Overview
This is a two year programme leading to a University Degree in Paramedic Studies. This programme is delivered online.
To be admitted to the Degree Examination in Paramedic Studies, each student must have attended prescribed modules amounting to 120 credits.
Medical School Student Declaration
All students are required to sign an annual Student Declaration as well as confirming their acceptance of the University Student rules. The Student Declaration clearly outlines student rights and student responsibilities as registered students of the UCC School of Medicine. Copies of the Declaration are available from the Medical School Office on request.
Mentoring
Mentoring is available from the Programme Co-ordinators overseeing the programme as part of a strategy for maintaining active awareness of issues relating to student welfare, well-being and optimal learning.
Student Welfare/Complaints
The Student Board wishes to offer students in the School of Medicine assistance, backup and pastoral care with the choice of anonymity. Please contact the Medical School Office for further information.
This programme does not lead to a PHECC (Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council) registrable qualification.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
Module List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| MD3010 | Academic Writing, Information Technology and Evidence-Based Practice | 5 |
| MD3011 | Health Protection I | 5 |
| MD3012 | Principles of Human Structure for Practitioner Paramedics | 5 |
| MD3013 | Application of Evidence-Based Practice for Paramedics | 10 |
| MD3015 | Topographical Anatomy for Practitioner Paramedics | 5 |
| MD3017 | Personal Development | 5 |
| MD3019 | Paramedico-Legal Studies | 5 |
| MD4010 | Research in Paramedic Practice I | 10 |
| MD4011 | Remote Emergency Care for Paramedics | 10 |
| |
| MD3014 | Professional Development | 5 |
| MD3016 | Human Physiology for Practitioner Paramedics | 10 |
| MD3018 | Pharmacology for Practitioner Paramedics | 5 |
| MD4012 | Understanding Clinical Practice | 10 |
| MD4013 | Health Protection II | 5 |
| MD4014 | Research in Paramedic Practice II | 25 |
| Total Credits | 120 |
Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc (Hons) Paramedic Studies (Practitioner Entry) (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, physiology and psychology;
- Demonstrate an awareness of contemporary issues in the field of paramedic practice and sciences, displaying understanding on the importance of continuous professional development and lifelong learning;
- Perform paramedic skills and techniques in a safe, efficient and effective way;
- Apply a holistic and integrated approach to paramedic practice;
- Be sensitive to contemporary issues within socially and culturally diverse communities and prepare to respond effectively to such issues during paramedic practice;
- Examine current research and developments in paramedics and evaluate your implications in the paramedic profession;
- Carry out a focused piece of scholarly research in the area of paramedical science.
*** 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 55 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1100.
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:
- An aggregate mark of 50% across all modules, and
- A pass mark in modules to the value of 55 credits.
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:
- First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
- Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 55% and <60%
- Pass: ≥ 50% and <55%
Examination Boards
- Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
- Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.
Supplemental Examinations and Assessment
- Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
- 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 marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
- 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.
- At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.
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 five academic years subsequent to the award of the exemption.
Repeat Year Examinations
Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 45%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.
Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).
Two Year Rule
Students must pass/progress within two academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.
Terms and Definitions
Programme Description
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.
