Eloise Price

She hopes to work as a consultant midwife to promote optimal birth using the research and academic skills she has gained from the course.

Can you tell us a bit about your experiences and career before applying to this course?

I had been working as midwife for about 6 years in a busy maternity unit in South East London prior to applying for my master’s degree. I completed my undergraduate (BSc) in Midwifery in 2014.

What motivated you to apply for this course?

In the last few years of my career, I had started to feel a strong urge to learn more about my craft in a more explorative and analytical way, to take a step back from the day-to-day and try and reconnect with my profession, which I love.

I really enjoyed my undergraduate degree and always wanted to continue with future academic study. I found this course on City’s website and felt like the modules and the way it was structured would fit into my life and help me to fulfil my desire for further study.

Why did you choose City?

I have heard through colleagues and friends that City is a reputable university with great academic staff and flexible courses that can work to anyone’s needs. I am also based in South East London, so the campus was easily accessible and convenient.

Were there any challenges affecting your decision to study a postgraduate degree?

I had a tough decision about whether to study full or part-time. I decided to do it full-time as it felt important to me, but this meant clinical work has had to take a bit more of a back seat, but I think this has worked out for the best as it has meant I have been able to give my full self to the course.

What has been your favourite aspect of the course?

I think with any course, the lecturers make or break your experience. The midwifery lecturers and my supervisors during my dissertation have been fantastic. They are knowledgeable, passionate, and encouraging. I have really been blown away by their breadth and depth of experience and expertise and it has been a pleasure to be part of their seminars and lectures.

This has been despite all my teaching being online because of Covid restrictions, I have still been able to engage with their material in a meaningful way even though we haven’t met face to face!

What opportunities and experiences has City offered you?

I have had the opportunity to be involved with MSc interviews for prospective students, working alongside the course directors. This has been a really valuable experience and provided me with interview experience I can use in my future career. The course leaders have also signposted to other events and seminars which have helped to contribute to my learning.

The best opportunity I have had is being able, as part of my dissertation, to carry out an empirical project within a large cohort study and hopefully have the potential to publish my findings if all goes well. This research experience will no doubt help me in my future career and if I want to work towards a PhD.

What does a typical week at university look like for you?

During the terms, I had several modules running concurrently, which meant I would need to prioritise certain tasks and seminar prep during the week around lectures and seminars.

Every week I made extensive use of the library (online or in person, when able) to study and carry out background reading. This would need to fit around my shifts and my home life. Luckily, Moodle is accessible and online seminars/lectures were recorded for our convenience so if anything clashed, I could catch up another day.

What knowledge and skills has your course helped you develop?

I have gained research experience which will help me if I decide to work within research or continue further study. I have gained leadership and analytical skills and the ability to construct logical arguments with the most up to date research.

This course has also allowed me to step back and look at midwifery from a different perspective. This insight has made me better equipped to go into clinical work with an open mind and open heart now I have a deeper understanding of why we do things the way we do!

What are your career plans and how has City equipped you for them?

I am seriously considering future study because I have enjoyed the course so much, so potentially a PhD one day. I also would love to work as a consultant midwife to promote optimal birth using the research and academic skills I have gained from the course.

What advice would you give to someone considering this course?

I would say, go into it prepared, it is a lot of work, and you need passion and drive for your career and self-motivation as although there is good support, the work needs to come from yourself!

I would also say this course helped me to ask questions more in practice and gave me the opportunity to reflect on midwifery and myself which will ultimately improve myself and hopefully the care I give to women, birthing people, and their families in the future.