BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

What you will learn

On this programme, you will gain experience both clinically and academically, in pre-hospital care in both the ambulance service and in other clinical settings. Fifty weeks of your studies are undertaken on placement, where you will be guided by registered professionals with a variety of experience and skills.

The programme is informed by practice and scholarly research. Academic weeks consist of four full learning days which are a blend of learning by theory and practical sessions. You will be allocated a fixed study day each academic week to consolidate your learning and prepare for assessments. All our practice placements offer a full range of clinical exposure, inclusive of ambulance and non-ambulance settings. Placements will be provided across a wide geographical area within the North West (predominantly Cumbria). Whilst on practice placements you will observe the practice of registered professionals, working under their supervision and participating in clinical practice.

Year One

• Development of Academic Skills and Reflective Practice
  
• Fundamental Practice and Protection of Service Users in Pre-Hospital and Emergency Care Environments
  
• Clinical Knowledge and Skills for Assisting with Pre-Hospital and Emergency Care
  
• Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology
  
• Foundations for Decision Making and Legislative Aspects of Pre-Hospital Care
  
• Pre-Hospital and Emergency Care: Developing Evidence-Based Practice
  
• Constructing Values, Skills, and Competencies for the Emerging Paramedic
  

Year Two

• Developing Clinical Care, Judgement and Competence in Paramedic Practice
  
• Pre Hospital Recognition and Management of Acute Illness and Long Term Conditions
  
• Pre Hospital Care and Management of Trauma and Environmental Emergencies
  
• Pre Hospital Care of Women and Children's Health
  
• Research Methods
  
• Developing Values, Skills and Competencies of the Paramedic
  

Year Three

• Dissertation
  
• Enhancing Clinical Practice and Decision Making for the Contemporary Paramedic
  
• Preparing the Professional Practitioner
  
• Holistic Approach to Patient Health and Wellbeing
  
• Understanding Primary and Urgent Care
  
• Consolidating Values, Skills and Competencies of the Paramedic
  

Selection criteria

112 - 128 UCAS tariff points - to include 3 GCSE's at Grade C (or level 4) or above in Maths, English and Science. GCSE qualifications must be in place at the point of application.

Applicants also:

• Must complete and pass a short online assessment.
• Must demonstrate they have obtained relevant experience relating to some aspect of the paramedic role.
• Must be settled in the UK – (British Citizen, holder of Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode in the UK, have Indefinite Leave to Enter/Remain or Refugee status.)
• Must also be ordinarily resident in the UK on the first day of the first academic year of the programme, and must have been ordinarily resident in the UK and islands for the full three-year period before the first day of the first academic year of the programme.
• Need a reference from a current or recent employer or from an educational institution where recent study has been completed.
• Must have regular access to a computer with an internet connection and regular access to a smartphone.
• Must have a full UK driving license, and it is preferred that selected applicants have a provisional C1 entitlement prior to commencement of the programme.

Alternate qualifications accepted for entry include:

• Access to Higher Education Diploma (QAA Accredited) in a Health or Science related subject area with a minimum profile of 30 Distinction and 15 Merits.
• Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care/Applied Science – DDM.
• CACHE NCFE L3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social care – Grade A
• OCR Cambridge Technicals Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care – to include Unit 4 & 13.

Equivalent qualifications other than those listed above may be accepted.

We are unable to accept the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Uniformed Public Services for entry onto this Programme.

We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment. We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions.

For 2022 the University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here) and care leavers, offers will be made at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range.

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is also accepted and information relating to this can be obtained from the programme specification, admissions department and programme team.

If you are a disabled person or have a long term health condition, you are advised to read the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) booklet: A disabled person’s guide to becoming a health professional.

Fitness to practise and health requirements

All places are offered subject to passing an initial online assessment followed by a successful interview, as well an Enhanced Criminal Background check, medical fitness to practise and proof of qualifications.

All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. Further information will be provided following the offer of a place.

Please note that Professional Bodies such as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) have certain requirements regarding health and character status of applicants and their ability to meet the required core professional competencies and to practise safely without direct supervision. Please read the HCPC information to find out more. Please ask us for advice and/or support as early as possible in the application process if you have any questions about this requirement.

For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here.

In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable.

In order to be admitted and continue on the course, students must be deemed as medically fit for both practice and theory by the Occupational Health Department. If you have any concerns about a health condition/issue and its impact on your ability to undertake the course please contact the Occupational Health Department as early as possible in the application process.

Industrial Diagnostics Company (IDC)
Phone: 01530 239 190
Email: occupationalhealth@industrial-diagnostics.com

Disclosure and Barring Service check

If you are offered a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Further information about the DBS clearance process can be found here.

Value-Based Recruitment

Since 1 April 2015, all Higher Education Institutions delivering NHS training programmes are required to assess students for their values using the core requirements set out in the Value Based Recruitment (VBR) framework. This assessment will take place as part of our recruitment process.

Language requirements

• GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.

IELTS

If English is not a student’s first language they must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component, or equivalent.