Paramedic Science
Award
BSc
Duration & study mode
3 years full-time
School
Health & Life Sciences
Location
Lanarkshire
Ucas code
B950
Course starting dates
-
Lanarkshire: September
Last updated: 02/10/2023
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Overview
The BSc Paramedic Science will help you develop confidence, compassion and the skills required to deliver high-quality care for a challenging career in frontline emergency care as a paramedic.
On successfully completing this degree you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Special Notice for Applicants
Please note that due to the special contractual arrangements between the University and NHS Education for Scotland (NES), we are only permitted to recruit Scottish applicants on the BSc Paramedic Science.
Course Highlights
- You’ll put the academic theory learned in the classroom into practice in our Lanarkshire Campus’s state-of-the-art clinical simulation environments including our immersive suite and dedicated paramedic clinical skills labratory
- Practice-based opportunities will be based within the Scottish Ambulance Service and in a range of associated health and social care settings across Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway and Lanarkshire
- Opportunities to work within a team of healthcare professionals will help you develop an integrated approach to health and social care approaches required for contemporary paramedic practice
Entry Requirements
What qualifications do you need?
Please note that due to the special contractual arrangements between the University and NHS Education for Scotland (NES), we are only permitted to recruit Scottish applicants on the BSc Paramedic Science.
Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
Year 1
- Scottish Highers*:
- Standard Entry Requirements: ABBB (114 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology or Human Biology
- Minimum Entry Requirements: BBBB (108 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology or Human Biology
- A levels: BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) including Biology or Human Biology
- Irish Leaving Certificate: H1 H1 H2 H2 including Biology or Human Biology
- Scottish Wider Access Programme: Access to Medical Studies or Access to Health and Sciences or Access to Paramedic Science or Access to Life Sciences (BBB)
- Access to Higher Education Diploma: Paramedic Science
-
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 27 points, 3 @ HL including HL Biology
-
SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Health or Science related subject that includes Human Physiology/Biology
- SQA HND / BTEC Level 5 HND: Sport Therapy
Entry to the course will be competitive and dependent on the outcome of the selection process and background checks:
- Personal interview (which will include numeracy and literacy assessment)
- Health screening
- Membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
* for more information on standard and minimum entry requirements, see our Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage
English Language Requirements
For Paramedic courses that lead to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
- overall score of 7.0
- no sub-test less than 6.5
Recognition of prior learning
Applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements but hold relevant qualifications or work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Course details
You’ll undertake a wide variety of practice-based education experiences over the three years of this programme, which will be split between ambulance and non-ambulance placements across a range of placement areas.
While on practice-based learning, you will be working full-time and experience the 24/7 continuum of care supported by trained health care professionals.
This will allow you to get 'hands-on' practical experience of working with a range of different service users and health professionals as you progress from dependent to independent practice.
Year 1
- Paramedic Science: Paramedic Science: Principles & Practice - 40 credits
- Paramedic Science: Health and Human Development 1 - 20 credits
- Paramedic Science: Understanding Self and Society - 20 credits
- Paramedic Science: Community Health & Social Care - 20 credits
- Investigation and Communication - 20 credits
LEARNING AND TEACHING:
- Scheduled teaching: 20%
- Independent learning: 42%
- Practice-based education: 38%
ASSESSMENT:
- Observed structured clinical assessment: 33%
- Coursework: 66%
Year 2
- Paramedic Science: Patient Assessment and Clinical Decision Making - 60 credits
- Paramedic Science: Health and Human Development 2 - 30 credits
- Paramedic Science: Building Healthy Communities - 30 credits
LEARNING AND TEACHING:
- Scheduled teaching: 15%
- Independent learning: 34%
- Practice-based education: 51%
ASSESSMENT:
- Observed structured clinical assessment: 50%
- Coursework: 50%
Year 3
- Paramedic Science: Emergency Care and Complexities of Practice - 40 credits
- Paramedic Science: Evidence Led Enquiry - 40 credits
- Paramedic Science: Leadership in Healthcare - 40 credits
LEARNING AND TEACHING:
- Scheduled teaching: 15%
- Independent learning: 43%
- Practice-based education: 42%
ASSESSMENT:
- Observed structured clinical assessment: 33%
- Coursework: 66%
Staff Expertise
As the largest modern university in Scotland, The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has extensive staff, physical resources and services required to deliver the Paramedic Science course.
The programme delivery team led by an HCPC registered Paramedic will include staff who are highly qualified academics registered with relevant professional bodies. The School has a practice learning team who will work with the Scottish ambulance service practice education lead to co-ordinate and support placements. The programme will be further supported through our partnership with NHS Education for Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Health Boards.
Teaching & Assessment
The BSc Paramedic Science programme will incorporate a balance of theory and practice-based education learning hours, providing educational opportunities to support the development/demonstration and integration of knowledge, skills and clinical competency required for paramedic registration.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical workshops and guided clinical laboratory skills work. Theory and skills will be developed and applied in ambulance and non-ambulance placements throughout the course developing your knowledge, skills and understanding required of a paramedic.
The course will use a variety of assessment methods. The following is a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect:
- Exams
- Reports
- Clinical practice
- Skills
- Case studies
- Oral and poster presentations
- Lab assessments
CAREER PROSPECTS
Jobs
This programme will prepare you for a career as a paramedic that can progress to a wide variety of clinical roles in health and social care, service management or, education and research.
Further career options include working in primary or secondary care, events medicine and providing medical cover for a range of industries such as the sports and entertainment sector, providing you meet the requirements of the employer and employment opportunities.
Further Study
The programme provides a foundation for ongoing education and learning, with an option for further postgraduate study.
Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary Scheme (PNMSB)
If you are ordinarily resident in Scotland, you may be eligible to receive £10,000 worth of funding in each of the three years of your BSc programme, for tuition and living costs. This funding is available through the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery student bursary scheme (PNMSB) which comes from the Scottish Government Health Directorate but is administered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
You can find out more on the webpages below:
Tuition Fees 2023-24
Use the Link below to download details of our full-time, part-time tuition fees for Bachelor, Masters, Research, and English Language pre-sessional courses for session 2023-24.
Tuition FeesUndergraduate Tuition Fees
Tuition fees for this course 2024/25
Scottish
£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
How to apply
Full-time (domestic & EU/EEA)
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2023/24 entry is 30 January 2024, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 4 July 2024, 18:00 (UK time). Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Get in touch
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
- ask@uws.ac.uk
- 0800 027 1000 (UK)
- +44 (0) 141 849 4101 (out-with UK)
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