TEF Gold Undergraduate course

BSc (Hons)

Urgent and Emergency Care (Intercalated)

Experience an academic year working in emergency care and gain an intercalated degree at the same time with the BSc (Hons) in Urgent and Emergency Care.

Immersive learning

Enhance your skills in urgent and emergency care by completing an extended clinical placement in a demanding hospital setting.

Practical experience

Gain valuable experience of collaborative practice by working and studying within a multi-professional team, gaining insights from diverse perspectives.

Shape future healthcare

Build foundational skills for future leadership roles through a dedicated module on management and team leadership.
BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care (Intercalated)
About Details Experience Careers Fees and funding Apply

About

Learn skills that will enable you to work flexibly as a healthcare professional across traditional boundaries to meet the needs of the healthcare community, whilst developing as a competent and adaptive practitioner, with specialist and transferable skills.


Mr Ruari Cassidy
Mr Ruari Cassidy
Lecturer in Clinical Intercalation
Adobe861076573

This course is for you if...

you want to work in genuinely challenging clinical environments experiencing real-life situations
Stethoscope over heart
you're keen to develop clinical and communication skills
Two healthcare professionals, one with stethoscope
you want to study with the only university to offer an intercalated degree in emergency care in the UK
Door opening to healthcare setting
you're a team player, ready to shape your own future
Three hands together, depicting collaboration

Details

Course overview

This programme has a modular design and a flexible ‘blended learning’ approach to delivery. Successful completion of the third or fourth year of your primary medical degree normally means you are eligible to accredit prior learning up to 60 credits via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – please see the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) section of our website for further information on this process. You will therefore typically require just one of the optional modules (from the three available below) in addition to core modules UEC607 and UEC608 to achieve the BSc (Hons) in Urgent and Emergency Care. Please note: As a medical student intercalating, it is likely your prior learning will be accredited towards the ‘Understanding evidence to inform clinical decision making’ module HEAD360 (see RPL above).
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Core modules

UEC608
Evidencing Professional Development in Urgent, Emergency and Critical Care via (e)-Portfolio 20 credits

This module will enable the student to develop their professional practice in the provision of urgent, emergency and critical care. Evidence supporting the students' development will be collated in an electronic portfolio (e-portfolio).

100% Coursework

HEAD360IC
Understanding Evidence to Inform Clinical Decision Making 20 credits

The module is designed to extend students' knowledge around evidence-informed decision making. This will be achieved through students identifying and evaluating a body of research-based evidence relevant to clinical practice.

UEC607DL
Urgent, Emergency and Critical Care: Leadership and Innovation

This module will enhance the students' confidence and competence to lead and manage quality improvement and innovation in urgent, emergency and critical care.

Optional modules

UEC604
The Child or Young Person Requiring Urgent or Emergency Care 20 credits

This module will facilitate the development of practitioners knowledge and skills in the recognition and immediate management of children/young people requiring urgent or emergency care for illness/injury in a range of settings by increasing their ability to apply current research/evidence to practice and deliver holistic care to sick children and their families.

UEC610
Developing Expertise in Urgent & Emergency Care 20 credits

This module is designed to enable healthcare professionals to critically examine and develop in an area of professional clinical practice, in Urgent and Emergency Care. Taught workshops will guide the student, building on their pre-existing body of knowledge to further develop their skills in health assessment, clinical examination and clinical reasoning.

UEC611
Mental Health Assessment in Urgent, Emergency and Acute Care 20 credits

This module aims to increase knowledge and skills of practitioners working in urgent, emergency and acute care settings and who work with individuals experiencing mental health issues. It explores the principles and process of mental health assessment and the practice of determining appropriate intervention alongside prioritisation of client need based on the current guidance.

 
 
 

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.

Experience

Placement information

We offer a range of student placements across the UK, including some of the biggest and most dynamic NHS Trusts.
Explore opportunities to set up placements within your locality helping you with the cost of living and development of important relationships in settings where you may like to work in the future.
Candidates are given the opportunity to select their placement preferences following interview.
ICAL Map
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advanced Clinical Reasoning for the Critical Care Patient (Master’s level) hero image
Cooperation between air rescue service and emergency medical service on the ground. Paramedic is pulling stretcher with patient to the ambulance car. Copyright: Jaromir Chalabala, courtesy of Shutterstock
Retrieval and Transfer of a Critical Care Patient within Special Situations (Level 7) Hero Image
Students standing by an ambulance with patient

Real-world experience

You won't have a better intercalated year!

I intercalated to get an opportunity to gain hands on experience in emergency medicine and build my CV. Plymouth was a great location and setting and I had a fantastic year full of opportunities to gain both clinical experience and make some great friends from the course. You won’t have a better intercalated year! The highlights for me were to get involved in quality improvement and become part of a great ED team. I've gained plenty of experience, built better clinical knowledge and had great opportunities along the way. A years worth of invaluable experience. There isn’t a working day where you don’t use the skills gained.
Max Sugarman, BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care (Intercalated) graduate

I became a much more confident, competent and well-rounded medical student and soon-after doctor with bags more experience than my counterparts.

I intercalated so I could spend a year delving deeper into my passion for emergency care. I also knew the year spent in an emergency department would elevate me up a few levels before I became a foundation doctor. I networked and built plenty of contacts for the future and I got to explore a lot more of the UK from the various conferences I attended.
Mudassar Rashid
BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care Intercalated graduate

Mudassar hele photo
 
 
 

Meet your academic team

Mr Ruari Cassidy Lecturer in Clinical Intercalation


Lecturer in Clinical Intercalation

Dr Blair Graham Lecturer in Urgent & Emergency Care


Lecturer in Urgent & Emergency Care

 
 
 
 
 

Life in Plymouth

Plymouth's maritime history and coastal location have an undeniable influence on life in the city. The walk from our main campus to the seafront is only about one mile, providing loads of opportunity to relax and unwind during your studies. You don’t need to leave the city to get to the coast!

The overall vibe of the city is perfect. You are by the sea so it is still laid back, but you have all the conveniences of living in a city.

Jenna
Current student

Students sitting on the Barbican
Life in the city
Discover what Plymouth and its unique geographical location have to offer
Accommodation halls internal
Explore your accommodation options
Discover our range of student accommodation options and find out how you can get a guaranteed place in halls
Our large student population, active Students' Union, and abundance of student-led clubs and societies blend to create a busy and vibrant student scene

Careers

I chose to intercalate to develop specific skills in Emergency Medicine that I would not have the chance to learn as part of the typical medical curriculum.

I felt like part of the team within weeks of starting and also felt like I was contributing to the department. I would definitely advise anyone considering a career in the ACCS specialities to get in touch and apply.
Rosalind Rashid
BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care (Intercalated) graduate

Ros Rashid
students take part in critical care simulation, giving CPR to manikin

Why choose urgent and emergency care?

Emergency medicine is a dynamic and rapidly evolving specialty. As the role of emergency departments expands, so too does their impact and influence within the healthcare system. For students, the rewards are both personal and professional.
The profile of emergency care has grown significantly in recent years. Its fast-paced, unpredictable nature attracts individuals who thrive under pressure—those who embrace the challenge of thinking on their feet, adapting quickly, and facing something new every day. If you're someone who seeks variety, intensity, and the chance to make a difference in critical moments, emergency medicine could be the perfect fit.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

 
 
 
Tuition fees for full-time UK students starting in 2025-2026 academic year
Full-time study
£9,535 per year
Part-time study
N/A per credits
 
 

Tuition fee price changes
Following an , the government has confirmed its intention to increase undergraduate tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year. Following final Parliamentary approval in March 2025, the tuition fee for UK students is increasing to a maximum of £9,535 from 1 August 2025. This change applies to current and new students at the University of Plymouth. The Student Loans Company (SLC) has confirmed loans for tuition fees will be increased accordingly.
Our fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and costs of studying .
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tuition fees for full-time international students starting in 2025-2026 academic year
Full-time study
£18,650 per year
 
 
 

Tuition fee price changes
Our fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and costs of studying .
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Apply

 
 
 
 
 
 

Entry requirements

Given the nature of the placement element, the fact that you will be working in an emergency department environment, and the point of academic entry into the course we are only able to take medical students who have successfully completed their third or fourth year.
The opportunity to intercalate is open to any medical student supported by their medical school – you must have written permission to intercalate from your medical school and show evidence via transcript that you have completed clinical skills and research to the level normally expected of a fourth year undergraduate medical student. If you want to find out more about the opportunity to pursue a BSc (Hons) Urgent and Emergency Care course at the University of Plymouth please email the Professional Development Unit at pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
Please refer to our person specification.

Applications for September 2025 are now closed.

 
UCAS course code
4976
Institution code
NA
Duration

1 year

Course type

Full-time
Study location
Plymouth
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