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level: PO top_up: true international: false clearing: false full_time: false part_time: true start_month: January location: Waterside, Distance Learning

Enhancing Paramedic Practice (Top-up) BSc (Hons)

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  3. Enhancing Paramedic Practice (Top-up) BSc (Hons)

Key Facts

  • Level

    Post RegistrationPO BSc (Hons)

  • Duration

    2 years Part-Time

  • Starting

    January

  • UK Fees 25/26 >

    Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module

  • Location

    Waterside, Distance Learning

Updated 12/12/2024

Apply Now

Updated 12/12/2024

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

Overview

The Enhancing Paramedic Practice Top Up BSc Degree will enable registered Paramedics an opportunity to study flexibly in a manner to fit around work and personal commitments. The course has been specifically designed to enhance and develop the ability to comprehensively assess and manage a range of clinical presentations in the out-of-hospital environment, using evidence-based medicine and principles of autonomous practice.

Using key leadership skills, students will recognise how human factors can influence the patient environment and will provide students with the essential knowledge to support practice-based education, underpinned by the development of their research skills and ability to critically analyse current research to apply to their practice. This Enhancing Paramedic Top Up Degree allows access to modules which consider a wide variety of out-of-hospital specific patient presentations and supports the development in professional responsibilities as a registered clinician including leadership, education, human factors and academic research.

Highlights

  • Top up your qualification to a complete BSc (Hons).
  • Course is delivered predominantly online, with a flexible approach to when and where you study/learn.
  • Course is delivered by experienced pre-hospital tutors.
  • Allows access to level 7 academic study in the future.
  • Opens opportunities of employment outside of ambulance trusts, such as GP surgeries and hospitals.
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The big and spacious modern Senate building has various types of learning spaces, teaching rooms, our Bloomberg suite, Morley Room lecture hall, and cafes.

Entry Requirements

  • All applicants must be a registered healthcare clinician (HCPC, NMC etc.)
  • A minimum of 100 credits at level 5
  • Applicants who do not have the required 100 Credits at level 5 through certificated learning but hold an Institute of Health and Care Development (IHCD) Paramedic qualification will be credited with 60 Credits at level 5 if they are employed in contemporary clinical practice. Applicants may also make an additional claim for APEL for a maximum of 40 Credits at level 5 on production of evidence of continuing professional development within the last two years.

Course Content

  • The BSc Top Up Paramedic Practice Degree is offered to existing Paramedics aiming to improve on their prehospital skills and knowledge. The course covers a range of clinical presentations and allows for development in leadership, education, human factors and research knowledge and skills.

    The mode of delivery is predominantly online and are designed to allow for a flexible approach to learning, which learners will be able to fit around their professional and personal lives to cause minimal disruption and ensure that a healthy work-life balance can be maintained.

    Modules are broken down into weekly themes and within those weekly themes you will find pre-recorded content such as bite sized lectures, discussion boards and case studies, this will roughly equate to 4 hours’ worth of online content.  These theory elements will be supported by weekly 1-hour tutorials delivered via the collaborate virtual classroom platform and will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions, take part in case/scenario-based discussions, review current evidence and key points from that week’s theme will be recapped

    Alongside these compulsory elements there will be opportunity to attend campus for additional activities designed to complement the online materials, whilst these are not compulsory, they will provide the opportunity to further put the theory into clinical situations and take the form of simulation-based activities, study skills and discussion groups – content will vary depending on the module, as well as providing you with the opportunity to interact with your fellow students and tutors in person.

    Modules:
    • PSC3019 Applied Paramedic Research (40 credits) – the purpose of this module is to enable students to understand research methods and be able to apply these to a research project which can be a critical literature review or professional project.
    • PSC3020 Emergency and Urgent Care for Special Populations (20 credits) – this module enables students to comprehensively manage a range of clinical presentations in the out of hospital environment considering evidence-based medicine and principles of autonomous practice. This module is assessed on campus so will require one day’s attendance at Waterside.
    • PSC3021 Enhancing Prehospital Resuscitation (20 credits) – the purpose of this module is to enable students to improve their knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology of shock, precipitating conditions of cardiovascular collapse and be able to enhance their current management strategies to prevent deterioration. This module is assessed on campus so will require one day’s attendance at Waterside.
    • PSC3022 Paramedic Practice Educator (20 credits) – this module is to encompass key issues necessary for health professionals to support the learner whilst in practice-based education to ensure competence and confidence in line with the Paramedic Curriculum guidance (College of Paramedics) and HCPC Standards of Education and Training.
    • PSC3023 Clinical Leadership and Human Factors (20 credits) – the module enables students to understand and apply clinical leadership skills to reflect the essential need for safe, effective and caring clinical practise.  The students will also develop a working knowledge of what human factors are and how they too influence clinical practise.

    Module information can be found on the Award Map.

    Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • How often do I have to attend university?

    You will be required to attend the university for a total of 2 days across the whole programme. There will be other practical days, assessment study days and revision/study sessions that are not compulsory but are recommended.

    How is teaching delivered on this Enhanced Paramedic Practice Course?

    Each module will consist of a series of pre-recorded lectures that will be linked to discussion boards and case studies and a weekly live tutorial (that will also be recorded in case you cannot make it) where we will revisit key points and apply the knowledge to case studies.

    How will I be assessed?

    There are various assessment types for all the modules. They include short answer question (SAQ) exam on campus, a pre-recorded presentation, online VIVA, case-based examinations (which will be face to face), reflective essay, assignment and a literature review.

    Will completing this course allow me to register as a Paramedic with the HCPC?

    No, although this is for existing registered clinicians, this is a top up and so does not fulfil the requirements of the HCPC and so cannot be used as an option to become a HCPC Paramedic registrant.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module

  • For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our Scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module

Staff

Placeholder image for Vicki Manifold, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science

Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Vicki Manifold
Aidan Ward, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science

Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Aidan Ward
Placeholder image for Kirsty Lane, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science

Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Kirsty Lane
Placeholder image for Bryn Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science

Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science
Enhancing Paramedic Practice (Top-up) BSc (Hons)

Bryn Griffiths
Placeholder image for Ramsay Ambrose, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science

Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Ramsay Ambrose
Steve Buckle, Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science

Senior Lecturer in Paramedic Science
Enhancing Paramedic Practice (Top-up) BSc (Hons)

Steve Buckle
Placeholder image for Anya Donald, Graduate Teaching Assistant

Graduate Teaching Assistant
Enhancing Paramedic Practice (Top-up) BSc (Hons)

Anya Donald
Placeholder image for Jonathan Mounsey, Senior Lecturer in Nursing

Senior Lecturer in Nursing
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Jonathan Mounsey

Facilities

Equipment used in the Ambulance Service in a real ambulance environment.

Ambulance Simulator

Purpose-built ambulance simulator and immersive environment to prepare students for real-life scenarios.

Clinical Skills Suite

The Learning Hub is at the heart of the campus and home to the student information desk.

Learning Hub

Is this course for you?

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