Paramedic Science, BSc (Hons)

Typical A-Level Offer

Minimum BBB at A level. Health or science-related courses is desirable.

Typical Access to HE Offer

Access to Higher Education Diploma: 60 credits overall with at least 45 at level 3 and 15 at level 2. Of the 45 credits at level 3, you will need a minimum of 24 distinctions, a minimum of 18 merits and a maximum of 3 passes

Typical BTEC Offer

DDD

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

Grade B and BB at A level or DD at BTEC

Irish Leaving Certificate

360

A minimum of five GCSEs at A-C grade, these must include Welsh/English Language, Mathematics and a Physical Science or Double Award Science.

For non-standard applicants: It is recognised that individuals without formal qualifications may have relevant experience and knowledge. Applications will be considered on an individual basis.

If you are an international student:

IELTS score

Please ensure you have an IELTS score of 7.0 with 7.0 in all components before starting the programme (this is an NMC requirement). You will only be interviewed if you already have an IELTS score of 6.5 overall and in each component. 

Any offer of a place will also require:

• A full (category B) driving licence with a maximum of three penalty points. A provisional category B licence will not be accepted. A full category C1 driving licence would be an advantage and a provisional C1 licence will be required by the start of the course.
• A satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applications from potential learners who have a criminal conviction will be considered on an individual basis with reference to the most current HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.  The CHHS has an established mechanism for dealing with such situations through Fitness to Practise processes. Applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check.
• An Occupational Health assessment confirming that applicants are fit to undertake the programme.
• Learners also need to meet Department of Health Guidelines (March 2007) ‘Health clearance for, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV: New healthcare workers’.

You will benefit from a flexible, blended learning approach, including lectures, seminars, computer assisted learning, clinical practice, service user involvement, simulation, mentoring sessions plus a full range of NHS e-learning modules, e.g., Violence & Aggression training, manual handling, patient assessment, etc.

You will study half of the theory at university and half in practice so you will be able to put your academic learning into real clinical practice settings supported by experience Health care practitioners. To develop interpersonal skills and support insight into ambulance services; the first placement will be 3 weeks with the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) with WAST and one day in one of the regional clinical contact centres situated within Wales.

Covid update

Teaching block one (TB1) runs from September until January and during this block, for this year, this course will be taught in a ‘blended’ way. This means that some teaching will be done online and some will be on campus. The online teaching, where you will be physically apart from your lecturer, can be ‘live’ with your lecturer present and where you’ll be able to interact. Some of it may be self-directed which means that you can access the learning materials at a time to suit you. 

Your face-to-face, on campus sessions will be a mixture of:

• Skills and practical sessions
• OSCE assessment
• Clinician-led workshops

Your online learning and teaching may include:

• Webinars
• Revision sessions
• Continuous Assessment
• Q&A time
• On-demand e-lectures
• Self-paced module content

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh.

This course offers some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

There are opportunities for Welsh speakers to study this subject through the medium of Welsh and our dedicated academy, Academi Hywel Teifi, is here to support you throughout your time at Swansea University. We offer you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually - we will then communicate with you in your language of choice.
• Access to generous Welsh-language study scholarships or bursaries.
• Access to modules taught wholly or partly in Welsh.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking academic tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.

To see further details about the level of provision delivered in Welsh on this particular degree scheme, please see the Welsh-language course page for further information.

Since 2011, there has been a 40% increase in the number of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Swansea University and our TEF* data over the last two years shows that Welsh-medium students are high achievers in regards to employability (*Swansea University TEF return 2017 and 2018).

Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council

Tom Hewes - Programme Director for BSc Paramedic Science and Senior Lecturer

Andy Davies - Senior Lecturer

Neil Hore - Senior Lecturer

Marc Lewis - Programme Director for Dip HE Paramedic Science and Senior Lecturer

Fen Sanders-Lamb - Lecturer

Marc Thomas - Programme Director for Dip HE Paramedic Science for EMTs and Senior Lecturer

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

If you can commit to working in Wales for 2 years after graduating, you could get your tuition fees covered in full through the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, as well as maintenance funding and a reduced rate loan from Student Finance.

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

• An enhanced DBS check. This currently costs £40 and is payable by applicants
• GP costs to process an occupational health check form. Your health check is funded by the College of Human and Health Sciences but you will be expected to pay any GP costs
• Parking and travel while on clinical placement. Mileage incurred will be reimbursed (currently at 27p/mile) at the end of your placement. Where free parking is not available on clinical placement, parking costs may also be reclaimed at the end of the placement
• You may want to purchase your own stethoscope (available from around £40) and/or a fob watch (available from approximately £6).

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal academic mentor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

Your degree programme may already give you an option to study or work abroad but in addition to this you can also consider an international summer programme.

These programmes are open to all our undergraduate students and include culture and study tours, volunteering programmes and internships across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Europe and Canada. Programmes are typically 2 – 6 weeks long and funding is available. See our Summer Programmes for further information.

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

During the course you can gain one of two awards:

Certificate of Higher Education (Emergency and Unscheduled Care)

You must pass 120 credits at level four to receive this certificate; you can complete the certificate in one year. If you exit the course at the end of year one you will not be eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council for registration as a paramedic.

Diploma of Higher Education (Paramedic Science Studies)

You must pass 240 credits, of which 120 credits must be at level five to receive a diploma. You can complete the Diploma within two years full-time.