Program Overview

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Overview

Your first year will build up your knowledge of the fundamentals of human anatomy and the core principles of care, where you will learn and collaborate with students of other healthcare professions. With a focus on key study skills and techniques, the integrated foundation year will ease the transition of studying at degree-level, whether you’re joining us from school, college, or employment.

To become an adaptable and skilled paramedic, we’ll teach you to think critically and apply your skills to unpredictable and challenging environments. You’ll learn the essential emergency and urgent care skills through hands-on clinical skill sessions, where you will work through simulated scenarios and practice with specialist medical manikins. These will take place in our simulation suites, where you’ll become confident in using the specialist equipment available to you when you qualify, including a fully equipped emergency ambulance.

Paramedics are often the first point of contact during unscheduled, out-of-hospital care, so you’ll need to learn how to interact with the public and provide the support they need during an emergency. This course is centred around providing whole-patient care, meaning you will enter the workforce as a well-rounded, caring, and compassionate paramedic.

Placements

There are no placements during the foundation year.

In your final three years, you’ll gain essential experience through placements with the West Midlands Ambulance Service. This will be complemented by a range of other healthcare settings, including nursing homes, the primary care emergency department, paediatrics, and palliative care settings.

Foundation Year

Mandatory modules

• Essential skills for learning in healthcare
• Science for healthcare
• Health and wellbeing in today’s society
• Becoming a healthcare professional

Careers

This course is fully approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) so when you graduate, you’ll be able to register with them as a paramedic.

HCPC registration means that you can apply for opportunities in NHS ambulance services, private ambulance services and an increasing range of other healthcare environments.

This qualification is also recognised in many countries around the world, opening the doors to work in overseas healthcare settings.

Course highlights

• Varied placements
• As well as placements with an ambulance service you can experience being part of a multi-disciplinary team within A&E, hospices, minor injuries units, maternity services and mental health wards.

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching and assessment contents

• Teaching
• Contact hours
• Independent self-study
• Assessment
• Teaching staff
• Specification

The Foundation Year aims to prepare you to successfully transition to academic study within Higher Education. You will be supported to develop your level of educational attainment while exploring integrated care systems in the 21st Century. The structure of the course moves you towards increasing independence in your studies to successfully engage with Higher Education study. All modules offer you structured tutor support, and each module is designed to lead you to increasing independence and confidence.

The learning and teaching strategies of this creative and exciting healthcare course promote active student engagement. The Inclusion Toolkit has been used to develop accessible, flexible and inclusive approaches that empower students to engage with self-directed learning.

You will be taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars, clinical skills and simulated learning opportunities, directed study, group projects and self-study packages. Interactive workshops take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures, and practical sessions are focused on identifying subject and / or profession specific skills and applied knowledge through individual and group project work.

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff points required: 32

The UCAS tariff points can come from 1 A-level (grade C or above) or an equivalent qualification. You will also need:

• GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C/4 or above
• A clear commitment to pursuing a career in nursing
• To be at least 18 years old

However, all applicants will be judged on their individual merits and we may take other skills, qualifications and life experience into account. We welcome mature students without the usual formal qualifications and will consider your application based on your suitability and preparedness to complete the Foundation Year.

The BSc Paramedic Science with Foundation Year course is aimed at individuals who may have few or no relevant formal qualifications but who can demonstrate a clear commitment to pursuing a career as a paramedic. Personal, professional and educational experiences will be considered to determine motivation and ability to progress onto the degree course.

Fees

Fees contents

• Full time
• Other costs
• Accommodation
• Funding for Paramedic Science students

UK and EU students

The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year for new and continuing students.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.

Key facts

• UCAS points: 32
• Mature students welcome
• Start date and location: Sep 2025 - Worcester
• Fees: UK and EU £9,535, International £16,700
• 4 years full-time
• Placement: Yes

Accreditation

The final three years of this course are accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible to register with them as a paramedic.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

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Paramedic Science BSc (Hons) with Foundation Year

is a four-year program that equips students with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to become qualified paramedics. The program focuses on hands-on experience, developing biomedical knowledge, and problem-solving skills. It emphasizes technical excellence alongside nurturing the key values that shape patient-centered care. This program aims to produce well-rounded, compassionate healthcare professionals prepared to serve the community.

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Objectives:

• Equip students with the fundamental knowledge and skills to become qualified paramedics.
• Develop biomedical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
• Promote technical excellence alongside patient-centered care values.
• Nurture compassionate healthcare professionals.

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Description:

This program is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, seminars, and practical exercises. Students learn from experienced staff and guest speakers, gaining valuable insights into the field of paramedic science. The program also features strong emphasis on inter-professional learning and teaching, fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals.

Outline:

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Year 1 (Foundation Year):

• Essential skills for learning in healthcare
• Science for healthcare
• Health and wellbeing in today's society
• Becoming a healthcare professional

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Year 2:

• Biosciences and Pathophysiology 1
• Professionalism
• Patient assessment
• Skills and simulation 1
• Skills and simulation 2
• Practice 1

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Year 3:

• Biosciences and Pathophysiology 2
• Patient assessment and clinical interventions
• Research methods
• Skills and simulation 3
• Practice 2
• Practice 3

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Year 4:

• Leadership
• Reasoning
• Dissertation
• Skills and simulation 4
• Practice 4
• Practice 5

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Structure:

The program is delivered through a combination of:

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Seminars
• Practical exercises
• Simulations
• Placements

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Course Schedule:

A typical week in year 1 (level 3) will be a minimum of 12 hours per week. Typically, contact time will be structured around:

• 2 hours of interactive workshops
• 2 hours of (large group) lectures
• 6 hours of seminars in groups of around 12 students
• 2 hours of personal development.

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Individual Modules:

• Essential skills for learning in healthcare
• Science for healthcare
• Health and wellbeing in today's society
• Becoming a healthcare professional
• Biosciences and Pathophysiology 1
• Professionalism
• Patient assessment
• Skills and simulation 1
• Skills and simulation 2
• Practice 1
• Biosciences and Pathophysiology 2
• Patient assessment and clinical interventions
• Research methods
• Skills and simulation 3
• Practice 2
• Practice 3
• Leadership
• Reasoning
• Dissertation
• Skills and simulation 4
• Practice 4
• Practice 5
## Assessment:

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Assessment Methods:

• Essays
• Reports
• Portfolios
• Presentations
• Supervisor reports
• Final year independent studies project
• Examinations

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Assessment Criteria:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Communication and presentation skills
• Professionalism and ethical behavior
• Clinical skills and judgment
## Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Simulations
• Online learning
• Practical sessions

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Faculty:

The program is taught by experienced and award-winning staff, including paramedics, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The program also features guest speakers from the field.

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Unique Approaches:

• Strong emphasis on inter-professional learning and teaching
• Close partnership with West Midlands Ambulance University NHS Foundation Trust
• Varied alternative placements in healthcare settings
• Eligibility to apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council
## Careers:

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Potential Career Paths:

• Paramedic
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Critical Care Paramedic
• Flight Paramedic
• Medical Researcher
• Healthcare Educator

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Career Outcomes:

Graduates will be eligible to apply for professional registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and pursue a rewarding career in paramedic science.

Other:

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Government Funding:

The UK government offers a payment of at least £5,000 a year to students pursuing paramedic science degrees.

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Cost Considerations:

The program requires students to pay for an enhanced DBS check and purchase additional uniforms.

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Accommodation:

The University of Worcester offers various accommodation options for students, including halls of residence.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

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Full-time tuition fees

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UK and EU students

The standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2024/25 academic year is £9,250 per year.

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International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2024/25 academic year is £16,200 per year.

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Funding for Paramedic Science students

The Government has announced that, from September 2020, students on Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Paramedic Science courses will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year, which they will not need to pay back. This payment is not available on the Foundation Year element of this course (year 1).

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Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses. There might be cost associated for travel on this course. Students will be required to pay for an enhanced DBS check. A full set of uniform will be provided by the university at the beginning of year 2 of the course including shirts, trousers, high-visibility clothing, helmet and steel toe capped boots. Additional uniform may need to be purchased by the student.