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Paramedic Science

BSc (Hons)

Typical offer for 2025
Duration
UCAS code

Suitable for applications.

Overview

This degree has been developed in collaboration with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and develops autonomous healthcare professionals with eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Paramedic.

This four-year sandwich degree programme is unique in the UK by virtue of the salaried sandwich year with Yorkshire Ambulance Service. You will learn the fundamentals of paramedic theory and practice in both university and ambulance service teaching facilities. You will also gain learning experiences under the direct supervision of mentors in ambulance service clinical practice placements, as well as other selected clinical practice areas.

The programme includes:

  • A paid sandwich year with the ambulance service providing a unique opportunity to gain work experience during the programme
  • Clinical placements with a wide range of healthcare providers
  • Innovative curriculum using team-based learning
  • Clear focus on patient safety
  • Clear focus on managing the needs of aging populations, with taught content from leading dementia researchers
  • Extensive use of high fidelity simulation to develop core skills and behaviours

The role of the paramedic

The paramedic is an essential part of the current and future NHS workforce.

Paramedics have traditionally responded to 999 emergencies, but increasing demand for services has seen innovative ways of working across the emergency care system emerge, with paramedics working in a range of environments.

To cope with these demands, the paramedic needs to manage an increasingly diverse range of situations. On this programme you will learn how to manage undifferentiated patients, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, request and interpret tests, diagnose injury and illness, provide appropriate treatment and management, and counsel on preventative healthcare.

Our unique sandwich degree offers you the chance to gain valuable real-world clinical experience and develop specialisms, providing opportunities for accelerated career progression and diversity.

My experience on the course has been extremely positive. I think we’ve got a really good team of academic staff who are very passionate about what they do. We’ve got massive support through Yorkshire Ambulance Service who partner the course, so there’s a lot of real hands-on training that’s as relevant to us as students as it is to the professionals out in the field at the moment, so you really feel like you’re getting the best possible training.

Ken, BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

Entry requirements

Typical offer - 128 UCAS tariff points.

You will need a full, clean (manual) driving licence, which must remain so for the duration of the programme. You will also need to have the right to work in the UK to be able to start the course.

Driving Licence requirements:

All applicants require a full, clean (manual) UK driving licence with at least provisional C1 entitlement at point of entry onto the programme. Licences with any endorsements will not be accepted. You will be required to pass the C1 test by the start of academic year 3, however there is an additional cost associated with this which will be borne by you. Without this qualification you will be unable to progress further on the programme.

Please be aware that it is your responsibility to maintain a full, clean (manual) UK driving licence throughout the duration of the programme, and that failure to do so may prevent you from completing the sandwich year and therefore you may be unable to progress further on the programme.

A levels

ABB from three A levels to include at least one science subject.

Please note that where a science A level is taken, the University will require applicants to pass the practical element (for A levels awarded from August 2017 onwards).

T levels

Distinction in Health or Healthcare Science.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM. Health or Science subject required.

Applicants on Access Programmes

128 UCAS tariff points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions or Science - at least 12 credits in Science must be at minimum grade Distinction.

International Baccalaureate Requirements

128 UCAS tariff points from 3 HL subjects at 6,6,5 to include one HL in Maths or a Science subject. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in Maths, Science and English Language and Literature A or English B.

Plus minimum of

GCSEs with grade C or grade 4 to include English Language, Mathematics, and a science. Level 2 equivalencies are accepted.

Those applying with an Access course are only required to have GCSE English language and mathematics at grade C or grade 4. Level 2 equivalences are accepted in place of GCSE English language and mathematics.

Additional entry requirements

As part of the selection process, we interview short-listed candidates prior to making offers.

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening, a second reference and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. 

The occupational health screening

All places are offered subject to satisfactory occupational health screening. This will involve completing an on-line occupational health questionnaire and attendance if required at a medical appointment.

Students on health care programmes must be able to meet the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency (2013). Occupational health screening and assessment will consider the students’ health and wellbeing and their fitness to study and practice. Progress on the course is dependent on your continued fitness.

This screening process complies with Public Health England requirements for protection of the public and students and staff working in health and social care.

All offers of places are made subject to satisfactory health clearance and an agreement to undergo appropriate blood tests and immunisations.

The University is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities to enable them to fulfil the required competencies of the programme. Candidates who are concerned about health issues are strongly advised to contact us prior to applying.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

All places are also offered subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (previously known as CRB check) disclosure. This is due to the fact that you may be required to work with children or vulnerable adults on your clinical placement, and will need to demonstrate that you can safely work with these groups upon HCPC registration.

Applicants with criminal convictions

Once you accept your offer, you will be asked to declare any criminal convictions you hold (including spent convictions). Having a criminal conviction does not mean that you cannot enrol on the course, you will need to go through a criminal convictions panel process.

English language requirements

IELTS at 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each sub-test.

Transferring from another university

Applications to transfer to year 2 or 3 will not be considered for this programme.

Learning and assessment

During the first two years of the programme you will develop the essential clinical skills which are aligned to the role of 'Emergency Medical Technician II', including advanced driving techniques.

At the end of year two of the programme you will apply to undertake a paid sandwich year, during which time you are employed by YAS in a frontline clinical role.

This will be a full time temporary contract.

This year is credit bearing and is a required element of the programme assessed on a pass/fail basis, however it does not contribute towards your degree classification.

In the final year of the programme you will return to university and ambulance service teaching facilities based teaching, and will deepen your knowledge and skills to become competent to undertake autonomous paramedic practice at the point of registration.

Again you will undertake clinical practice placements under the direct supervision of mentors. During this final stage you will also undertake modules drawn from the Faculty's existing CPD catalogue, allowing specialisation in clinical practice.

Mode of delivery — Team-based learning, high fidelity clinical skills simulation, integrated practice placements and a sandwich year professional placement.

Learning outcomes — Mapped against the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards of proficiency for paramedics (HCPC 2014) as well as the College of Paramedics curriculum guidance (CoP 2015) and the QAA benchmark statement for paramedic science (QAA 2016).

Our facilities

Our state-of-the-art facilities provide learning environments and simulation equipment that mirrors those found in the NHS.

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2025

  • UK: £9,535 per year (sandwich year: £954)

Additional costs

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

The government has outlined new funding for paramedic, nursing, midwifery and other allied health professions courses. From September 2020, students at English universities will receive up to £8,000 with a minimum of £5,000 a year in funding.

See our fees and financial support section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs.
You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Successful graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as a paramedic. This enables them to seek employment in UK ambulance services as well as a range of other clinical specialities.

Career opportunities in research, education and leadership and management exist within the ambulance services and the higher education sectors.

Our entry tariff is high. We seek to attract high quality candidates, and in return our programme offers unrivalled opportunities for rapid career progression in the fields of paramedic and pre-hospital care. This provides a real alternative to other healthcare careers such as medicine, nursing, midwifery or other allied health pathways.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

This is the current course information. Modules and course details may change, subject to the University's programme approval, monitoring and review procedures. The University reserves the right to alter or withdraw courses, services and facilities as described on our website without notice and to amend Ordinances, Regulations, fees and charges at any time. Students should enquire as to the up-to-date position when applying for their course of study.