The Aga Khan University (AKU) on Monday announced admissions to its various academic programmes, including the recently added Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BScM) – the country´s first higher education midwifery programme.
The midwifery programme will prepare its graduates to provide mothers with care through pregnancy, childbirth and post-delivery, besides sharing advice on newborn and infant care and family planning, according to a press release issued by the university on Monday.
“This programme is aimed at nurses who have completed a diploma in midwifery and are looking to improve their knowledge and advance their careers in this field. Women are eligible to apply regardless of their age or marital status.”
BScM Director Dr Rafat Jan said the university was committed to women´s development and was geared to provide additional preparation to candidates who it felt would benefit from the extra help before the start of the formal programme
She said the other programmes offered included Master’s of Science in Health Policy and Management, Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Nursing, Master’s of Education; and Master of Health Professions Education, Advanced Diploma in Health Professions Education and Human Development, Bachelor of Science, Post-RN Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
AKU Registrar Lou Ariano said that the university operated a needs/means blind admission policy that said admissions to all its programmes were based on individual merit and leadership potential.
These attributes are assessed for each candidate and comprise test scores, interview evaluations, interests, the student´s individuality and distinctive qualities, which are all taken into consideration in comparison with the student’s peers, according to the university.
During the entire selection process, the statement said, no reference was made to a candidate’s financial background, while there were no quotas or reserved seats and no admissions against donations.
“The university also operates a generous financial assistance programme for students who are unable to afford the tuition and other expenses. The university subsidises the cost of tuition.
Tuition fees are, on average, at a quarter of the actual cost. This means that, on average, every student receives a 75 percent tuition fee subsidy. Besides the subsidy, almost half of the current students receive some form of assistance,” he added.