Paramedic Science BSc (Hons)

About the course

Our BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree fulfils the requirements to be eligible to apply for registration as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

It is the first nationally to integrate full paramedic training to the Health and Care Professions Council registration standards within a full-time degree programme.

The BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree course will give you the professional knowledge and clinical assessment skills you need to become a confident, autonomous paramedic working within the emergency environment.

We place a strong focus on the delivery of quality paramedic care within our contemporary society, taking into account rapid changes within the profession, from increasing medical technology to public awareness of healthcare issues.

Paramedic practice now spans a range of disciplines and our BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course and covers areas including:

• Patient assessment and management
• Clinical skills
• Biosciences
• Pharmacology
• Psychology and communication
• Ethics
• Law
• Sociology of health and illness
• Health policy
• Health promotion
• Medical design and technology
• Clinical / professional studies

To give you an understanding of the contributions that all professions make to patient care, some of your studies will be with students from other healthcare professions.

Evidence-based practice and research

A sound understanding of evidence-based practice and research is a fundamental part of your training and throughout the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree, your theoretical studies will be interspersed with a series of practice placements.

These will be organised and supervised by the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust in partnership with the University.

Why choose this course?

• Your learning experience is constructed from 12 years of professional leadership in paramedic education and development, specifically designed to support your studies and enhance your work experience. 
• The BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree is the first nationally to integrate your full paramedic training to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration standards within a full-time degree programme.
• Your vocational placement is with one of the busiest ambulance services in the world; the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS).
• You will be eligible to apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a qualified Paramedic on successful completion of this BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree, which significantly increases your employability opportunities.

Study routes

• Full Time,
• Full Time, 3 Years

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

This programme gives you flexibility in your studies at university resulting in flexibility in your choice of career at the end of your course. You will acquire a much broader base of knowledge and experience that could really widen your employment opportunities. Graduates have found employment in diverse roles such as computer programmers, design engineers, management development specialists, accountants and project managers. Over 72% of our graduates had entered employment six months after graduation, and a further 17% had gone on to further study or training.

Teaching methods

You'll experience a wide variety of learning styles on this course. During your studies you'll develop your capacity for self-directed study and your interpersonal skills. We particularly emphasise the importance of structured research; well-prepared written and verbal presentations; and computer literacy.

Alongside elements of standard lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratories, you also learn through case studies, individual and group projects and other student centred activities. In your final year you will normally have the opportunity to practice your independent study skills by completing a Major project or dissertation.

Work Placement

Practice placement

Throughout your BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree, practice placements will be interspersed giving you the all important valuable work experience you need on graduation.

Placements will give you the opportunity to link theoretical knowledge you gain via lectures and seminars with your practical experiences, providing you with a complete understanding and application of patient care practices.

This strongly enhances your employability skills.

Professional Accreditations

Eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a qualified Paramedic, enhancing your employability.

Throughout the programme some study is undertaken with other undergraduate health care professionals, which develops your understanding of common areas of health care delivery.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedics 1a

  This 15 credit Level Four module will introduce Student Paramedics to the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology essential to Paramedic clinical practice. Key concepts of cellular and tissue function will be explored relating these concepts to gross human anatomy providing the basis for continuing biosciences study. Study across these subjects will facilitate detailed knowledge acquisition by students and link with other subjects to form a cohesive learning experience. Module content has been designed to include relevant underpinning theoretical knowledge spanning cellular structure and organisation, function and structure of specialised tissue structures and functional human anatomy.

• Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedics 1b

  This 15 credit Level Four module will further develop the knowledge and understanding acquired in Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedics 1a. Student Paramedics will explore in detail organ system physiology and interplay whilst relating these systems and their physiological processes directly to Paramedic clinical practice. Modular content has been carefully selected to develop acquire relevant bioscience knowledge, which supports and enhances concurrent modules. The content of this module forms the foundations underpinning Level Six bioscience study.

• Patient Assessment and Management 1a

  This level 4, 15 credit, module is the first Patient Assessment and Management module on the programme, and forms the basis not only for the subsequent module in semester B, but also for the practice placement modules and the modules in following years. The module aims to introduce the student to the concepts of assessing and managing a patient in the out of hospital environment. It will provide students with the introductory knowledge, understanding and skills to undertake preliminary patient assessment and treatment, and will introduce them to the range of management options available for paramedics within a defined range of situations. This knowledge, and the skills gained during the module, will directly assist them in preparing for their placement modules.

• Patient Assessment and Management 1b

  This level 4, 15 credit, module is the second Patient Assessment and Management module on the programme, and follows on directly from the semester A module. The module aims to develop the knowledge of preliminary patient assessment and management gained from PAM 1a and apply it to assessment of the major body systems and management of common conditions. In developing the students knowledge and understanding this way it is hoped that they will be able to maximise their experience in placement.

• Practice Education 1a Communication

  This practice placement module focuses upon the use of communication and effective/ineffective communication strategies including all components of written, verbal and non-verbal whilst in the professional ambulance service environment. Students will encounter patients, relatives and other healthcare professionals and be expected to adapt their communication to each environment.

• Practice Education 1b - Key Assessment

  This practice placement module focuses upon developing accurate history-taking of a patient presenting to emergency ambulance services alongside developing a safe approach in acquiring essential observations/assessments to inform the pre-hospital clinician of the patient's physiological status across a range of patients and environments.

• Behavioural and Social Issues for Paramedics

  The content is focused on health, illness and health care practices. The module will enable the student to appreciate the influence of psychology and social issues on health, illness and health practices and in particular, paramedic practice.

• An Introduction to Inter-professional Education

  The module is designed to give students the opportunity to work in multi-professional groups in order to improve understanding of a range of professional roles and encourage co-operative learning and working. The rationale for and benefits of inter-professional working within health and social care are explored. Learning will be through multi-professional group seminars and tutorials that require students to access and gather appropriate data from a range of sources and apply this to a series of practice-based, simulated scenarios and exercises.

Optional

Year 2

Core Modules

• Patient Assessment and Management B2a

  This 15 credit level 5 module enables students to build upon the knowledge gained at level 4 and to increase their knowledge, skills and understanding of patient assessment and management appropriate to recognised key developmental stages of the human life cycle. It will use specific clinical presentations and will focus on current evidence around approaches to assessment and management of these patients appropriate to contemporary paramedic practice. The module will facilitate students in developing sound clinical reasoning skills, informed by available evidence.

• Patient Assessment and Management B2b

  This module will further refine advanced life support and trauma assessment and management skills. Drawing on previous student experience of management of medical cardiac arrest, the specific advanced life support needs of patients with other aetiologies such as drowning, asthma and environmental emergencies will be addressed. Evidence based approaches to the assessment and management of trauma patients will be developed, supported by risk-benefit analysis of therapeutic interventions available to UK paramedics. The development of clinical decision making skills and management of complex scenes will be central themes throughout this module.

• Pathophysiology for Paramedics 2a

  This 15 credit Level Five module will develop the knowledge acquired by student paramedics in their Level Four bioscience studies; developing their understanding of the pathophysiological basis for disordered homeostasis encountered in clinical practice. Course content has been selected to explore pathophysiological processes that are relevant to student paramedics' clinical practice, exploring introductory concepts before focusing upon selected organ systems. The organ systems and associated pathophysiological processes selected are pivotal to student paramedics' clinical practice. This module forms the foundation of Pathophysiology for Paramedics 2b which further expands students' knowledge of alterations in homeostasis.

• Pathophysiology for Paramedics 2b

  This Level Five module will build upon the anatomical, physiological and pathophysiological principle education undertaken by student paramedics at Level Four and during Pathophysiology for Paramedics 2a. During the module underpinning pathophysiological knowledge will be synthesised and expanded by focusing upon specific organ systems. In addition to pathophysiological processes related to organ systems and neurological dysfunction, pain is a key topic. Module content and delivery will link with student paramedic's theory acquisition horizontally and vertically across the curriculum to equip them for professional practice.

• Professional and Contemporary Issues in Paramedic Practice

  This 15 credit Level 5 module examines a range of topics, which have a direct impact on the scope of paramedic practice. It is acknowledged that the delivery of an effective emergency ambulance service is dependent on many dimensions including economics, demographics, technological change and hyperspace.

• Evidence Based Practice and Research

  The focus of this module is to develop a critical understanding of research principles, processes and methods and their application within the health setting and more specifically to paramedic practice. The module develops knowledge and understanding of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and facilitates the students' understanding of the philosophy behind evidence based practice.

• Practice Education 2a - Personal and Professional Development

  This practice placement module aims to prepare students further for practise as an autonomous registered Paramedic. With a focus on issues surrounding professional responsibilities including audit, equality and diversity, students will undertake the module in ambulance service setting with the opportunity to develop their competence in, and understanding of, personal and professional development issues.

• Practice Education 2b - Management and Therapeutic Interventions

Optional

Year 3

Core Modules

• Sandwich Year - Paramedic Science

  This year enables the student to gain appropriate experience in the emergency field and undertake the required instruction by the London Ambulance Service to enable registration with the HPC as a Paramedic

Optional

Fees & funding

Fees 2013

UK/EU Students

Full time: £9,000 for the 2013 academic year

International Students

Full time: £10,000 for the 2013 academic year

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

View detailed information about tuition fees

Additional course costs

Compulsory

Placement travel (average) depends where accommodation is situated £400

Optional

Student membership of College of Paramedics £30

Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

How to apply