Paramedic Science

UCAS code: B950

Here's what Buckinghamshire New University says about its Paramedic Science course.

As a Paramedic your daily role will see you handling life-threatening emergencies, caring for patients in distress and supporting people in their most vulnerable moments. Whether working as part of a team or alongside other healthcare professionals, you’ll deliver essential care in a variety of settings: indoors, outdoors, on the road, or even in the air. This Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Paramedics accredited BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree combines theory and hands-on practical teaching and placements to help you to become a confident and competent frontline healthcare professional.

Cutting-edge facilities Based at our High Wycombe campus, you’ll have access to a range of simulation facilities, including two fully equipped simulation ambulances, cutting-edge simulation labs and a A&E unit, debrief suite, and major incident command room.

These facilities enhance the realism and depth of our simulation offering, giving you the chance to experience the fast-paced and high-pressure challenges of emergency healthcare. The A&E space is designed to mirror real hospital settings, allowing you to practice critical thinking, decision-making, and teamwork during simulated medical emergencies - all within a safe, controlled environment.

Throughout the course, you’ll also work with advanced simulation manikins that behave like real patients, take part in role-play sessions with service users, and experience moulage, the application of realistic, often dramatic, injuries to add authenticity to training scenarios. Our mock ambulance and flexible scenario spaces allow for immersive experiences in a variety of environments a paramedic might encounter, such as nightclubs, public spaces, or busy bars.

Placement in industry Throughout your time with us, you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge in real-world settings, gaining hands-on experience while building professional networks with local hospitals and NHS trusts. We have established strong partnerships with both the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

What will I study? This BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course provides a recognised route to registration as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

The role of the paramedic has evolved considerably in recent years. Today, paramedics operate across a range of clinical settings, including frontline ambulance services, NHS walk-in centres, GP surgeries, and hospital environments.

To prepare you for effective practice in these varied contexts, the course integrates academic study, simulated care, and frontline placement experience. This comprehensive approach is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies required to become a confident and capable paramedic.

You will gain experience across multiple settings, including NHS ambulance services, urgent care clinics, general practice, and acute hospital trusts. The curriculum covers key subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, patient assessment, management of medical and trauma emergencies, advanced life support, and resuscitation.

In addition to clinical training, you will develop essential skills in clinical decision-making and the application of research and evidence-based practice in real-world scenarios. Each year, you will undertake supervised placements in urgent and emergency care settings, providing invaluable opportunities to learn directly from experienced professionals, build networks, and gain a realistic insight into the role of a paramedic.

Developed in close collaboration with local NHS trusts, the programme is designed to ensure you graduate fully prepared for the demands of modern paramedic practice and are equipped with both academic and clinical excellence, and proud of your achievements.

Year one Core Academic Skills and Critical Thinking Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology Social Health and Behavioural Science Fundamental Urgent and Emergency Care 12-Lead ECG Interpretation Clinical and Professional Competency 1

Year two Core Medical Emergencies, Trauma and Resuscitation Applied Anatomy and Physiology Research Methods for Clinical Practice Pharmacology for Paramedic Practice Paediatric and Maternity Care for Paramedics Mental Health and End of Life Care for Paramedics Clinical and Professional Competency 2

Year three Core Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in Paramedic Practice Leadership, Mentoring and Education in Clinical Practice Contemporary Paramedic Practice Undergraduate Project (Allied Health)

Optional Modules Elective Placement Leadership and Management

Teaching and learning will take a blended approach with students having theory-based tasks to complete in advance of practical sessions or tutor-led discussions. This is a challenging course, and the team will make available a wide range of resources to ensure students are successful.

Your learning will always be applied to clinical practice whether in the form of a simulation or scenario, research activity, student presentation or case study. Practice-based education is a critical component and will allow you to hone your clinical knowledge and practical skills when treating actual patients.

Some days may be emotionally demanding, which makes having a supportive environment essential. At BNU, we foster a close-knit, encouraging community where you can turn to both your peers and our dedicated teaching staff for support and reassurance through shared and individual challenges.

Assessments are varied and will include written submissions, presentations, examinations and practical assessments. You'll learn and be assessed on important patient-facing skills like communication, professionalism, clinical knowledge and practical skills. We'll assess your decision-making and reasoning abilities too so you can justify what you did or why you want to carry out a patient intervention.

Throughout the course you'll work on a personal e-portfolio which will demonstrate your competencies in clinical practice. In each year of study, we'll look to see that you've been able to evidence the core capabilities required to progress through the course and to identify areas where we can support your learning further. Your e-portfolio is entirely owned and driven by you and should be something you'd happily share with a prospective employer to better evidence your learning and readiness for practice.

Assessments vary according to modules and are designed to test your understanding of the modules. Some of the ways you will be assessed include:

reports exams presentations coursework.