Intro

As a paramedic you will often be the first healthcare professional at the scene of incidents requiring pre-hospital care. Working in conditions which can be challenging and rapidly changing, you will assess a patient’s condition and make potentially lifesaving decisions about treatment and hospital transfer. 

Working as a paramedic offers many employment experiences in the UK and further afield. There are opportunities for you to undertake an international placement, and explore practice in a different environment and culture. 

Accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council and endorsed by the College of Paramedics, this course gives you everything you need to become a paramedic.

Successful completion of this course will make you eligible to apply for registration as a paramedic with the HCPC.

To ensure you can confidently apply theory to practice, you’ll spend 50% of your year on placement with the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and in other healthcare settings. You will also practise in our state of the art clinical skills and simulation suite and community flat.

The recognition that patients come first in everything the NHS does, and the values of the NHS constitution – respect, dignity, compassion and working together for patients – are embedded in our curriculum.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code B780

Full-time 3 years

Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and endorsed by the College of Paramedics

We are a top 10 university for world-leading research impact in allied health professions, nursing and pharmacy (REF 2014)

New funding from 2020

The government has announced that from September 2020 new and continuing students studying nursing, midwifery and some allied health subjects will receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000. Find out more on the NHS website.

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Course content

How this course is delivered

We've made some changes to the way our courses are taught to keep everyone safe, connected and involved in university life.

At the moment, students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that provides lots of opportunities to interact and engage with lecturers and other students.

Find out what these changes mean for this course

Course structure

The syllabus covers the core areas necessary for a career as a paramedic, including physical, social and behavioural sciences, pharmacology and research methods.

The course is divided evenly between theory and practice, focusing on the development of clinical skills through placements with working paramedics. Placements are designed to build progressively and to link up with the rest of your studies. The hours spent in clinical practice will increase in your final year as you make final preparations for the workplace.

You will share some of your learning with other health specialities, enabling you to benefit from sharing and collaborating with fellow students (eg midwives).

As well as through essays, exams and poster presentations, we monitor your progress using practical assessments. Our Flexible Learning Environment is equipped with video cameras and microphones to record and replay your responses to simulated emergency scenarios, and we place a huge emphasis on your performance in these tests.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

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Year 1 

In year 1, you will get weekly experience with ambulance crews alongside classroom-based study of the foundations of paramedic practice and introductions to the physical, social and behavioural sciences. You will learn essential clinical skills before and during your practice placement, and across the year. 

Modules

  • Introduction to Clinical Skills for Paramedics

    This module will provide you with opportunities to develop a familiarity with key clinical skills, which are necessary for participation and safe observation of paramedic practice during clinical placements.

  • Foundations of Paramedic Practice

    This module provides you with a platform to develop your practice from the perspectives of law, ethics and professional identity as well as anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.

  • Social and Behavioural Sciences for Paramedics

    This module will provide you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to apply social and behavioural theories and policies to paramedic practice.

  • Paramedic Practice Based Learning 1

    This module will immerse you in clinical practice, providing the circumstances for clinical skills and assessment of practice as well as professional development opportunities.

Paramedic practice students in the clinical skills suite

Year 2 

Year 2 focuses on physical assessment, care delivery, and the role of evidence and research. You will learn more advanced clinical skills and patient management, particularly in relation to trauma, and have the chance to apply your knowledge in both practice settings and your continued work placements.

Modules

  • Research Appreciation
  • Patient Assessment for Paramedics
  • Assessment and Management of the High Acuity Patient
  • Paramedic Care Delivery: Common presentations
  • Applied Paramedic Science (Year 2)
Paramedics Brighton

Final year 

In the final year, you will further develop your clinical skills and prepare to become a registered paramedic. 

Modules

  • Collaborative Paramedic Practice in Contemporary Healthcare
  • Leadership, Management and Human Factors in Paramedic Science
  • Dissertation: Paramedic Science
  • Applied Paramedic Science (Year 3)
  • Paramedic Science Practice Hours
Paramedics on an emergency call

Facilities

Flexible Learning Environment 

The Flexible Learning Environment is an adapted home environment in a residential location where you'll be able to practise skills and learn from other students while taking part in realistic training scenarios.

Every room is fitted with cameras and microphones, so that students can be directed and monitored from the control room while the observation room provides the opportunity to review, playback and debrief.

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Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite
Our Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite is be an invaluable tool for assessment and monitoring students' progress throughout the course. 

You will benefit from practising skills in an environment that simulates real-life professional experiences. Provided by the NHS’ South East Coast Ambulance Service, you will have access to a Simbulance. On board is a high fidelity manikin with multiple uses, and a child-size manikin for paediatric scenarios.

Learning by simulation means you will be confident in your ability to apply your knowledge and skills in your day-to-day professional life.

nursing suite

Simbulance
You'll have access to a Simbulance – a mobile training vehicle and virtual classroom which carries medical equipment used to meet most emergencies and scenarios. The Simbulance can help you become familiar with equipment found in ambulances and to practice skills you’ll need when you start work. It is also used for inter-professional training between paramedics and nursing students.

Simbulance

Study abroad

Pre-registration students

During your final year you will have the opportunity to experience health care provision in another European country. These four-week placements are an option that counts as practice time and is not assigned to academic credit value. 

All students will be given information on international study opportunities, and the application process for them, at the beginning of the course.

For students not taking this option, practice will continue on your allocated base site. All students will be introduced to the international dimension of healthcare by attending exchange student feedback seminars,‘buddying’ incoming students and through contact with teachers undertaking our well-established teacher exchange programme.

If you wish to learn more about these opportunities you are welcome to discuss this at interview.

Meet the team

Ken Street, Course leader

Ken began his clinical career in 2000 and has undertaken a variety of roles, including as a paramedic, specialist paramedic (urgent and emergency care) and in practice education.

Initially Ken worked for Hampshire Ambulance Service, prior to the amalgamation, and latterly for South Central Ambulance Service.

His route into higher education began as a part-time hourly-paid lecturer delivering lectures and facilitating assessments on an ad hoc basis for the University of Portsmouth, before applying for a new full-time position with them in 2012.

In July 2019 Ken began a new chapter in his career and joined the University of Brighton as a Senior Lecturer and now Course Leader, on the Paramedic Science BSc(Hons) Programme.

Amanda Blaber

"I am the leader for several modules of the Paramedic Science degree. Alongside the teaching commitments for this course (sociology, psychology, social policy, anatomy and physiology and simulation) I prepare student nurses for their acute clinical care placements.

"My background is in acute medical and emergency care nursing, working for several years as a senior sister in an emergency department. I then went to work at various universities teaching nurses and paramedics, before joining the University of Brighton in 2009. I have been part of the national curriculum guidance group for paramedic education and I represent the university at a national level.

"Since becoming involved with paramedic education, I have edited the bestselling core textbook, Foundations for Paramedic Practice: a theoretical perspective. I have also co-edited Assessment Skills for Paramedics, along with journal articles. My research interests are in the transition from student to registered practitioner and simulations. My current projects are simulation in paramedic practice and leadership in paramedic practice books."

AMANDA BLABER

Other key members of the teaching team

Chris Storey

Chris Matthews

Tom Strivens

Josie Gray

Jenny Drury

Careers

Working as a paramedic, no two days are the same. You’ll operate in different locations and need to think on your feet to deal with the diverse challenges that you will face. Paramedics work with patients, families and communities in primary care, acute and critical care settings.

Many of our graduates leave university with a firm offer of employment from their sponsoring trust and there is a wealth of opportunity to progress up the career ladder. Qualified paramedics are increasingly found at the heart of multidisciplinary NHS teams. Career paths include specialist practice, teaching, management and research.

This course has been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and endorsed by the The College of Paramedics.

College of Paramedics logo HCPC logo-319

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course and should be used as a general guide. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer we may make, if your application is successful.

A-levels
BBB, must include a science or social science subject at grade B. A-level general studies is not accepted.

BTEC
DDM in a health or science subject.

International Baccalaureate
27 overall with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
pass with 60 credits overall. Health studies, nursing or science. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 30 credits at distinction.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)

  • with Access course – GCSE maths and English.
  • with A-levels, BTEC, K101 or K102 – at least five GCSEs including maths, English and science.

Foundation degree/HND
acceptable.

Other qualifications
We accept a range of other qualifications but they must be  equivalent to Level 3 and contain the appropriate amount of science content. The CACHE Diploma, for example, is not accepted as it does not fulfil the subject-specific science requirements.

You must also be able to demonstrate the following:

  • completion of 10 years' general education
  • evidence of study within the last five years is desirable
  • evidence of commitment to the profession
  • passing of occupational health and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Applicants must be resident in the UK, EU or the Channel Islands in order to meet NHS eligibility requirements.

Admission to the 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

Interviews will be conducted jointly by the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and university staff. A preliminary telephone interview may be used to aid shortlisting.

Please note that this course does not accept applications from those wishing to apply for deferred entry. 

Men are under-represented in many nursing and allied health professions in the UK. We are committed to helping address the balance and particularly welcome applications from male applicants.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3. 

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Health Sciences are listed here.

  • Where your course includes a placement, travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund. Paramedic Science students and overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme and travel costs for this course will be your responsibility. Find out more about the NHS learning support fund.
  • Specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
  • DBS checks, where required, are included in the fees.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. 7,000 students are based here taking subjects including criminology, English, education, nursing and medicine, paramedic science, psychology and sociology. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. Psychology students learn in our applied cognition and flexible creative method labs.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes, and a students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre and there is a BTN BikeShare hub on site. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

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Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park. All halls are self-catered, but if you prefer you can add in a food and drink plan.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of rooms
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there's a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Unihomes and unilets
Unihomes and unilets are student houses that we let to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option can work particularly well when you're balancing learning with placements and other commitments. We have unihomes and unilet properties across the city.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private renting. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Students dining at Westlain

Maps

Falmer campus

Student views  

Eloise Lindenberg

"I find the opportunity to help people from all walks of life, with all sorts of needs, to be both a privilege and tremendously fulfilling. The job makes me proud of who I am and what I do, as an individual and as a small part of the vast team responsible for a patient's care.

"I love studying at Brighton as well: the facilities, teaching and support are absolutely top class and have been instrumental in getting my new career underway. The views from campus, looking out over the lovely South Downs, made coming in to class just that much nicer too!"

Eloise Lindenberg

Jenni Brewster

"If you are thinking about studying paramedic science at Brighton, my advice is  do it! The course team are amazing and the placements are second to none; I have grown so much as a person and as a healthcare professional. Be prepared to work hard but also to have the best three years of your life."

Sam McCreesh

"The Paramedic Science BSc is an excellent balance of theory and practice, helping you to become confident and competent in your line of work. The range of ambulance placements is well supported by clinical experience in theatres, coronary care, mental health and midwifery, helping you to learn specialist areas of healthcare."

Sam McCreesh

Stay in touch

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If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644


Keep up to date at the School of Health Sciences blog. 

Statistics

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

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Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

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