Paramedic Science
Award
BSc
Duration & study mode
3 years full-time
School
Health & Life Sciences
Location
Lanarkshire
Additional information
Ucas code
B950
Course starting dates
-
Lanarkshire: September
Our open days and information sessions are a great way to see what it’s like to study at UWS, and explore the options available if you’re considering student accommodation.
We hold open days and information sessions throughout the year aimed at students considering an undergraduate, postgraduate or postgraduate research degree at UWS.
Find out more about Open Days, Campus Tours and more
An you can find full information on how to study at UWS in 2024 here.
Find your place at UWS in 2024
The BSc Paramedic Science will help you develop confidence, compassion and the skills required to deliver high-quality care for a challenging career in frontline emergency care as a paramedic.
On successfully completing this degree you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a paramedic with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Please note that due to the special contractual arrangements between the University and NHS Education for Scotland (NES), we are only permitted to recruit Scottish applicants on the BSc Paramedic Science.
Please note that due to the special contractual arrangements between the University and NHS Education for Scotland (NES), we are only permitted to recruit Scottish applicants on the BSc Paramedic Science.
if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 27 points with 3 subjects at Higher level, including Biology
SQA HNC / BTEC Level 4 HNC: Health or Science related subject that includes Human Physiology/Biology
Entry to the course will be competitive and dependent on the outcome of the selection process and background checks:
Applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements but hold relevant qualifications or work experience will be considered on an individual basis. Alternative qualifications include:
All academic degrees/awards at UWS are taught in English. For applicants whose first language is not English*, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. All English language qualifications must have been gained within two years of the start of your UWS course.
* applicants who are exempt from english language requirements include:
In general terms, if you are applying to study a course at, or above, Year 1 (SCQF Level 7) bachelor’s degree level, then the UKVI’s minimum level of English proficiency is Common European Framework for References of Languages (CEFR) at B2 (Upper Intermediate).
At UWS, we define our general English language requirements using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training) as follows:
These are minimum requirements and some courses may require a higher standard for admission†.
† Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more information).
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (BSc Adult Nursing, MSc Adult Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing, MSc Mental Health Nursing, BSc Midwifery and MSc Midwifery), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:
For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, which may lead to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council and applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
In additional to IELTS, we also accept a number of alternative English language for application and admission to our courses for both home/EU and international students at bachelor's degree study at Year 3 (SCQF Level 9), and above. From Cambridge to TOFEL iBT qualifications the number of these qualifications is extensive.
Find out about non-IELTS English Language Tests
UWS has also reviewed a range of High / Secondary School qualifications studied by non-EU applicants that can be used as a basis of entry to a UWS. These range from Botswana GCSEs to USA High School Graduation Diplomas, the number of these qualifications is extensive.
Find out more about international English Language high-hchool qualifications
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
You’ll undertake a wide variety of practice-based education experiences over the three years of this programme, which will be split between ambulance and non-ambulance placements across a range of placement areas.
While on practice-based learning, you will be working full-time and experience the 24/7 continuum of care supported by trained health care professionals.
This will allow you to get 'hands-on' practical experience of working with a range of different service users and health professionals as you progress from dependent to independent practice.
LEARNING AND TEACHING:
ASSESSMENT:
LEARNING AND TEACHING:
ASSESSMENT:
LEARNING AND TEACHING:
ASSESSMENT:
As the largest modern university in Scotland, The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has extensive staff, physical resources and services required to deliver the Paramedic Science course.
The programme delivery team led by an HCPC registered Paramedic will include staff who are highly qualified academics registered with relevant professional bodies. The School has a practice learning team who will work with the Scottish ambulance service practice education lead to co-ordinate and support placements. The programme will be further supported through our partnership with NHS Education for Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Health Boards.
The BSc Paramedic Science programme will incorporate a balance of theory and practice-based education learning hours, providing educational opportunities to support the development/demonstration and integration of knowledge, skills and clinical competency required for paramedic registration.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical workshops and guided clinical laboratory skills work. Theory and skills will be developed and applied in ambulance and non-ambulance placements throughout the course developing your knowledge, skills and understanding required of a paramedic.
The course will use a variety of assessment methods. The following is a guide to the types of assessment methods you can expect:
Programme Specification and Module Descriptors for Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are available to download (PDFs). These provide you with core information concerning your chosen subject.
This programme will prepare you for a career as a paramedic that can progress to a wide variety of clinical roles in health and social care, service management or, education and research.
Further career options include working in primary or secondary care, events medicine and providing medical cover for a range of industries such as the sports and entertainment sector, providing you meet the requirements of the employer and employment opportunities.
The programme provides a foundation for ongoing education and learning, with an option for further postgraduate study.
If you are ordinarily resident in Scotland, you may be eligible to receive £10,000 worth of funding in each of the three years of your BSc programme, for tuition and living costs. This funding is available through the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery student bursary scheme (PNMSB) which comes from the Scottish Government Health Directorate but is administered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
You can find out more on the webpages below:
£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£1,820 cost per year of study (usually paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2025/26 entry is 29 January 2025, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2025. Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.