Paramedic Science

BSc (Hons)

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Entry year

Typical offer for 2026
Duration
UCAS code
Start date
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Suitable for applications.

Overview

This degree has been developed in collaboration with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and develops autonomous healthcare professionals with eligibility to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Paramedic.

You will learn the fundamentals of paramedic theory and practice in both university and ambulance service teaching facilities. You will also gain learning experiences under the direct supervision of mentors in ambulance service clinical practice placements, as well as other selected clinical practice areas.

The programme includes:

A paid sandwich year with the ambulance service providing a unique opportunity to gain work experience during the programme
Clinical placements with a wide range of healthcare providers
Innovative curriculum using team-based learning
Clear focus on patient safety
Clear focus on managing the needs of aging populations, with taught content from leading dementia researchers
Extensive use of high fidelity simulation to develop core skills and behaviours

The role of the paramedic

The paramedic is an essential part of the current and future NHS workforce.

Paramedics have traditionally responded to 999 emergencies, but increasing demand for services has seen innovative ways of working across the emergency care system emerge, with paramedics working in a range of environments.

To cope with these demands, the paramedic needs to manage an increasingly diverse range of situations. On this programme you will learn how to manage undifferentiated patients, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, request and interpret tests, diagnose injury and illness, provide appropriate treatment and management, and counsel on preventative healthcare.

Our unique sandwich degree offers you the chance to gain valuable real-world clinical experience and develop specialisms, providing opportunities for accelerated career progression and diversity.

Professional accreditation

This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as meeting their standards for the paramedic profession. This means you'll be able to register with them as a paramedic and work as a qualified paramedic upon successful completion of this course.

Rankings

The University of Bradford is ranked:

for Paramedic Science.

Bradford's paramedic science course offers a level of placements that other universities do not. This sets you apart in terms of your skillset and communication level. It’s what Bradford students get praised for time and time again by employers.

Abi, BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science

Entry requirements

Typical offer - 128 UCAS tariff points.

You will need a full, clean (manual) driving licence, which must remain so for the duration of the programme. You will also need to have the right to work in the UK to be able to start the course.

Driving Licence requirements:

All applicants require a full, clean (manual) UK driving licence with at least provisional C1 entitlement at point of entry onto the programme. Licences with any endorsements will not be accepted. You will be required to pass the C1 test by the start of academic year 3, however there is an additional cost associated with this which will be borne by you. Without this qualification you will be unable to progress further on the programme.

Please be aware that it is your responsibility to maintain a full, clean (manual) UK driving licence throughout the duration of the programme, and that failure to do so may prevent you from completing the sandwich year and therefore you may be unable to progress further on the programme.

A levels

ABB from three A levels to include at least one science subject.

Please note that where a science A level is taken, the University will require applicants to pass the practical element (for A levels awarded from August 2017 onwards).

T levels

Distinction in Health or Healthcare Science.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM. Health or Science subject required.

Applicants on Access Programmes

128 UCAS tariff points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Health Professions or Science - at least 12 credits in Science must be at minimum grade Distinction.

International Baccalaureate Requirements

128 UCAS tariff points from 3 HL subjects at 6,6,5 to include one HL in Maths or a Science subject. Plus HL 3 or SL 4 in Maths, Science and English Language and Literature A or English B.

Plus minimum of

GCSEs with grade C or grade 4 to include English Language, Mathematics, and a science. Level 2 equivalencies are accepted.

Those applying with an Access course are only required to have GCSE English language and mathematics at grade C or grade 4. Level 2 equivalences are accepted in place of GCSE English language and mathematics.

Additional entry requirements

Applicants with criminal convictions

Once you accept your offer, you will be asked to declare any criminal convictions you hold (including spent convictions). Having a criminal conviction does not mean that you cannot enrol on the course, you will need to go through a criminal convictions panel process.

English language requirements

IELTS at 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each sub-test.

Foundation Year entry

If you are a UK student and do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you may be nominated on our Foundation Year in Clinical Sciences and Medicine programme.

After successful completion of the Foundation Year, transfer to stage 1 Paramedic Science BSc (Hons) will be a competitive process with limited places. Students must achieve an average of 65% overall (passing all modules) and receive a positive reference from their personal academic tutor. If unsuccessful in transferring to Paramedic Science BSc (Hons), students will be transferred onto Clinical Sciences BSc (Hons).

Transferring from another university

Applications to transfer to year 2 or 3 will not be considered for this programme.

Your learning journey

All module information is for 2025 entry, and is subject to change.

First Year

Core

Second Year

Core

Third Year

Core

Paramedic Professional Sandwich Year

Final Year

Core

Placement Year

Teaching, learning and assessment

During the first two years of the programme, you will develop the essential clinical skills aligned to the role of 'Ambulance Practitioner', including advanced driving techniques.

At the end of year two, you will apply for a paid sandwich year, during which you'll be employed by YAS in a frontline clinical role.

This will be a full-time temporary contract.

This year is credit-bearing and is a required element of the programme, assessed on a pass/fail basis. However, it does not contribute towards your degree classification.

In the final year, you will return to university and ambulance service teaching facilities-based teaching. This will deepen your knowledge and skills to become competent in autonomous paramedic practice at the point of registration.

Again, you will undertake clinical practice placements under the direct supervision of mentors. During this final stage, you will also undertake modules drawn from the Faculty's existing CPD catalogue, allowing specialisation in clinical practice.

Mode of delivery

Team-based learning, high fidelity clinical skills simulation, integrated practice placements and a sandwich year professional placement.

Sandwich year

At the start of the sandwich year, you will undertake a period of preceptorship as an associate ambulance practitioner (AAP) before being able to progress to Ambulance Practitioner. This will be agreed with YAS and the academic team.

Learning outcomes

Mapped against the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards of proficiency for paramedics (HCPC 2014) as well as the College of Paramedics curriculum guidance (CoP 2015) and the QAA benchmark statement for paramedic science (QAA 2016).

Our facilities

Take a virtual tour of our Paramedic Science subject facilities.

Explore the spaces that shape future life-saving paramedics.

Discover the Paramedic Suite's advanced simulation facilities, hone your skills in the Practice Suite, delve into the Wet Lab's hands-on experiences.

Get ready to envision your future in this vital field.

Explore Paramedic Science in our virtual experience

Fees, finance and scholarships

Tuition fee 2026

UK: £9,790 (Sandwich year: £979)

The University of Bradford will charge home rate tuition fees up to the maximum allowed by the UK Government.

Should the UK Government choose to increase the maximum tuition fee allowed in the second and subsequent years of your course, the University will raise tuition fees in line with UK Government policy and approvals.

Additional costs

Essential Costs

Costs of travelling to, and staying at, placement. If you are eligible for the Learning Support Fund you can reclaim these costs, but you must pay for them first.

You will require:

a stethoscope (£40-£300)
a fob watch (£10-£20)

You will need to pay for the theory test and practical training to get a C1 driving licence.

Optional costs

Student membership of the College of Paramedics (£45 per year, or £3.75 per month).

There may be additional costs that you may incur as a student. Though these are not essential to your programme of study you need to be aware of them as a student of the University. A list of the sort of costs you might expect can be found on our fees and finance section.

Financial support

The government has outlined new funding for nursing, midwifery and other allied health professions courses. Students at English universities will receive up to £8,000 with a minimum of £5,000 a year in funding.

See our fees and financial support section.

Postgraduate Master's Loan

If you live in England you may be able to apply for a special Government-funded Master's Loan to help pay your tuition fees and living costs.
You don't have to pay the loan back until you're earning a certain amount of money.

Scholarships

Every year we award numerous non-repayable scholarships to UK, EU and international students on the basis of academic excellence, personal circumstances or economic hardship. For full details, visit our scholarships section.

Career prospects

Successful graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC as a paramedic. This enables them to seek employment in UK ambulance services as well as a range of other clinical specialities.

Career opportunities in research, education and leadership and management exist within the ambulance services and the higher education sectors.

Our entry tariff is high. We seek to attract high quality candidates, and in return our programme offers unrivalled opportunities for rapid career progression in the fields of paramedic and pre-hospital care. This provides a real alternative to other healthcare careers such as medicine, nursing, midwifery or other allied health pathways.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Student with back towards the camera, arms spread, overlooking a sea. The student is wearing a shirt saying 'See the world'.

Study abroad

A study abroad year is a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons, build connections with people from different backgrounds and cultures, and strengthen your skills and experience to make you stand out in the job market.

We have opportunities for students to study, work or volunteer in more than 150 countries across the world and will support you every step of the way.

Study support

Research

Terms and conditions of study

The University has a set of terms and conditions for all students accepting an offer to study on a course here at Bradford. This is called The Student Contract. This document sets out the Terms and Conditions which apply when you accept an offer of a place on a programme of study at the University of Bradford.

View our Student Contract for further details.

Transparency statement

Information about this programme and its modules has been published in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publication, but changes may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of teaching. Any change which impacts the terms and conditions of an applicant’s offer will be communicated to them.