Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Midwifery with Reproductive Health

The Bachelor of Science in Midwifery with Reproductive Health is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in midwifery with reproductive health. The programme falls under the Health Sciences category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Midwifery Theory and Practice, Antenatal Care, Labour and Delivery Management, Postnatal Care, Reproductive Health, Family Planning. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in technical and analytical competencies. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Community Midwifery and Health Education, Reproductive Health and Family Planning, Research Project and Clinical Placement, Midwifery Theory and Practice I-IV, Evidence-Based Midwifery Practice. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Obstetric Emergency Management, Community Midwifery, Neonatal Care. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Midwifery with Reproductive Health pursue careers as Community Midwife, Maternity Ward Manager, Reproductive Health Officer, Midwifery Educator. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 364,000
Private, up to: Ksh 344,100
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

8 subjects

Midwifery Theory and Practice
Antenatal Care
Labour and Delivery Management
Postnatal Care
Reproductive Health
Family Planning
Neonatal Care
Obstetric Complications and Emergencies

Modules

12 in the programme

Midwifery Theory and Practice I-IV
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theory and practice of midwifery across the childbirth continuum — antenatal, intranatal, postnatal.
Anatomy and Physiology of Reproduction
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Anatomy and Physiology of Reproduction: Reproductive anatomy, pregnancy physiology, and fetal development. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Antenatal Care and Risk Assessment
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Antenatal assessment, risk screening, and management of normal and high-risk pregnancies.
Labour and Delivery Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Labour and Delivery Management: Management of normal labour, delivery, and immediate neonatal care. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Postnatal Care and Neonatal Care
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Postnatal assessment, neonatal care, breastfeeding support, and postnatal complications.
Obstetric Complications and Emergencies
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Management of obstetric emergencies — haemorrhage, eclampsia, obstructed labour, and sepsis.
Reproductive Health and Family Planning
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Reproductive Health and Family Planning: Reproductive health, contraception, family planning methods, and counselling. Covers clinical principles, patient care protocols, and evidence-based practice.
Neonatal Resuscitation and Special Care
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Neonatal Resuscitation and Special Care: Neonatal resuscitation, premature infant care, and neonatal complications. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant ski...
Community Midwifery and Health Education
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Community Midwifery and Health Education: Community-based maternal health, health education, and birth preparedness. Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.
Evidence-Based Midwifery Practice
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Evidence-based practice, clinical guidelines, and quality improvement in midwifery.
Midwifery Ethics and Professional Practice
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Midwifery Ethics and Professional Practice: Professional ethics, legal issues in midwifery, and scope of practice. Encourages critical thinking about moral dilemmas and professional responsibility.
Research Project and Clinical Placement
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent midwifery research project and supervised clinical placements at maternity wards.

Specialisations

Family Planning and Reproductive Health
Specialise in family planning services and reproductive health counselling. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Neonatal Care
Specialise in neonatal care, premature infants, and neonatal emergencies. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Midwifery Education
Focus on training future midwives at training institutions. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Community Midwifery
Focus on community-based maternal health and birth preparedness. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Obstetric Emergency Management
Specialise in managing obstetric emergencies and high-risk pregnancies. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

Students attend morning lectures on midwifery theory, obstetric complications, or reproductive health, then spend extensive hours in the skills lab — practising normal delivery, episiotomy repair, neonatal resuscitation, and obstetric emergency management on manikins. Clinical placements at maternity wards are a core component — students manage antenatal clinics, assist with deliveries, provide postnatal care, and handle obstetric emergencies under supervision. Night duties and weekend shifts are common during clinical placements. The programme emphasises practical skills — students must be competent in managing normal labour, detecting complications, and providing emergency care.

The trade offs

In its favour

Extremely high demand — Kenya needs more skilled midwives to reduce maternal mortality.
Deeply rewarding — bringing new life into the world and saving mothers' lives.
UNFPA and government support for midwifery training and employment.

Against it

Shift work, night duties, and weekend on-calls are standard.
High-stress environment — obstetric emergencies can be life-or-death situations.
Emotional toll — managing pregnancy loss and neonatal deaths is difficult.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public275k to 364k

275k at Kenyatta University364k at University of Nairobi

Private344k to 344k

344k at Amref International University344k at Amref International University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Amref BSc Midwifery & Reproductive Health 344K/yr verified. Public: nursing proxy KU 275K, UoN 364K (victormatara).

HELB loans and county bursaries are available. UNFPA supports midwifery training to reduce maternal mortality. Some counties sponsor midwifery students for hospital service commitments.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
County Government Bursaries
UNFPA Midwifery Scholarships

Scholarships

5 recorded

AMREF International University Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Health sciences students demonstrating financial need
Ministry of Health Kenya Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Healthcare workers sponsored by national or county governments
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students from the respective county.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
Economically disadvantaged students with academic potential.
County Midwifery Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Counties sponsoring midwifery students for hospital service commitments.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Nursing or Midwifery from KMTC or recognised institution. Registered nurses can upgrade to BSc Midwifery.

Biology/Biological Sciences
C+
Chemistry
C
English or Kiswahili
C
Mathematics or Physics
C

How you are assessed

5 components

Research Project
Research5% of the mark
Independent midwifery research project.
Written Examinations
Exam35% of the mark
End-of-semester written exams on midwifery theory and obstetric management.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat15% of the mark
Mid-semester tests, quizzes, and assignments.
Clinical Skills Assessment
Clinical30% of the mark
Practical exams on delivery management, neonatal care, and obstetric emergency skills.
Clinical Placement Assessment
Clinical15% of the mark
Assessment of clinical performance during maternity ward placements.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates must register with the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) to practise as midwives.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya.
Nursing Council of Kenya
Professional registrationRequired
Graduates must register with NCK to practise as midwives.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Community Midwife
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 110,000
Provide community-based maternal health services and health education.
Maternity Ward Manager
Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manage maternity wards and midwifery teams at hospitals (requires experience).
Reproductive Health Officer
Medium demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Coordinate reproductive health and family planning programmes.
Midwifery Educator
Medium demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Train future midwives at KMTC, universities, or training hospitals.
Midwife
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 130,000
Provide antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care at hospitals and health centres.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as midwives at hospitals (KNH, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, county hospitals), health centres, maternity homes, and reproductive health clinics. Starting salaries range from KES 55,000–90,000 (nursing/midwifery scale), with experienced midwives earning KES 80,000–150,000. Senior midwives and maternity ward managers can earn KES 130,000–250,000. Kenya's high maternal mortality creates urgent demand for skilled midwives.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Stethoscope
Medical equipmentPrimary
Primary diagnostic tool.
KenyaEMR
Health is
Electronic medical records.
Surgical Instruments
Medical equipmentPrimary
Surgical tools and equipment.
Laparoscopic Equipment
Medical equipment
Minimally invasive surgery systems.
PACS
Imaging systemPrimary
Picture Archiving and Communication System.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Midwifery is just about delivering babies.
Midwifery covers the full continuum of maternal care — antenatal, labour, delivery, postnatal, neonatal care, family planning, and reproductive health — it's comprehensive maternal care.
Midwives are less qualified than doctors.
Midwives are specially trained professionals in maternal care — they manage normal pregnancies and deliveries independently, and refer complications to obstetricians. They are essential, not subordinate.
Midwifery is outdated — hospitals handle births now.
Skilled midwives are critical to reducing maternal mortality — Kenya needs more midwives, not fewer. The WHO recommends midwife-led care for normal pregnancies.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.