Midwifery is a health science focused on skilled, compassionate care for women, birthing people, newborns, and families across prepregnancy, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and the early weeks of life. Depending on the country, credential, and legal scope of practice, midwives may provide education, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, referrals, prescriptions, and newborn care.
Midwifery is especially important in supporting women, birthing people, newborns, and families during pregnancy and childbirth. It supports physiologic birth when appropriate and aims to avoid unnecessary medical intervention while keeping the parent and baby safe. Research on midwife-led continuity of care shows that this model may reduce some interventions, including Cesarean sections, instrumental births, and episiotomies, while increasing the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal birth. Midwives also provide emotional, practical, and social support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. If you’re passionate about bringing new life into the world and supporting families, midwifery may be the career choice for you.
Below are some notable schools around the world for midwifery.
Top Midwifery Schools in the World
1. Midwives College of Utah
- Study Program
- Location: USA | Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and Master’s
Midwives College of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Its Bachelor of Science in Midwifery and Master of Science in Midwifery programs are accredited by the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC), an accrediting agency for direct-entry midwifery institutions and programs recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The college offers two degrees in midwifery: a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery and a Master of Science in Midwifery. Bachelor’s students progress through three phases of coursework: birth observer, assistant midwife, and primary midwife under supervision. The BSM prepares students for entry-level direct-entry midwifery practice and meets the educational requirements to apply for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) examination and the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) designation. The MSM is designed for current or previously recognized midwives and focuses on research, leadership, education, advocacy, and advanced midwifery practice.
2. Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university has 11 schools and colleges and offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across a wide range of fields.
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing offers a Nurse-Midwifery specialty that can be completed through several pathways, including the Master of Science in Nursing, MN Prespecialty, Post-Master’s Certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. Students complete extensive clinical learning, and graduates are eligible to take the American Midwifery Certification Board exam to become certified nurse-midwives and seek licensure in the United States.
3. Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University (SBU) is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York, United States. It is part of the State University of New York system and is New York’s No. 1 public university in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. It also ranks No. 26 among public universities and No. 59 among national universities in that edition.
Stony Brook’s Master of Science in Nurse Midwifery prepares nurses to provide care for women and newborns and to serve as educators, leaders, consultants, advocates, and change agents. The program is hybrid, combining asynchronous and synchronous online learning with one on-site simulation date each semester. Graduates are eligible for certification in New York State and for the American Midwifery Certification Board’s Certified Nurse Midwife credential.
4. Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. It opened in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary and became Old Dominion University in 1969. Through ODUGlobal, the university offers more than 120 online programs.
Nurse midwifery is one of the advanced nursing programs available through Old Dominion University. The MSN with a specialization in nurse midwifery is offered jointly with Shenandoah University. Students take online advanced practice nursing courses from ODU during the first year and online nurse-midwifery courses through Shenandoah University during the second year, along with local clinical work and required Shenandoah immersion weeks. The program covers gynecological and family planning services, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, newborn care, patient and parenting education, and related services.
5. University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a public research university located in Southampton, United Kingdom. It is a member of the Russell Group and ranks among the top 100 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
The University of Southampton’s Midwifery (BSc) program combines academic study with clinical placements. About half of the course is spent learning on campus, while the rest is spent on practice placements in clinical settings. Students complete at least 2,300 hours in clinical placements over the three-year course, with placements in NHS Trusts and settings such as maternity and neonatal units, community midwifery, clinics, and GP practices.
The course also develops knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biological, psychological, and sociological processes in pregnancy and birth, medicines management, research skills, emergency care, leadership, ethics, governance, innovation, and preparation for registration as a qualified midwife.
6. King’s College London
King’s College London (KCL) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. It ranks 31st in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and is highly ranked for nursing and midwifery.
The Midwifery with Registration as a Midwife BSc at KCL prepares students to meet the academic and clinical standards required for registration as a midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The program covers subjects relevant to midwifery, including biosciences, complexities in childbearing, emergency situations, local, national, and international maternal health, and holistic, evidence-based, woman-led care. KCL also offers Midwifery Research MPhil/PhD programs for qualified midwives who want to conduct advanced research in maternity care, perinatal health, and related policy.
7. Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, or Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, is a private university with campuses in Milan, Rome, Brescia, Piacenza, and Cremona. It is the largest non-state university in Europe and offers a wide range of programs across its faculties and campuses.
The university offers a three-year Midwifery bachelor’s program in Rome, taught in Italian and classified under L/SNT1 Nursing and Midwifery. It also offers a two-year Nursing and Midwifery Sciences graduate program, taught in Italian, under the LM/SNT1 degree class. The graduate program is designed to provide advanced cultural and professional training for high-skilled professionals in care, management, training, and research processes related to nursing, midwifery, and pediatric nursing.
We hope that you found this article on the best midwifery schools in the world informative and helpful. To know more information like this, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
