Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
This 3-year BSc program in Paramedic Science equips students with the skills and knowledge to deliver out-of-hospital care as part of an integrated healthcare team. Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration as paramedics with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). The program combines lectures, seminars, practical laboratories, and practice-based placements to develop critical thinking, decision-making, and reflective practice skills. Graduates are prepared for autonomous practice as registered paramedics within the Scottish Ambulance Service or other healthcare organizations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This 3-year BSc program equips students with the skills and knowledge to deliver out-of-hospital care as part of an integrated healthcare team. Paramedics work in diverse environments, managing both emergency and non-emergency situations. Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a paramedic.
Objectives:
- Develop core skills for paramedic practice
- Equip students with knowledge to assess, treat, and manage individuals in diverse healthcare situations
- Prepare graduates for autonomous paramedic practice following registration
- Foster critical thinking and reflective skills
Outline:
Year One:
- Introduction to Clinical Assessment and Decision Making
- Skills for Paramedic Practice 1
- Physiology
- Finding Your Academic Voice
- Developing Resilience of Self and Others for Professional Paramedic Practice
- Practice-based Learning
Year Two:
- Pharmacology
- Using Clinical Assessment and Decision Making in Paramedic Practice
- Health Coaching Conversations
- Skills for Paramedic Practice 2
- Paramedic Practice-based Learning 2
- Developing a Spirit of Enquiry
Year Three:
- Managing Complexity in Paramedic Practice
- Paramedic Practice-based Learning 3
- Being a Person-centered Practitioner
- Skills for Paramedic Practice 3
- Understanding and Appraising the Evidence for Practice
Module Descriptions:
- Introduction to Clinical Assessment and Decision Making: Introduces core theories, safe patient approach, and clinical assessment skills.
- Skills for Paramedic Practice 1: Develops essential paramedic skills, communication strategies, and basic clinical skills in simulated settings.
- Finding Your Academic Voice: Focuses on academic writing, searching and sourcing information, and critical thinking development.
- Physiology: Lays the foundation of human anatomy and physiology for future application in paramedic practice.
- Developing Resilience of Self and Others: Equips students with strategies for personal and professional development in healthcare settings.
- Practice-based Learning: Offers hands-on experience in clinical environments under supervision, including ambulances, hospitals, and care homes.
- Pharmacology: Provides knowledge on medications, their actions, and safe administration in the paramedic context.
- Using Clinical Assessment and Decision Making in Paramedic Practice: Builds on year 1 knowledge to refine clinical assessment, decision-making, and documentation in diverse scenarios.
- Health Coaching Conversations: Develops communication and health coaching skills to empower individuals and groups to make positive health changes.
- Skills for Paramedic Practice 2: Enhances and expands practical paramedic skills under minimal supervision, focusing on safe application in real-life conditions.
- Paramedic Practice-based Learning 2: Continues hands-on clinical learning in diverse healthcare settings in the Edinburgh and Lothian regions.
- Developing a Spirit of Enquiry: Promotes critical and enquiring approach to paramedic practice, exploring ethical considerations in knowledge generation.
- Managing Complexity in Paramedic Practice: Prepares students to autonomously manage complex clinical challenges in unpredictable scenarios.
- Paramedic Practice-based Learning 3: Offers immersive clinical experience for consolidation of knowledge and skills in preparation for independent practice.
- Being a Person-centered Practitioner: Examines person-centered care, leadership, and cultural competence to support diverse patient populations.
- Skills for Paramedic Practice 3: Extends and refines paramedic skills in simulated environments for confident transition to real-world practice.
- Understanding and Appraising the Evidence for Practice: Develops in-depth research understanding to critically appraise evidence and form independent conclusions essential for lifelong learning.
Assessment:
- Assessment methods include practical work demonstrations, written examinations, and assignments.
- Specific assessments vary between modules.
- Continuous evaluation occurs during practice-based learning through observation and feedback from healthcare professionals.
Teaching:
- Combination of lectures, seminars, practical laboratories, and practice-based placements.
- Focus on interactive learning through case-based approaches, group work, simulations, and games.
- Experienced academic staff with clinical currency and research expertise deliver instruction.
- Emphasis on developing critical thinking, decision-making, and reflective practice skills.
Careers:
- Graduates with the BSc in Paramedic Science are prepared for autonomous practice as registered paramedics within the Scottish Ambulance Service or other healthcare organizations.
- Opportunities for career specialization exist in areas like critical care, emergency response, or education.
- Future roles in academia, research, or advanced practice may be pursued with further qualifications or continued professional development.
Other:
- This course is only offered to Scottish residents due to placement restrictions.
- Students must be 18 years old before February 1st in the year of starting the program to fulfill work-placement requirements.
- Completion of an undergraduate degree in the paramedic field is a new requirement in Scotland, allowing for broader scope of practice beyond acute trauma cases.
- QMU's program boasts strong industry links, providing access to diverse clinical placements.
- The course utilizes modern facilities and specialized clinical teaching environments.
- QMU is ranked 1st in the UK for Paramedic Science in the Guardian University Guide 2024, highlighting the program's excellence in teaching, research, and student experience.