BSc (Hons) Paramedic Studies at University College Cork

Delivered in collaboration with the National Ambulance Service, the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science is a challenging and exciting programme. You will have access to world-class educational facilities, prehospital training site and clinical placements all supported with expert tuition. Our state-of-the-art simulation suites and our modern virtual learning environment will give you an authentic learning experience delivered by excellent lecturers from a variety of academic and clinical backgrounds. The programme will prepare you for a career as a Paramedic Practitioner equipped for life-long learning throughout your professional career. You will study modules in theory and clinical practice and will participate in ambulance placements and clinical settings, for example, the emergency department and coronary care unit. Practice-based education within the National Ambulance Service will allow you to link and enhance the theory and practical knowledge and skills gained in teaching time. The programme provides excellent opportunities to develop skills relevant to the scope of practice for paramedics to allow you to practice in the field of pre-hospital care.

Students will be required to register with the Regulator, the Prehospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) in their first year. Students that have satisfactorily completed the first year of the programme shall be listed as Intern Paramedics and subsequently shall be eligible to join the register as Paramedic Practitioners on successful completion of year two of the programme.

Entry to this programme is restricted to National Ambulance Service employees recruited and sponsored by the National Ambulance Service College as Student Paramedics. A temporary specific purpose employment contract is issued to students. Theory and skills modules These comprise lectures, seminars, workshops, clinical skills training, experiential learning sessions, field visits, and protected study time scheduled throughout a thirty-nine-hour week. Modules are taken at the National Ambulance Service College and University College Cork throughout each year of the course. The theory and paramedic skills education in year one is delivered face to face in one of the National Ambulance Service Colleges located in Tallaght and Ballinasloe. In year 2 and 3 modules are predominately delivered online with face-to-face delivery taking place on campus at UCC. Clinical practice modules These require you to be in supervised clinical practice in ambulance settings, hospital, community and other healthcare settings for thirty-nine hours per week for scheduled weeks each year. Clinical placements take place throughout the country at designated sites. 

Why Choose This Course

Paramedic training at UCC is a highly sought-after course, as evidenced by the consistently high number of applications made to the Health Service Executive’s National Recruitment Service. We can offer you a wide variety of clinical placements across our nationwide ambulance system including select university hospitals and community facilities, representing all of the major medical specialities.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

The Paramedic Studies programme places students in major hospitals and ambulance bases throughout the State enabling students to consolidate their learning and gain clinical exposure throughout the programme.

Skills and Careers Information

The course aims to provide you with sound paramedic skills (and the supporting knowledge base) necessary for starting your professional career as a Paramedic. These skills will be further developed through clinical experience. You will also develop skills in independent thinking, problem-solving, and analytical and clinical decision-making, as well as fundamental research utilisation and application skills. As this programme includes a significant piece of scholarly research it allows you the option to continue exploring the discipline in an academic context. The combination of academic rigour and reflection on current practice also provides you with various options in your future career development including postgraduate education.