What GCSEs Do I Need to Be a Midwife?

If you’re thinking about becoming a midwife and are choosing your GCSE subjects, you might be wondering which ones will help you get there.

There’s more than one route into midwifery. Many people study for a midwifery degree at university, while others train while working. Some even choose to become a nurse first and then specialise in midwifery later. 

Whatever path you take, selecting the right GCSEs can help set you up for the next stage of your journey.

In this article, we’ll look at the key GCSEs that are most useful for midwifery, as well as other subjects that can help develop important skills. I’ll also share some tips to help you prepare for the next steps.

If you’re passionate about healthcare, and supporting others during one of life’s most important experiences, this guide will help you understand how your subject choices can bring you closer to a career in midwifery.

Essential GCSEs for Midwifery

Certain GCSEs are essential to take for a future career in midwifery, as most university nursing and midwifery courses require them. Doing well in these subjects will keep your options open. We’ll go into more detail on these essential GCSEs below.

English Language

Midwifery is all about communication. Midwives need to explain important medical information to parents, offer emotional support, and write accurate patient notes. 

Being able to express yourself clearly, both in speech and writing, is a key skill in healthcare. Strong English skills will help you understand and explain complex topics, making sure patients get the best possible care. 

Nursing and midwifery courses at universities and apprenticeships typically require at least a Grade 4 or 5 (C or above) in GCSE English Language, e.g. nursing at the University of Edinburgh. 

Since it’s already a GCSE that you need to take, it makes sense to aim for the highest grade possible, as it will strengthen your applications for future studies.

To develop your writing skills and prepare for exam success, practising with high-quality revision materials is essential. Save My Exams provides expert GCSE English Language resources to help you build the strong communication skills needed for a career in midwifery.

Maths

As well as good communication skills, midwives use maths every day, often without even thinking about it. From calculating medication doses to measuring a baby’s growth, having good numeracy skills is essential. 

Most midwifery courses require at least a Grade 4 or 5 (C or above) in GCSE Maths. For example, the University of Manchester requires a grade 4 to start on their Bachelor of Midwifery (BMidwif) program.

Even small mistakes in calculations can have serious consequences in healthcare, so accuracy and confidence in maths are crucial. A solid understanding of numbers will also make your future studies much easier.

Since maths is a compulsory GCSE subject, it's not about choosing whether to take it, but about achieving the highest grade possible. 

One of the best ways to boost your maths ability is through regular practice. Master key topics by using our GCSE Maths revision resources to boost your maths skills and help you in your future career as a midwife.

Science

Science, and Biology in particular, is one of the most important subjects for anyone interested in midwifery. Science covers key topics like human reproduction, genetics, and the circulatory system, all of which are essential for understanding pregnancy and childbirth. 

Having a strong background in Biology will make it easier to grasp the scientific principles behind midwifery, from how the body changes during pregnancy to how newborns develop. 

Many universities and apprenticeships require at least a Grade 4 or 5 (C or above) in Science, and some may prefer higher grades, especially in Biology. For example, the University of Leeds requires GCSE science at grade 5 (B).

Since science is a core GCSE, everyone studies it in some form – whether that’s the double award science or as separate sciences. Our GCSE Science revision resources are here to help you achieve top marks in your Science GCSEs and give you a strong foundation for further study in healthcare and midwifery.

Optional GCSEs for Midwifery

Health & Social Care

If you plan to become a midwife, then Health & Social Care is a GCSE that you may want to consider if your school offers it. 

This course provides valuable insight into the healthcare system, patient care, and medical ethics – all very useful knowledge for a future midwife. 

Health & Social Care explores how different healthcare professionals support patients, giving a useful introduction to the kind of work midwives do. It also covers practical skills like communication and teamwork, which are essential to good maternity care.

Psychology

Another option to consider is studying Psychology. This can be useful for midwifery because it helps explain human behaviour, emotions, and mental health. These are areas that are important when supporting expectant parents.

As well as providing medical care, midwives are also there to give emotional support, and understanding how people think and feel can make a huge difference. Having had three children myself, I know just how important those skills are in a midwife, and I am very appreciative of those who supported me!

Studying Psychology can help you to build problem-solving skills and also help you to develop a greater sense of empathy with others. Our GCSE Psychology revision resources can help build your confidence in this subject, and boost your grades.

Sociology

Sociology is also a GCSE to consider, if available to you. It can help you to develop a deeper understanding of society and healthcare inequalities. 

Studying sociology will encourage you to recognise how different social factors may impact different life experiences, for example, pregnancy and childbirth. 

Midwives work with people from all backgrounds, so knowing about social structures and healthcare access is valuable. This subject also improves critical thinking and analytical skills, both of which are useful for interpreting medical research and patient needs.

If you choose to study sociology, make use of our GCSE Sociology revision resources to work towards excellent grades.

Best GCSE Combinations for Midwifery

The best combination of GCSEs for midwifery includes a mix of core academic subjects and useful optional subjects that develop key skills.

English Language, Maths, and Science (especially Biology) are essential, as most midwifery courses require them. The good news is that these subjects are already compulsory at GCSE, so that leaves you more freedom with your other choices. 

Beyond the essential subjects, picking options like Health & Social Care, Psychology, and Sociology can help you develop extra skills that will make your applications to study midwifery later stand out. 

Advice From an Actual Midwife

We asked professional Dr Catriona Jones, a lecturer in Midwifery from the University of York, what advice she would give to a student in the process of choosing their GCSEs and this what she had to say:

“A career in midwifery can lead to many opportunities. For the clinical midwife role, and to enable you to have a solid understanding and appreciation of the role of the midwife, alongside key aspects of women's reproductive health, I would recommend subjects like biology, psychology and sociology. 

Biology seems an obvious subject choice, given the expectation that a midwife will have to understand how the body prepares for and responds to pregnancy, childbirth and the period of time after childbirth. 

Sociology will help you to understand how childbearing is shaped by things like social class, gender, ethnicity and culture, and how the midwife has to adapt their practice to enable them to continue to work effectively around and within the constant shifts and changes in the social world. 

Childbirth is a deeply psychological experience, and having an appreciation of the psychological alongside the physical aspects of childbearing is key to being an effective midwife. 

English language and surprisingly English literature are also very helpful subjects. The language combined with the literature will help with academic and creative writing skills - and these skills are always going to help with essay writing. Women's reproductive lives are etched across and throughout English literature, so it will always be a worthwhile subject to consider.”

-Dr Catriona Jones RM, FHEA, Department of Health Sciences, University of York

How to Choose Your GCSE Subjects for Midwifery

Prioritise Core Subjects

Although you don’t have to choose the core subjects of English, Maths, and Science, it’s still worth mentioning that you should prioritise these when completing your GCSE choices or studying for your exams.

Each of these subjects are essential for midwifery, as they are required for most university courses and apprenticeships. Aiming for high grades will keep all pathways open. 

If Science is offered as separate subjects, taking single sciences so that you have Biology as a full GCSE can be particularly helpful.

Choose Subjects That Develop Relevant Skills

Midwifery requires a lot of different skills, so when it comes to choosing additional subjects, think about which subjects will help you to develop strong communication, problem-solving, and people skills. 

Some universities, such as the University of York consider a wide range of A Level subjects from students wishing to pursue midwifery. That’s because a number of different subjects, including those mentioned above, can help you to develop skills that will be relevant to you in your studies and career.

Talk to your teachers about specific GCSE options on offer at your school that could be beneficial to you.

Keep Your Options Open

Choosing a broad but relevant range of subjects will allow you to become a midwife later on but will also enable you to keep your options open if your career plans change.

Even if midwifery remains the goal, having strong GCSE results in a variety of subjects will improve university or apprenticeship applications. Each subject helps you to develop a different range of skills that could be useful to a career in midwifery or elsewhere.

What Happens If I Don’t Choose These Subjects?

There’s no exact subject combination you must take to become a midwife, so don’t panic about picking the ‘right’ set of GCSEs. 

The GCSEs essential to study midwifery later are already compulsory, so rest assured, you will have the basics already in place. Although there are other optional subjects that may help towards studying midwifery, if you don’t choose them it won’t stop you from qualifying to be a midwife later on. More information can be found at the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

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References

Course requirements may change. Required grades as stated are correct as of February 2025.

1. The University of Edinburgh - Nursing Studies

2. The University of Manchester - Midwifery

3. University of Leeds - Midwifery

4. University of York - Midwifery

5. Nursing and Midwifery Council