Paramedic Science BSc (Hons)

University of Portsmouth

Overview

Paramedics are vital to the health, safety and wellbeing of the nation.

If you’re ready to work at the frontline of the NHS, this BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree will prepare you for life as a registered paramedic.

Approved by:

This course is approved by the Health & Care Professions Council.

Course highlights

• Practise your skills on medical manikins and simulated patients safely and under expert supervision in our Centre for Simulation in Health and Care, one of the country’s leading healthcare teaching environments
• Gain more than 1,500 hours of practical experience on placement with real paramedic teams and in clinical settings, including community medicine, emergency departments, minor injuries units, maternity and critical care
• Get expert support from a personal mentor within the Ambulance Service
• Receive an induction, full uniform and PPE (personal protective equipment) from the NHS Trust you're assigned to
• Become eligible to register as a paramedic with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) when you graduate

Careers and opportunities

A career as a paramedic is fast-paced and demanding, but also incredibly rewarding. As ambulance call-outs continue to rise, paramedics are needed in ambulance trusts nationwide – there were 783,050 incidents in June 2021, 80,000 more than in the same month two years ago.

On this Paramedic Science degree, you’ll master the complexities of acute pre-hospital care, and learn to assess patients and treat patients using life-saving equipment safely and effectively. At the end of the course, you'll be eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for professional registration as a qualified paramedic in the public or private sector.

As a paramedic in the NHS in 2021, you'd begin your career on a Band 5 salary of £25,655 to £31,534, before moving up to Band 6 after two years in your role, which ranges from £32,306 to £39,027. With more experience you could progress to become a consultant paramedic, making up to £75,874 (Band 8c).

Once you graduate, you’ll also be prepared for jobs in clinical settings like telephone triage services, helicopter emergency medical services, with ambulance trusts, or in special operations response.

Where could you work as a paramedic?

Many graduates work in ambulance trusts – recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations including:

South Central Ambulance Service

London Ambulance Service

South Western Ambulance Service Trust

East of England Ambulance Service

Welsh Ambulance Service

North East Ambulance Service

To prepare you for your career as a paramedic, you'll get at least 1,500 hours of experience on work placements in paramedic teams and other clinical settings.

Ambulance placements

Each year, you'll complete an ambulance placement, working 37.5 hours a week (which includes 7.5 hours a week study time).

You'll be allocated a clinical mentor from the Ambulance Service and you'll work with a clinical team that consists of a team leader, paramedics, specialist paramedics, ambulance technicians, associate ambulance practitioners, emergency care assistants and other student paramedics.

You'll work alongside and be supervised by a paramedic on every shift and work in different ambulance stations across Hampshire or the Isle of Wight (depending on where you live during your studies).

Clinical placements

You'll also undertake the following clinical placements:

• Year 1 – a 1-week community placement in a setting such as a drugs and alcohol rehabilitation team or with a learning disabilities team
• Year 2 – a 2-week in-hospital placement, which allows you to experience various clinical departments such as maternity, emergency departments and coronary care units
• Year 3 – a 3-day placement in a setting such as an ambulance control centre or minor injuries unit

Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC as a paramedic.