Canterbury Christ Church University relaunches midwifery degree in Kent two years after safety scandal saw it axed
A Kent university is set to relaunch its midwifery degree this September following approval by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The move comes two years after Canterbury Christ Church University was forced to halt the course over concerns about student supervision and safety.
In 2023, the NMC withdrew accreditation for the programme after existing students reported being left unsupervised for entire shifts and feeling unable to raise concerns.
At the time, about 130 students had their studies disrupted.
But educators now say the newly approved BSc (Hons) Midwifery programme will equip midwives with the training they need to deliver safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care to women, newborns, and families across Kent and Medway.
Dr Paul Driscoll-Evans, Dean of the University’s School of Nursing, Midwifery, Allied and Public Health, said: “For over three decades, the University has been dedicated to delivering the high-quality healthcare education to our communities in the south east.
“We have worked closely with health leaders across Kent and Medway and at national level, as well as service users, to better understand their lived experience, alongside insights from our students and alumni.
“This new course will produce midwives who can deliver safe, evidence-based care to women through their pregnancy journey.”
The course will begin with a cohort of 25 students at the Canterbury campus, followed by further cohorts in 2026 at the Medway campus.
Changes to the course include a social justice and health care practice module, in which students will learn how factors such as ethnicity, gender, class, and other identities can affect people’s experiences within the healthcare system.
The curriculum also incorporates digital tools such as e-portfolios and virtual simulations to prepare students for rare but critical neonatal emergencies.
Dr Driscoll-Evans added that the programme has been designed to support long-term workforce plans for the south east, ensuring a pipeline of highly trained midwives in a region facing ongoing staffing pressures.
“Not only does the course meet the NMC’s rigorous standards for clinical competence and professional development, but it will also support the region's long-term workforce plans,” he said.
“Our curriculum is built on innovation, inclusivity, excellence and sustainability, ensuring our students are well prepared to navigate the complexities of modern maternity care.”
