Overview

The BSc (Hons) Paramedic Studies is delivered full-time over three calendar years in partnership with the National Ambulance Service. It is a closed recruitment programme for NASC Student Paramedics.

The programme is delivered via blended learning, and students are based at the National Ambulance service Campus in Dublin or Ballinasloe for the first six months. The remainder of the programme is spent on ambulance/hospital placements throughout the country with some face-to-face delivery in UCC.

The BSc (Hons) (Paramedic Studies) does not confer eligibility to practice as a Paramedic; however, graduates may apply for registration with the PHECC at Paramedic level.

Exit Award: Diploma in Paramedical Science

Upon successful completion of modules to the value of at least 120 credits (including MD1004 Foundations in Paramedic Practice 1, MD1005 Foundations in Paramedic Practice 2, MD1006 Foundations in Paramedic Practice 3, MD1007 Foundations in Paramedic Practice 4, MD1008 Consolidated Learning in Practice 1, MD2001 Consolidated Learning in Practice 2 and MD2002 Consolidated Learning in Practice 3), students may opt to exit the programme and be awarded a Diploma in Paramedical Science (NFQ Level 7, Major Award).

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 80 credits as follows:
Part 1 1
MD1004	Foundations in Paramedic Practice 1	20
Part 2 1
MD1005	Foundations in Paramedic Practice 2	15
MD1006	Foundations in Paramedic Practice 3	15
MD1007	Foundations in Paramedic Practice 4	10
Part 3 1
MD1008	Consolidated Learning in Practice 1	15
MD1009	Paramedico-Legal Studies	5
Year 2
Students take 80 credits as follows:
MD2001	Consolidated Learning in Practice 2	20
MD2002	Consolidated Learning in Practice 3	30
MD2003	Academic Writing, Information Technology and Evidence	5
MD2004	Health Protection I	5
MD2005	Principles of Human Structure for Practitioner Paramedics	5
MD2006	Topographical Anatomy for Practitioner Paramedics	5
MD2007	Research in Paramedic Practice I	10
Year 3
Students take 80 credits as follows:
MD3001	Application of Evidence-Based Practice for Paramedics	10
MD3002	Professional Development for Paramedics	5
MD3003	Human Physiology for Practitioner Paramedics	10
MD3004	Personal Development for Paramedics	5
MD3005	Pharmacology for Practitioner Paramedics	5
MD3006	Understanding Clinical Practice	10
MD3007	Health Protection II	5
MD3008	Paramedic Research in Action	30
Total Credits		240

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Students must pass each Part in order to progress to the next Part. Students who do not pass a Part will be ineligible to proceed further in the programme.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Hons) (Paramedic Studies) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an awareness of paramedical science from a multidisciplinary perspective including: anatomy, epidemiology and public health, medico-legal, nursing, pharmacology and physiology;
• Define current regulations, guidelines and recommendations of their professional bodies (and employer), in relation to their professional practice;
• Identify the roles, responsibilities and support arrangements necessary to deliver prehospital emergency care;
• Demonstrate a range of theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and communication methods throughout professional practice in order to work with the diversity of needs in society, in a non-discriminatory way, across the multifarious cultural, ethnical and age spectrums;
• Describe and undertake comprehensive assessment and examination using a range of diagnostic skills and provide appropriate therapeutic interventions based on the clinical presentation;
• Demonstrate an awareness of contemporary issues in the field of paramedical practices and sciences; displaying understanding on the importance of continuous professional development and lifelong learning;
• Reflect on practice, through a critical thinking, problem solving and enquiry-based approach;
• Explore current literature and carry out a focused piece of scholarly research in the area of paramedic studies.

*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***

Marks and Standards

These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.

Fitness to Practise

All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.

Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 80 credits.
Total Marks for year: 500.

First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass first year and progress to second year, students must have satisfied the Fitness to Practise requirements and must achieve:

1. Pass each part with modules to the value of 80 credits:
   Part 1 – MD1004
   Part 2 – MD1005, MD1006 and MD1007
   Part 3 – MD1008 and MD1009

Award of Honours in the Degree Award

An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the penultimate year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the penultimate year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.

Honours will be awarded as follows:

1. First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
2. Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
3. Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 55% and <60%
4. Pass: ≥ 50% and <55%

Examination Boards

September Intake

Marks for Part 1 – 20 credits – will be presented to a January Examination Board.
Marks for Part 2 – 40 credits – will be presented to a J​uly Examination Board.
Marks for Part 3 – 20 credits – will be presented to a September Examination Board.

January Intake

Marks for Part 1 – 20 credits – will be presented to an April Examination Board.
Marks for Part 2 – 40 credits – will be presented to a November Examination Board.
Marks for Part 3 – 20 credits – will be presented to a January Examination Board.

Supplemental Examinations and Assessment

September Intake

• Part 1 – Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 1 and who are eligible to repeat, will have a Supplemental Examination opportunity in February. The results of the Supplemental Examination will be considered at an Examination Board in March. Students who fail to achieve a pass standard in Part 1 at this opportunity will be required to withdraw from the programme.
• Part 2 – Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 2 and who are eligible to repeat, will have a Supplemental Examination opportunity in August. The results of the Supplemental Examination will be considered at an Examination Board in September. Students who fail to achieve a pass standard in Part 2 at this opportunity will be required to withdraw from the programme.
• Part 3 – Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 3 and who are eligible to repeat, will have a Supplemental Examination opportunity in September. The results of the Supplemental Examination will be considered at an Examination Board in September. Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 3 at this opportunity will be required to withdraw from the programme.

January Intake

• Part 1 – Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 1 and who are eligible to repeat, will have a Supplemental Examination opportunity in May. The results of the Supplemental Examination will be considered at an Examination Board in June. Students who fail to achieve a pass standard in Part 1 at this opportunity will be required to withdraw from the programme.
• Part 2 – Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 2 and who are eligible to repeat, will have a Supplemental Examination opportunity in December. The results of the Supplemental Examination will be considered at an Examination Board in January. Students who fail to achieve a pass standard in Part 2 at this opportunity will be required to withdraw from the programme.
• Part 3 – Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 3 and who are eligible to repeat, will have a Supplemental Examination opportunity in February. The results of the Supplemental Examination will be considered at an Examination Board in April. Students failing to achieve a pass standard in Part 3 at this opportunity will be required to withdraw from the programme.

Note: A candidate who is taking the Part 3 Supplemental Examination will be allowed to provisionally progress to Year 2 pending the outcome of the Supplemental Examination Board.

• Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
• The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
• The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.

Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.

Exemptions

All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of three academic years subsequent to the award of the exemption.

Repeat Year Examinations

No Repeat Year.

Three Year Rule

Students must pass/progress within three academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Terms and Definitions

Programme Description

• The programme description is outlined in the Programme Requirements tab.

Module Descriptions/Assessment

• Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.

Marks and Credits

• A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
• Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.

Pass and Progression

• Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
• Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.