Functional Skills Level 2 for Midwifery: University Entry Requirements, Apprenticeships and the 13th January UCAS Deadline

Few jobs matter more than helping a family through pregnancy and birth. Midwifery is a registered profession with a degree route, a degree apprenticeship route and support roles you can start in now, and the National Careers Service puts the starting salary for a midwife at around £32,000 a year, rising to around £48,000 with experience.

If you want to start a midwifery degree in September 2027, the clock is already ticking. The UCAS equal consideration deadline for most 2027 courses is 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027. Alongside A levels or an Access course, almost every course page asks for the same thing: English and maths at grade 4 (the old grade C) or an equivalent. If you do not have those grades, this guide explains which universities and apprenticeships accept Functional Skills Level 2, where the traps are, and how to use the rest of this half term week to get started.

What does a midwife do?

Midwives care for women and families during pregnancy, labour and the weeks after birth, in hospitals, birth centres and the community.

To practise you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and you renew that registration every three years. The National Careers Service lists a typical working week of 37 to 40 hours, which can include evenings, weekends and bank holidays on shifts.

Three ways into midwifery

A midwifery degree

Most midwives qualify through a BSc in Midwifery. The National Careers Service says you will usually need five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science, plus two or three A levels including a science, or a Level 3 diploma or Access to Higher Education qualification in health, science or nursing.

Money is less of a barrier than many people think. The NHS Business Services Authority says eligible pre-registration students, including midwifery students, can apply for a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

A midwife degree apprenticeship

The Midwife Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship lets you train while you are employed. The National Careers Service says it takes around four years. Individual programmes vary:

• ✓ University of Northampton, Midwifery Degree Apprenticeship: 36 months, employer sponsorship required, and you must be employed in a maternity healthcare role for at least 37.5 hours a week. The entry requirements list “Maths & English at Level 2”.
• ✓ University of Cumbria, Midwifery apprenticeship: aimed at healthcare assistants and maternity support workers employed by the NHS. It asks for GCSE English Language, maths and biology (or combined science) at grade C or above, and states that “Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English will also be accepted.” It also notes that entry requirements are set locally by individual employers.

A maternity support worker role

If you want to work in maternity now while you build towards a degree or an apprenticeship, a maternity support worker post is a common first step. When Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust advertised a Band 3 Maternity Support Worker post in December 2024, its essential maths requirement was GCSE maths at grades A to C (4 to 9), Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent.

Which midwifery degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Here is what the 2027 entry course pages say:

• ✓ Sheffield Hallam University, BSc (Honours) Midwifery, September 2027: English and maths at grade C or 4 “or equivalents”, and the equivalents listed for both subjects include Level 2 Functional Skills. Science at grade C or 4 or equivalent is also required.
• ✓ Coventry University, BSc (Hons) Midwifery, 2027 to 2028: “GCSE Maths, English and one science at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.”
• ✓ Middlesex University, Midwifery BSc Honours, 2027 entry: 112 to 120 UCAS points “including GCSE grade C/4 in English and maths or equivalencies such as functional skills level 2”.
• ✗ University of Worcester, Midwifery BSc (Hons), September 2027: Functional Skills Level 2 maths is accepted as an alternative to GCSE, but the page states that “functional skills level 2 English is not accepted.”

The pattern is clear. Many universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 for midwifery, but not all of them, and not always for both subjects.

Four things to check before you apply

Each university sets its own rules, so check these four things on every course page on your shortlist:

• ✓ English and maths can be treated differently. Worcester accepts Functional Skills for maths but not English. If a page only mentions one subject, ask about the other.
• ✓ The Access to HE row can be stricter. Coventry’s general requirement accepts Functional Skills Level 2, but its Access to HE Diploma row asks for GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C and does not mention Functional Skills. If you are taking an Access course, read that row carefully.
• ✓ Science is separate. Functional Skills covers English and maths only. Most midwifery degrees also ask for a science at Level 2, so you will need to meet that some other way.
• ✓ Know when your certificate is due. If you receive a conditional offer, check the date by which the university needs to see your certificate.

If anything is unclear, email the admissions team and ask: “Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths in place of GCSE for BSc Midwifery?” Our guide to whether universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 goes into more detail, and our guide to Functional Skills Level 2 English or a GCSE equivalency test explains how to choose when a course lists both. You may also find our post on Level 2 English for university, nursing and teacher training useful.

Why the Ofqual regulated part matters

Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. When a university or NHS trust asks for an equivalent to GCSE, it expects a regulated qualification, not a short course certificate.

At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. Functify is part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013.

How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?

That depends on where you are starting from.

• ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
• ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week.
• ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.

Not sure which group you are in? Take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It tells you whether to book now or revise first.

Your plan from half term to the UCAS deadline

For most schools in England, October half term runs until Friday 30th October 2026. Whether you are a parent planning a career change or a young adult choosing your next step, here is a realistic timeline:

1. This week: shortlist three to five midwifery degrees or apprenticeships and note exactly what each one asks for in English, maths and science. Take the free pass quiz.
2. Early November: start a 5 Day Revision Course, or book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps. If you need more time, a 10 Week Course gives you structure through to the new year.
3. Mid November to early December: book your exam and sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
4. December: receive your certificate and add the qualification to your UCAS application.
5. By 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027: submit your UCAS application.

How much will it cost?

At Functify Learning:

• ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
• ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
• ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35

For a full breakdown, read our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026. If you are thinking about other healthcare roles too, see Functional Skills Level 2 for NHS workers.

Functional Skills Level 2 for midwifery: frequently asked questions

Can I become a midwife with Functional Skills instead of GCSEs?

Often, yes. Universities including Sheffield Hallam, Coventry and Middlesex list Functional Skills Level 2 as an accepted equivalent to GCSE English and maths for their 2027 midwifery degrees. You will still need to meet the A level or Access course requirement and, usually, a science requirement.

Do all midwifery degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2 English?

No. The University of Worcester accepts Functional Skills Level 2 maths but not English for its Midwifery BSc. Always check the course page for each university you apply to.

Does Functional Skills cover the science requirement?

No. Functional Skills qualifications are in English and maths. If a course asks for science at Level 2, you will need to meet that separately.

Can I do a midwifery degree apprenticeship with Functional Skills?

Some programmes accept it. The University of Cumbria states that Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English will be accepted for its midwifery apprenticeship, and the University of Northampton asks for maths and English at Level 2. Apprenticeships also need an employer, and employers can set their own requirements.

When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 midwifery courses?

UCAS says applications for most 2027 undergraduate courses should arrive by 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027.

Is there funding for midwifery students?

The NHS Learning Support Fund offers eligible pre-registration students, including midwifery students, a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year. Check the NHS Business Services Authority website for the full eligibility rules.

Can I sit Functional Skills Level 2 online from home?

Yes. You sit the exam online from home, and we help you set up your laptop, camera and connection beforehand.

Get your Level 2 sorted before the UCAS deadline

Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home around work or childcare, and have your certificate ready for your midwifery application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.