Paramedic Science

The BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science is designed to provide the theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and practical work experience required to provide high quality, autonomous, responsive healthcare associated with the professional practice of a paramedic. Paramedics deliver a broad spectrum of healthcare in a range of situations from giving life-saving medical help at the scene of an accident to supporting a patient who is experiencing a mental health crisis. Every case or call is different, and as well as caring for your patient you will also need to be able to look after your patient’s friends and family and communicate with a range of other health care professionals and the emergency services. Paramedics must have the skills to assess, diagnose, prescribe, treat and refer patients to the most appropriate care pathway. You will need to be able to work with patients across the lifespan, from birth to older adults, and think and act quickly under pressure. This course will cover all of the key areas of study outlined by the College of Paramedics including; physical sciences; life sciences; social, health and behavioural sciences; clinical sciences; ethics and law; patient assessment; care delivery; leadership; evidence based practice; health informatics; incident response management and practice skills. The degree is offered over a ‘long’ academic year, consisting of 45 weeks of study, 50% of which will be practical placements with a variety of healthcare service providers. Reflecting the scope of modern paramedic practice you will experience placements in a range of settings within the primary, acute, urgent, community and emergency care environments.

The course is divided into 50% theory and 50% clinical practice learning. The two aspects hold equal value and will be closely integrated to facilitate the successful transfer of theoretical knowledge into practice, and learning from practical experience in the classroom. The programme will facilitate an interprofessional approach to teaching and learning, which aims to enable students from Paramedic Science and other disciplines to work collaboratively and challenge traditional perceptions of healthcare provision. A variety of learning and teaching strategies will be used to cater for the individual needs of students on the programme. These strategies may include lectures; seminars; workshops; small group activity; self-assessment; case studies; library based resources; skills sessions; virtual learning; simulation and practice based learning.

The way students will be assessed on this course will vary for each module. It could include coursework, such as a dissertation or essay, written and practical exams, portfolio development, group work or presentations to name some examples. Throughout this degree, students may receive tuition from professors, senior lecturers, lecturers, researchers, practitioners, visiting experts or technicians, and they may be supported in their learning by other students.