Skip to main content

BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

Watch our video

Course search

Search form

  • Late
  • UCAS Code:
    86G3
  • Institution:
    B50

If you’re looking for a worthwhile and rewarding career, then the role of Paramedic may be just what you are looking for!

At Bournemouth University, we aim to ensure that you are able to fulfil the role of a modern-day paramedic- ready for an ever-changing and evolving workforce. As well as providing emergency care for critically ill patients, you will develop advanced assessment and decision-making skills so you can decide the appropriate referral method for less seriously unwell patients. 

Our three-year programme features an equal spilt of theory and practical elements and you will have access to simulation suites within the university- during both taught and student-managed learning sessions. In addition, there are opportunities to undertake training and exercises at external locations across the region.

Our degree is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and you’ll undertake over 2,000 hours of placement over your three years, so you’ll register as a qualified practitioner once you graduate. 

New for 2020: Paramedic Science students on courses from September 2020 may be eligible for non-repayable government funding of at least £5,000 a year. Further details on who can access the support will be available in early 2020. Find out more information about the funding on the gov.uk website.

95% of our final year students said staff are good at explaining things, so join us on live chat now to find out more, or register to meet us at an Open Day. 

All statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats, Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE), BU institutional data and Ipsos MORI (National Student Survey) unless otherwise stated.

Image description
Bedsit in community setting facilities
Image description
Ambulance
Image description
Ambulance
Image description
Ambulance
Image description
Ambulance
Image description
Ambulance

Key information

Next start date:

September 2020, September 2021

Location:

Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus

Duration:

3 years, including mandatory placements

Required subjects:

September 2020: Biology, Human Biology, Physical Education, Health Science, Life Science. See full entry requirements for September 2021 required subjects.

Entry requirements:

For September 2020 and September 2021 entry: 112-128 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent, including 40 points in a required subject. BTEC Extended Diploma of DMM. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2020 and September 2021 entry: If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 7.0 with minimum 6.5 in each of the 4 components or equivalent.

For more information check out our international entry requirements.

Approved/endorsed by:

Course details

On this course you will usually be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators and technicians.

Contact hours and assessment

Throughout the course, 50% of your time will be spent in theory-based classes and the rest of the time in a practice placement setting. This means that your study time at BU will be split between scheduled learning and teaching activities and guided independent learning, such as preparing for and writing up coursework assignments.

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification (pdf 619kb)

Placements

Ambulance placements will be undertaken across either the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) or South Central Ambulance Service and you will assigned to one of these trusts- we will attempt to place students based on their preferences but please note this is not always achievable due to numbers involved.

Placements are undertaken via shift-work where you will follow a shift pattern allowing you to work with paramedic mentoring staff- this will include night shifts, weekends and bank holidays.

In addition to these placement blocks, you'll also go on a number of specialist placements which may include: clinical theatres, maternity units, community midwives, paediatric settings and minor injury units.

Going on placement will involve travel to any of the locations across our region, in order to experience the full spectrum of clinical incidents Paramedics respond to in practice. It is essential for you to have transport available to make your journeys to and from placement throughout the entire degree. You may also like to consider arranging short-term accommodation in order to participate in some of the specialist placements.

Your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, predicted grades, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview/selection test.

Entry requirements

Careers

This course will prepare you for work in the fast-paced world of emergency care, giving you the skills you need to work as a paramedic. This is not the only career path open to you though, as you can also work in other areas of the healthcare sector, such as minor injuries units or GP surgeries, or even take your skills to the private sector, for example by working on an oil rig.

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our pages on funding support for healthcare courses. Our fees and funding section also includes information about the scholarships and bursaries on offer – including unlimited Academic Excellence Scholarships for UK, EU and International students.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be.

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Course changes

What our students say

Josh Barker

I’m doing the course because I wanted to be part of an amazing profession that is unlike any other in the health service. Paramedics are autonomous clinicians and pre-hospital specialists when it comes to providing the right care to their patients.

What our staff say

Iain Darby

It’s a course that fits the modern day paramedic. We conduct training in our university simulation suites as well as training at external locations.

What our students say

David Tory

“The BU Paramedic Science degree course is both challenging and rewarding. I find myself fully engaged in placements and I am enjoying the course immensely.”