Paramedic Science 2017 Thread

I submitted my UCAS yesterday to
UoN
BCU
SHU
Staffordshire
Coventry

With competition being so high, I'm not all that confident of getting accepted, but here's to hoping 😁

My pleasure, I remember what it was like applying, it's a nerve wracking and stressful time, but so so worth it.

I interviewed for all of my choices ( except plymouth who don't interview) and got offers for all of them.
I chose BU ( Bournemouth) because that's home for me and decided Id prefer to focus fully on commitment to the course rather than having to worry about housing and money issues if I moved away.
It also placed students with SWAST who was the service I wanted to work for at the time, and work for now.

Interviews are a stressful time, but not designed to make you fail. I would advise trying to find out what type of proccess you chosen Uni's use. You can do this either on here or emailing the uni direct... don't be afraid to do this.
Some use 1 2 1 interviews, others use mini interviews and communication scenarios and some have written tests.
I would make sure you know in depth what you need and what you need to bring / wear on the day ( I would always wear a suit/ business atire but that's just me). You wouldn't beleive how many people turned up in jeans and a t-shirt for my interview days and forgot ID etc etc... suffice to say they didn't get on the course.

As far as prep goes, it's hopefully stuff you've already done, but I would make sure you really understand what the ambulance service is all about and what is expected of paramedics now. We're close to becoming Band 6 nationally, because we are autonomous practitioners, capable of administering various meds and dicharging patients independantly.
You should know about the HCPC and what they do, be familiar with the college of paramedics and their career frame work, know where the profession is going, advanced practice and independant prescribing.

I would also suggest reading documents like taking healthcare to the patient 2 ( the bradly report) and the keogh report. These are older docmuments now, but have shaped the ambulance service to be what it is.
Also read up about your placement trust, it's highliy likely your interview panel will be lecturers and members from the placement organisation so know about SWAST, SCAST, NWAS, who ever it is. Know about their coverage and some of their trust's missions / schemes. Also think about why you want to be a paramedic... why not a nurse or a doctor?

It all sounds daunting and a lot. I promise you it's not, it just comes down to being enthusiastic, they have to know you understand what you're getting yourself into and that you really want to do it. Because a 3 year degree is a long time to then decide you'd rather be in an office.

Sorry for the long post, I get quite passionate about this job

Feel free to ask anything else I can help with

Josh

Well done for submitting your application !!!
If I may ask...why have you chosen the uni route instead the diploma one?

Hi Josh,

I'm thinking to apply to ARU for 2017, I'm a mature student, nearly 32, and this step it will be a big career change for me.
1. With this course, being full time, what is the employability rate after you finish? It's a lot of money to invest in, and to think you have no job after... Can you find a job easily?
2. Is it better to do this course through Uni or the diploma route?
3. What is your advice on the diploma route? I like this route because of the salary..but it takes 3 years to finish it. After you have your qualification, will you still need to go to UNI? 3 years full time? to top up your knowledge, have a Bsc (Hons)

Many thanks for your help !!!

Thanks I've been sat on UCAS track ever since I received my acknowledgment of application emails yesterday haha

Ummm because I'm sure only Birmingham offers it that's close to me.. I'm from Nottingham and hopeful of studying from home and getting placements in Nottingham with EMAS. I'm familiar with a lot of the crews in Notts as I work in the ED so would be nice to learn from people I know. And as far as I'm aware (correct me if I'm wrong) Birmingham only offer the DipHE course to current technicians? Which you need two years driving experience for, which I don't have!

Don't get me wrong, I'm trying every avenue to get into the ambulance service as degree entry is extremely competitive with very few places. Once I obtain a c1 provisional, I'll apply for student paramedic roles even if it's outside of east midlands and once I've been driving for over a year I'll apply for technician roles if unsuccessful at getting into uni. But as of 2019 registering as a paramedic will be Degree entry only anyway (again, correct me if I'm wrong) so I may as well do a full degree in it.

As for UoN, cov & staff, my plan if I got in either would be to do the foundation degree, register as a paramedic and do my third year through employment.. which I know a lot of paramedics have done with EMAS and EMAS have funded it and given them study days off etc.

Hope all my rambling made sense 😂

Only question I can be helpful with is employability rate... it's extremely high. There's always a demand for paramedics and as long as you pass your degree and register with the HCPC I'd say you'd find employment very quickly. All the open days I've been to have been like 90%+ have found employment within 6 months of finishing uni

Thanks for replying so quickly !!! Much appreciated

Your rambling does makes sense
I've been to ARU Open Day today and was so amazed by them, the mentor..everything. I've chosen them because, like you, they are closer to home...somehow...I still have to drive 40 min to get there..
To me it's the money side...I'm nearly 32 and the thought of not having a salary for 3 years it's making me a sad panda..how will I live for 3 years???
Hopefully I can get an interview through East of England Ambulance Services..and fingers crossed from there on.
Is it true that 15th of Jan is the last day to submit your application for Uni? I will try it just in case..
Wish you the best of luck !!!!

For September 2017 entry, then yes January 15th 6pm is the deadline for applications.

Have you thought about technician entry? It's a band 4 role, you obviously aren't a fully qualified paramedic but you get training, and can give some meds (paracetamol, entonox and some IM medication) and then if the opportunity comes up to do a dipHE through the service you're employed with then you'd likely get onto it. Also I dunno if ECAs are still recruited in other ambulance services, but that might be a route to consider too.
Or you could go to uni, get a job as a HCA and join an agency and work shifts around uni. That's what I plan to do if my current employer can't reduce my hours to 11.5 a week if I get into uni

Yes, I am considering the technician entry too, but you've definitely brighten up my night didn't know I can work in the first year. Hmmm ....so there is a possibility.

Hi Josh,

I'm thinking to apply to ARU for 2017, I'm a mature student, nearly 32, and this step it will be a big career change for me.
1. With this course, being full time, what is the employability rate after you finish? It's a lot of money to invest in, and to think you have no job after... Can you find a job easily?
2. Is it better to do this course through Uni or the diploma route?
3. What is your advice on the diploma route? I like this route because of the salary..but it takes 3 years to finish it. After you have your qualification, will you still need to go to UNI? 3 years full time? to top up your knowledge, have a Bsc (Hons)

Many thanks for your help !!!

How would only having a DipHe hinder you in your progression, I don't see why the college of paramedics would prefer a degree over a diploma, granted it is one year less of training but all the core modules are still taught and it would mean I could go and gain more experience if needs be.

Does anyone have any tips for interviews?
I've been offered a couple so far (hoping for more!) and I'm pretty nervous!

We aren't allowed to apparently discuss interview stuff on here, but I think majority of unis do a group task looking for specific qualities of your personality, and then a 1 to 1 interview to identify why you want to be a paramedic and your knowledge on the role.



Some require a maths and English test before interview, and others hot desk interview so you just go from room to room with different lecturers, etc.

If you google around or look on the specific uni page, you'll likely find info on exactly what to expect. Have you joined the FB page "so you want to be a paramedic"? There's loads of interview tips on there 🙂