The overall aim of the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science programme is for you
to to develop the knowledge, skills, behaviour and values to practice
as a paramedic at the newly qualified level. It will provide attributes
and experience which promote and foster the professional
characteristics (skills, behaviours and values) to facilitate career
long development and practice opportunities.
Graduating from this programme will enable access to employment as
paramedics who are prepared to undertaken autonomous roles as a team
orientated professional; equipped with the skills to adapt to emerging
paramedic roles which meet changing patient healthcare provision needs
and practice opportunities in an evolving context.
The course is delivered full-time over three extended academic years
with a varied mix of academic and clinical learning. Its structure is
linear and modular in nature; all modules are compulsory and credit
bearing to achieve the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree.
During your studies the curriculum focuses upon development of
professional knowledge and skills, alongside personal attributes of
insight, resilience and empathy.
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science curriculum focuses on developing six core
skills:
- Knowledge, understanding and skills related to the physiological
basis for paramedic intervention and care
- Critical and analytical awareness and understanding of
research/evidence-base for paramedic practice
- Critical awareness of psychosocial issues and interprofessional
working
- A professional portfolio of baseline and advanced paramedic skills
- Principles of leadership and management applied to trauma and
emergency care
- A major project of study in order to demonstrate skills in critical
analysis, research and service improvement.
During the programme you will be required to undertake clinical
placements spent in a variety of settings across the Thames Valley
region. These will follow clinical shift patterns including unsociable
hours.
You will need a car to travel to these settings and transport allowances
will not be provided.
You will need to purchase a stethoscope suitable for practice and
clinical assessment and examination of patients; a copy of the National
Clinical Guidelines and associated pocket book.
Study modules
As courses are reviewed regularly, the module list you choose from may
vary from that shown here.
The course consists of a series of Paramedic Science specific modules
which are all compulsory.
Teaching, learning and assessment will take place in a variety of
settings including classroom based activities, group workshops and
clinical practice simulations. This variety ensures that you are
equipped with the full range of skills and attributes contemporary
Paramedic practice demands.
In Year One you will be introduced to the fundamental
areas of Paramedic practice, developing underpinning paramedic science
understanding, anatomy and physiology knowledge, an introduction to
professional judgement, social factors and evidence informed practice.
Alongside these modules you will undertake 750 hours of clinical
practice learning including periods with SCAS and in specialist
clinical placements to appreciate healthcare provision and core service
user care skills.
In Year Two you will build upon your foundation module
to develop breadth and depth of knowledge in subjects of physiology,
urgent and emergency care skills and pharmacology knowledge, whilst
acquiring specialist knowledge of mental health presentations and
research methodologies. You will have the opportunity to build upon the
fundamental skills acquired in Year One, whilst developing new patient
management strategies to underpinning Year Three. During this year you
will undertake a further 750 hours of clinical practice learning
including periods with SCAS and in specialist clinical placements to
consolidate and develop practice skills.
In Year Three you will undertake modules which equip
you with specialist knowledge that enhances your practice as a
contemporary Paramedic. These focus upon effective professional
judgement formation, a dissertation, clinical leadership and assessment
and management of both minor injury and illness. The dissertation will
involve critical investigation of a topic or issue and we encourage you
to publish or present your work. In this final year you will undertake
a further 750 hours of clinical practice learning including periods
with SCAS and in specialist clinical placements to consolidate and
develop specialist practice skills.
Work placements
Throughout the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course you undertake a
variety of clinical placements that are carefully planned and organised
to integrate theory and practice. These include operational placements
with SCAS to learn and gain experience which enables safe practice in
this setting. These offer supplemental and development clinical
practice learning placements in a variety of settings; these allow you
to gain specialised experience in other health, social and care
settings, developing specialist skills and patient management
experience. This combination will help prepare you to work effectively
as a paramedic and provide a broad basis to develop your career and
clinical care provided to service users.
To support you in practice learning settings, a range of support
mechanisms are provided by both the University (including a link
lecturer) and the placement area. While on placement, you will be
supported by a named member of staff, known as a clinical mentor. There
is a dedicated Practice Education Unit that provides administrative and
academic support for placement learning/practice education for all its
pre-qualifying courses.
Students are allocated to their SCAS ambulance for clinical placements
based upon a fair and equitable model. This means each student will be
allocated a return journey (to/from the Marston Road site) which is
either short (4-28 miles), medium (40-54) or long (56-76) journey
distance. Over the three years of the programme students will undertake
one of these journeys which, where possible, will be balanced to
provide students with a fair and equitable distribution of distances
travelling to clinical placements. Where possible non-SCAS placements
will be undertaken in a similar region to provide consistency, although
this is dependent upon clinical placement availability.
Study abroad
This option is not currently available to students on the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science programme.
Free language courses for students - the Open Module
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Please note that the free language courses are not available if you are:
- studying at a Brookes partner college
- studying on any of our teacher education courses or postgraduate education courses.
Additional costs
Further information on additional costs for healthcare courses can be
found here.
Programme changes
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published
on the website. For more information, please visit our
Changes to programmes
page.