Paramedic Science

Paramedic science is the study and practice of providing emergency pre-hospital care to patients in urgent and often unpredictable situations. Paramedics are clinically trained healthcare professionals who assess and treat patients in the field, make rapid decisions under pressure, and coordinate care with the wider health system. The discipline draws on physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, clinical assessment, and the practical skills needed to deliver safe and effective care before a patient reaches hospital.

This three-year, full-time programme at the University of Plymouth develops both the theoretical knowledge and the clinical competencies required to practise as a paramedic. You will study the underpinning sciences of pre-hospital care, the clinical skills required for a wide range of medical and trauma emergencies, and the professional and ethical frameworks that govern paramedic practice. Patient placement is central to the course, giving you supervised experience of real clinical environments and allowing you to develop practical skills in the settings where you will eventually work.

The programme prepares you to understand the full patient journey, from initial emergency call through assessment and treatment to handover within the healthcare system.

Graduation leads to eligibility to register with the Health and Care Professions Council as a paramedic, which is the professional requirement to practise in the UK. Most graduates enter employment with NHS ambulance services, though paramedicine skills are also valued in air ambulance services, event medicine, offshore and remote environments, and the armed forces. Some graduates pursue further study in advanced clinical practice, emergency medicine, or healthcare leadership, developing expertise in specialist areas of pre-hospital and urgent care.