Paramedic Science (Top-up)

Study options

Award

BSc (Hons)

Key facts

Location:
Centre for Health Innovation Stafford
Study option:
Part-time, top-up
Duration:
3 Years
Start date:
25 September 2023

HCPC approved

Provides eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC as a paramedic

Specialist facilities

Including our Paramedic Training Ambulance and Clinical Skills Labs

Realistic training scenarios

Practice your skills at a custom-built training village

Develop the life-saving clinical skills and interventions needed to deliver patient care in the complex and dynamic pre-hospital care environment.

The BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science (top-up) (part-time) is open for applications from registered paramedics who have successfully completed an appropriate Foundation Degree (of Science) or Diploma in Higher Education.

The course has been developed within the context of dynamic, evolving and increasingly complex health and social care services, and the requirement to respond to the needs of society, communities and individuals both now and in the future.

Health and social care services continue to undergo unprecedented change, with more highly dependent patients being managed in their own homes, within primary care, or via pathways which allow them to receive more tailored care. This requires a flexible, skilled and educated workforce with the skills, knowledge and expertise necessary to cope with ever changing patient and public needs and adapt quickly to innovation in service delivery models (Department of Health 2012).

Contemporary paramedic practice places ever greater emphasis upon critical decision making, advanced assessment, and practitioners with the knowledge and confidence to treat, manage and potentially discharge patients at scene (College of Paramedics (CoP) 2019).

During the course of your studies you will complete both core and optional modules which will enable you to develop the knowledge, skills and expertise required of the graduate paramedic.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

Course content

Students will complete a range core and optional modules (subject to availability) to meet their Continuing Professional Development needs.

Academic year

Students will be required to successfully complete a total of 120 Credits at level 6 in order to ‘top-up’ their existing paramedic qualification to BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science.

Immersive Skills Labs - Centre for Health Innovation

Immersive Skills Labs - Centre for Health Innovation

Video

Emily Browne introduces the Immersive labs in our Centre for Health Innovation in Stafford that can create environments from roadside to emergency room to living room.

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Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Year 1 compulsory modules
Assessment And Management Of Trauma In The Pre-Hospital Environment 30 credits
Assessment Of Patients With Minor Injuries 15 credits
Leadership 15 credits
Principles Of Physical Assessment 15 credits
Research Appreciation For Health And Social Care 15 credits

Entry requirements

Paramedic registration with HCPC and completion of an appropriate Foundation Degree (of Science) or Diploma in Higher Education.

Those students who are registered paramedics without academic credit are eligible for advanced standing for their IHCD qualification to enable study at level 5 and progress to level 6. Completion of an appropriate Mentorship/Practice Education course is ideal to demonstrate the ability to study at this level.

Students should normally be in suitable employment (paid or voluntary) to be able to achieve the competencies and work place application needed in several of the modules.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Charlotte Hollins - Paramedic Science

Charlotte Hollins - Paramedic Science

Video

Paramedic Science student Charlotte talks about the valuable placement experiences and pre-hospital scenarios that have prepared for her future career.

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Facilities

Careers

Graduates can apply for employment within any NHS or private pre-hospital organisation. Typically, graduates will gain employment with NHS Ambulance Trusts and with a range of private providers.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Paramedic and Nursing Simulation Day

Paramedic and Nursing Simulation Day

Video

Nursing and Paramedic students dealt with the aftermath of a simulated terrorist attack dealing in a realistic, high-pressure experience.

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Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 16-18 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Paramedic Ambulance tour

Paramedic Ambulance tour

Video

Paramedic Science student, Ryan takes you on a quick tour of our realistic training ambulance.

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Your overall workload will consist of class contact hours, independent learning, assessment activity and study visits where appropriate. Your actual contact hours will depend on the subject area and professional body requirements.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, laboratory or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve utilising a range of digital resources including our virtual learning environment; reading journals, articles and books; working on individual and group projects; undertaking research in the library; preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning will be supported by a range of excellent facilities. These include the library, open access computer facilities, informal learning zones, a range of laboratories and performance and studio spaces.

Staff

You will be taught by an expert teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teaching training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

Your tutors are experienced practitioners who will bring real-life experiences to your learning using the most up-to-date skills and technologies.

Kirsty Apps

Senior Lecturer

Kirsty is an experienced pre-hospital practitioner and educator. Her main area of interest is the development of professional practice and support for students and mentors in practice.

Kirsty's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 25 September 2023 the tuition fees are:

Tuition fees for BSc (Hons)-Part-time, top-up
Study option UK / Channel Islands
Part-time To be confirmed

When studied part time, the duration of the course and the amount of fees you’ll pay each year depends on the speed at which you wish to progress through it. This is called the ‘intensity of study’. The usual study pattern on this programme enables you to complete modules totalling 40 credits in your first year of study.

If you follow this pattern of study you will complete the course in three years. You will pay the pro rata (equivalent) fee shown for your first year of study. This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX*. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any increase as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

*RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Ross Taylor - FdSc Paramedic Science

Ross Taylor - FdSc Paramedic Science

Video

A real-life family situation inspired Ross to pursue a career in paramedic science.

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Included in tuition fees
Included in the fees:

The School provide Occupational Health screening, DBS and a full uniform to all students. Some choose to upgrade their footwear, for example to a preferred brand. Where this is the case, the student will be expected to cover this additional cost. 

Not included in tuition fees
Not included in the fees:

There may be costs to the student associated with travelling to practice learning placements and occasional visits for training at other university campuses and external facilities such as ‘Safeside at Eastside’.

Some students may choose to take an elective placement outside of our standard Practice Learning Placement circuit. Where this is the case, the costs associated with travel, accommodation, insurance etc will be the responsibility of individual students.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY

International Students, like all others, should be aware of the additional costs they will incur of travelling to their Practice Learning Placements (which constitutes fifty per cent of the course over three years). This is in addition to the costs associated with studying away from home such as accommodation.

International Students are unlikely to be eligible for the additional financial support offered to some UK/EU students. The International tuition fee includes a contribution to the yearly Practice Learning Placement tariff which will allow students to access the full range of clinical learning experiences.

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by visiting: www.gov.uk

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date Apply Link
Centre for Health Innovation Stafford BSc (Hons) Part-time, top-up 25 September 2023 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

UK University

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Job Prospects

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

for Student Satisfaction

Complete University Guide 2022

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

for Course Content

StudentCrowd University Awards 2022

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021