My mentor provided me with the foundation and confidence I needed to develop into a well-rounded clinician, ready to face the diversity of life as a paramedic.
Working as a paramedic, no two days are the same. You will gain experience in different locations and develop rapid decision-making skills in order to respond to diverse challenges.
This exciting and challenging programme provides you with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required to work as a paramedic. It has been jointly developed by the University of Brighton, the University of Surrey and the South East Coast Ambulance Trust. The Paramedic Practice degree programme leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. The degree is divided equally between academic study and practical experience in a range of practice areas.
The Paramedic Practice degree programme leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. The degree is divided equally between academic study and practical experience in a range of practice areas.
The programme will enable you to develop as an articulate and confident paramedic practitioner who will be able to make professional judgements and deliver best practice to clients. The programme will ensure that you are prepared to practise safely and effectively, meeting the competencies required by relevant professional bodies.
There will be a strong emphasis on interprofessional learning throughout the programme. Learning will be shared by students in each of the three fields of nursing, together with Midwifery and Operating Department Practitioners. This will enable you to learn about interprofessional teamwork and to develop an understanding of how to work together, which can be expanded in the practice environment. This is important in contemporary healthcare where collaborative practice is vital in meeting the complex needs of individuals and their families.
Our degrees are taught by experienced academics from a variety of disciplines. To ensure seamless links between theory and practice, staff work closely with colleagues in Ambulance and other NHS Trusts. You will have a personal tutor throughout the programme and all staff are committed to ensuring that you have the best possible experience, enabling you to emerge as a confident, competent practitioner.
The programme runs over three years, comprising 50 per cent theory and 50 per cent practice, with a strong focus on clinical skills.
Year 1 will set the foundation in basic physical and behavioural sciences. It will also consist of a practice-based module which will be assessed through submission of a portfolio.
In Years 2 and 3, you will be taught the principles of assessment, care delivery, evidence and research, and management of self and others. In addition, you will be able to develop your research skills and an understanding of the scientific basis of paramedic practice. You will also have the opportunity to apply theory to practice within various practice settings.
Successful completion of the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Practice programme will make you eligible to apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Time spent in the safe environment of our simulation suite and other suitable areas in the pre-hospital environment will prepare you for professional training. You will only go out to practice areas when you have satisfactorily completed instruction in fundamental clinical skills.
As you progress through the programme and your skills and confidence develop, you will be encouraged to perform increasingly complex activities in practice, until you are considered by your mentors and teachers to be competent for registration at the end of Year 3.
In the University setting, teaching methods include:
Within the practice environment, teaching methods include shadowing, role modelling, demonstration, observation, practice under supervision, reflective dialogue and discussion groups.
We will use a variety of methods to assess you at various points in the programme. As well as written work, there are student presentations, examinations and case-study work. In practice placements you are required to build a portfolio of your experiences, demonstrating how you have met your learning agreement and the particular learning outcomes for the module.
You are also required to show an understanding of, and development towards, the professional behaviour expected of a registered paramedic.
Exciting changes are taking place in today’s NHS. Healthcare practitioners are learning new skills, working independently and taking on new responsibilities. Qualified paramedics are increasingly found at the heart of multidisciplinary teams. Career paths in the modern NHS Ambulance Trusts include specialist practice, teaching, management and research.
As a practitioner, you can also combine a number of roles and remain directly involved in client care as your career progresses.
Paramedic Practice students have excellent prospects of employment after programme completion.
This programme is academically demanding and includes practice placements which present new and sometimes challenging experiences. We will provide you with strong personal and academic support to help you to succeed.
You will be allocated a personal tutor to oversee your progress and they will be available for one-to-one appointments. You will also be a member of a personal tutor group, brought together for discussions, information sharing and advice.
Our placement localities have practice learning teachers and link tutors who will be able to advise you about their particular practice areas. Once in your placement, you will work under the supervision of a mentor/practice educator and a team of co-mentors. They assess your practice and developing skills, and advise you on the progress of your portfolio of experience and your professional development.
We have nationally recognised teachers and researchers, and all our teaching staff are committed to ensuring that you have the best possible experience, enabling you to emerge as a confident, competent professional. The paramedic teaching team consists of paramedic educators and medical and nursing educators.
Your practice placements will be undertaken within the South East Coast Ambulance Trust and other healthcare settings across a wide geographical area, allowing you to gain a range of experiences.
Placements will feature practical supervised experience in, for example, ambulance stations and ambulance vehicles, operating theatres, intensive care units, accident and emergency departments, maternity, mental health and children’s units, and specialist ambulance services.
You will work alongside qualified health, social care and emergency care staff. Your placements will give you the opportunity to put your skills into practice early in the programme. You will have opportunities to participate in inter-professional learning in your practice settings, working alongside fully qualified paramedics and other clinicians.
If you are a registered practitioner looking for an undergraduate programme to further your learning, please visit our Continuing Professional Development page.
The programme will run over 40 weeks each year.
Come to one of our Open Days, when you can tour the campus, speak to students and academic staff, see our student accommodation and ask as many questions as you like. In the meantime, order a personal prospectus – tailored to only include the subjects that interest you.
GCSE English Language Mathematics and Science at grade C or above (or equivalent). A relevant science A-level is required.
Shortlisting
Admissions staff will review the information provided within the personal statement and reference to assess applications for evidence of academic ability, insight and motivation. Relevant experience in a care setting and/or evidence of other involvement in the community (for example school, voluntary or charity responsibilities) is normally required. Personal statements should be comprehensive, with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview and selection day.
Interview and selection day
Interviews are conducted jointly by University academics assisted by staff from clinical practice areas. As part of the selection process, candidates are required to complete literacy and numeracy exercises; satisfactory levels of achievement in these exercises is a requirement for entry to the programmes.
Admission to this programme is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) Section 4 (2) (Exemptions) Order 1975 and DHSS Circular HC (88)9 guidelines regarding police checks and child protection. Offers are conditional upon satisfactory health and fitness for practice screening, references and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, or equivalent. Candidates must also meet national requirements to work with vulnerable adults and children.
Admission is also subject to NHS eligibility for the programme. For further information on eligibility, applicants should contact the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Proof of eligibility is normally required prior to interview.
Candidates should have the ability to follow a shift pattern covering 24 hours a day and seven days a week, and be able to meet early morning and late night travel requirements.
Candidates are encouraged to gain practical work experience in a care setting prior to undertaking the programme. All programmes and places are subject to commissioned numbers. All applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of study within the last five years.
The Department of Health requires all Paramedic Practice students to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C during the induction week. Those testing positive would be subject to Department of Health guidelines for entry to the programme.
Candidates will also need a satisfactory level of fitness to pass the South East Coast Ambulance Trust fitness test.
Candidates are required to have a full UK driving licence and also to have passed the C1 driving test before the commencement of the programme.
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7.0 or above, with a minimum of 7.0 in each sub-skill (or equivalent)
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
| Award | Course Length | Professional Training | UCAS code | KIS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | 3 years | B780 | View KIS data set |
We offer a range of bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.
See course information for students applying to start in September 2013.
Phone: +44 (0)1483 681 681
