Ambulances at the Waterfront at UCS event

Paramedics Science at UCS open event, Ipswich Waterfront (Image: Archant)

Dozens of prospective university students turned up at UCS at Ipswich Waterfront for the latest open event.

The evening included the introduction to the new Paramedics Science degree course the university is launching with the support of the East of England Ambulance Service early in 2015.

Potential students were able to meet with ambulance crews and paramedics from the East Anglian Ambulance Service, who attended on the night, to find out about their work and experiences.

Among those attending was Tom Olley, from Lowestoft, whose ambition is to become a paramedic.

Tom Olley,18, from Lowestoft is studying at East Norfolk Sixth Form College and is looking to apply to UCS for the March 2016 intake.

The course opens for the first time in March 2015.

Tom Olley said: “I’ve wanted to be a paramedic since I was 15 so I started doing St John’s and building up my portfolio to get onto the stage I am now. “I really want to get into the East of England Ambulance Service so the degree being offered at UCS is the perfect stepping stone to this. I really like the idea of the placements and learning on the job. It’s been something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Nearly 200 prospective students attended this latest open event, finding out a wide range of degree courses available, from medical sciences, to arts and humanities, and business studies.

There were also parents and family members, and other people stopped to see why there were ambulances by the question mark art work outside the Waterfront building.

Emma Keable, student recruitment and outreach officer at UCS said “It was brilliant to have so many visitors and there was a great buzz around campus with people making applications for courses starting in the new year, including our new BSc in Paramedic Science.”