Bachelor of Science (Paramedical Science)

Bachelor

It can be the difference between life and death. A highly-trained, clear-thinking professional paramedic regularly faces life and death situations as a first responder. It's unpredictable. It's demanding. And it's exciting. But is it for you?

Key details

Degree Type

Bachelor

Duration

3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

Course Code

K89, 077135D

Domestic Fees

$8,950 per year / $26,850 total

International Fees

$40,050 per year / $120,150 total

About this course

It can be the difference between life and death. A highly-trained, clear-thinking professional paramedic regularly faces life and death situations as a first responder. It's unpredictable. It's demanding. And it's exciting. But is it for you?

Studying our Paramedicine degree will help you answer that question. Here, your studies will include many hours in work placement experiences with WA-based healthcare providers. And our realistic on-campus simulations will help you develop practical skills, like pre-hospital diagnostic techniques, that are critical in this profession.

You'll be taught by AHPRA registered industry professionals with on-road experience, with many still actively working in the profession. They'll help you develop an understanding of professional and ethical practice, communication and safe practice within the public health, social, cultural and clinical paramedical science environments.

When you graduate, you can consider further specialisation across a range of postgraduate courses, including Critical Care Paramedicine, Extended Care Paramedicine and Disaster and Emergency Response.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree Award.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- AQF Cert IV;
- Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
- Undergraduate Certificate;
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- University Preparation Course;*
- Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
- Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or*
- Experience Based Entry Scheme.*
* Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.
Students seeking registration with the Paramedicine Board of Australia will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency as specified in their English language skills registration standard (https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx). These requirements are separate to ECU course admission English language requirements which are detailed below.

International students are required to provide an IELTS Academic with an overall minimum score of 7.0 (no individual band less than 7.0). Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement. Acceptable tests are as follows:
- IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
- Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
- TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
  * 24 for listening
  * 24 for reading,
  * 27 for writing, and
  * 23 for speaking, or
- Any other accepted test or qualification from a recognised country as defined by the Paramedicine Board of Australia.
Note: English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings and combined scores across test sittings.

Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:
- Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
- Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
- University Preparation Course;
- Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
- Aboriginal Student Intake Test;*
- AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree; or
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Study locations

Joondalup

What you will learn

Apply in depth knowledge of paramedicine principles, concepts and procedures, in accordance with legal, ethical and professional regulations.
Communicate with diverse professional practitioners, patients and observers using appropriate literacies, language and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrate autonomy and accountability for ongoing learning, professional practice and development of self and others.
Demonstrate respect for cultural diversity, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and provide patient care with dignity and sensitivity.
Think critically to analyse, interpret and synthesise complex information from multiple sources to provide patients with safe clinical care.
Use clinical reasoning, judgement and problem-solving skills to formulate appropriate paramedic responses to patient problems in the emergency care environment.
Use digital technologies and multiple literacies to access, evaluate and share the key concepts of paramedic practice from globally diverse sources.
Work collaboratively with health practitioners, maintaining and enhancing the safety and health of self, patients and others in diverse work environments.

Apply in depth knowledge of paramedicine principles, concepts and procedures, in accordance with legal, ethical and professional regulations.
Communicate with diverse professional practitioners, patients and observers using appropriate literacies, language and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrate autonomy and accountability for ongoing learning, professional practice and development of self and others.
Demonstrate respect for cultural diversity, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and provide patient care with dignity and sensitivity.
Think critically to analyse, interpret and synthesise complex information from multiple sources to provide patients with safe clinical care.
Use clinical reasoning, judgement and problem-solving skills to formulate appropriate paramedic responses to patient problems in the emergency care environment.
Use digital technologies and multiple literacies to access, evaluate and share the key concepts of paramedic practice from globally diverse sources.
Work collaboratively with health practitioners, maintaining and enhancing the safety and health of self, patients and others in diverse work environments.

Career pathways

This course prepares graduates to practice high quality evidence-based paramedicine in a wide spectrum of health and cultural settings, and to lead Australian and international paramedicine development.

Possible future job titles

Paramedic, Critical Care Paramedic, Community Paramedic, Industrial Paramedic, Ambulance Officer, Intensive Care Paramedic, Retrieval Paramedic

Courses you can consider if you are interested in progressing further in this area.

Master of Medical and Health Science by Research
Master of Paramedic Practitioner
Graduate Diploma of Community Paramedicine
Graduate Certificate of Community Paramedicine
Master of Critical Care Paramedicine
Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Paramedicine
Graduate Certificate of Critical Care Paramedicine

Edith Cowan University (ECU)