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Undergraduate

Bachelor of Paramedicine

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Bachelor of Paramedicine (BPSC)
Entry requirements
ATAR 65.60
View full details
Study mode
  • On-campus
Campus
  • Ipswich
Duration
  • 3 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb
 

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Bachelor of Paramedicine overview

  • Gain the specific skills that are unique to being a paramedic, and be trained in the areas of assessment, analysis, decision making, and working in challenging and diverse situations with USQ’s Bachelor of Paramedicine.
  • From first year and throughout your degree, you will complete 18 weeks of clinical placements with Queensland Ambulance Service and in other healthcare settings.
  • Challenge yourself to develop knowledge and attributes which can improve career readiness and make a difference in people's lives. Become confident in clinical decision-making, situational awareness, conflict resolution, communication, and leadership in dynamic contexts.
  • Advance your practical skills in the paramedic simulation house and ambulance, and emergency training labs available at our close-knit Ipswich campus.
  • This degree is designed by leading medical and paramedic staff who understand the real-world of pre-hospital emergency care.

Note: Applications are now closed for the February intake (Semester 1, 2022) due to quotas being filled.
No further places in the Bachelor of Paramedicine will be offered in 2022.

Professional accreditation

USQ's Bachelor of Paramedicine is accredited by the Paramedicine Board of Australia (PBA) and listed as an approved degree with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

To gain registration as a paramedic, graduates have to satisfy specific registration criteria as well as meet qualification and suitability standards of the PBA.

Career outcomes

  • A paramedicine degree enables graduates to be employed in multiple areas, such as with the ambulance, intensive care paramedic, emergency and disaster management, flight rescue services or community education.
  • Graduates of the Bachelor of Paramedicine will be able to apply for entry-level Ambulance Paramedic positions with Australasian ambulance services. 

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

Recent secondary education

Adjusted Entry score including adjustment factors (additional points given in certain circumstances). Unadjusted Entry score not including adjustment factors.
ATAR The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used to assess the results of high-school applicants for undergraduate entry into university. 65.60 62.85

Pre-requisites

To study this degree we assume you have sound knowledge in:

  • English (Units 3 & 4, C) 

We assume that your knowledge is equivalent to a grade C or higher in Units 3 and 4 at high school level (typically studied in Year 12). Find out more about assumed knowledge.

  • It is also recommended that you have studied one of either Biology (Units 3 & 4, C), Chemistry (Units 3 & 4, C), or Physics (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent.
  • There are inherent requirements that must be met in order to successfully complete this degree. Inherent requirements are fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the degree, while maintaining the academic integrity of the degree. Please read and understand the inherent requirements specific to the Bachelor of Paramedicine before applying.

    If you think you may experience any problems meeting inherent requirements, you can talk to a Student Equity Officer about reasonable adjustments that may be put in place to assist you. Any reasonable adjustments made must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.

Please note: Meeting entry requirements does not guarantee admission. Places within the Bachelor of Paramedicine are limited by quota. Quota size is determined by the availability of placements. Where the quota is filled, no further places will be offered.

Further admission information

Adjustments are additional points given in certain circumstances that may increase your Rank. Find out if you qualify for any adjustment factor pathways such as educational disadvantage where you live, and subjects you passed.

USQ is committed to greater admissions transparency. Learn more about the education and work experience, as well as average OP/Ranks for this degree's student cohort for Semester 1 from the previous year.

Tafe (VET) qualification

If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you may be able to use these qualifications to meet USQ's entry requirements.

Work and life experience

You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet USQ's entry requirements.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Additional requirements for placements

As a student of the Bachelor of Paramedicine, the following mandatory documents are required to commence any clinical placements in the degree:

  • Medical Assessment
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate (CPR)
  • First Aid Certificate
  • Blue Card or Working with Children Check
  • USQ Student Declaration
  • QAS Checklist
  • COVID-19 Placement Declaration – must be completed and uploaded to InPlace once you are enrolled in each course prior to placement.

All students must also provide the following immunisation evidence prior to commencing clinical placements:

  • Hepatitis B seroconversion
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunisation evidence
  • Varicella immunisation evidence
  • Adult Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis immunisation evidence
  • Influenza immunisation evidence
  • Tuberculosis Skin Test
  • COVID-19 Vaccination

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

If you identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent you may be eligible to enter the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways Program (IHEPP).

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 24 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses  24
incl. clinical placement courses 
  
Total 24

Refer to the USQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Clinical experience

In addition to the theoretical courses , you will also need to complete clinical experience, where interactive hands-on activities, such as experiments and use of specialist equipment, are undertaken. You'll complete extensive clinical placements with the Queensland Ambulance Service and in other health care settings.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of clinical/professional practice within this degree. The University of Southern Queensland is obliged to report to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) when there is a ‘reasonable belief’ that a student has an impairment that, when undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm. Further details on mandatory reporting are available at the AHPRA website.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 7950
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 23120

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2022. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Professional experience costs

This degree includes a professional experience component that may involve travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP. 

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At USQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Apply via QTAC

Complete your online application via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre).

Mode QTAC Codes
Ipswich 936151

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC

  • Note: Applications are now closed for the February intake (Semester 1) 2022 due to quotas being filled. No further places in the Bachelor of Paramedicine will be offered in 2022.
  • Applications for Semester 1, 2023 intake closes in December 2022.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at USQ that is relevant to you.

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Begin your study journey today with Australia's #1 university for graduate starting salary* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide, 2022

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What is paramedicine?

Paramedicine is the area of medicine that covers emergency medical treatment of people before they get transported to a hospital or medical facility for further care. Paramedics are trained first responders that arrive on the scene and must quickly evaluate the situation, make decisions, administer medical care, and in some cases transport the patient to a hospital.

Most paramedics works in ambulances, but can also work as a firefighter paramedic, flight paramedic, or work as part of a team to rescue people out of the sea.

Why study a Bachelor of Paramedicine?

If you are passionate about helping people in the community, and seeking a diverse and thrilling health care career, then studying a Bachelor of Paramedicine in Australia can be the start of a new lifestyle for you.

If you’re not sure if you want to work on the frontline, there are plenty of behind-the-scenes medic roles available. You can work in a control centre responding to incoming emergency calls, transport non-critical hospital patients to appointments and treatments, work with training and assessment, or as a medical technician.

You can compare this degree with other Nursing and Allied Health degrees to ensure you embark on the right heath care career path for you.

How to become a paramedic in Australia

To be able to respond to triple zero calls and become an ambulance paramedic in Australia, you need to complete a three-year bachelor degree in paramedicine or paramedic science at a recognised university. 

What ATAR do you need for paramedicine?

To enter a Bachelor of Paramedicine at USQ, you’ll need an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 65.60. If you for any reason do not have an ATAR, we can derive a Selection Rank based on your prior study, work experience or professional qualifications.

Please view the 'Entry requirements' section of this page for further details.

How long does a Bachelor of Paramedicine take?

A paramedicine degree takes three years complete if you’re studying a full-time load. Please note that USQ’s Bachelor of Paramedicine only has one intake per year (commencing in February) so depending on when you decide to apply, you may need to plan ahead before starting this degree. Some students choose to study part-time which increases the time it takes to finish the required courses.

How do I know if paramedicine is the right career for me?

Paramedics are often the first people on the scene in traumatic situations and are exposed to confronting circumstances on the job. But despite the challenges, and not being your typical 9-5 profession, being a paramedic or medic in Australia can be a very rewarding allied health career. You can change and save people lives, prevent further injury or illness, and make these meaningful differences in your everyday work.

Abilities and qualities that suit a paramedic career include (but are not limited to):

  • listen and communicate clearly and calmly with a diverse range of people
  • identify problems and consider different ways to solve them
  • being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

Before you start studying, you must meet the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Paramedicine. Due to the nature of the paramedicine profession, you will need to ensure that you understand the consistent and sustained level of communication, ethical behaviour, physical and mental performance required in paramedic practice. If you think you may experience any problems meeting inherent requirements, you can talk to a Student Equity Officer about reasonable adjustments that may be put in place to assist you. 

Are flexible study options available? 

You can study the Bachelor of Paramedicine part-time to fit your learning around family or work commitments. A part-time study load means that you undertake two subjects per semester instead of four courses in a full-time load. 

Please note that one course, consisting of four weeks full-time placement, must be taken in Semester 3 of the first year of study. 

Discover more about the different ways to study at USQ.

What pathways are available?

We understand that everyone has a different pathway to university. That’s why we offer options for you if you don’t meet the entry requirements of a Bachelor of Paramedicine in Queensland. You might want to consider our Tertiary Preparation Program which is a bridging course to university allowing you to develop your writing, maths and study skills to build your confidence for further study.

Why study a Bachelor of Paramedicine with USQ?

  • Our simulated education practices involves creating accident scenes and providing opportunities for intervention, which allows you to become prepared for real emergency scenarios. The mobile simulation ambulance adds another layer to the quality learning experience at USQ.
  • Apply your knowledge using emergency equipment used by paramedics world-wide.
  • You’ll learn from expert academics and develop skills in clinical decision-making, situational awareness, conflict resolution, communication, and leadership in a dynamic applied context.