Paramedic Science at UEA
Find out more about studying Paramedic Science at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBSc (Hons) Paramedic Science
Course
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Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Science
- UCAS Course Code
- B780
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
Other Start Dates
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Why you should choose us
Course Overview
Study for a Paramedic Science degree and take your first steps towards a career where you can make a real difference where it’s needed most. In this fast-paced profession you’ll be tackling difficult and demanding situations, thinking on your feet, using your initiative and making conscientious, patient-centered decisions every day.
Both challenging and exciting, our course will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to assess, treat, diagnose, supply and administer medicines, and to manage, discharge and refer patients in urgent, emergency, critical and non-hospital settings. Our course is endorsed by the College of Paramedics and will leave you with all of the skills and knowledge necessary to enter a fulfilling career as a paramedic.
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. Throughout the course, you’ll complete placements on ambulances, and in other areas of the healthcare system, so you can put the theory you’ve learnt to use. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake an elective placement in your final year that will make your programme unique ato you.
At UEA, we have a variety of facilities, courses and resources which will make you particularly skilled, knowledgeable, and employable. You’ll be able to take the Resuscitation Council’s eAdvanced Life Support course, leaving you with an internationally-recognised certification in resuscitation. You’ll spend time in our anatomy suite, giving you hands-on experience with the different systems of the human body. Your clinical placements will allow you to gain skills and form connections which will aid you in your career.
After finishing your course, you’ll have all of the training and education needed to register with the Health and Care Professions Council as a paramedic. Upon registration, you’ll be able to enter a number of diverse and challenging career paths in a wide variety of settings or continue your studies with an MSc. or Doctoral degree.
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Accreditations
Our three-year BSc in Paramedic Science was 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’ll provide you with a contemporary and complete paramedic education. As a result, our Paramedic Science degree is Endorsed by the College of Paramedics.
Our degree programme is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which means that once you successfully graduate, you’ll be entitled to register as a paramedic.
Study and Modules
Structure
During your first year as a paramedic student, you’ll take modules focusing on 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 -putting theory into practice. And – year-on-year – you’ll develop your knowledge, skills and experience, enhancing your understanding of how 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.
Compulsory Modules
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.
Teaching and Learning
All years have a blended approach to teaching and learning incorporating a mix of online and face to face theory, skills and simulation delivered in our high spec simulation centre, and placement experiences that complement and contextualise theory.
We employ a spiral curriculum that each year elevates your understanding of important theories and concepts essential for paramedic practice. Each year of the program covers themes relating to anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology; the impact of social and psychological factors on paramedic practice; evidence-based practice and skills needed for research; and philosophical questions relating to ethics, reasoning and other aspects of professionalism.
We’re 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.
In your first year, we’ll enable your transition into university by enhancing your study skills and giving you an introduction to the complexity you’ll encounter in practice. You’ll learn fundamental clinical skills and techniques in practical workshops, underpinned by academic study. You’ll then learn to begin to apply the theory to patient scenarios in simulation-based-education and in clinical practice.
Assessment
Your progress will be assessed on a regular basis throughout the course, ensuring that 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.
Our range of assessments this year includes examinations, written essays, and practical assessments. You’ll also be assessed on how well you can put your skills into practice in placement.
Structure
In year two, the focus is on developing your paramedic practice. You’ll build on the fundamentals from year one and be able to demonstrate skills in critical care, resuscitation and advanced life support that are essential to ambulance paramedic practice. You’ll simultaneously deepen and develop your understanding of psychology and sociology, taking an evidence-based approach to mental health and illness, substance misuse and many other common features of paramedic practice.
Compulsory Modules
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.
Teaching and Learning
You’ll build on and develop your professional identity with clinical placements where you can really get to grips with the theory in practice, developing the values and behaviours essential to being a safe, respected and trustworthy paramedic. Throughout this year, you’ll be honing your clinical judgement and reasoning skills.
Assessment
With an increasing emphasis on your academic skills in analysis and application of theory to practice, you’ll undertake a blend of assessment types this year. You’ll complete essays, exams, spoken word assessments and placement-based assessments too.
Structure
In your third and final year, you’ll be working to enhance your paramedic practice with technical and non-technical skills in the assessment and management of a wide range of minor injuries and minor illnesses across the lifespan, as well as developing skills in health promotion. This will complement what you already know about the care of the acutely sick and injured and prepare you for the reality of practice. You’ll undertake an evidence-based quality improvement project, refine your skills as an independent learner, and learn about the principles of how to become an effective leader of the future.
You have the option to enhance your studies by taking an elective, self-funded two- to four-week placement anywhere in the world in your final year. Your placement can take the form you choose and will enable you to adapt the course to your own interests and strengths.
Compulsory Modules
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.
Teaching and Learning
In your third year, you’ll develop the enhanced skills necessary to take your paramedic practice to the next level by refining your skills in scholarship and research, developing your practice in patient assessment and management, growing your leadership and influencing skills, and planning how you’ll continue your professional development after you graduate and register as a paramedic.
Assessment
Our focus in your third year is ensuring you’re ready to face the world of work as a paramedic. We use several different types of assessment in this year including an interview, a literature review, other written assessments, practical exams that focus on your enhanced assessment and management skills, and examinations that test your ability to justify your practice including the use of drugs paramedics can give in practice and your ability to read and interpret electrocardiograms.
Employability
After the Course
Paramedics are highly sought-after, and many of our graduates go on to work in the NHS ambulance service. However, you could also specialise in critical, urgent or primary care, or focus on non-clinical settings. You could work in an emergency department, the private sector, a walk-in centre, or a GP practice. Or you could continue in higher education as a lecturer or clinical researcher.
Careers
Although most graduates go on to work in the ambulance services, as a paramedic graduate, you’ll also be sought after in a number of clinical areas. For example:
- Primary care
- Emergency departments
- Education
- Private ambulance services
- Prisons
- Off-shore platforms
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK fee-paying students. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Additional GCSE Requirements
We also require 5 GCSEs at a minimum grade 4 or grade C, including Mathematics and English Language.
If you hold or are working towards Mathematics and English Language GCSEs, but do not hold 5 GCSEs, please contact Admissions.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB including Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry.
Contextual offer: BBC including Biology, Human Biology, PE or Chemistry.
Where applicable Science A levels awarded by an English exam board require a pass in the practical element.
Not accepted: Critical Thinking and General Studies.
BTEC
DDM.
Contextual offer: DMM.
See BTEC / OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 section below for accepted subjects.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass the Access to HE Diploma 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 credits in Biology or Chemistry.
Contextual offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and Pass in 15 credits at Level 3 in a Health, Care or Science subject, including 12 credits of Biology or Chemistry at Merit.
T levels
Obtain an overall Merit. We accept: Health, Healthcare Science or Science.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
BTEC / OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3
Grade requirements:
• DDM (made up of Extended Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma subjects)
• DD (made up of Extended Certificate or Diploma subjects) plus B at A level
• D (Extended Certificate) plus BB at A level
Subject requirements:
Our subject requirements are:
• Extended Diploma in one of the subjects listed below
• A combination of BTEC/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 subjects, which includes at least one of the options listed below
• Any BTEC/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 subjects, taken in combination with A level Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry or PE
• A combination of one of the BTEC/OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 subject options below alongside A levels in any subject(s)
Not accepted: BTEC Public Services, BTEC Uniformed Services and BTEC Business Administration.
Other Typical Entry Requirements
- Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Offers will be made to applicants after completion of successful interviews and will be subject to a satisfactory occupational health check (including evidence of appropriate immunisations), an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and one satisfactory reference. We will let you know what you need to do (and when) to meet these conditions if you are successful in gaining an offer.
If you have previously studied at degree level in a health based subject, we will want to see that you have passed all of the study that you have undertaken. 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.
- 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.
Interview invitations will be sent by email. Please keep a close eye on all emails from UEA after you submit your UCAS application. For more information on the application process and what to expect at each step, take a look at our handy Applying to HSC infographic, which explains the application journey from start to finish.
- Placements
During the course, no less than 33% of your time will be spent on practice placement. This might be in a variety of settings that include hospitals, community services, general practice, social services and voluntary or private organisations. Placement allocation occurs throughout the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
As this course includes patient facing placements in health or social care settings, and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
Applicants should factor in their ability to access transport from an early stage in their planning. The programme may require travel across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire for various placement opportunities. While a driving license in not a mandatory requirement for admission to the programme, prospective students are strongly advised to consider the nature of shift work (day, night, weekend working) involved and the potential distances to placement locations.
- Deferred Entry
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. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
- Age on Entry
Applicants for this course need to be aged 18 or over by 31 December 2026. This is owing to the integrated nature of placements within the first year of the course and safeguarding implications. In view of this, applicants who will not be 18 years old or over by this date, should consider applying for deferred entry.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You can find information regarding additional costs associated on our Fees and finance webpages.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: