Paramedic Science (Pre-registration)

In December 2024, the University of Bolton was granted permission by the Office for Students (OfS) to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester with immediate effect. While we work to update our systems, you may see both names used in the information we provide.

Offered in partnership with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust, the University of Greater Manchester's BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree offers you the knowledge and skills necessary to be eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Paramedic.

Your transformation into a Paramedic practitioner will develop over this three-year undergraduate programme with the guidance of experts in pre-hospital care and associated subject matter experts. The modules focus on building your intellectual skills and capabilities, clinical judgement skills, and confidence in performing the clinical skills and assessments required of you as a Paramedic in a safe, capable and competent way.

As a Paramedic, no two days will be the same. Our dynamic and multi-disciplinary course team will work to prepare you to assess, evaluate, diagnose and manage the clinical and personal needs of patients of all ages, taking into account the situation and environmental conditions. You'll learn the fundamentals of equipping, maintaining and operating in emergency ambulances and rapid response vehicles. We'll help you become an effective, capable clinician who can respond to and manage a broad spectrum of emergency and non-emergency situations. These may range from medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest and multi-system traumas through minor illnesses and injuries to chronic conditions and psychological and mental health events.

Your studies will be split between practice and theory. Each year, 600 hours of your time will be centred in practice learning experience with NWAS and other local health care providers, learning the realities of life as a Paramedic. You'll dedicate a further 900 hours per year to your theory studies at the University, complementing and enhancing your learning in the workplace. We'll guide you as you learn to resuscitate, stabilise, treat and assess patients using sophisticated techniques, equipment and drugs. You'll have the opportunity to gain experience in our cutting-edge Clinical Simulation Area and Suites, where you can learn techniques and practice using equipment in a safe and controlled environment. Your practice learning experience with NWAS will then build on these skills in the pre-hospital arena. Some of the topics you'll study are out-of-hospital emergency and urgent care, trauma management, mental health, chronic conditions, pharmacology, maternal and obstetric emergencies, and social needs. If you have a passion for helping people in these dynamic circumstances, then this is the course for you.

While developing your clinical knowledge and skills, this course will help build your leadership abilities, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, adaptability, confidence and resilience, preparing you to shoulder the decision-making responsibilities demanded by this healthcare profession. As a Paramedic, you'll need to work with a high level of autonomy in often unpredictable and emergency situations. In addition to your patients, you'll interact with and support relatives, friends and members of the public. You'll also need to appreciate and respect the input and remit of a wide range of other healthcare professionals and emergency services such as the Police, Fire and Rescue Services, as well as other Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs). Importantly, you'll also need to take care of yourself and ensure your own wellbeing and safety while having the comfort of knowing you will always have support from the University of Greater Manchester through any challenges you have on this course.

The University of Greater Manchester puts your needs first, offering a supportive and positive environment so you can achieve your chosen goals. They're all about small class sizes that allow them to know their students by name, courses designed in consultation with industry experts and continued multi-million-pound investment in facilities.

Highlights include:

Bolton One – their £31 million health and sports centre with a modern gym, 15m climbing wall, 25m swimming pool and a competition-level trampoline

National Centre for Motorsports Engineering (NCME) - the only centre in the UK of its kind, staffed by an incredibly experienced team dedicated to preparing students for employment.

School of the Arts – including photography studios, darkrooms, 2D and 3D art workshops and a fully operating theatre.

With their student-focused university approach, the University of Greater Manchester will support your ambitions and ensure you get to enjoy #UniAsItShouldBe.