Course overview
From September 2020 all new and continuing students on this course will receive a £5,000 maintenance grant each year if they’re eligible. They will not need to pay it back.
Full details here
This degree ensures that you have the depth of knowledge, skills and experiences to be a highly skilled autonomous practitioner able to confidently assess, prioritise, transfer, manage, treat, refer and discharge service users in the community.
This course delivers an equal balance of theoretical and practical learning. As part of the placement experience, you will be required to participate in a shift pattern rota or work weekends. You are exposed to a unique range of practice placements comprising 54 weeks in total throughout the duration of the course.
Practice placements reinforce taught elements allowing you to apply theory within practice, gain valuable practical experience and prepare for the role of a modern paramedic. Within a practice setting you are supernumerary, ensuring maximum exposure to the role of the paramedic and patient care episodes. A qualified practice educator supports your learning and help you develop your knowledge and skills in practice.
We have ongoing approval from the Health and Care Professions Council, a multi-professional regulator that sets the minimum standards of education and training proficiency for 16 separate professional groups including paramedics. This ensures successful graduates become competent, autonomous professionals prepared for the demands of 21st century out-of-hospital healthcare.
Top reasons to study this course
- Paramedics can make a real difference to people’s lives when they are most in need.
- You will manage almost every category of patient, including children and adults; mental health, obstetric, medical and trauma incidents.
- It’s not just about ambulances. Paramedics work in a range of settings and your placements will reflect this including emergency care, primary care, ward settings and mental health placements.
- There is great demand for paramedics and employment rates in your chosen profession are among the best for any degree course.
- Employment opportunities are global, HCPC-registered paramedics are recognised and in demand in many countries.
Where you study
You study at Teesside University's Middlesbrough campus. Placements are across the North East and Yorkshire and you should expect to sometimes travel to placements some distance from the University. Emergency care placements are hosted by ambulance trusts in the North East and Yorkshire and other areas, and community care placements can be in any trust across the North East and Yorkshire regions. You do not have to have a driving licence to apply for this programme but access to transport is essential to ensure you are able to attend clinical placements.
Supporting information for applicants
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Course details
Theory is vital to provide you with the knowledge, understanding and critical decision-making skills you need as a paramedic. The modules you study across the three years enable you to develop knowledge and put it into your practice placements to enhance and develop your skills as you make an immediate and continuing contribution to service user care. You also develop enhanced communication, personal and professional skills.
You will be able to confidently take a history from a service user to assess their needs and prioritise care; formulate a management and treatment plan; refer service users to other healthcare providers or professionals and, in a significant number of cases, offer care at home, advice and guidance and promote healthy interventions and conversations with service users, carers and their family. You continually develop your clinical decision-making and complex-problem solving skill, and support service users navigating and interpreting healthcare information and clinical guidance; and offer advice from your well-developed understanding of evidence-based practice.
Care, compassion and commitment to high-quality care are essential skills. We support your development as a clinical leader and key decision maker as we develop your professional skills and understanding of the wider healthcare network in practice placements. Your practice placements are in a variety of emergency care placements (hosted by ambulance services) and community placements (hospitals, community bases and other areas) such as intensive care,, GP surgeries, urgent care centres, mental health teams, children services and more. These practice placements provide an opportunity to embed yourself in a wide range of healthcare settings and to network with other healthcare professionals, ensuring your service users access the best and highest quality of care provided by you or other healthcare professionals at the right time, by the right person at a convenience place to suit them.
If you need more information to get a real sense of what it’s like to be a Teesside University paramedic student just ask our students – we're on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedic Practice
Get to grips with the basics of anatomy and physiology – anatomical names for bones, structures and how they work and interact with each other. This forms the basis of how the human body works (like the cardiovascular system, respiratory system) how it should work normally, and how and why it sometimes doesn't. You explore what can go wrong and the impact of lifestyle, infection, disease, chronic long-term illness (such as diabetes) and acute illness (chest infection, myocardial infarction) on the body.
Foundations of Professionalism and Academic Practice for Paramedics
This module explores what it means to be a professional and how to act, think, feel and make professional decisions. We look at the role of the regulator – the Health and Care Professions Council – and how it protects patients, paramedics and the wider NHS, and how paramedics can make a contribution to the wider healthcare network. You also explore the law in relation to medicine and ethics with some case studies and group discussions.
Introduction to Essential Skills and History Taking for Safe Paramedic Practice
You learn how to use and access equipment to help you make a diagnosis or inform your decision about how to manage a service user or formulate a management plan. Skills such as taking a pulse, blood pressure, inserting a cannula, managing an airway, using a stethoscope or a heart monitor to help diagnose a myocardial infarction. You gain confidence in using all types of equipment and develop practice skills to support your diagnosis and treatment plans.
You start to learn how to take a comprehensive patient history to prioritise care and management of the service users you assess. All of the practice placement learning sits in this module. You are out in practice for 750 hours (20 weeks) in emergency care and community placements, putting all of theory you have learned in Year 1 into practice. First-year placements include spending time developing your caring skills in a ward area or nursing home, emergency care in an ambulance, critical care (ITU, HDU, emergency department) and patient assessment areas (GP practice, urgent care centres).
Introduction to Evidence-based Practice for Paramedics
You focus on academic writing, referencing and reflecting on learning styles, and are introduced to the principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) and to explore the role of EBP in the current context of paramedic practice. You also gain an insight in to the research process and the most common methodologies.
Paramedic Practice Assessment: Part 1
The skills and knowledge you gain on this module will enable you to practice competently and safely, appropriate to the first year of study. Skills developed include decision making, assessment, and care for service users in a range of placement areas. On placement you are required to attend an average of 37.5 hours per week, including weekends and unsocial hours. Placements are integral to this module and are in paramedic and non-paramedic contexts. They have been informed by the College of Paramedics education framework to enable you to gain a wider understanding of the complex decisions and care you will be required to manage.
Year 2 core modules
Developing Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology for Paramedic Practice
Following on from the Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology for Paramedic Practice module in Year 1, you further develop your knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and start to understand pathophysiology. This is the complex understanding of body systems such as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the changes chronic and acute illness have on the efficiency of those systems, and the outward impact of diabetes, asthma and other illnesses and diseases.
Evidence-based Practice for Paramedics
You develop your ability to find and interpret information, and make professional comments on the quality and strength of evidence. You also develop a good understanding of research and research processes and how they inform, enhance and develop practice guidelines and treatment options for service users. You gain confidence in interpreting, presenting and commenting on evidence and its value for service user care, integrating this into your decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Managing Trauma for Paramedics
You further develop your understanding of how to manage major trauma. Paramedics who chose to work in this area, as part of a hazardous area response specialist team, in an emergency department, as part of a major trauma team or responding on behalf of an emergency service, develop key skills in rapid assessing, managing and treating service users who present with trauma. You develop your skills of advanced airway management and interventions. And you further develop your skills in trauma management from Year 1 with practical scenarios on chest decompression, thoracotomy and other advanced trauma skills.
Paramedic Practice Assessment: Part 2
You builds on the skills, knowledge and experience gained in Part 1. On placement you are required to attend an average of 37.5 hours per week, including weekends and unsocial hours. Placements are integral to this module and are in paramedic and non-paramedic contexts. They have been informed by the College of Paramedics education framework to enable you to gain a wider understanding of the complex decisions and care you will be required to manage.
The Management and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Conditions across the Lifespan
You examine how you can support service users to self-manage their condition with or without further advice and/or treatment, refer them to another health care professional or provider or manage care during transport to another facility. You apply knowledge, understanding and skills to enable focused assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions and care for a range of acute/chronic conditions across the lifespan. The key concepts of clinical reasoning, decision-making and the ability to critically analyse clinical guidance and other sources of evidence will have a strong focus. You apply these to the presenting condition and critically analyse how this enhances your ability to support the service user to make decisions about their care.
Year 3 core modules
Dissertation: Using Evidence to Improve Paramedic Practice
Your dissertation is an opportunity to demonstrate how you have integrated all your learning of evidence-based practice, decision-making and complex problem-solving. You are expected to carry out a systematic review of a topic of keen interest or one with significant impact on service users and their care. Once completed we hope that you will be able to publish your dissertation results in a professional publication.
Minor Injury and Illness Assessment in the Community
The majority of patients who present to paramedics in the community have minor injury or illness at the centre of their request for healthcare professional intervention. In this module you learn how to carry out an in-depth assessment of minor injury and illness. You learn skills such as wound closure, catheterisation, in-depth assessment of minor bony injuries (ankle, knee and hand injuries) and other injuries and illnesses that service users present to urgent care centres, GP surgeries and emergency departments. You develop your skills to confidentially manage these service users in the community, offering advice and guidance on self-care.
Paramedic Practice Assessment: Part 3
Your further develop your skills, knowledge and experience gained in Parts 1 and 2. On placement you are required to attend an average of 37.5 hours per week, including weekends and unsocial hours. Placements are integral to this module and are in paramedic and non-paramedic contexts. They have been informed by the College of Paramedics education framework to enable you to gain a wider understanding of the complex decisions and care you will be required to manage.
The Role of the Paramedic in Public Health, Resilience and Emergency Preparedness
You explore an incident or public health emergency to consider and evaluate what your future role would be, submitted in a report format. You consider these contexts within a forensic environment to prepare you for such events in future practice and the impact of PTSD following attending such events and how this could impact on your own personal resilience and wellbeing. Guest speakers on specialist topics will widen your understanding and share their professional experiences.
Transition to Autonomous Professional Paramedic Practice
This module prepares you for becoming a professional and getting ready to apply for registration as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council. You focus on clinical leadership, developing your skills in self-management and personal effectiveness for your transition from student to registered practitioner. Third-year placements mean further developing your caring skills and having specific placements in patient assessment with a focus on community care (GP practice, urgent care centres). You can choose from a range of approved options to spend focused time in an area of practice to hone your skills.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn by attending key lectures, seminar groups, small study groups, practical sessions, simulated scenarios and e-learning. You're also expected, as an adult learner, to carry out significant and additional self-directed study to enhance and complement your learning. Occasionally this will be directed study where the module leader will set an individual or group task or problem to solve. All your learning is delivered by expert lectures, practitioners and researchers. Practice placements are a large part of this programme and you are expected to negotiate and work with a supervisor (known as a practice educator) to help you develop your knowledge, skills and understanding for practice.
How you are assessed
As you would expect there are examinations, essays to write, presentations to do either as an individual or in a group, and practical exams referred to as objective structured clinical exams. A variety of assessment methods ensures we have a wide range of learning styles, so that no student is disadvantaged. You're also assessed in practice using a practice assessment document. Your practice mentor assesses your competencies and skills, demonstrating your ability to perform the role of a paramedic. The assessment methods follow the academic escalator. In Year 1 you are expected to describe and explain, in Year 2 critically analyse and in Year 3 evaluate your knowledge, skills and understanding for practice.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
You are expected to have:
- Level 3 Academic Study in a relevant subject (such as science, social sciences or health and social care) and applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the paramedic role.
- a minimum of three GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English language and maths. Key Skills/Functional Skills Level 2 in Communication and Application of Number can be accepted in place of English and maths GCSE.
Plus any of the following qualifications:
GCE and VCE Advanced Level
112-128 points from two or three A levels, or equivalent T levels.
AS Level
These are only acceptable when combined with other qualifications. One AS level can be accepted when combined with two or three A levels to meet the 112 points required.
Access course
A pass in a QAA-recognised Access course in a science or health subject equivalent to 112-128 UCAS points.
*We can accept Level 2 Access units in communication and maths in place of English and maths GCSEs.
BTEC QCF Extended Diploma
112-128 points (DMM), preferably in a science or health subject. Uniformed services is acceptable.
CACHE Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health & Social Care
120 points (B) in health and social care.
Foundation degree
A pass in a relevant subject.
Irish Leaving Certificate
112 points from four or five Highers/Honours subjects including a science or social science.
Scottish Highers
117 points from five Highers including a science or social science subject.
Advanced Scottish Highers
112 points from three Advanced Highers including a science or social science subject.
EU applicants must meet International English Language Testing System (IELTS) at Level 7 with no element below 6.5. You must also:
- be aware you need to declare any convictions, cautions or allegations to the relevant professional body before you apply to register
- provide an enhanced DBS check
If you are invited to an interview and the date is not suitable we may not be able to offer you an alternative date due to the high volume of applications received for this course but it is important that you contact the admissions office immediately.
If you are successful in both shortlisting and interview you will receive an offer which is subject to the following:
- evidence of achievement of the required academic qualifications
- a successful work-based risk assessment which will reflect the appropriate HEOPS recommendations. Find out more about all of the HEOPS standards
- an enhanced criminal history (DBS) check may be required for certain modules or placements which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. Where an enhanced DBS check is required, applicants will cover the cost of these checks which can only be processed through the University.
- satisfactory references.
Please note until 1 to 4 have been successfully completed the offer of a place on the course remains conditional.
International applicants
- International applicants must have IELTS 7.0 with a minimal score of 6.5 in all sections or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 100/120 (in conjunction with a Teesside University English language test)* before an unconditional offer is made
- If you are successful at shortlisting you will be invited to attend an interview (which may be in person OR video call) in one of our international offices in either India, Malaysia or China, or through a secure web link (which will be arranged by the University).
- If you cannot attend an interview as stated, you will be unable to proceed with your application.
*Students holding TOEFL qualifications at the required grade will be able to combine the qualification with a Teesside University English language test to meet the English language requirement. The English language test will assess listening and speaking competency.
For international enquiries please email internationalenquiries@tees.ac.uk
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
You find paramedics in a wide variety of roles and organisations ranging from public bodies, such as the NHS, to more commercially-focused organisations outside the NHS.
Paramedics can be found in emergency departments, urgent care centres, GP surgeries, helicopter emergency services, hazardous area response teams (HART), cruise liners, in the community as part of the medical team, in events companies, search and rescue, close protection and working for the government, and arm’s length bodies such as Atos. They are also found in research roles in education, teaching pre-registration paramedic programmes, as consultants leading the profession in organisations, and in lead allied health professional roles both locally and nationally.
A large proportion of paramedics are employed by NHS ambulance services, voluntary organisations such as St John Ambulance or the British Red Cross, in traditional roles on ambulances, rapid response cars, in HART teams and in other specialist or advanced roles, clinical leadership or education roles in those organisations. If you choose to work for an NHS ambulance service they currently require a driving licence and that you meet the requirements of other Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency regulations.
Your career is very open and varied on qualification. In addition to post-qualifying roles the University also supports additional and enhanced qualifications to further your career in specialist, advanced and consultant roles through postgraduate qualifications such as PgC, PgDip, master’s and professional doctorate qualifications which may further enhance and develop your career in clinical leadership and management.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Practice 
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Practice
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Practice