Bachelor of Science in Paramedic Studies

What you will Study

The curriculum has 4 main domains:
 

• Knowledge of Health and Illness 
• Clinical and Anatomical Skills 
• Professional Skills
• Pre-Hospital Research

You will be taught via Problem Based Learning (PBL). The ‘problems’ are highly structured hypothetical clinical cases, each of which takes a week to work through. Each semester, students are divided into groups of seven or eight, each with its own tutor in a tutorial room, with PC, state of the art AV equipment and walls lined with whiteboards. The group meets with the tutor to work through the week’s case. The tutor acts as teacher and facilitator, guiding the group through the sequence of steps which have been devised to help students learn from the clinical cases. Each step and new development in the case (such as results of investigations or details of drugs prescribed) is only given out after the group has finished discussing the previous step.

Off Campus Programme

In Year 1, Semester 2 with core knowledge and skills acquired, students are required to attend a wide range of clinical placements. Allied health placements as well as emergency and non-emergency ambulance deployments form the basis for your undergraduate experience; these include: Coronary Care, Emergency Department, Operating Theatres, Paediatrics, Maternity, Fire and Rescue, Learning Disabilities, Care of the Elderly Person.

To maximise potential exposure, compulsory emergency ambulance placements for Year 2 are based in the United Kingdom. High call volumes, diverse population and an established university based educational system ensure students can maximise patient exposure in a sophisticated peer-led environment.

Year 1

Semester 1    
 

• Human Science (Biology, Physics & Chemistry)    
• Structure of the Body in Illness and Injury    
• Core Anatomy and Physiology (Part A)    
• Paramedic and Population Health    
• Patient Centred Practice    
• Emergency Driving Theory    

Semester 2
 

• Core Anatomy and Physiology (Part B)
• Principles of Emergency Care 1
• Principles of Emergency Care 2
• Respiratory System in the Community
• Cardiovascular System in the Community

Year 2

Semester 1    
 

• Rostered Clinical Placement 1    

Semester 2    
 

• Rostered Clinical Placement 2    

Summer
 

• Rostered Clinical Placement 3

Year 3

Semester 1    
 

• Anatomy and Physiology in Emergent Care 1    
• Anatomy and Physiology in Emergent Care 2

Semester 2

• Principles of Pre-Hospital Emergency Care 1
• Principles of Pre-Hospital Emergency Care 2

Year 4

Semester 1    
 

• Pre-Hospital Trauma Management    
• Population Health and Emergent Care

Semester 2
 

• Introduction to Emergent Care Research
• Pre-Hospital Research Proposal

Minimum grades    
 

• Applicants must hold, on enrolment, the Leaving Certificate (or approved equivalent) with a minimum of 6 subjects including: 2 H5 (Higher level) and 4 O6 (Ordinary level) or 4 H7 grades. Subjects to include Maths, Irish or another language and English.

Subject requirements    
 

• Applicants must hold an O6/H7 in Biology; Physics; Chemistry; Physics and Chemistry; or Agricultural Science.

The cost of studying at University of Limerick varies largely depending on the type of university and the degree chosen. More often than not, humanities, arts, and education courses are less expensive than degrees in medical, engineering, or management. Furthermore, students who choose to study at the postgraduate level typically pay higher tuition fees, which again vary depending on the programme chosen.

Most universities provide scholarships or financial aid to students in order to help them offset their tuition costs. Students should be aware that additional course fees and incidental expenses may not be included in tuition. On average, international students can expect to pay €25118 annually, to study in University of Limerick.

As a graduate of Paramedic Studies, you will be ready for employment within state and private emergency medical services.