Hebammenwissenschaft / Midwifery Science (B.Sc.)

Would you like to provide professional support to women and families during the most important phases of their lives? Support them during pregnancy, birth, postpartum and breastfeeding, right through to early childhood and thus make a lasting contribution to the health and well-being of mothers and children? Then a degree programme in Midwifery Science is just right for you! 

Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) and the University Hospital Giessen and Marburg (UKGM) at the Giessen site have been offering a dual degree programme in midwifery science in cooperation with the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM) since 2022. Hesse is thus expanding its range of degree programmes at a leading location for research and science. The Bachelor of Science in Midwifery Science degree programme enables students to obtain a professional licence to practise as a midwife (m/f/d) and is designed as a primary qualification, practice-oriented and undergraduate course. It comprises seven semesters with a total of 210 ECTS credits and is offered in German. The programme combines a scientifically sound education with practical skills training at university level. A special feature of the programme is that students are paid throughout the entire course. The Midwifery Science department at JLU Giessen is located in the Centre for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Director: Prof. Dr. Ivo Meinhold-Heerlein) of the Faculty of Medicine (11).

Special features of the degree programme

• Dual qualification: Bachelor's degree and professional licence to practice midwifery (m/f/d)
• EU-wide recognition: automatic professional recognition in the European Union and the European Economic Area
• Theory-practice interlinking: Close connection between academic training and practical experience
• Individual support: Personal support during the practical training phases
• Study locations and practice centres: Theoretical training at Justus Liebig University Giessen in cooperation with the Technical University of Central Hesse as well as practical training at Giessen University Hospital and other cooperating clinics, birthing centres and midwife practices.
• International cooperation with Kirinyaga University, which enables a study visit to Kenia.
• Financial support: monthly allowance during the entire study programme

Dual study programme: The course is divided into a theoretical part (2,200 hours), which is carried out at the Justus Liebig University (JLU) in Giessen in cooperation with the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM), and a practical part (2,200 hours), which is completed in the cooperating practice facilities, in particular at the University Hospital Giessen (UKGM).

Teaching and Learning Content 

Designing care processes

You will acquire the ability to plan, manage and personalise complex care processes for pregnant women, women giving birth, women who have recently given birth and breastfeeding mothers. You will utilise scientific findings and make well-founded decisions on prevention and health promotion. 

Research

You will familiarise yourself intensively with current fields of research in midwifery science and integrate this knowledge into your professional practice. You will learn to develop research-based solutions, utilise new technologies and identify training needs in the field of midwifery. 

Critical and reflective thinking

You will develop the ability to critically analyse and apply theoretical and practical knowledge. This will enable you to create innovative solutions to further develop your professional practice. You will work in a scientifically sound manner and utilise your knowledge in a targeted manner in practice. 

Co-creation of standards

You will be actively involved in the development of quality management concepts, risk management plans, guidelines and expert standards. In this way, you will contribute to the further development of the midwifery profession and promote a high quality of care for women and their families.

Content

Information on the course content of the degree programme can be found on the website of the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen. 

1. Areas of practice in patient-centred care

• Clinical care: working in the delivery room or on the maternity ward.
• Freelance work: work in antenatal care, birth support or postnatal care, family counselling, and courses. Possible places of work: In a midwifery practice, a birthing centre or visiting families at home; as an affiliated midwife in a hospital.

2. Tasks with a particular focus

Optimisation of care structures at team level:

• Implementation of new guidelines and standards.
• Conducting case discussions.
• Organising in-house training sessions.

Adapting care structures at management level:

• Taking on management roles, e.g. as head of the delivery room or maternity ward, or managing non-hospital midwife-led facilities.

Contributing to quality management:

• Improving work processes and standards.
• Involvement in training programmes for trainee midwives.

International perspectives:

• Recognition of qualifications across national borders.

3. Academic career and research

Contributing to evidence-based midwifery practice:

• Supporting research projects within support units.

Planning and conducting studies:

• Contributing to scientific research aimed at further developing midwifery science.

Development and implementation of standards:

• Design and implementation of new guidelines for midwifery practice.

Promoting professionalisation in midwifery:

• Contributing to the further development of midwifery as an independent discipline.

Examination and study regulations

Study programme flyer

B.Sc. Hebammenwissenschaft (PDF in German)

Links

Dual Studies: Midwifery (B.Sc.) – Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg
Midwifery Science (B.Sc.) – Justus-Liebig-University Gießen 
Midwifery Science (B.Sc) – Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM)

Are you still not entirely sure whether the course of study is the right one for you? We support you with a wide range of information, events and advisory services around your study orientation and choice. For example, experience real university atmosphere at our Hoch­schul­informations­tagen (HIT) and the Open Campus Day!

To help you get off to a good start with your studies, we warmly invite you to attend our orientation events. Here you will learn
everything you need to know about starting your studies:

• creating a course schedule,
• examination regulations and registration deadlines,
• campus areas and leisure activities,
• and much more.

At the same time, you will have the opportunity to get to know your future fellow students.