Paramedic Science
BSc (Hons)
Key facts
UCAS code
B950
Start dates
September 2019 / September 2020
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Department
Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development
Accreditation(s)
Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council
UCAS Tariff Points
112
This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.
Overview
Our Paramedic Science course gives you the skills you need to work as a paramedic. Paramedics are registered Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). They care for patients with emergency healthcare needs out of the hospital.
You’ll learn to assess and manage patients with almost any injury and illness. You’ll undertake over 2000 hours in clinical practice. And work with registered paramedics, learning in diverse clinical settings, such as;
- Emergency Departments
- Surgical Decisions Units
- End of Life Care
- Airway Management
- Mental Health Assessment and Management
- Paediatric specialist facilities.
Our excellent teaching facilities include;
- dedicated specialist clinical skills suites
- extensive range of simulation resources/equipment.
We have developed the course in consultation and partnership with healthcare providers including South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
Our friendly teaching team have extensive Paramedic experience. And you'll be supported by an Academic Advisor and Link Lecturer as well as the Student Paramedic Society.
How to apply
Typical offers
UCAS Tariff Points: 112
A Level: BBC
IB Points: 30
BTEC: DMM
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. This combination of A-level grades would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Preferred subjects include: Biology or Human Biology.
A-Level: BBC or equivalent, including Biology or Human Biology at grade C or above.
IB Diploma: 30 points including Biology HL4
BTEC: Extended Diploma (DMM) (Health and Social Care or Medical Science only)
Access course: Pass with 60 credits overall; 45 at level 3 which should include 12 credits in Biology. Of the level 3 credits, at least 15 should be passed at merit or above and 15 at distinction level. English and maths level 2 credits will no longer be accepted as GCSE equivalencies. GCSE English and Maths are now required as separate qualifications.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
A Level: Grades BBC or equivalent, including Biology or Human Biology at grade C or above
GCSE: 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) to include Mathematics, English Language and Science
Applicants should have a full clean UK driving license, ideally with provisional C1 entitlement.
We welcome application from mature students but they must show evidence of academic achievement in the last two-years, typically meeting the entry requirements. Please contact us for further advice on your personal circumstances, which may include recommendation to undertake further recommended academic modules/A Levels.
All students are screened for HIV and Hepatitis A, B and C. This is a Department of Health requirement for this professional group, linked to DoH/NHS exposure prone procedures guidance. If clearance has not been completed prior to enrolment or a DBS issue has been declared on application, then enrolment may not be possible. If enrolment has been agreed, then continuation on the programme will be contingent on satisfactory clearances.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Screening
All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.
Selection process
All Oxford Brookes University Health and Social Care Programmes conduct Value Based Recruitment (VBR). We recognise that values and attitudes have the greatest impact on the quality of people's care and their experiences.
VBR is a way of helping our Programme recruitment teams to assess the values, motives and attitudes of those who wish to work with people in health and social care settings. When we refer to values we mean, for example, the values included in the NHS constitution.
VBR focuses on 'how' and 'why' an applicant makes choices in how they act and seeks to explore reasons for their behaviour. Further details about the VBR framework can be found here.
Applicants will be assessed on their academic ability, their work experience and their ability to demonstrate the following qualities:
- caring and helping skills
- communication and interpersonal skills
- working with and respect for others
- a compassionate nature
- commitment to quality of care and improving lives
- reliability, honesty and trustworthiness.
Applicants will be shortlisted for interview based on the strength of their UCAS application.
Any place offered is subject to satisfactory Enhanced DBS clearance and health screening.
English language requirements
If English is your second language, you must be able to demonstrate that your level of English is of a sufficient standard (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent).
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.
If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.
We operate the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.
Application process
Full time Home / EU applicants
Apply through UCASTuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Please note tuition fees for Home/EU students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning home and EU students at the maximum permitted level.
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed below.
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
You will be required to undertake clinical placements spent in a variety of settings across the Thames Valley region. 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. You will also need a copy of the National Clinical Guidelines and associated pocket book. Further information on additional costs for healthcare courses can be found here.
Learning and assessment
Our course gives you the key knowledge to practice as a paramedic, including behaviour and values. And you’ll gain the teaching and clinical experience to develop your career.
All our modules are compulsory and credit bearing. We focus on developing six core skills;
- knowledge and understanding for paramedic intervention and care
- critical and analytical awareness of research/evidence-base for paramedic practice
- critical awareness of psychosocial issues and inter-professional working
- a professional portfolio of paramedic skills
- principles of leadership and management in trauma and emergency care
- a major study project, to show critical analysis, research and service improvement.
You’ll complete clinical placements across the Thames Valley region. You’ll need a car to travel to these settings and transport allowances are not included.
You’ll need to buy;
- a stethoscope for practice and clinical assessment
- The National Clinical Guidelines book
- The National Clinical Guidelines associated pocket book.
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Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
You will have practical and theory-based modules. We take a research and evidence informed approach to clinical practice. You’ll often reflect on your personal and professional development.
In health and social care, professional groups work together. You’ll meet students from our wide range of courses, including;
- health and social care
- nursing (adult, children's and mental health)
- midwifery
- occupational therapy
- osteopathy, operating department practice
- physiotherapy
- social work.
This helps you understand the other professional roles you’ll encounter in practice. We offer you a wide range of learning resources, including;
- online lectures
- handouts and information
- learning exercises.
After you graduate
Career prospects
The range of career opportunities is very wide and the BSc (Hons) degree will underpin your development.
Paramedics work in a variety of healthcare settings and specific pathways of specialism are developing(e.g in clinical practice, research, education and management). This is linked to career opportunities as a Specialist, Advanced and Consultant level practice in paramedic practice.
There are opportunities to work in providing urgent and emergency care, critical care, forensic medicine, remote medicine and education. Many of these opportunities are available in NHS Ambulance Trusts, where many of our graduates work, but can also be found in other NHS/alternative organisations.
Professional accreditation
Please note that Health and Care Professional Council's approval is subject to review and can be withdrawn at any time.
Further study
Paramedics are required to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) as part of their registration requirements. A number of paramedic graduates go on to study postgraduate course, such as an MSc degree in a related field, or register for a PhD.
Our Staff
Mr Martin Berry
Read more about MartinShelly Everett
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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.
Information from Unistats
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.