UniCamillus’ BSc in Midwifery: a programme embracing the scientific and cultural heritage of an ancient yet evolving profession

Anyone who thinks that the role of a midwife is solely to assist the physician and the mother during childbirth is mistaken. To begin with, this is a profession with ancient traditions, the importance of which was recognised by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The foundations of modern practices were laid in the 17th century and have since evolved to the highly specialised profession we see today. Notably, even men can now become midwives (although statistically they represent a minority in this field), further demonstrating how this branch of medical science has progressed in tandem with society’s evolution.

Through the BSc in Midwifery, UniCamillus ideally inherits this vast scientific, cultural, and social legacy, emphasising the importance of caring for women during childbirth by developing educational and practical training in the numerous aspects involved in this profession. In its current professional context, a midwife promotes women’s health education throughout all stages of life, including the unborn child’s, and occasionally even plays a role in parental support. It’s increasingly common to find midwives today who provide comprehensive care to couples, including aspects of sexual and reproductive health, and in some cases even oncology prevention. Therefore, this role has become a genuine service to the community, offering assistance and consultation while also contributing to education and research. Those who graduate in midwifery from UniCamillus will have a degree that not only qualifies them for the practice of assisting in childbirth but also enables them to actively work in identifying the healthcare needs of mothers, children and families.

This interdisciplinary training is one of the most appreciated aspects by female and male students who have studied at UniCamillus. As evidenced by data collected by AlmaLaurea for the last academic year, 82% found the study load adequate, and over 85% were satisfied with the organisation of lectures and exams, with strong approval for the productive relationship developed with their tutors.

During this three-year programme, in accordance with current ministerial regulations, mandatory professional internships are carried out in addition to lectures, laboratory tests and seminars organised by the University. At the end of the course, in order to complete the degree and besides the traditional dissertation defence, there is a practical exam to pass enabling students to become professional midwives. The overall satisfaction rate for this course is nearly 90%, primarily because around 80% of attendees found the tools, classrooms, laboratories, and all educational facilities to be good and adequate. This is a source of pride for UniCamillus, whose investments in the education of the new generations of healthcare professionals are richly rewarded, especially when considering the excellent results achieved by newly graduates.

The admission tests are open until October 2nd, with first-year lectures starting in November.