The course is organised into four 30-credit modules each year, allowing you to develop your knowledge and skills in a logical progression from the foundations of paramedic practice through to the confident assessment and management of patients with complex needs. Each year combines university-based learning with extensive practice placements to help you integrate theory with real-world clinical experience.
First year
You'll build the foundations of paramedic practice by developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to assess, manage and care for patients safely. You'll explore human anatomy and physiology, communication, professional practice and the factors that influence health and wellbeing across diverse populations.
Through simulation and clinical skills teaching, you'll begin to develop patient assessment, clinical examination and decision-making skills before applying these in ambulance service placements under the supervision of experienced clinicians. Alongside this, you'll learn about person-centred care, safeguarding, mental health, and supporting people with a wide range of physical, psychological and social needs.
Second year
Building on these foundations, you'll deepen your understanding of pathophysiology, pharmacology and evidence-based practice, enabling you to make increasingly informed clinical decisions. You'll explore how research informs patient care and develop the skills to critically evaluate evidence to support your practice.
Learning becomes increasingly immersive through realistic simulation, such as major incident and multi-casualty scenarios, alongside ambulance placements where you'll manage a broader range of patients, develop advancing assessment skills and gain experience in delivering a wider range of clinical interventions.
Third year
In your final year, you'll focus on the assessment and management of a variety of patients with complex and long-term conditions as well as minor conditions all while refining your clinical reasoning, professional judgement and leadership skills. You'll examine patient safety, human factors and systems thinking, considering how these influence the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care.
You'll undertake an improvement report, exploring an area of healthcare or paramedic practice that interests you, while preparing for registration and transition into professional practice. During your final years placements, you'll consolidate your knowledge and skills by managing increasingly complex cases, contributing to multidisciplinary care and gaining experience of urgent, emergency and major incident response.