If you are passionate and excited about welcoming a brand-new life into the world, midwifery might be just for you. Midwifery has long been a well-respected profession. Midwives care for women and birthing people during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postnatal period.
To become a midwife, it is essential that you value women’s health and maternal care. Midwives support people during some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives, so a midwife needs to be quick-witted, alert, and reassuring.
Midwives are in demand in many parts of the world. International health organizations continue to report a global shortage of midwives, making this a highly practical field with transferable skills and attractive career prospects.
Whatever your career choice may be, studying midwifery overseas can help you build a rich global perspective on different healthcare standards, maternity-care models, and clinical protocols across countries. Because professional registration requirements vary by country, students should always check whether a program meets the licensing requirements where they plan to work.
We curated some of the best countries to study midwifery abroad. Read on to discover which study destination fits your needs and expectations.
Top Countries to Study Midwifery
1. Australia
Australia has a well-developed public healthcare system. Medicare provides low-cost or no-cost access to many health services for Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens, and some visitors from countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements. Australia also offers strong medical and midwifery education, making it a conducive learning environment for midwifery students.
Midwifery, as a long-standing profession, honors the birthing traditions and personal choices of families. While hospital births remain common, birthing centers and midwife-led models of care can give families more options for pregnancy, birth, and postnatal support.
Midwifery in Australia is also taught with a strong technical and clinical focus. Practical skills are developed through simulated laboratory activities and clinical experiences so students can build confidence before assisting mothers and babies in real-world settings.
Learn the science of childbearing, birth, and postnatal care in well-known schools in Australia. Check out the midwifery programs offered at Griffith University and the University of Newcastle, and compare their curricula, clinical placement requirements, accreditation, and current intake availability before applying.
2. New Zealand
New Zealand is an excellent country to study midwifery and is known for its healthcare system. Publicly funded healthcare is available to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and some eligible visa holders, while many temporary visitors and students may need insurance or may have to pay for some services. If you are an aspiring midwife, New Zealand can be a strong learning environment for building clinical skills and working toward professional registration.
Midwives are needed in many healthcare systems, and New Zealand is no exception. Giving birth requires more than clinical monitoring; it also requires support, communication, and trust. It is the midwife’s role to build a supportive relationship with the woman and her family throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postnatal period.
New Zealand has several recognized midwifery education providers. Current recognized providers include Auckland University of Technology, Otago Polytechnic, Victoria University of Wellington, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Wintec, and the University of Waikato, though applicants should check each provider’s current accreditation status, intake availability, and location options.
During their studies, midwifery students learn antenatal care, labor and birth care, postnatal care, and family-centered practice. Programs also include supervised clinical experience in community, hospital, and other maternity-care settings.
Some of the best-known institutions in New Zealand feature comprehensive midwifery programs. Consider going through midwifery coursework at Auckland University of Technology, Otago Polytechnic, and the Victoria University of Wellington.
3. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is among the countries where healthcare workforce demand remains high. However, employment after graduation depends on several factors, including successful completion of an approved program, professional registration, visa eligibility, and employer requirements.
The role of a midwife is no easy task. From the first signs of pregnancy to the postnatal period, a midwife can become a trusted companion for the mother and family. Studying midwifery in the United Kingdom can expose students to different family situations, maternity-care settings, and clinical needs.
The United Kingdom offers access to strong clinical education, simulation facilities, and research-informed teaching. As midwifery goes beyond the students’ altruistic nature, it is also taught from a scientific point of view. Aside from emotional well-being, midwives must have broad knowledge of adult, maternal, fetal, and infant physiology. Students work in simulated environments and clinical placements to prepare for real-life situations.
Midwifery is taught across several recognized universities. City St George’s, University of London and Birmingham City University offer midwifery programs approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
While students train to become professional midwives, the skills gained through midwifery can also be relevant in related clinical and care roles. Because midwifery is a regulated profession, students who plan to work outside the United Kingdom should check the registration rules in their intended country of practice.
4. Switzerland
If you are interested in seeing the Alps, or you just cannot miss the opportunity for a career that supports women and their children, then Switzerland may be the study destination for you. Students favor Switzerland for its high quality of life, multilingual environment, and practice-oriented higher education.
Apart from its progressive society, Switzerland is a strong option for midwifery because it has a comprehensive healthcare system. The country requires compulsory basic health insurance and provides broad access to medical care, but healthcare costs are also among the highest in the OECD.
Midwifery can also be a valuable pathway into the healthcare workforce. Students should keep in mind that professional practice in Switzerland may require language ability, local recognition of qualifications, and compliance with cantonal and national registration rules.
Midwives are highly valued in Switzerland. For insured residents, compulsory basic health insurance covers childbirth and many maternity-related services, including services provided by midwives, and maternity-related care is generally exempt from the usual deductible and copayment during specified periods.
Begin your journey to becoming a midwife in Switzerland by reviewing programs carefully. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery and postgraduate master’s-level options. Its bachelor’s program is a full-time program taught in German and includes three years of study plus a 10-month practical module, so international applicants should check language and admission requirements before applying.
5. Iceland
- Best School/s: University of Iceland
- Reasons: among the world’s happiest and most peaceful countries, strong maternity care for insured residents, low public university fees with possible changes for some non-EEA students
Last but not least, you may have thought of studying in Iceland. Iceland is consistently recognized as one of the world’s happiest countries and was ranked the world’s most peaceful country in the 2025 Global Peace Index. It also has a strong healthcare system and high quality of life.
Iceland is also a memorable study destination because of its scenic landscapes, Nordic culture, and distinctive natural environment. International students can enjoy Iceland’s natural beauty after a stressful week of exams and term papers, though they should also prepare for the country’s language, climate, and cost of living.
Midwifery in Iceland takes a different route than in many other countries. The University of Iceland lists nursing at the undergraduate level and midwifery at the master’s level, including a Master of Science in Midwifery and a Master of Science in Midwifery with Professional Recognition. Many programs in the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery are taught in Icelandic, so language requirements are an important consideration for international applicants.
Maternity care is free for women who have health insurance in Iceland, and maternity care is usually provided through primary healthcare centers. Midwives play a central role in maternity care, and childbirth is generally free of charge for mothers who are insured in Iceland.
Midwifery students must first meet the relevant prior education and language requirements. The doctoral program in midwifery at the University of Iceland requires applicants to have completed a master’s degree in midwifery or an equivalent degree before admission. The University of Iceland does not charge standard tuition in the same way many private universities do, but it does charge registration and processing fees, and possible tuition-fee changes for some non-EEA applicants from 2026 onward should be checked before applying.
We hope that this article on the best countries to study midwifery abroad was helpful. If you are interested in more information like this, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
