BSc Paramedic Science

Key details

BSC PARAMEDIC SCIENCE

Start Year

2021

Attendance

Full Time

Award

Degree of Bachelor of Science

UCAS course code

B780

Entry Requirements

ABB or BBB

Our three-year BSc in Paramedic Science is the very first in the UK to enable students to qualify with a nationally recognised qualification in Advanced Life Support, as accredited by the Resuscitation Council UK. Designed and delivered in line with College of Paramedics curriculum guidance framework, it will provide you with a contemporary and complete paramedic education.

Year-on-year, you’ll build on your skills, knowledge and experience, developing a solid foundation for your paramedic career. You’ll explore real human anatomy in our anatomy suite. And you’ll work side-by-side with other students and healthcare professionals, giving you 360° insight into everyone’s roles.

Throughout the course you’ll complete placements on ambulances, hospital wards, specialist units and general practice, so you can put the theory into practice. And you’ll be able to shape the course to fit your own skillset with an elective placement in your final year.

Highlights of Paramedic Science at UEA

Be a part of the first UK Paramedic Science programme to offer students the opportunity to qualify with a nationally recognised qualification in Advanced Life Support accredited by the Resuscitation Council UK
Make the course your own by planning an elective placement (a self-funded four-week placement abroad)
Develop expertise working alongside fellow healthcare professionals, plus agencies including the fire and rescue service and the police
Explore real human anatomy linked to clinical practice in our anatomy suite
Undertake a range of clinical placements on ambulances and other clinical areas such as hospital wards, specialist units and in general practice
Become valued member of and contributor to the #UEAParamedic community

About

Study for a degree in Paramedic Science and take your first steps towards a career where you can make a real difference when it’s needed most. Not for the faint-hearted, you’ll be tackling difficult and demanding situations, where you’ll have to think on your feet, use your initiative and make conscientious, patient-centered decisions every day.

Our three-year Paramedic Science degree offers a contemporary and holistic approach to paramedic education. Both challenging and exciting, it will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to assess, treat, diagnose, supply and administer medicines to, manage, discharge and refer patients in urgent, emergency, critical and non-hospital settings. In short, it will give you a flying start in this fast-paced profession.

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My UEA story: Cody Thorndyke

Cody - BSc Paramedic Science student travelled to Arequipa in Peru for her elective placement.

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Course Reference Number: 1545093

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

Your progress will be assessed on a regular basis throughout the course, ensuring your learning and development are on track. We have a range of assessment methods, all of which are designed to support your learning, while preparing you for your future as a paramedic.

There will of course be essays and exams, but you’ll also put together portfolios of your own evidence, demonstrating your skills in simulation-based assessments.

Structure

During your Paramedic Science degree you’ll take modules focusing on core themes such as communication, psychological and sociological factors affecting health, evidence-based practice, and leadership, as well as anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.

Throughout the programme you’ll undertake clinical placements to contextualise your learning and put the theory into practice. And – year-on-year – you’ll develop your knowledge, skills and experience, enhancing your understanding of how the various concepts integrate. You’ll gain a solid foundation on which to build a balanced approach to practice, and a successful career as a paramedic.

Teaching and Learning

Our team of educators includes paramedics, nurse specialists and medical doctors. We are totally committed to and passionate about the work we do, and we have the knowledge, skills and experience to maximise your potential as a paramedic of the future.

We use a range of teaching methods, including lectures and seminars delivered by expert academics and clinical educators, and ‘flipped’ lectures, which take place online, and allow you to discuss and debate pressing issues with our academic team.

You’ll learn essential clinical skills and techniques in practical workshops, underpinned by academic study. You’ll then learn to apply the theory to patient scenarios in enquiry-based learning sessions.

You’ll build on your expertise with clinical placements where you can really get to grips with the theory in practice, developing the professionalism, values and behaviours essential to being a safe, respected and trustworthy paramedic.

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Life at UEA

Assessment for Year 2

There will of course be essays and exams, but you’ll also put together portfolios of your own evidence, demonstrating your skills in simulation-based assessments.

Structure

Teaching and Learning

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Life at UEA

Assessment for Year 3

There will of course be essays and exams, but you’ll also put together portfolios of your own evidence, demonstrating your skills in simulation-based assessments.

Structure

Teaching and Learning

Apply

Life at UEA

Assessment for Year 3

There will of course be essays and exams, but you’ll also put together portfolios of your own evidence, demonstrating your skills in simulation-based assessments.

Compulsory Modules

SUPPORTED ASSESSED INDEPENDENT LEARNING (SAIL)

Code HSCP6054A

Credits 30

Module Description SAIL is designed to offer the experience of self-guided and self-paced autonomous learning within a supported reflective framework. By asking you to think about learning as a potentially transformative process, the module will help you to: • Get to know your own disposition as a learner; • Evolve strategies for managing your own learning and motivating yourself; • Become more comfortable with the uncertainty that self-guided learning can generate; • Identify and meet a learning need drawing on a range of available resources; • Exercise initiative, creativity and ownership in your personal learning SAIL will offer formative opportunities for sharing your learning and gaining feedback from module organisers and your fellow students before finishing with a summative assessment workshop which will measure the extent of your engagement with your chosen course and your own development.

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Life at UEA

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

Entry Requirements

A Levels

ABB or BBB with an A in the Extended Project, including A Level Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry or PE. Science A Levels must include a pass in the practical element

BTEC

DDM – see below for accepted Extended Diploma subjects

Scottish highers

AAABB including grade A in Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry or PE

Scottish highers advanced

BCC including Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry or PE

Irish leaving certificate

3 subjects at H2 and 3 subjects at H3, including Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry or PE

Access course

Pass with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3 in a Health, Care or Science subject, including 12 Level 3 credits in Biology or Chemistry

European Baccalaureate

75% including Biology or Chemistry at grade 7 or above

International Baccalaureate

32 points with HL 5 in Biology, Chemistry or Sports, Exercise & Health Science

GCSE offer

In addition to all other specified requirements listed on this page, you’ll need to hold or be working towards 5 GCSEs at a minimum of Grade C or Grade 4, including Mathematics and English Language.

Additional entry requirements

Accepted BTEC/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma subjects:

Applied Science
Applied Science (Medical Science)
Applied Science (Forensic Science) - must include both 'Physiology of Human Body Systems' and 'Physiology of Human Regulation & Reproduction' units.
Forensic and Criminal Investigation - must include both 'Physiology of Human Body Systems' and 'Forensic Genetics' units.
Sport and Exercise Science
Sport and Physical Activity
Sport (Development, Coaching and Fitness)
Sport (Performance and Excellence)
Physical Education and Coaching
Health and Social Care - must include either 'Physiological Disorders' with minimum grade D or 'The Impact of Long-term Physiological Conditions' with minimum grade D, plus 'Nutritional Health' or 'Nutrition for Health'.

If you’re studying one or more of the subjects above but not as an Extended Diploma, in combination with other subjects/qualifications, please email admissions@uea.ac.uk to enquire about acceptability.

We’d also encourage an application if you hold or are working towards one of the following qualifications:

Bachelor Degree (hons) in Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry (alternative subjects considered alongside grade B in A Level Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry)	2.1, or 2.2 with BBB at A Level
Certificate of Higher Education in Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry	60% with BBB at A Level
Diploma of Higher Education in Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry	60%
Foundation Degree in Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry	60%
Foundation Year of an undergraduate degree programme at a UK university, in Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry	65% with BBB at A Level
Open University (60 credits) in Biology, Human Biology, or Chemistry	60%
WJEC Level 3 Diploma in Medical Science	Grade B or above accepted in lieu of A Level Biology/Chemistry/PE only

At UEA we recognise that some students take a mixture of qualifications. Please email admissions@uea.ac.uk if you would like to check whether any particular combination of qualifications would be suitable for entry onto this degree programme.

Please note that we do not consider A Levels in General Studies or Critical Thinking, CACHE Level 3 Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, City & Guilds Advanced Extended Diplomas, Apprenticeships, NVQs (any level) or Work-based Level 3 Diplomas (previously NVQs) to meet the minimum academic entry requirements, although these can be used as evidence of recent study.

We’ll be unable to consider you for this course if you’ve obtained an academic fail from a previous health based degree programme, including where an exit award has been achieved.

Special Entry Requirements

To ensure that you’re equipped to succeed on this academically rigorous programme, we’d prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If you have not studied for an academic qualification within the last 5 years please email admissions@uea.ac.uk to enquire further.

Offers to successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory occupational health check, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and two satisfactory references.

You’ll be required to travel both to and from your placement areas, which may be located anywhere within Norfolk or Suffolk. The responsibility and funding for this travel will rest with you. You’ll be expected to work at a range of times to ensure exposure to the full 24 hour and 7 day week nature of healthcare, and this may include weekends, evening and nights. The start and finish times of these shifts will prove challenging if you are dependent on public transport. For health and safety reasons, where the travel time to the placement area exceeds 45 minutes according to Google maps, you must make alternative arrangements for local accommodation.

Driving Licence Guidance

It would be beneficial for you to have a full clean driving licence with provisional C1. Driving is not a requirement for the HCPC, however for employment paramedics need to be ‘DVLA category 2 cleared’ (buses and lorries).

For reasons of preserving safety, the DVLA’s guidance around the medical conditions that might prevent an individual from possessing Group 1 or Group 2 DVLA clearance (e.g. epilepsy; diabetes; narcolepsy) may be used by the Trust as criteria that will exclude students from accessing placement. As such, the presence of certain medical conditions may prevent a student from being successful on the programme. Please email admissions@uea.ac.uk if you have any questions about this.

You’re advised to review the DVLA’s ‘Assessing Fitness to Drive: A Guide for Medical Professionals’ prior to starting.

This course is approved by Health and Care Professions Council and endorsed by the College of Paramedics.

If necessary, the Admissions Service will be happy to provide you with advice on further study that might help you to make a future application to the course. Please email admissions@uea.ac.uk with any questions or if you need any further information.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including reading, writing, speaking and listening):

IELTS: 7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in each component)

We will also accept a number of other English language qualifications to meet this requirement. Review our English Language Equivalences here.

Interviews

The strongest applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that meeting (or being predicted to meet) the minimum academic entry requirements will not guarantee that you will be selected for interview.

Please note that we do not disclose interview questions. The exact interview process for entry in 2021 has not yet been confirmed, however in general terms the interviews will explore a range of issues, including your suitability for the profession and the NHS values (as reflected in the NHS constitution). We’ll look to consider your motivation to study this course, as well as whether you have a clear understanding of the profession (ideally with relevant voluntary or paid work in health care), and an interest in people.

We are aware that it is a difficult time to try to gain relevant experience in healthcare. First time applicants to Nursing, Midwifery and the Allied Health Professions will all be in a similar situation. We will take this into account and will adapt our expectations.

Keep in mind that clinical work experience is not generally a requirement for applying to train in healthcare, but it is important to show that you are able to work with people and appreciate the health and social care setting. It is important to remember why we look for work experience in an application; this in turn can help you think of the numerous ways that you might be able to demonstrate how you have acquired relevant experience.

We will want to see that you understand what a career in Health involves. Work experience, and other related experiences, are only as valuable as the way you talk about them and what understanding you take from them. While we will expect you to show some understanding of what it is like to be the professional of your choice, part of this involves demonstrating that you know what it is like to work in a responsible role, particularly with the public.

What type of experience do you need?

Any activity or life experience that helps you to prepare for training to be a healthcare professional will help. This means any activity that allows you to demonstrate that you have:

Had people-focused experience of providing a service, care, support or help to others, and that you understand the realities of working in a caring profession.
Developed some of the values, attitudes and behaviours essential to being a Nurse, Midwife or Allied Health professional such as conscientiousness, effective communication and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people. The values that we are looking for are set out in the NHS Constitution.
A realistic understanding of Health and Social Care and in particular the physical, organisational and emotional demands of the career.

Practical ways to gain experience:

Keep a reflective diary on what is happening in the news and online. Listen to what healthcare professionals have to say and reflect on this. All healthcare professionals can be a valuable source of information and experience, not just those that work in the specific profession that you are applying for. Demonstrating that you have a sense of all healthcare professions (and how they work together) will help you in both your personal statement and interview.

Volunteer in your spare time if you can, all forms of voluntary work can provide helpful work experience. Whilst volunteer work in the NHS might be disrupted at this time, other schemes may still be in operation and worth exploring i.e. working with other people in a caring or service role. Voluntary commitments to community groups (for example groups related to the work of churches, mosques and temples, or other groups such as Scouts or Guides) and online community support groups may also provide valuable experience of taking on responsibility, dealing with people and communicating effectively. It is likely that these sorts of volunteering opportunities will start to run again before healthcare related opportunities are available.

Remember: it is what you learn about yourself, about other people and about how effective care is delivered and received that counts. What you did is only a small part of the story; it is how you communicate what you learnt which matters.

Gap year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. If you intend to apply with deferred entry, please let us know about your gap year plans in your UCAS application.