Skip to main content

Paramedic Science BSc(Hons)

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - ABB

BTEC - DDM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

20

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. This course has been designed and written by qualified paramedics and you’ll be taught by an experienced team of senior lecturers and practitioners who are currently working in practice.
  2. Through practice placements with the local Ambulance Trust and healthcare providers, you’ll gain real-world experience.
  3. Our future-proof modules provide the opportunity for you to receive the most contemporary paramedic skills and concepts.

Keen to make a difference to people’s lives? If you’re caring, an effective communicator, and you thrive in challenging environments where no two days are the same, our Paramedic Science BSc(Hons) course is for you.

Paramedics are Allied Health Professionals who assess, treat, manage, refer, and discharge patients who require acute, chronic or specialist services across urgent and emergency care environments.

Our three-year course, which was designed and written by qualified paramedics, provides theoretical, practical and placement learning opportunities across a range of practice environments.

You’ll be taught by an experienced team of paramedic lecturers and practitioners who are currently working in practice. You’ll also hear from guest speakers, including a multidisciplinary network of healthcare professionals in other services, such as midwifery, mental health, and paediatric nursing. This approach will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to respond to a diverse range of patients across a variety of settings.

This course is regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS). Upon successful completion, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC and practice as a Newly Qualified Paramedic (NQP).

Why study Paramedic Science BSc(Hons)

The course will be responsive to local, regional, and national changes to emergency services and healthcare, to provide you with the most comprehensive skills and knowledge. It is designed to equip you with the skills and expertise to become a paramedic and provide care, on the frontline, to those who need it most.

During your studies, you’ll discover a range of paramedic skills and concepts, and make the most of our established, strong relationship with the local Ambulance Trust, via career-enhancing practice placements.

Plus, in 2024, the University’s new Daphne Steele Building will open on the site of the National Health Innovation campus. This will allow our Paramedic Science BSc(Hons) students to benefit from specialist clinical teaching facilities and world-leading research facilities.

Students on this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year. Further information is available on the NHS Learning Support Fund website.

Not quite ready to start Paramedic Science BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree will equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Paramedic Science.

Course detail

Core modules:

Introduction to Patient Assessment and Management

This module introduces systematic patient assessment and provides the opportunity for you to develop the knowledge and skills required to manage patients within paramedic practice. It will assist you in gaining an understanding of medical conditions and traumatic presentations, as well as apply appropriate assessment and management. You’ll also have the chance to develop an understanding of normal and altered physiological measurements and changing dynamic decision making, as well as scope of practice in patient management.

Law, Policy and Ethics for Paramedics

This module provides you with the opportunity to gain an understanding of relevant legal and ethical principles within paramedic practice. You’ll be provided with an overview of applied law and ethics to paramedic practice and the application to healthcare delivery. You’ll learn about the professional attributes and conduct expected of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) with a practical focus on the application to practice. You’ll also be introduced to relevant policies and procedures underpinning practice, including code of conduct, information governance, social media and health and safety.

Non-technical Skills for Paramedics

You’ll have the opportunity to develop the non-technical skills paramedics require including patient centred care, experience, communication and teamwork. You’ll demonstrate professional and passionate behaviour to emergency and urgent care situations, exhibiting a positive attitude in helping to improve patient care/experience. You’ll also explore the importance of being committed to the quality and care of service users and significant others, as well as learn from successes and mistakes in line with the NHS Constitution.

Paramedic Care across the Lifespan

You’ll have the opportunity to gain introductory knowledge and understanding in order to be responsive and provide care to people of all ages. You’ll learn how to provide care to individuals in a compassionate and supporting manner, as well as to patients and significant others with acute and critical presentations. The module will also assist you in gaining an understanding of the different approaches and considerations relevant within paramedic practice whilst acting in the interest of service users at all times.

Paramedic Skills 1

This module introduces you to the necessary skills required for contemporary paramedic practice. It will assist you in gaining and refining your skills to care for, monitor, manage and support service users and their families during clinical practice. This practical module provides the opportunity to learn and develop skills through simulated and paramedic practice placements with the ambulance service and other healthcare environments.

Entry requirements

ABBat A Level including a Biological Science or Physical Education, excluding General Studies and AS levels. If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.

128 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications including an A Level Biological Science or Physical Education at a minimum grade B and, excluding General Studies and AS Levels. If you are studying Science A Level, the endorsement for practical work is essential and a requirement for entry to our degree course.

Distinction at T Level in Health or Healthcare Science.

DDM in BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science (must contain at least 40% externally examined assessment) or DDM in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science (must contain at least 40% externally examined assessment) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care (must contain at least 40% externally examined assessment).

  • NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma / Level 3 Extended Diploma: Grade B.
  • Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits, 30 of which must be passed at Distinction and must include Distinctions in at least 21 credits in Biological Science.
  • 128 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications including a Biological Science at Higher Level at Grade 6.

In addition you must have GCSE English Language or Literature and Maths at grade 4 or above, or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme, or equivalent Ofqual regulated qualification.

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

You must have evidence of Health and/or Social Care experience. This may include employment or work experience where you have dealt with service users, their carers and significant others.

Offers will be subject to an interview and references. You also need satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and occupational health clearances prior to registration. We arrange these as part of the application process. You’ll be required to sign a self-declaration at the start of each year. All police contact during the course must be reported to the course leader as a matter of urgency and may lead to suspension or termination. We will request an Overseas Police Check if you have lived in a country outside of the UK for 6 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years before applying to us and whilst aged 18 or over.

Placement providers for this course may require you to have received a number of vaccinations, unless medically exempt, and provide evidence of these. As a student on a course with a clinical or healthcare placement, we strongly recommend that you complete any courses of vaccinations required under current guidelines for your future profession. Failure to do so may result in your inability to undertake a placement in certain clinical settings, therefore impacting upon your academic progression, and may result in academic failure of your course.

Please note all the information provided in support of your application may be checked and must be verifiable as a true record. Every person who applies for this course and meets the minimum entry requirement will be given the same opportunity in the selection process. In addition to completing an application form, all applicants will be interviewed using values-based recruitment to ensure that the course is suitable for that particular student.

You need to be able to meet the physical demands of a variety of placement settings. As per Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (2023) ‘Standards of Proficiency’, you must be able to ‘understand and be able to apply appropriate moving and handling techniques’. Having a disability should not be seen as a barrier to becoming a health and care professional. As such the University will consider reasonable adjustments, in line with any disclosed application. Further guidance relating to becoming a health and care professional is found in the HCPC (2015) ‘Health, disability and becoming a health and care professional’ guidance.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Please note places are limited and attainment of the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an interview or offer. You must include details of any previous study.

Paramedic Science BSc(Hons)


Watch this video to find out more about the rewarding and exciting Paramedic Science BSc(Hons) course and what this course at the University of Huddersfield involves.

 

 

Placements


Practice education is an important and compulsory part of the course, so placements will be undertaken throughout the three years. You’ll required to complete 450 hours of practice placement for the paramedic skills modules in each year of the course.

Both ambulance and non-ambulance placements will be undertaken providing you with exposure to a comprehensive and diverse number of experiences. Ambulance placements may include the Emergency Operations Centres, NHS 111, and other specialist roles within the ambulance service. Non-ambulance placements may include working in hospital and community settings including Accident and Emergency, medical assessment units, critical care, care homes, hospices and Labour/Birthing ward, as well as in acute elderly care and mental health.

For more information visit our placements page.

“The placements enjoyable. They provided the opportunity to put what we’ve learnt in lectures into practice, as well as develop our ‘patient centred care’ skills. They also enabled me to develop my confident and skills to become an efficient and effective paramedic.”

Jane Colls, Paramedic Student photo

Jane Colls, Currently Studying Paramedic Science BSc(Hons)

Your career


The role of the paramedic and the areas in which they work have become increasingly varied within clinical, management, education and research areas. Careers opportunities for paramedics could involve:

  • Ambulance crew, solo responder roles, specialist paramedic in critical/urgent care and advanced paramedic roles with NHS ambulance trusts.
  • Operational and clinical management and leadership roles.
  • Emergency operations centre roles and telephone triage systems, including NHS 111.
  • Hazardous area response teams, special operations response teams and helicopter emergency medical services.
  • Roles within emergency departments within NHS acute trusts.
  • NHS primary and secondary care roles within urgent care centres, mental health, community settings and GP surgeries.
  • NHS services such as NHS England, Health Education England, NHS Digital and local authority.
  • Higher education and research roles.

 

* Whilst this is a new course and therefore no graduate statistics for this specific course are available, 90% of graduates from this subject area who go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 20/21, UK Domiciled).

90% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Human and Health Sciences, which provides you with support in a variety of areas. These include:

Student Hub: a one stop shop for students, studying within the School. Their services include offering advice on extenuating circumstances, extension requests, course progression, suspension and welfare support, organising appointments with academic staff and signposting to other support networks.

Academic Skills Development Team: support students to develop their academic skills and build their confidence in order to improve their grades. The team provide support with academic skills including essay writing, being critical, reflective writing, numeracy, research skills, presentations and group work skills; as well as personal development for example time management.

Learning Technology Support Unit: helps students with any problems they experience with the University’s Brightspace Learning System, including logging on or difficulties experienced when accessing and using modules, and with the PebblePad platform, which is used by students when they go out on placements.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

You may also be interested in...

Paramedic Science (Degree Apprenticeship) BSc(Hons)

Continue your career within the ambulance service whilst studying and developing the skills, knowledge and professional attributes needed to become a paramedic.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Undergraduate


Paramedic Science (Pre-Registration) MSc

Ready for a new challenge? Retrain as a paramedic with this two year pre-registration course specifically designed for those with a previous health related degree.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate