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BSc (Hons) - Paramedic Science

You’re resilient and a great communicator. You have a passion to help your local community. You thrive in the unknown and in emergency situations. We can provide specialist training to begin your career as a fully qualified paramedic. Your degree will allow you to practise as a safe and competent paramedic. We will continue to support you after graduation, with continuing professional development and postgraduate courses.

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Course Overview

You'll receive access to our modern facilities including a simulated ambulance, a mock hospital ward and a mock patient residence. All equipment is based at the Lancaster campus and is geared up for a truly unique experience for paramedical science and the ‘real-life’ scenes that aid your development as a professional. Our major incident day gives you the opportunity of working with policing and forensic student’s to deal with a series of realistic crimes. You'll have the unique opportunity of studying elements of traumatic jobs in the real world with actors and realistic scenarios to develop quick thinking and essential lifesaving skills. You will spend time learning on campus alongside engaging and working with the ambulance service whilst on placement, allowing you to use your theoretical learning in practical scenarios.

On this course you will...

  • Receive supportive teaching from tutors within a close-knit learning community.
  • Be taught by a diverse teaching faculty, with an abundance of practice experience and individual practice expertise.
  • Experience a variety of learning methods, utilising the excellent paramedic facilities on campus.
  • Undertake a second year 'rural paramedicine' module, developing your ability to manage patients for longer periods of time.
  • Discover the contemporary programme, designed to develop you to be prepared for practice in the ambulance service setting.
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What our students and alumni say

  • The moment I met my mentor and attended my first ever job I knew that I had picked the right course for me. This has only been solidified with every placement hour I have completed!
    Heather Dowell, Paramedic Science

    Heather Dowell, Paramedic Science

    After working as a carer throughout the pandemic Heather realised she wanted to work in healthcare, the diversity of paramedic science appealed to her.

    Heather Dowell
  • I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the course, and I am very grateful to all the lecturing staff who were fundamental in my development. The lecturing staff are extremely knowledgeable, and up to date with contemporary practice. My tutors did not only support my academic work but my personal development too.
    Amelia Murphy

    Amelia Murphy

    Former student Amelia found the practical aspects of the course including the major incident day invaluable in helping her put learning into practice when she was studying.

Course Structure

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
    Develop study skills that will enhance your ability to develop self-awareness as a reflective lifelong learner
  • Fundamental Practice and Protection of Service Users in Pre-Hospital and Emergency Care Environments
    Explore the basic principles of practice for assisting in pre-hospital and emergency care, focusing on core aspects of professional conduct, behavioural emergencies and legal aspects of care and multidisciplinary team working.
  • Clinical Knowledge and Skills for Assisting with Pre-Hospital and Emergency Care
    Develop your clinical knowledge and skills for assisting in a range of pre-hospital and emergency care situations, with a focus on acute exacerbations of medical conditions, conditions affecting infants, children and older adults, trauma, acute emergencies and basic life support.
  • Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology
    Learn about the structure and function of human anatomy and physiology inclusive of the major body systems.
  • Foundations for Decision Making and Legislative Aspects of Pre-Hospital Care
    Develop your understanding of the processes that facilitate and influence decision making practices.
  • Pre-Hospital and Emergency Care: Developing Evidence-Based Practice
    Explore pre-hospital and emergency care, the professional roles of registered health professionals and the importance of their supporting role, including the use of therapeutic and pharmacological interventions.
  • Constructing Values, Skills, and Competencies for the Emerging Paramedic
    Undertake a period of practice development enhancing the professional values, skills and competencies essential for the Emerging Paramedic.
Year two
  • Developing Clinical Care, Judgement and Competence in Paramedic Practice
    Develop competence in the core clinical and interpersonal skills necessary within paramedic practice for patients across the lifespan (childbirth to old age).
  • Pre Hospital Recognition and Management of Acute Illness and Long Term Conditions
    Develop your understanding of the recognition and management principles of a range of conditions, both acute and chronic, commonly encountered in a pre hospital care environment.
  • Pre Hospital Care and Management of Trauma and Environmental Emergencies
    Develop a deeper understanding and level of skill in the assessment, care and management of patients who have sustained traumatic injuries or who are involved in emergency situations. 
  • Pre Hospital Care of Paediatric and Obstetric Patients
    Develop an understanding of the normal physiology of the child and the pregnant woman.
  • Research Methods
    Understand evidence based research in Paramedic Practice.
  • Developing Values, Skills and Competencies of the Paramedic
    Undertake a period of practice development to become competent in a range of expected professional values, skills and competencies for the Developing Paramedic.
Year three
  • Dissertation
  • Enhancing Clinical Practice and Decision Making for the Contemporary Paramedic
    Enhance your clinical decision making, assessment, and patient management skills, in relation to the contemporary role of the paramedic in providing person centred care.
  • Preparing the Professional Practitioner
    Prepare for the professional, legal and ethical aspects that underpin autonomous practice following registration.
  • Holistic Approach to Patient Health and Wellbeing
    Develop an understanding of the assessment, management and individualised needs for patients with mental health presentations and health and wellbeing needs.
  • Understanding Primary and Urgent Care
    Prepare to assess the needs of a population/community both locally and nationally.
  • Consolidating Values, Skills and Competencies of the Paramedic
    Undertake a period of practice development to become competent in a range of expected professional values, skills and competencies for the Paramedic.

Experience Cumbria

Paramedic student applying the treatment on a hand
Paramedic student applying treatment to a bloody and injuried head
Sharon Seddon lecturer at UoC
2 Paramedics students in training
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  • Location

    Lancaster Campus

    Lancaster is the Red Rose heartland, a student haven full of history and culture. With iconic stone architecture, parkland, and a caring community, this is the place to get involved. The campus houses top-quality facilities tailored to the needs of life-savers, world changers, and future leaders.

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