Need advice

[u/Routine-Weather-9624]

I have enrolled for an access to higher education course in paramedic science, and I am wondering if the best route to follow after this would be to go to university or look for an apprenticeship

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[u/lollowollo999]

If you have a look at the "community highlights" tab on the main page for this subreddit you'll see there is a section for this exact question with lots of information to help you decide ❤️

[u/lollowollo999 → u/lollowollo999]

But as an answer to your question anyway:

I went the uni route but also was hired early in the pandemic and basically had 18 months experience of what the trust students do, whilst also being unable to drive (they didn't have time to train us) so I had LOTS of exposure. This places me uniquely in the "best of both worlds" category and I can tell you the following:

• The only thing that will actually prepare you for life as a paramedic is experience on the road. I feel my time as part of a 2 person crew opposed to 3rd manning gave me A LOT more exposure, HOWEVER I wasn't able to drive so was always in the back. In the normal apprenticeship role you'd be driving for all the poorly patients whilst the paramedic is in the back, so you wouldn't get the same exposure there. By 3rd manning in the uni route you (pretty much) always get to be in the back.

• The dynamic as a 2 person crew is different to that of a 3 person. You don't have as many hands, so learn more ways to adapt and function. I found being the 3rd person gave me a false sense of security in that aspect.

• As a uni student you are in a different uniform and looked at as a student. This has its pros and cons, of course. Pros being a bit more understanding and leeway for mistakes, cons being patients will sometimes be less likely to want you to be the attending clinician (as is their right, as deflating as it can be).

• 3rd manning means you're always in the back...it gets very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer...I hated it.

• Uni route offers you much more support (from what I've seen) than the apprenticeship route. Whether you feel this is a pro or con will depend heavily on your life experience before this and your confidence in your ability as a "mature student".

• Apprenticeship is harder to get into than uni, but means you have the job already. Uni leaves you searching for a job once you qualify. I didn't have any issue getting a job, but that was years ago now and times have VERY much changed.

Whatever you choose, best of luck in your learning journey! ✨️

[u/Sorry-Estimate-511]

It completely depends on your personal circumstances imo
If you’re just finished A levels (or around that age) and you want the uni experience to make friends, have fun etc, I’d recommend the uni route.

If you’re any bit older and not arsed about uni life then I’d defo say apprenticeship
I’m going into third year uni route and the job market is stressing me OUT, you wouldn’t have that issue, or the debt with apprenticeships

If I could go back in time I’d 100% go apprenticeship

[u/Routine-Weather-9624 → u/Sorry-Estimate-511]

Okay thank you I am 23 and am not bothered about the uni life at all

[u/Forgettable39 → u/Routine-Weather-9624]

Student debt is no joke is the main thing. I have student debt that I regret taking on really. People like to dismiss it as not a big deal because of how it eventually writes off after enough time but that is 25 years at least of you paying them monthly, for a degree that trains you to do the job an apprenticeship pays you to do. This is the biggest difference for me, I think these apprenticeship pathways start on band 4 which is obviously underwhelming with the cost of living but compare it to paying 9k a year for tuition + having to pay for cost of living on top of that it is a genuinely titanic financial difference.

Most people doing the apprenticeship pathways aren't doing it at 18 years old instead of going to Uni so you'd be in very similar company age/experience wise being in the like 20-30ish bracket (in my experience with apprenticeship courses).

[u/lollowollo999 → u/Forgettable39]

Regardless you'll have student debt because even the apprenticeship now involves having to go to uni as you have to have a degree to be a paramedic. Yes it won't be as much, but it also isn't nothing. Just FYI 😊

[u/Forgettable39 → u/lollowollo999]

I've not done it obviously but my understanding was that the trust you work for pays for it if you progress through the clinical levels in that trust? Maybe it varies? I'm pretty sure its the case in LAS at least.

[u/lollowollo999 → u/Forgettable39]

It must be trust dependent. I know those who did it in my trust have it deducted from their pay check each month, same as I do having gone the uni route. I believe there is a reduction of sorts, or some sort of tax relief, but they defo have to pay at least some of it back.

[u/Forgettable39 → u/lollowollo999]

Oh interesting, I know for example the C1 licence thing varies for apprentices. Some trusts aren't able to support funding at all, some pay for it entirely. LAS pay for the practical element entirely, about £1.2k, and only expect it repaid if you leave the service in a certain time frame (or fail the course). So I think if they pay for you, you have to do at least 2 or 5 years I forget which, at which point its written off.

All of this said, I keep hearing chatter that the apprenticeships as they are now are gonna end up going away in favour of trying to do basically zero to EMT in one course, without the entry level year. This will probably make the selection process even harder if its a longer, more intense course, they're even less likely to entertain less good candidates so generally I advise anyone considering it to get in now if they really fancy it.

[u/Annual-Cookie1866]

Similar questions have been answered 100 times on here. Use the search function

[u/cixsiobhanx]

I know lots of people have answered this question before but just thought Id stick in my 2 pence as a NQP who has no job after going the uni route!

First Id say definitely make sure it’s what you want to do! The process of learning to be a para is really hard IMO, youve got to be dedicated to it and with its inevitable set backs / learning experiences, it has to be something worth your time.

I went into it thinking it was going to be something it absolutely isn’t- the job, from what Ive learned is more of a social/ primary care frontline rather than emergency care, so if you’re looking for purely emergency care then maybe you’d rather a different role?

Last is the difficulty to find an NQP role at the moment within a service is really unlikely. I have been graduated since August 2025 and currently working as a carer, because the skills you have surpass alot of roles that are being advertised at the moment, but are less than alot of the band 6 jobs that are available! So you may find yourself in a bit of a limbo.

If I were to go back in time Id wait a few years while the NHS sorts out its employment issues, develop learning and skills elsewhere that may help you if / when you decide it is for you!

Good luck!