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BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

UCAS CODE: B950
TARIFF: 112 - 136
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three Years
  • Start Date: September 2024 and January 2025

Our BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course can lead you towards a fulfilling and meaningful career. You’ll gain the skills and experience you need to become a frontline healthcare professional, helping patients who require emergency care with the support of your team.

Throughout your time on the course you will be supported by experienced tutors, you’ll also have the opportunity to complete placements in supervised urgent and emergency care settings.

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No. 1 in England for Student Satisfaction*
*Measured by % of positivity across all questions within the larger providers only: taught or registered population (NSS 2023)
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No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*As ranked among taught students at non-specialist HEIs (NSS 2023)
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Top for our response to the cost-of-living-crisis*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
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5th for learning opportunities*
*NSS 2023
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Top 10 for student support*
*Whatuni Student Choice Award 2023
By partnering with two NHS ambulance services, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, as well as acute and community health and social care providers, we are providing students with excellent opportunities to gain clinical experience and core capabilities prior to joining the workforce on completion of their studies.
Will Broughton Associate Professor of Paramedic Science
A head shot of a smiling Will Broughton wearing a dark blue polo top standing face on and looking directly into the camera

Why study this subject?

Paramedic practice continues to develop and with significant changes seen in recent years paramedics are now working in a range of clinical settings; providing evidence-based care to patients within our communities.

Studying for a Paramedic Science degree with us will give you the knowledge, skills and competencies to be an effective paramedic in a time when the demand in this profession has never been higher.

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Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

The experience you’ll gain at BNU is unique and focused on helping you gain the skills you need to answer the demands of the NHS. We combine academic theory, simulated patient care and practice-based experience to make sure you’re fully prepared to step into the paramedic role.

We work with clinical partners like the South-Central Ambulance Service, NHS Foundation Trust and London Ambulance Service to offer you unique learning experiences that develop your confidence and help you understand the day to day life of a paramedic.

BNU gives you the opportunity to delve into the practical world of healthcare and understand how to provide for a broad range of illnesses and injuries in urgent, emergency and unscheduled care settings.

In addition to providing high quality teaching, BNU is also committed to supporting students in their studies. A training grant of £5000 per year is available for eligible students, you can find out more through the NHS Business Services Authority. We also offer you the Big deal, which is an opportunity to get involved in events, societies, trips and extracurricular activities for free.

Our student community is incredibly friendly and supportive, and we are were voted the 2nd best student union in the UK (NSS2022). BNU can offer you a highly regarded course, with excellent teaching linked to practice; partnerships with local NHS trusts and a great and friendly student community all within 35 minutes of London.

Building upon a long standing history of supporting and developing individuals to achieve registered paramedic status, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is proud of this new partnership with such a well-respected university. The challenges faced by the NHS during the global pandemic have been well reported and to develop a new degree level clinical healthcare programme during this time has been nothing short of extraordinary and is testament to both BNU and SCAS colleagues. We look forward to a collaborative and successful partnership with BNU.
Howard Farley Senior Education Manager, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

What facilities can I use?

As a student on our BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course, you'll have access to our incredible state-of-the-art simulation labs at our High Wycombe campus.

Simulation is an important aspect of our nursing and healthcare courses. Students regularly spend time in these areas to practice technical skills and use new technologies in a safe and supportive environment.

We use simulation manikins coursed to act like humans, and ‘moulage’ – the process of applying mock, often gorily realistic injuries for training purposes. We also engage service users in role-play sessions. 

We also have a mock ambulance, as well as the opportunity for you to experience a range of situations a paramedic may face in environments like a nightclub or bar.

What will I study?

BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science will provide a route to registration as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The role of the paramedic has changed significantly in recent years, Paramedics are now working in a variety of clinical settings, including frontline ambulance, NHS walk-in-centre, GP surgeries and within the hospital environment.

To allow you to function effectively in these different settings, our course will combine academic theory, simulated care and frontline practice placements to provide an environment with which to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to be an effective paramedic.

You will gain significant operational experience across a variety of settings, including NHS ambulance services, urgent care clinics, GP practices and within Acute Trusts. We will train you in areas like anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, as well as patient assessment, management of medical and trauma emergencies, advanced life support and resuscitation.

We'll also teach you important skills like clinical decision making and how to apply clinical research and evidence-based learning in your real-life environment. As part of the course you undertake placement in a supervised urgent and emergency care setting each year of study. Placements are an excellent way to network, learn from industry professionals and find out first-hand what the job of a paramedic is really like. 

Developed closely in partnership with local NHS trusts we aim to help you graduate ready for the future and proud of your achievements, having worked closely with experts already in the sector.

Gaining experience on the frontline whilst studying to become a paramedic is so invaluable, and a great way to put theory into practice. We’re looking forward to supporting students from BNU and providing placements to enable them to become great paramedics.
Dr John Martin Chief Paramedic and Quality Officer for London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

How will I be taught and assessed?

Teaching and learning will take a blended approach with students having theory-based tasks to complete in advance of practical sessions or tutor-led discussions. This is a challenging course, and the team will make available a wide range of resources to ensure students are successful.  

Your learning will always be applied to clinical practice whether in the form of a simulation or scenario, research activity, student presentation or case study. Practice-based education is a critical component and will allow you to hone your clinical knowledge and practical skills when treating actual patients. 

Assessments are varied and will include written submissions, presentations, examinations and practical assessments. You'll learn and be assessed on important patient-facing skills like communication, professionalism, clinical knowledge and practical skills. We'll assess your decision-making and reasoning abilities too so you can justify what you did or why you want to carry out a patient intervention.

Throughout the course you'll work on a personal e-portfolio which will demonstrate your competencies in clinical practice. In each year of study, we'll look to see that you've been able to evidence the core capabilities required to progress through the course and to identify areas where we can support your learning further.

Your e-portfolio is entirely owned and driven by you and should be something you'd happily share with a prospective employer to better evidence your learning and readiness for practice.

Assessments vary according to modules and are designed to test your understanding of the modules. Some of the ways you will be assessed include:

  • reports
  • exams
  • presentations
  • coursework

BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 112 - 136

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

An Access to Higher Education qualification (minimum of 45 Level 3 credits, with 18 at Distinction and 27 at Merit) which must be in a science-based subject is also acceptable.

You may find it beneficial if you have prior knowledge of health or human science, so we prefer if you have relevant A Levels - such as Biology, Health and Social Care, Chemistry, Psychology, Physics, Physical Education, and Sociology. However, it is not essential. So therefore we will accept any T level, but Health and Science preferred.

In addition, you will require five GCSEs including Maths, English and Science at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).

Applicants must be physically fit and able to undertake clinical placements, which will involve frontline ambulance duties. This includes (but is not limited to):

  • lifting and carrying of equipment
  • climbing flights of stairs
  • moving and handling patients
  • undertaking a variety of shifts, including night-work

Attend the compulsory interview and selection event for shortlisted candidates.

Those for whom English is not their first language must achieve a minimum score of 7.0 overall or equivalent for the International English Language Test Score (IELTS), with no on element below 6.5.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Desirable / Recommended

Full UK driving licence; this is strongly recommended to allow students to operate a vehicle to attend practice placements. Whilst public transport is possible for some locations, this cannot be guaranteed.

 

Paramedic Science - Applicant Information

The government has said it will remove the proposed legal requirement to have Covid-19 vaccinations to work, or attend placements, in health and social care. We & our practice partners continue to encourage you to get vaccinated for your & others' safety.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£15,150 per year

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

What are my career prospects? 

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders.

We encourage our students to apply for work placements during the University holidays, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in a work background. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

The demand for paramedics has never been higher for the UK Ambulance Services which is why it’s such an important time to consider this challenging yet fulfilling career. You might also consider a career in research, clinical education or even a leadership or management position in healthcare, social care or education – the possibilities are endless.

Our BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities. Many of our graduates go on to work with an ambulance service in the public or private sector but there are also increasing opportunities to work elsewhere in health and social care.

Completing this course will make you eligible to register as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and provide you with the firm academic understanding and practical experience you’ll need to excel, whatever path you choose.

Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course.

Course leader

A head shot of a smiling Will Broughton wearing a dark blue polo top standing face on and looking directly into the camera
Will Broughton
  • Director of Education
  • Professor
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Keith Bromwich
  • Senior Lecturer
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Samantha Barry
  • Senior Lecturer
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Tim Weekes
  • Senior Lecturer
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Mark Greenhill
  • Paramedic Lecturer
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Kelly Sluman
  • Education Coordinator: Paramedic Science
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Sean Latham
  • Senior Lecturer
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John Gladwell
  • Lecturer
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Carley Goddard
  • Education Officer: Paramedic Science
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Lucy Murrell
  • Lecturer
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