Best Universities for Paramedic Science in the UK 2027
Swansea University ranks first for paramedic science in 2027 with a score of 148, seven points ahead of York St John University on 141. The University of Worcester is third with 136, just one point ahead of Bournemouth University on 135. The Unifresher ranking compares 43 universities with complete subject-level results across eight measures.
Paramedic science trains you to assess, treat and transport patients in emergencies, from cardiac arrests to falls at home. Approved degrees mix anatomy, pharmacology and clinical skills on campus with long placements on ambulances and in hospitals, often on shifts. Because placements can be far from campus and run at nights and weekends, the cost, safety and feel of the place you live matter more than on most courses.
Why this ranking is student-first: paramedic students spend much of their degree on shift work and travelling to placements, so living costs and support count as much as teaching. A course that looks strong on paper is harder to finish in a city you cannot afford or do not feel safe in. Unifresher puts both sides into one comparison.
Top universities for paramedic science in 2027
Swansea leads with 148 points, helped by 95% academic support and a cost index of 64. York St John is second on 141 with 80% satisfaction, the best in the top four. Worcester and Bournemouth are separated by a single point, and Bournemouth has the highest sustainability score in the whole table at 75.6.
Swansea University
Swansea
First overall, with a cost index of 64 and graduate earnings of £30,500, just above the £30,000 median.
York St John University
York
The highest satisfaction in the top four, plus 93% teaching quality and 94% academic support.
University of Worcester
Worcester
One point ahead of Bournemouth, with 92% teaching quality and a course built around at least 1,200 hours of practice learning.
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth
The top sustainability score in the ranking, plus 97% teaching quality, the highest result in the top four.
How the paramedic science ranking works
Eight measures make up the final score
Each university is ranked on eight measures, and those ranks are added together to give the overall score. Higher totals rank more strongly. Cost of living is treated as an affordability measure, so a lower cost index earns the stronger position.
Paramedic Science University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 43 ranked universities. The wider table also shows the safety, cost, social-life and sustainability measures that feed into the score.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Safety index | Cost index | Social life | Sustainability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swansea University Swansea | £30,500 | 79% | 92% | 95% | 65.67 | 64 | 78 | 69.3 | 148 |
| 2 | York St John University York | £30,000 | 80% | 93% | 94% | 72.87 | 73 | 79 | 60.7 | 141 |
| 3 | University of Worcester Worcester | £30,000 | 79% | 92% | 92% | 61.79 | 65 | 73 | 72.2 | 136 |
| 4 | Bournemouth University Bournemouth | £30,000 | 71% | 97% | 96% | 53.92 | 70 | 80 | 75.6 | 135 |
| 5 | University of East Anglia Norwich | £30,000 | 79% | 95% | 94% | 73.94 | 67 | 79 | 51.8 | 134 |
| 6 | De Montfort University Leicester | £28,500 | 70% | 100% | 93% | 53.65 | 68 | 77 | 73.1 | 127 |
| 7 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool | £23,000 | 72% | 96% | 96% | 51.45 | 68 | 83 | 68.6 | 126 |
| 8 | University of Plymouth Plymouth | £31,000 | 75% | 90% | 84% | 59.14 | 67 | 77 | 63.3 | 121 |
| 9 | University of Hertfordshire Hatfield | £30,000 | 71% | 96% | 91% | 78.31 | 70 | 74 | 47.9 | 117 |
| 9 | University of Lincoln Lincoln | £35,000 | 78% | 88% | 62% | 74.41 | 63 | 76 | 55.0 | 117 |
| 10 | Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury | £30,000 | 73% | 85% | 91% | 68.66 | 70 | 71 | 58.5 | 112 |
| 11 | University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham, Gloucester | £30,000 | 76% | 97% | 76% | 61.91 | 69 | 72 | 56.4 | 110 |
| 12 | University of Bradford Bradford | £32,500 | 71% | 95% | 92% | 40.97 | 60 | 73 | 56.8 | 107 |
| 13 | University of the West of Scotland Glasgow | £32,500 | 73% | 100% | 94% | 54.76 | 69 | 74 | 38.1 | 106 |
| 14 | University of Brighton Brighton | £28,500 | 72% | 94% | 90% | 60.55 | 79 | 82 | 53.3 | 105 |
| 15 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham | £30,000 | 76% | 81% | 83% | 47.33 | 69 | 81 | 64.6 | 104 |
| 15 | University of Greenwich London | £41,000 | 69% | 90% | 89% | 44.41 | 91 | 75 | 73.5 | 104 |
| 16 | Edge Hill University Ormskirk | £30,000 | 83% | 68% | 64% | 100.00 | 62 | 71 | 53.8 | 103 |
| 16 | University of Surrey Guildford | £28,000 | 78% | 92% | 82% | 74.79 | 78 | 74 | 39.5 | 103 |
| 17 | Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield | £29,000 | 73% | 87% | 82% | 57.09 | 68 | 79 | 55.1 | 100 |
| 18 | Wrexham University Wrexham | £29,000 | 74% | 80% | 55% | 67.65 | 60 | 67 | 63.2 | 99 |
| 19 | Staffordshire University Stoke-on-Trent | £29,000 | 72% | 91% | 95% | 51.24 | 61 | 74 | 42.0 | 98 |
| 20 | University of Cumbria Carlisle | £30,000 | 77% | 87% | 85% | 64.45 | 62 | 69 | 29.2 | 97 |
| 21 | University of Sunderland Sunderland | £30,000 | 74% | 80% | 77% | 55.29 | 62 | 75 | 56.3 | 95 |
| 22 | University of Northampton Northampton | £31,000 | 75% | 98% | 91% | 45.44 | 65 | 71 | 40.7 | 94 |
| 22 | University of Stirling Stirling | £29,000 | 78% | 93% | 89% | 53.55 | 62 | 72 | 29.2 | 94 |
| 23 | Queen Margaret University Edinburgh | £32,500 | 78% | 86% | 78% | 69.54 | 75 | 73 | 25.7 | 92 |
| 24 | Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow | £27,500 | 71% | 75% | 78% | 54.76 | 69 | 79 | 60.2 | 90 |
| 25 | University of Portsmouth Portsmouth | £31,000 | 77% | 81% | 85% | 47.27 | 68 | 79 | 46.3 | 87 |
| 26 | Oxford Brookes University Oxford | £30,000 | 74% | 74% | 70% | 63.00 | 80 | 75 | 56.8 | 86 |
| 27 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield | £30,000 | 74% | 89% | 75% | 35.54 | 63 | 75 | 57.0 | 84 |
| 27 | University of Hull Hull | £29,000 | 76% | 94% | 90% | 43.77 | 63 | 74 | 25.9 | 84 |
| 28 | City St George's, University of London London | £31,000 | 67% | 98% | 93% | 44.41 | 91 | 73 | 47.9 | 83 |
| 28 | University of Suffolk Ipswich | £28,000 | 76% | 90% | 80% | 60.89 | 63 | 70 | 24.9 | 83 |
| 29 | Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge | £29,000 | 70% | 79% | 65% | 60.75 | 75 | 73 | 58.3 | 81 |
| 30 | Birmingham City University Birmingham | £30,000 | 69% | 74% | 77% | 36.06 | 70 | 78 | 71.1 | 80 |
| 31 | Coventry University Coventry | £29,000 | 72% | 87% | 61% | 38.29 | 67 | 76 | 62.8 | 79 |
| 32 | Teesside University Middlesbrough | £36,500 | 78% | 84% | 78% | 49.78 | 73 | 75 | 33.0 | 78 |
| 32 | University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton | £30,000 | 71% | 91% | 93% | 36.58 | 63 | 74 | 29.1 | 78 |
| 33 | Newman University Birmingham | £20,000 | 83% | 94% | 97% | 36.06 | 70 | 68 | 14.9 | 71 |
| 34 | Buckinghamshire New University High Wycombe | £32,000 | 70% | 85% | 76% | 50.46 | 73 | 70 | 48.4 | 69 |
| 35 | University College Birmingham Birmingham | £31,000 | 79% | 84% | 80% | 36.06 | 70 | 79 | 25.3 | 67 |
| 36 | University of Lancashire Preston | £28,000 | 71% | 63% | 71% | 30.72 | 64 | 72 | 54.3 | 54 |
What the paramedic science ranking shows
Swansea University ranks first
Swansea University leads with a score of 148, 7 points clear of second place.
University of Greenwich
University of Greenwich has the highest graduate-earnings figure at £41,000.
Edge Hill University and Newman University
Edge Hill University and Newman University share the strongest student-satisfaction result at 83%.
De Montfort University and University of the West of Scotland
De Montfort University and University of the West of Scotland all record 100% teaching quality.
Newman University
Newman University records 97% for academic support.
University of Bradford and Wrexham University
University of Bradford and Wrexham University share the lowest cost-of-living index in the table at 60.
What this ranking tells you about studying paramedic science
Paramedic science is a vocational degree with one clear end point: registration with the Health and Care Professions Council so you can work as a paramedic. Every university in this table teaches towards that goal, so the differences that matter are how well students are taught and supported, how placements work, and whether you can afford to live there while working shifts. The ranking below rewards universities that do well across all of those, rather than one standout figure.
Swansea leads on balance and low costs
Swansea's Paramedic Science BSc is a three-year course based at Singleton Park Campus and approved by the HCPC. The university says about half the course is taught on campus, with the rest spent on NHS and Welsh Ambulance Service placements, including operational ambulances and hospital settings. Teaching uses the university's Simulation and Immersive Learning Centre, and Welsh speakers can study at least 40 credits through the medium of Welsh.
In the data, Swansea has no weak spot. It records 95% academic support, 92% teaching quality and 79% satisfaction, and its cost index of 64 is lower than most universities in the table. Graduate earnings of £30,500 sit just above the £30,000 median. One thing to check: Health Education and Improvement Wales paused commissioning of new paramedic science programmes in Wales for the 2026-27 academic year. Swansea's course page lists a September 2027 start, but confirm the intake is running before you apply.
Why Unifresher looks beyond graduate earnings: Greenwich has the highest figure in the table at £41,000 and Teesside reaches £36,500, yet they finish joint 15th and joint 32nd. All four leaders sit at or just above the £30,000 median.
York St John is second with the best satisfaction in the top four
York St John's Paramedic Science BSc runs for three years full time, with September 2027 and September 2028 starts listed. The course is approved by the HCPC, and placements run in settings from hospitals to community care, with a key focus on emergency ambulance care. Teaching uses a purpose-built simulation environment.
York St John scores 141, with 80% satisfaction, 93% teaching quality and 94% academic support. York's safety index of 72.87 is the highest in the top four. Its cost index of 73 is the highest of the leading group, so budget carefully for rent and travel to placements.
Worcester and Bournemouth are one point apart
Worcester's Paramedic Science BSc is a three-year course, and most placements are with West Midlands Ambulance Service. Students complete at least 1,200 hours of practice learning: 240 hours in the first year and 480 in each of the second and third. Other placement settings include maternity, mental health, paediatrics and palliative care, and teaching uses simulation suites and a fully equipped emergency ambulance. Worcester scores 136, with 92% for both teaching and support and a cost index of 65.
Bournemouth's BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science appears on the HCPC's list of approved programmes, with a first intake in September 2015. Bournemouth scores 135 and has the strongest course measures in the top four, with 97% teaching quality and 96% academic support. It also has the highest sustainability score in the ranking at 75.6. Its satisfaction score of 71% and safety index of 53.92 are the lowest in the top four, which is why it finishes just behind Worcester.
High earnings and high satisfaction do not guarantee a high place
The University of Greenwich has the highest graduate earnings in the table at £41,000, but it finishes joint 15th. London's cost index of 91 is the joint highest in the ranking, and Greenwich's 69% satisfaction and 44.41 safety index pull it down. Teesside reports £36,500, the second-highest figure, yet finishes joint 32nd.
Edge Hill shows a different trade-off. It has the top safety index of 100 and shares the highest satisfaction at 83% with Newman, but 68% teaching quality and 64% academic support leave it joint 16th. Newman has the highest academic support at 97% but the lowest earnings at £20,000, and finishes 33rd.
Perfect teaching scores sit outside the top four
De Montfort and the University of the West of Scotland both record 100% teaching quality, the best in the table. De Montfort still finishes sixth on 127, because Leicester's safety index of 53.65 and 70% satisfaction pull it back. The University of the West of Scotland finishes 13th on 106, with a sustainability score of 38.1 and 73% satisfaction.
Lincoln shows how one weak measure can cost places. It reports £35,000 graduate earnings, the third-highest figure in the ranking, and 78% satisfaction, but 62% academic support leaves it joint ninth with Hertfordshire. For a course where you will need help balancing placements and assignments, support scores deserve a close look.
HCPC approval is the essential check
Paramedic is a protected title in the UK. To use it, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, and the usual route is to complete an HCPC-approved programme. Swansea, York St John and Worcester all state HCPC approval on their course pages, and Bournemouth's programme appears on the HCPC's approved list.
The College of Paramedics, the profession's professional body, explains that each university or ambulance service sets its own entry rules. Search the HCPC's approved programmes list for the exact course title before applying, as some universities run several routes, including versions for ambulance staff who are already employed.
Entry requirements and selection
Offers differ more than many applicants expect. Swansea's typical offer is BBB, with a science A-level preferred. York St John asks for 128 UCAS points including Biology or a related health science, and invites outstanding applicants to interview. Worcester asks for 120 points, typically BBB, and accepts A-levels in any subject.
If you do not meet the standard offer, some universities run a longer route. Worcester offers a four-year version with an integrated foundation year for applicants who may have few or no relevant qualifications but can show clear commitment to the career. It asks for 32 UCAS points, and completing the foundation year leads on to the three-year degree. The university notes this route is subject to re-approval, so check the current page.
GCSEs matter too. York St John asks for English Language, Maths and Science at grade 4 or C, and Worcester asks for English and Maths. Expect values-based questions about why you want to be a paramedic, and show what you know about the job from reading, volunteering or talking to people in the role.
Placements make up a large part of the course
Placements are not optional on a paramedic degree. They are where you learn to assess patients, make decisions under pressure and work with ambulance crews. Worcester sets out a minimum of 1,200 hours, and Swansea describes about half of its course as placement-based.
Ask each university which ambulance service you will be placed with, how far placements are from campus, and how shifts fit around teaching. York St John warns that placements may be some distance from campus and that students must get themselves there, so travel time and costs belong in your budget.
Driving licences and health checks
The HCPC does not require any driving ability for registration, but the College of Paramedics notes that NHS and many private ambulance services make a licence a condition of employment. The College describes a C1 licence, which covers medium-sized vehicles, as highly desirable but not essential.
University rules differ. Swansea requires a full manual category B licence to be considered for an offer and a provisional C1 licence by the start of the course. York St John says students will not drive an ambulance. Most courses also make offers conditional on an enhanced DBS check and health clearance: Swansea asks for an occupational health declaration and assessment, and York St John for a satisfactory medical report.
Funding differs across the UK
In England, eligible paramedic students can apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund for a £5,000 training grant each academic year. Worcester and York St John both point applicants to this grant. In Wales, Swansea says eligible students who commit to working in Wales after graduating can have their tuition fees covered through the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme.
The rules depend on where you live, where you study and whether you agree to work in that nation after qualifying. Check the details for your situation before comparing the cost of courses.
Shift work, placements and living costs
Placement shifts often start early, finish late and include nights, weekends and bank holidays, much like the working pattern the National Careers Service describes for qualified paramedics. That makes it harder to hold a regular part-time job, and it changes what you need from a city: reliable transport, a safe journey home after a late shift and housing within reach of both campus and placement bases.
The work is also emotionally demanding. Ask universities what wellbeing support is available during placements, who you can talk to after a difficult call and how personal tutors stay in touch while you are away from campus. The academic support and satisfaction scores in this ranking are a useful starting point for those conversations.
The cost-of-living index runs from 60 in Bradford and Wrexham to 91 in London, where Greenwich and City St George's sit. Three of the top four, Swansea, Worcester and Bournemouth, score 70 or lower. Placement travel, early shifts and less time for part-time work all add pressure, so compare student accommodation costs as well as fees. If you are weighing up other emergency and acute care courses, the nursing ranking uses the same eight measures.
Careers, earnings and the job market
The National Careers Service gives a starting salary of about £32,000, rising to £48,000 with experience, with 37 to 42 hours a week on shifts. Experienced paramedics can move into specialist or advanced practice, team leadership, education or management.
The earnings in this ranking come from the Graduate Outcomes survey, taken about 15 months after graduating, and run from £20,000 to £41,000 with a £30,000 median. Recruitment has also tightened in some areas: in Wales, HEIW said the ambulance service expected recruitment of newly qualified paramedics to be extremely limited. Ask universities how recent graduates have found work, and be open to applying across regions.
How to use the ranking when choosing a paramedic science degree
Confirm HCPC approval and intake
Check the course is on the HCPC approved list and is recruiting for your year of entry.
Ask where and how far
Find out which ambulance service you will work with, how many hours you will complete and how you will get to shifts.
Check licence and health conditions
Driving licence, DBS and occupational health rules differ between universities and can affect whether you get an offer.
Budget for travel and shifts
Compare rent, placement travel and the funding available where you live, not just tuition fees.
Related Unifresher rankings and student guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for paramedic science in the UK in 2027?
Swansea University ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher paramedic science ranking with an overall score of 148. York St John University is second with 141. University of Worcester is third with 136.
How many universities are included in the paramedic science ranking?
The published 2027 ranking compares 43 universities with complete subject-level results. Several universities share positions, so the ranking runs from first to 36th while containing 43 institutions.
What graduate earnings are shown for paramedic science?
The graduate-earnings figures range from £20,000 to £41,000, with a median of £30,000 across the 43 ranked universities. University of Greenwich has the highest figure. These are comparative graduate outcomes, not guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
The Graduate Outcomes survey collects data about 15 months after students finish their course, so the earnings figures describe that point in a career rather than long-term pay.
What A-levels do you need for paramedic science?
Requirements vary. Swansea's typical offer is BBB with a science A-level preferred. York St John asks for 128 UCAS points including Biology or a related health science. Worcester asks for 120 points, typically BBB, and accepts any A-level subjects. Most courses also ask for GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or C, and many add Science. Check the current course page, as offers change each year.
Do you need a driving licence to study paramedic science?
It depends on the university. The HCPC does not require driving ability for registration, but NHS and many private ambulance services make a licence a condition of employment, and a C1 licence is highly desirable. Swansea asks for a full manual category B licence before it makes an offer and a provisional C1 by the start of the course. York St John says students will not drive an ambulance.
How do you become a registered paramedic?
Paramedic is a protected title, so you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council to use it. The usual route is to complete an HCPC-approved programme, such as a paramedic science degree or a paramedic degree apprenticeship. Check the HCPC's list of approved programmes for the exact course you are considering.
How many placement hours are on a paramedic science degree?
It varies by course. Worcester requires at least 1,200 hours of practice learning: 240 in the first year and 480 in each of the second and third. Swansea says about half of its course is spent on placement. Expect ambulance shifts, including nights and weekends, plus time in hospitals and community settings.
Can you get funding for a paramedic science degree?
Eligible students at universities in England can apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund for a £5,000 training grant each academic year. In Wales, Swansea says eligible students who commit to working in Wales after qualifying can have their tuition fees covered through the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme. Rules depend on where you live and study.
Is a paramedic science degree the only way to become a paramedic?
No. The College of Paramedics lists a full-time approved course, working as a student paramedic for an ambulance service while studying, and a degree apprenticeship. The National Careers Service says the Paramedic Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship takes about three years and combines work with study. Every route ends with HCPC registration.
Paramedic Science course and careers information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for wider ranking context.
- Graduate Outcomes survey (HESA) for the 15-month graduate survey point.
- HCPC: the professions we regulate for paramedic as a protected title and the need to register.
- College of Paramedics: become a paramedic for routes into the profession and driving licence guidance.
- National Careers Service paramedic profile for salary, working hours, apprenticeships and career progression.
- NHS Learning Support Fund for the £5,000 training grant for students in England.
- HEIW statement on paramedic science programmes 2026-2027 for the pause in commissioning in Wales and the recruitment outlook.
- Swansea University Paramedic Science BSc for entry requirements, placements, driving licence rules and funding.
- York St John University Paramedic Science BSc for 2027 entry, placements, travel and health checks.
- University of Worcester Paramedic Science BSc for placement hours, West Midlands Ambulance Service links and entry requirements.
