even more poignant when it is in their own home.
are as a midwife and this has been something we have focused on this year.

See if you can spot me on TV!

I was also asked to represent the student midwives when the hospital Trust where invited to the live recording of Sunday Night at the Palladium.  It was a great night, full of singers, dancers, comedians and variety acts hosted by Jimmy Carr.  My favourite was the cast of Beautiful who performed some songs from the musical.

Another massive and humbling honour was being nominated for ‘Student Midwife of the Year’ at our Trust.  I am still struggling to think what I have done to deserve the nomination but it is something I will always treasure.

My final highlight is something which every final year student relishes – handing in the dissertation!  I never thought I had 10,000 words in me!  I must say, it looked very professional once it was printed and bound, I was almost sad it just drop it into the assignment box  Almost.

There is no rest for the wicked however; I still have a few assignments and assessments to go before I breathe a real sigh of relief and can put my feet up.  I think this has been one of the biggest challenges for this year, maintaining stamina.  There is so much to juggle when you are a student midwife, I look forward to the day when I can go to work and not come home to write an essay!  All I will have to think about then is the massive responsibility I have as a midwife.  That’s ‘all’!  It’s a good thing I have such an amazing support network of friends, family and colleagues around me.  And pictures like this to make me smile....

I lol'd for approx 10 minutes!

See you next week!

Where to go

Choosing the right university is a massive decision, one that needs careful consideration.  Although the decision was slightly taken out of my hands as the University of Bedfordshire was the only

Decisions, decisions

institution which offered me a place, I remember the heartache and indecision which surrounded my choice to study at Loughborough University.  There are a number of factors to consider; here are just a few tips which may be helpful to you when you are making the decision…

Read the course syllabus and structure
Every university will structure their course and organise their assessments in slightly different ways. With midwifery many aspects are stipulated by the NMC so there is some standardisation, but each course will have its individual nuances which you need to bear in mind.  UoB, for example, have continuous placement throughout the three years of midwifery training rather than block placements.  Look through university prospectuses and look on the university’s website for details.  One of the things which attracted me to Loughborough was the fact that the dissertation was an optional unit!  Needless to say, I did not choose that option.

Attend an open day
The best way to get a feel for a university is to attend an open day.  Usually this will include a tour of the campus and accommodation, which is important because not only will the university you choose become the place you study, it will also become your home for the next three years.  There may also be the opportunity to talk to current students which means you will be able to ask them all the

An easy way to get a taste of student life

important questions you will have.  You will be able to gauge if you can ‘see’ yourself at that university, if there are societies you are interested in, where you will take your grandparents when they come to visit!  I instantly felt at home when I attended open days at Loughborough and Bedfordshire, something I didn’t experience at some of the other universities I looked around.

Think about location and transport links
This is a very practical consideration but one which will serve you well.  I always wanted to study somewhere which was far enough away from home so I wouldn’t go home every weekend, but was close enough to get back if I needed to.  I often fight the temptation to just pop home to enjoy my mum’s cooking and familiar surroundings when the homesickness sets in, but I have learnt that it is important to stick these times out and put some foundations down. Also, a two hour journey is just long enough to put me off if I have had a busy week, but not too long to get back for special events (or a mummy hug!).  You also want to think about whether you like to be in the city or prefer a small town; one of the things which put me off studying in London was the thought of working in a big city hospital.  Also think about what the transport links are like.  Being based in Luton was fantastic for me in my first year as I didn’t drive and the bus service is excellent. 

Talk to family and friends
Ultimately the decision is yours, but it is also useful to get the opinion of friends and family if you are really struggling to settle on a university.  It would be more beneficial if they have accompanied you to an open day, but even if they haven’t they may think of something you haven’t.   My mum, for example, googled the train journey home from Luton and fretted that I would have to cross London.  I think she had forgotten I had lived and worked in London for nearly two years!

Graduation - the ultimate goal

My final piece of advice is to look at student experience league tables as these offer an invaluable insight into what it is like to be a student at the universities you are considering.  There is no flashy marketing involved, just honest opinion from the people who are where you will soon be.  See you next week!