BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

Being a paramedic is a highly rewarding and stimulating career. The BSc Paramedic Science course at the University of Plymouth offers a forward-looking programme of study, which aims to prepare you for the workplace by developing your decision-making capabilities, clinical knowledge, and skills base.

This fast developing and dynamic profession presents many opportunities to specialise within a variety of challenging healthcare environments. As such, you will have the opportunity of gaining valuable experience on placements within the ambulance service and can choose further placements within emergency, maternity and cardiology departments, GP practices and mental health services.

Paramedics work with people of all ages, from the very start of life to end of life care. The traditional ambulance paramedic works with a range of health care, social care and emergency service colleagues to support patients.

As paramedics are used to working autonomously, and with the development of the graduate profession, they are increasingly able to work in roles that were traditionally undertaken by others. Whether in the NHS, voluntary or private sector, paramedics can work in a several settings, including:
ambulance crews, air ambulance, Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), minor injury units, event work (e.g. festivals, equestrian events, motorsports and rugby matches), primary care settings such as GP surgeries, hospital settings (e.g. advanced clinical practitioner roles)
forensic paramedics working in prison and police custody areas, education,research,leadership and management

3 years (with placements) Full Time.

GCSE
All applicants require at least five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above. These must include mathematics, English and science. Preference is given to applicants who have obtained these grades on application. Please note the institution may consider equivalent numeracy and literacy qualifications.

A level
The normal entry requirement for A levels is 128 UCAS points (e.g. ABB). The minimum entry requirement for A levels is 112 UCAS points (e.g. BBC). These A levels must include study of biology/human biology, chemistry or physics, to achieve a grade B or above (in some instances, an A level in physical education may be an appropriate alternative too). No UCAS credits are given to A levels in general studies.

BTEC National Diploma
For BTEC, the minimum entry requirements are three distinctions (DDD). Study must contain units covering sufficient biology and/or chemistry (unless supplemented by an A-level in biology).

Access to Higher Education
The minimum entry requirements are 45 credits from a relevant access course (eg. health, nursing, science, etc). Of these, 36 must be at distinction, to include 15 credits in a relevant science (preference is biology but can consider 15 in Physics or Chemistry). The remaining 9 credits must be at merit or above.

T level
Accepted preference pathways would be Health and Science. Typical offer will be confirmed once an application is received.

International Baccalaureate
The minimum entry requirements for the IB are 30 points. These must include five at higher level in biology and/or chemistry.
If overseas and not studying English within IB, must have an overall average score of at least 7.0, with a score of at least 6.5 in each element

Extended entry requirements

In addition to the above, acceptance depends on a number of other factors:

Applicants must have undertaken academic study within the last five years.
Applicants must also submit a strong personal statement in order to be considered.
Before any offer can be made, successful applicants are interviewed as part of a values based recruitment process.
All applicants for professional health programmes must undergo additional screening to ensure their suitability. We are typically unable to accept those with criminal convictions/cautions that were issued in the preceding two years of an application (not including fixed penalty offences, such as speeding or parking infringements). Similarly, we are typically unable to accept those who have had fitness to practise concerns raised within the last two years by an employer, regulator or another university. After a two year period, all applications that involved criminal convictions/cautions or fitness to practise concerns are considered by our professional issues committee to ensure fitness to practise on a healthcare programme. Screening includes assessment of disclosure and barring service (DBS) status as well as occupational health checks. Occupational health assessments ensure that applicants are fit to fulfil the demands of placements. As students undertake exposure prone procedures, successful applicants must be vaccinated against a number of diseases.
If English is an applicant's second language, and they do not have a GCSE in English at grade C/4 or above, an IELTS qualification is required. A minimum average IETLS score of 7.0 if required, with a score of at least 6.5 required in each element. If applicants need to improve their English language to access the course, the University of Plymouth offer pre-sessional academic English courses.
English language requirements
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.