Article
Paramedic Degree Entry Requirements
Last reviewed: September 2026
Paramedic Science degree entry requirements vary by university, course and entry year. An Access to HE Diploma can be a Level 3 route for adult learners, but it does not replace the separate conditions set by a university. Read the exact degree course page before enrolling, and keep a record of the requirements for the entry year you want.
Requirements to compare
| Requirement | What to check |
|---|---|
| Access qualification | Whether the degree accepts an Access to HE Diploma, the accepted subject area and the entry year to which the wording applies. |
| Graded Level 3 credits | The required number of Pass, Merit and Distinction credits. A university may specify a credit profile rather than one overall grade. |
| Science or healthcare content | Whether the course requires Biology, natural science, health, healthcare or another named subject, and how many credits must be in that subject. |
| GCSEs and equivalents | English, Maths and Science requirements, grades and any accepted alternatives. Do not assume Access-level science removes a separate Level 2 science condition. |
| Experience and selection | Whether experience is required, recommended or considered at interview, and whether there are interviews, written tasks, assessments or other selection stages. |
| Professional-course checks | Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), occupational-health, immunisation, fitness-to-practise, driving or age requirements. Check when each condition applies: application, offer, enrolment or placement. |
The formal Access qualification
When completing UCAS or asking a university to assess your qualification, Academy Online Learning students should use Access to Higher Education Diploma (Health Science Professions). “Access to Paramedic Science” and “Paramedic Practice” describe Academy Online Learning routes within that formal qualification. The Diploma prepares you for university study; it is not a paramedic qualification and does not lead directly to HCPC registration.
Both Academy Online Learning routes should be compared with a university’s precise wording. The Access to Paramedic Science course is the broad online Access route. The Paramedic Practice route has a different, Health-heavier mix of graded credits. A degree title alone does not confirm which mix a university will accept.
Published examples for 2027 entry
These examples illustrate why an overall UCAS Tariff figure or a general Access pass is not enough. Always recheck the provider’s live page before applying.
Sheffield Hallam University
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science, 2027/28 entry
- Access to HE
- A QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma in health studies, health science, nursing or another science-based course. The university normally requires 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction, including 9 Distinctions from natural science units.
- Level 2 and experience
- GCSE Science, Maths and English at grade 4/C or accepted equivalents are listed. The course page says experience of interacting with members of the public from different backgrounds is essential for applicants to health or social care courses.
University of Brighton
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science, 2027 entry
- Access to HE
- A 60-credit Access to HE Diploma in health studies, nursing or science, with 45 Level 3 credits including 30 at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above.
- Checks and selection
- For Access applicants, GCSE Maths and English at grade 4/C or above are listed. The course page also lists evidence of commitment to the profession, occupational-health and DBS checks, and an interview process.
Birmingham City University
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science, 2027/28 entry
- Access to HE
- A 60-credit Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at Level 3, including 30 at Merit or Distinction. The listed accepted subject area is a Health or Science-related pathway.
- Professional-course planning
- The course information says placements are compulsory and lists an occupational-health assessment. Check the full page for its current entry and placement conditions.
View Birmingham City University’s official entry requirements
City St George’s, University of London
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science, 2027/28 entry
- Access to HE
- A full 60-credit QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits: 21 at Distinction and 24 at Merit in a science or healthcare subject. The page specifies that 30 credits must be science-related.
- Level 2 conditions
- Read the full course page for the separate GCSE and selection requirements that apply to the 2027 intake.
Access grades and UCAS points
An Access to HE Diploma normally contains 60 credits: 45 graded Level 3 credits, awarded at Pass, Merit or Distinction, and 15 ungraded credits. A university may state a required credit profile, UCAS Tariff points or both. The Access to HE UCAS points calculator can help you understand a potential Tariff total, but points do not replace an accepted Diploma title, subject requirement or credit profile.
GCSEs, experience and selection
Level 2 requirements are separate from an Access Diploma. Universities may specify GCSE English Language, Maths and Science at a particular grade, and acceptance of Functional Skills or other alternatives is course-specific. Check the exact degree page rather than assuming a university-wide policy or a requirement from another entry year applies to you.
Experience can help you understand the profession and reflect on the communication, teamwork, responsibility and judgement the role requires. It is not a universal substitute for academic conditions, and its status differs between providers. Use our paramedic work experience and volunteering guide to plan evidence honestly, then follow the requirements published by each university.
Professional courses may also include interviews, written tasks, occupational-health screening, DBS checks, immunisation requirements, fitness-to-practise declarations or driving conditions. These are requirements of the degree, its placements or the provider’s selection process. An Access course cannot guarantee that they will be met.
Applying while studying Access to HE
Most Access to HE students apply through UCAS while completing the Diploma for entry in the following academic year. Units that have not yet been moderated are normally entered as pending. A university may ask for grades achieved so far, the units still being studied and an academic reference; an offer may be conditional on the final result and other requirements.
Our guide to applying to university with Access to HE explains the wider process. Keep the current course page, deadline, required credit profile, Level 2 conditions, experience evidence and selection information for each choice.
Before you apply
- Check that the paramedic programme is HCPC-approved.
- Save the entry requirements for your intended year of entry.
- Check the accepted Access Diploma title, subject area and grade profile.
- Compare any Biology, natural science, Health or other credit requirement with your planned route.
- Check every GCSE, Functional Skills or other Level 2 condition.
- Confirm whether experience is required, recommended or considered in selection.
- Read interview, DBS, occupational-health, immunisation, fitness-to-practise and driving information.
- Apply with pending Access grades where appropriate, and meet the UCAS deadline.