Midwifery (B. Sc. in Midwifery)

The degree program Midwifery is offered by the EHB in cooperation with numerous practice partners within clinical and out-of-hospital obstetrics. The theoretical and practical courses take place at the university. The theoretical knowledge is trained during practical exercise hours in the newly established skills lab (practice rooms) at the EHB.

• The study of Midwifery has been established at EHB since 2013. This means that the EHB is one of the few universities in Germany that already has several years of experience in the academisation of midwifery training.
• Alternation of both study and practical phases; therefore, students gain an in-depth insight into everyday professional life from day one.
• Remuneration according to collective agreements throughout the entire course of study.
• Health-promoting care for women with their newborns and families.
• Professional cooperation with other health professions.

In the Midwifery studies program, knowledge and skills are acquired that enable students and graduates to act in complex obstetric situations in a science-based, health-promoting, family-oriented and empathetic manner and to make decisions about care together with the woman. To this end, students learn to understand, evaluate and responsibly apply scientific knowledge in the care of pregnant women, women in labour as well as mothers with their newborns and families.

In the Midwifery program, students learn to base their actions on a scientific grounding, to evaluate and responsibly apply obstetric knowledge and to make decisions about obstetric care together with the woman and her family.

The study program is based on a spiral curriculum: In the 1st year of study, the basics of midwifery, health science, evidence-based midwifery and biomedical principles are taught and learned using practical application in the areas of pregnancy, birth and gynaecology.

In the 2nd year of study, the focus of the program is on Midwifery care in the case of an irregular course of events, in the inpatient and outpatient care sector as well as midwifery science and research. Practical placements for students are organised in pregnancy and birth, neonatology, postpartum and breastfeeding. In addition, a practical placement is planned in the outpatient care sector in midwife-led facilities (birth centres) and with freelance midwives.

In semesters 5 to 7, the knowledge of the first two years of study is further deepened and expanded in order to be able to act professionally and safely in care situations when irregularities and emergency situations occur as well as being able to place midwifery work within an international context and to contribute constructively to the further development of the profession. Elective courses are integrated into the curriculum. The practical assignments are once again in the fields of pregnancy and birth as well as in the postpartum period and breastfeeding.

In principle, a stay abroad is possible in semesters 4 and 5 but must be approved by the responsible institution for the practical work phase.

For admission to the Bachelor's degree program 'Midwifery Science (B.Sc.in Midwifery)', the general admission requirements according to the specifications of the Midwifery Act (HebG - section § 10 HebG) in conjunction with the specifications of the Berlin Higher Education Act (BerlHG – sections § 10, 11 BerlHG) apply. See also the contents listed in the admission regulations. 

According to this, applicants need a valid higher education entrance qualification (HZB), e.g. Abitur or Fachhochschulreife, which must be proven in the application by the application deadline. 

Professionally qualified applicants who have not acquired a school leaving certificate or high school diploma but have completed vocational training in accordance with the requirements of the HebG, e.g. health and paediatric nursing, nursing specialists, and who fulfil the further requirements for professionally qualified persons in accordance with the requirements of the BerlHG, do not apply via the application portal, but please use the application forms provided in the download section. 

In addition, all applicants are required to: 

• have a valid contract for academic midwifery training at a responsible practice institution (VPE) cooperating with the EHB during studies in midwifery according to the requirements of the HebG (Midwifery Law). 

• have not been guilty of any conduct that would render them unworthy or unreliable to complete the midwifery degree program. This proof must be provided by means of an extended certificate of good conduct. 

• not be unfit in health to complete the midwifery studies. This proof must be provided by means of a medical certificate of a health examination. 

The enhanced certificate of good conduct (“Erweitertes Führungszeugnis”) and the medical certificate of a health examination are required for the contract for academic midwifery training. 

Applications are currently open for the winter semester (starting date October 1). 

Application procedure - The sequence of procedures must be followed! 

First step: 

Applicants must submit their application directly to a responsible practice facility/obstetrics clinic (VPE) cooperating with the EHB. Please note the information on the website of the respective VPE. In all VPEs, the application deadline for the winter semester 2023/2024 is March 31, 2023. Applicants are requested to submit their application documents to the responsible person of the desired VPE before this deadline (see the following overview and contact details of the contact persons in the VPEs). The applicants go through the application procedure there. The responsible VPEs usually require a minimum of two weeks of relevant pre-study (delivery room, maternity ward, gynecology, freelance midwife, birth center; FSJ in the aforementioned areas, training in nursing or pediatric nursing) as a prerequisite for the application process. 

Second step: 

Provided that the applicants receive a contract for academic midwifery training from a VPE and meet the other above-mentioned admission requirements, they must go through the application portal of the EHB in order to be able to enroll in the further course. The application period at the EHB is expected to begin on June 1 and end on the application deadline (July 15). 

After registering as an applicant and entering your application details online, click on "Cover letter and documents to be submitted" under "Submitted applications". You will receive a PDF file with your "Application for Admission". Please print and fill out the "Application for Admission", sign it and attach the required written evidence including the contract for academic midwifery training or upload the documents there according to the instructions in the application portal. The application together with the documents must be submitted to EHB by the application deadline (July 15). The date of receipt of the application for admission with all required documents at SFIVET is decisive, not the date of the postmark. An application submitted via the EHB online application portal alone is not yet valid. Via the application portal you will receive information on the status of your application or the following enrollment at any time. 

Shortened course of study for registered midwives and maternity nurses 

At EHB, certified midwives and obstetric nurses have the opportunity to have the midwifery training they have already completed credited to the Bachelor's degree program in Midwifery Science. In the study program. 

Midwifery Science B. Sc., an entry can be made in the 4th semester. By means of an assessment procedure developed by the EHB, it is determined whether the competencies acquired outside of university correspond to those of the study modules at the EHB in order to obtain the degree of midwife (B. Sc.) within only 4 semesters. 

The shortened study program for midwives and maternity nurses qualified by a specialized school continues to include practical phases in which practical midwifery work can be performed.  

Applications are accepted for the summer semester of 2023 and must be received by the EHB Admissions Office by December 15 of the year prior to the intended start of the program. Prospective students should contact the Enrollment Office directly. 

For information on the study content, please contact Prof. M. Mangler at mandy.mangler@eh-berlin.de. 

When are applications possible? 

Applications are possible for the winter semester. For details on the application period, please refer to the information on the website:  
www.eh-berlin.de/studium/bachelor/hebammenwissenschaft 

Can I apply if I do not yet have the HZB certificate at the time of the application deadline (Abitur / high school certificate/certificate of entrance qualification for studies at universities of applied sciences)? 

In this case, an application is only possible if a certificate from the school confirming the acquisition of the HZB (degree) is submitted by the application deadline. Otherwise, participation for the awarding of places process is not possible. The certificate must also confirm the average grade achieved. Otherwise, participation is then without an evaluation of an average grade. 

The degree certificate must also be submitted upon receipt.

Is a pre-study internship required in order to apply? 

No. However, it is strongly recommended to undertake an internship in the field of midwifery/obstetrics in advance of taking up your studies in order to gain an insight into the profession.

If a midwifery internship has nevertheless been completed, is this taken into account in the awarding of places process? 

Yes, if applicants have completed an internship of at least one month in full-time employment in the field of midwifery, e.g. in a maternity clinic or in a birth centre, and this is proven by a written certificate from where the internship was undertaken, then points can be awarded for this.

Is there an upper age limit? 

No.

Does one decide in advance of an application for one (or more) desired clinic(s) when it comes to concluding a contract for academic midwifery training? 

As part of the application process, applicants indicate a preference for one respective practical institution (VPE) that is a cooperation partner of the EHB. However, no guarantee can be given that the request can be taken into account during the allocation process, as the practice partners each have limited spaces / quota systems in place. 

A list of the current VPE is available in the download area under the degree program. 

The application takes place exclusively via the platform of the Evangelische Hochschule Berlin / Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin! Contacting the practical institutions beforehand is ineffective and should therefore please not be done!

How are the study places allocated? 
Points are awarded according to the requirements of the admission regulations (see the pdf file under study program in the download area): 

• For the average grade of the university entrance qualification (in Germany usually Abitur or Fachhochschulreife), 

• Proof of a subject-related, one-month internship in full-time employment in midwifery/obstetrics, with a freelance midwife or in an outpatient, midwife-led facility (e.g. birth centre) and 

• Proof of social commitment (e.g. voluntary social year, German federal voluntary service). 

Applicants with the higher number of points have priority over applicants with the lower number of points.

Is there a quota for second degree applicants? 

Yes, applicants who have already successfully completed a course of study in another degree program at a German higher education institution or at a higher education institution in a member state of the European Union or in another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (first degree) are included in the quota for second degree applicants with regard to the awarding of places process.

Is an extended certificate of good conduct or a medical certificate of a health examination already required when submitting the application? 

No. These proofs of admission requirements are only required for the contract for academic midwifery training and do not have to be submitted as part of the application, but they have to be in the course of enrolment at the responsible practical institution.

What level of language proficiency is expected if applicants have not obtained their educational qualifications in Germany? 

In this case, please refer to the information on the website www.eh-berlin.de/internationales/incomings-und-international-degree-seeking-students/international-degree-seeking-students .

What is the process for contacting a responsible practice institution to enter into an academic midwifery education contract, which is mandatory for enrolment? 
- If applicants can be selected for admission to the degree program after the result of the selection process, they must first conclude a contract for academic midwifery training with a responsible practice institution (according to section §section § 27 ff. HebG). The EHB will assign these applicants, who can be selected according to the result of the selection process, to a responsible practice institution. If necessary, the stated wishes of the applicant can be taken into account for the allocation process. 

- As a rule, the VPE invites the applicants and conducts interviews for the conclusion of the academic midwifery contract. As a result of the interview, the applicant may receive a contract offer for academic midwifery training.

What happens if applicants do not attend the interview? 

If applicants do not participate in an interview, they cannot be considered in the further awarding of places process. The same applies if the applicants do not receive a contract offer from the VPE.

When do applicants receive a letter of admission to the program? 

If applicants receive an offer from a VPE to conclude a contract for academic midwifery training, they will receive a notification of admission and can subsequently enrol. Further details will be provided in writing.

What are the fees per semester? 

Semester fees are charged, but no tuition fees. Information on the exact fee can be found in the download area of the degree program (for the summer semester 2022 the fee was € 344.89 including the VBB semester transportation ticket for the ABC fare zone and the student social contribution to the studierendenWERK).

Can modules from a previous course of study be credited? 

Achievements from a previous degree program can be credited for individual courses or modules if they are equivalent. The application for crediting can only be submitted after matriculation.

Is it possible to study part-time? 

It is possible to complete individual semesters in the form of part-time studies upon application. Individual solutions can be found for this. Please note that the modules of the degree program are only offered once per academic year.

What remuneration does one receive? 

The Midwives Act (Hebammengesetz) provides that this is a collectively agreed remuneration comparable to the remuneration of trainees in nursing.

How many places are there for midwives already trained in specialised schools? 
As in the past, four study places will probably be available for these qualified students in the course of midwifery studies in the coming winter semester 2022/2023. 

From the year 2023/2024 on, midwives who have already been trained will then be able to enter the degree program in midwifery science. The professional school training will be credited towards the duration of the study program. The study program in Midwifery/ Midwifery Science at the EHB can thus be shortened by a maximum of 50%.

Review: During the ceremonial opening of the SkillLab Midwifery Science on May 05, 2022, a student press team consisting of Mathilde Quaas and Sophie Wierling (4th semester Midwifery) interviewed some guests about the impressions of their visit. For this purpose, the two students prepared interview questions together with Sarah Bernhardt (theory-practice coordinator/scientific assistant in the PoDiZ project) in order to depict different voices and perspectives on the new skills laboratory for practical training and on the study program. From the interview sequences, Lydia Ostermann (eTrainer in the PoDiZ project) created a film that reflects the impressions of the visitors of the opening day together with insights into the new SkillsLab. 

[Radio report in rbb 24 Inforadio on the International Midwife Day] 

[Press review]

You can find regulations on the courses offered in the link list (see below). If you have any questions regarding application and admission, you can also contact the team at the Admissions Office. 

Note: Information for midwives who would like to obtain the Bachelor's degree at a later stage. The documents for entry into the 4th semester are being updated and prepared.