research
The RCM has research at its core. Our Research Strategy indicates the determination of the RCM to be an organisation that has research evidence at its core and that is committed to enhancing the research capacity and capability of midwives for the benefit of women, babies and families.
Maternity studies with RCM involvement as stakeholders
Research
Research
Standardising and optimising care of women with childbirth-related perineal trauma.
Research
A joint enterprise between the RCM, Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecology and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LHSTM) with the aim of reducing incidence of OASI.
Research
The National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA) is a large scale audit of the NHS maternity services across England, Scotland and Wales. Using high quality data, the audit aims to evaluate a range of care processes and outcomes in order to identify good practice and areas for improvement in the care of women and babies.
Research
The UK Midwifery Study System (UKMidSS) is national system for carrying out research in midwifery units.
Research
Driving timely help seeking through the accessible design and delivery of postnatal resources: a co-production study.
Research Prioritisation Project
Maternity research receives less funding than many other areas of healthcare. This project will discover the gaps in evidence across all areas of midwifery practice and maternity care and identify a top 10 research priorities will be championed by the RCM and other organisations to influence funders and policy makers
Supporting researchers
Find out how the RCM can support you with either a move to working in research or furthering your research career.
Small research awards
Our small research Awards are an exciting initiative, available only to RCM members. The aim of the awards is to undertake a research-based activity that could be of benefit to midwives in their careers.
The awards are now open, and will close at midnight on Sunday 1 February 2026. Please complete the online application form by clicking here – The RCM Small Research Awards 2026
You must be a member of the RCM to apply – see individual categories for details about activity and eligibility. Winners will be asked to record a brief video outlining their work. This will be shared via RCM social media and on the RCM website. The award winners will also be formally recognised at the Education and Research conference, 18 March 2026.
Prizes for all awards are:
- One year subscription to MIDIRS [If you are already subscribe to MIDIRS then an equivalent book token will be provided]
- £100 voucher
- The opportunity to work with the RCM on a current project or publication
Small Research Award winners 2025
Joint Midwifery Student award: Mufaro Mupfiga (Sheffield Hallam University) & Emily Bates (University of East Anglia)
Early Career Midwife award: Katie McKenna (NHS Dumfries & Galloway)
Midwife award: Karen Henry (University of Suffolk)
Award eligibility and information for each category
Student Midwife Award
Eligibility
You must be a student midwife and RCM member at the time that you submitted your application [even if you will be a qualified midwife when the award winners are announced]. Award activity Speak to a midwife researcher*1 about their role in research. This could be someone within your university, or in a Trust/Health Board where you attend clinical placement. Or you could make a connection with someone outside of your current professional network. We would like you to reflect on your conversation, and in 1500 words (+/- 10%) explain: Why you chose to speak to this particular midwife How do you think the findings of the midwife’s work could be useful to your practice? How can you take what you have learnt forward into your career?
*Midwifery researchers are defined as Research Midwives working on portfolio studies, midwives undertaking PhD level study, clinical academic midwives and midwives who are undertaking independent research projects/roles.
1 Please ensure that you discuss with the midwife if they would like your submission to keep them anonymous. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form.
Early Career Midwife (ECM) Award
Eligibility
At the time that you submit your application you must be an Early Career Midwife within the first three years of your NMC registration. Midwives working in any area of practice can apply – for example midwives working in education or leadership roles, as well as those working in a clinical environment. The highest academic qualification that you can have been awarded in order to be eligible to apply is Masters. You must also be an RCM member. Midwives with a PhD who would like support to access funding are welcome to contact the team on research@rcm.org.uk
Award activity
Please consider the following question:
‘If you had sufficient funding available to you, what research would you like to do in order to develop midwifery practice1?
We would encourage you to discuss your idea with a midwife researcher*2. This could be someone in your Trust/Health Board or at your local University. Alternatively, you could make a connection with someone outside of your local area.
*Midwifery researchers are defined as Research Midwives working on portfolio studies, midwives undertaking PhD level study, clinical academic midwives and midwives who are undertaking independent research projects/roles.
1 this can be in any area of midwifery practice, for example in clinical practice, management, leadership, education, research or policy
2 Please ensure that you discuss with the midwife if they would like your submission to keep them anonymous. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form
Write a 1500 word (+/- 10%) research proposal outline, that explains the way that you would plan this piece of research. This should include:
- Rational: Why is your proposed research important?
- Literature review: What is known about this topic, and what are the knowledge gaps that your research would address?
- Methods: How would you conduct your research, including how you would address any ethical considerations?
- Dissemination: How would you plan to share your findings?
Midwife Award
Eligibility
You must be a midwife more than three years post-NMC registration, and an RCM member. Midwives working in any area of practice can apply – for example midwives working in education or leadership roles, as well as those working in a clinical environment. The highest academic qualification that you can have been awarded in order to be eligible to apply is Masters. Midwives with a PhD who would like support to access funding are welcome to contact the team on research@rcm.org.uk
Award activity
Please consider the following question:
‘If you had sufficient funding available to you, what research would you like to do in order to develop midwifery practice1?
We would encourage you to discuss your idea with a midwife researcher*2. This could be someone in your Trust/Health Board or at your local University. Alternatively, you could make a connection with someone outside of your local area.
*Midwifery researchers are defined as Research Midwives working on portfolio studies, midwives undertaking PhD level study, clinical academic midwives and midwives who are undertaking independent research projects/roles.
1 this can be in any area of midwifery practice, for example in clinical practice, management, leadership, education, research or policy
2 Please ensure that you discuss with the midwife if they would like your submission to keep them anonymous. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form
Maternity Support Worker Award
Eligibility
You must be a MSW and RCM member at the time that you submitted your application [even if you have commenced midwifery training when the award winners are announced].
Award activity
‘If you had sufficient funding available to you, what service evaluation or research study would you like to do?
Your service improvement or research study idea could include your clinical practice, your working environment, work force issues or your education and training.’
Write 1500 words (+/- 10%), providing your response to the statement. This should include [as appropriate]:
- The rationale for your idea
- How would you undertake your proposed work
- Any relevant ethical considerations
- How you would share your findings – within your workplace, and beyond your workplace
If you have discussed your submission with a MSW or midwife you may choose to refer to aspects of your conversation within your submission, although this is not essential. You will be asked to confirm permission to include any identifying information on the application form if you do wish to identify them.
Research i-learn Modules
Research is a key mechanism for improving services, testing new models of care, and ensuring that quality care is delivered with excellent outcomes for mothers and babies. The research landscape can look complicated! This i-learn module has been developed to support midwives, midwifery students and maternity support workers (MSWs) in understanding the role of research in current maternity care and how it is delivered and implemented in the four nations of the United Kingdom.
There are varied routes to research careers for midwives.
This i-learn module has been developed to support you in making your research career journey.
This i-learn module has been developed to support you with transforming research knowledge into clinical practice as midwifery practitioners, researchers and leaders. It introduces you to the importance of a ‘research active’ culture, different ways of sharing research findings as well as the practicalities, enablers and barriers to implementing research findings in clinical practice.
Accessing research funding
The RCM, alongside other organisations, offers scholarships to support midwives’ professional development with the aim of encouraging individuals to conduct research, undertake continuing professional development or to enable innovation of changes in practice.
Wellbeing of Women
Wellbeing of Women in partnership with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) funds Entry Level Scholarships (ELS) which provide successful candidates with up to £20,000 for research lasting normally up to one year. Applicants must be midwives and full members of the RCM. The research must be undertaken in the UK. This award enables midwives to develop research interests in midwifery, maternity services or research with a focus on women’s reproductive health. RCM Entry Level Scholarships for midwives
The following midwife research stories were successful applicants to the RCM/Wellbeing of Women Entry Level Fellowship in previous years. Read stories from Anna, Joanne, James and Sam.
If you are considering applying for this award you may be interested to apply for support through the RCM Research Award Buddy Scheme [RABS] (below).
The RCM Research Award Buddy Scheme supports midwives applying for the Wellbeing of Women Entry Level Scholarship (WoW).
How the Buddy Scheme works
An RCM iLearn module matches buddies with applicants, provides networking opportunities and a virtual classroom for one-to-one and group meetings. After the matching process the buddy-applicant dyad independently decide how they wish to go forward.
How to join the buddy scheme
If you are interested in being a buddy please download and complete this form here. If you are interested in accessing the support of a buddy during the award application process please download and complete this form here and all forms sent to RCM Research Team at research@rcm.org.uk.
Country specific funding schemes
Each UK nation has its own specific health and care research funding streams. Throughout the year different funding opportunities will be available within the four countries. This may include funding for smaller initial research projects, post-graduate study (such as PhD) or for larger research projects. Calls may permit the applicant to select the focus of their research, or the applicant may instead be required to apply within the funder’s priority areas.
- England (with some awards also accessible by researchers outside of England): The NIHR
- Wales: Health and Care Research Wales
- Scotland: The Chief Scientist Office
- Northern Ireland: The HSC R&D Division Northern Ireland
Iolanthe Midwifery Trust
The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust have a range of awards in addition to the Jean Davies award. The Trust welcomes applications from UK midwives and student midwives.
Individual Trusts and Health Boards
The Nightingale Fund
The Barbers’ Company Clinical Nursing Scholarships
The Barbers’ Company Clinical Nursing Scholarship enables nurses and midwives making a career in clinical practice to undertake further education. The award is specifically intended for nurses/midwives in, or planning to return to, clinical practice.
Florence Nightingale Digital Fellowship
The Florence Nightingale Digital Fellowship (research focused).
The Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice
The Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice provide a unique leadership development experience for midcareer professionals — policymakers, researchers, clinical leaders, health care executives, and journalists — from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
The Maternity and Newborn Forum
The Maternity and the Newborn Forum, of the Royal Society of Medicine has several research related awards that are open to midwives and student midwives.
The RCN Foundation
The RCN Foundation provides grants to support educational and professional development.
Wellcome
Wellcome have three research funding schemes available.
Wellbeing of Women (WoW)
The Wellbeing of Women have further awards, in addition to the Entry Level Research Scholarship for Midwives.
The Medical Research Council
The Medical Research Council (MRC) funds research at the forefront of science to prevent illness, develop therapies and improve human health.
Current midwifery and maternity research studies
If you have a study that you would like the RCM to promote and host on its website or would like to discuss a forthcoming piece of research, please get in touch via research@RCM.org.uk.
We hold Research support request meetings every four weeks where your request will be reviewed.
Webinars
How the RCM can support you getting started in research
RCM Research Buddy Scheme
The RCM is here to support members who want to undertake a piece of research, an audit or quality improvement project. Having someone to support you in the early stages of this process can be really helpful. We have a number of midwives who are happy to support you. As a rough guide, a Buddy will provide up to 3 hours of support, but the way this is provided can be decided individually.
Suggested areas for buddies to support you are:
- How to take the first steps into research, audit or quality improvement
- Writing a research question or plan from your ideas
- Finding a supervisor and other support
- Knowing where to go for funding
If you have not already identified a focus for your project, we suggest you identify your topic from the Top 10 priorities for midwifery practice and maternity care. This was a project run by the RCM in association with the James Lind Alliance.
Find out more information here Midwifery Practice and Maternity Care | NIHR JLA
The process to access buddy support is simple:
- Identify your preferred and second choice Buddy from the list – you might want to consider their research experience, their research topic areas, their methodological expertise, the time they have available etc
On receipt of your form the RCM Research Team will:
- Confirm your RCM membership number
- Contact your 1st choice Buddy to see if they have capacity to support you; and your 2nd choice Buddy if needed
- Email your Buddy and you to introduce you to each other
At the end of your time being supported by your Buddy:
- We ask you and your Buddy to let us know when you have completed your time together
- We will ask you to complete a brief feedback form so that we know if this scheme is helpful
If you have any queries about this scheme please email research@rcm.org.uk to contact the RCM’s Research Team
researcher map