Three Reasons for a Master of Science in Midwifery

• The Master’s degree program is designed to prepare midwives for the role of advanced practice midwife (APM) in specialised practice as well as positions of leadership, in research, and in teaching.
• Midwives with a Master of Science degree are capable of serving as midwifery experts, researchers, and educators, as well as managers. They develop solutions to the many challenges in interdisciplinary obstetric health care and promote midwifery-led care for women and their families.
• The Master of Science in Midwifery is designed to meet the growing demand for highly qualified midwives with an expanded set of skills and in-depth expertise. The degree is internationally recognized and paves the way to a PhD at universities in Switzerland and abroad.

Program Structure

The Master’s degree program in Midwifery is weighted at 90 ECTS credits. It has a modular structure consisting of four module groups: “Praxisfelder und Kompetenzen” (practice fields and competencies), “Advanced Practice”, “Forschung” (research), and “Masterarbeit” (Master’s thesis). For each module, students are usually awarded five ECTS credits.

The study program can be supplemented with practical experienced gained abroad to earn an additional 10 ECTS credits, which are documented in the Master’s certificate.

As a full-time course of study, the program takes four semesters to complete. The part-time course of study takes six semesters. If desired, the full-time course can be completed in just three semesters.

The languages of instruction are German and partly English.

From MSc in Midwifery to Advanced Practice Midwife

This degree program provides you with specific specialist knowledge as well as in-depth scientific competencies and prepares you for the role of Advanced Practice Midwife (APM). In this role, you will analyse and deal with complex obstetric situations, develop family-oriented care concepts, and actively participate in processes of change in the health care system. You will also be able to work on clinically relevant research questions and coach as well as supervise staff in various processes.

As a midwifery expert, you ensure that women and their families receive the best possible care according to their needs and the current state of knowledge.

In research and development as well as teaching, you convey evidence-based content. You initiate and evaluate the further development of the profession both on a practical and scientific level.

In a leadership position, you help to shape the quality of care for women and their families as well as the working conditions of the staff you work with.

Profession-Specific and Interprofessional

At the Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, the Research Centre for Midwifery Science and the Master’s degree program work closely together. As a result, current research priorities are embedded in the academic programs and reflected in the module content.

The MSc in Midwifery program has four profession-specific focus areas:

• Complex midwifery situations
• Diversity
• Midwife-led childbirth / Promotion and facilitation of physiologic birth
• Antenatal care and support

The interprofessional modules enable students to acquire competencies that exceed their profession-specific knowledge. Jointly with students in the Master’s degree programs in Nursing and Physiotherapy, they complete modules with a methodological and research-specific content.

As a student, this partnership with other study programs will enable you to strengthen your understanding of your profession and acquire advanced competencies in communicating and collaborating with other professional groups.

Double-Degree

A double-degree agreement between ZHAW and Universität Witten/Herdecke opens up new career paths for nursing professionals and midwives.

One Program, Two Degrees

Nurses and midwives who are interested in earning a Master’s degree and could imagine studying in Germany or in Switzerland can enrol in a new double-degree program from the winter semester 2021/22 offered by ZHAW in Switzerland and Universität Witten/Herdecke (UW/H) in Germany.

Postgraduate Doctoral Studies

A Master of Science in Midwifery entitles you to earn a doctorate opening up further perspectives in research and teaching. The doctoral program "Care and Rehabilitation Sciences" offers you a postgraduate course of study in which you will acquire advanced knowledge of the principles and methods of research at a university level and get the opportunity to conduct a research project.