Paramedic Science with Integrated Foundation Year

Paramedic science prepares you for one of the most demanding and directly consequential healthcare roles available: the paramedic who responds to emergencies, stabilises critically ill and injured patients in pre-hospital settings, and makes rapid clinical decisions that can determine whether people live or die. Paramedics work autonomously in complex and unpredictable environments, drawing on a substantial body of medical knowledge, clinical skill, and professional judgement. This four-year full-time degree at the University of Plymouth includes an integrated foundation year, making it accessible to students who need additional academic preparation before entering the clinical degree programme.

You will develop the scientific and clinical foundations needed for competent paramedic practice, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and the biology of infection and immunity. As the programme progresses, you will build clinical skills in patient assessment, airway management, trauma care, cardiac monitoring, medication administration, and the full range of interventions that paramedics are trained to perform. Clinical placements form a central part of the programme, placing you in real pre-hospital and emergency settings under supervision, where you develop the practical competence and professional confidence that registered practice demands.

A typical entry tariff of 136 UCAS points reflects a competitive but accessible admissions standard for a professionally regulated programme. Graduating from a paramedic science degree qualifies you for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a registered paramedic, enabling you to practise professionally across NHS ambulance services, air ambulance operations, sports and events medicine, and a growing range of specialist clinical roles. Many graduates continue to advanced clinical practice, specialist roles, or postgraduate study.