Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Paramedic Science

Your Paramedic Science interview will take place online through Microsoft Teams. As your interview is online, we highly recommend visiting us at an Open Day, Taster Day or Applicant Day to get to know the University.

At the beginning of your individual interview, we’ll ask you to show valid photo ID to verify who you are. We won’t ask to see qualifications at this stage.

Please note your interview may be recorded and you are required to prepare an admissions task prior to your interview (details below).

Below, you'll find some helpful information about your interview and some of the things we'll be discussing. Do take a look before your interview.




Come prepared

You can prepare by researching the role of the Paramedic (nationally and internationally). We'll be interested to hear why you want to join the profession and what your career aspirations are.

The NHS will support your placements and is likely to be your first employer. Think carefully about how you can evidence the NHS Constitution, in particular, the 6Cs.

The Health and Care Professions Council regulates the Paramedic profession, so take a look at their website for useful information on 'professionalism'. Other publications to consider include the PEEP report, the Francis report, and publications from the College of Paramedics, such as the Career Framework and the evolving role of paramedics in the wider care system.

Teams interview

  • Please ensure you have selected a suitable date and time on your Applicant Portal.
  • Prior to the interview, you’ll be required to prepare a short verbal presentation. You won't be required to use any presentation software, and you can refer to any notes you have prepared. Download details of the task
  • We’ll send you a link to access the interview on Teams, usually one day prior to your interview taking place.
  • Please ensure you monitor your emails (including any junk/spam folder) and have both your camera and microphone enabled. You do not need to download Microsoft Teams to your device, the link the interviewer will send you can be opened in your internet browser. We will contact you via the email address provided on your application form.
  • Please ensure you are at a device with a camera (ability to share screen will be needed for your presentation) and a microphone with a reliable internet connection. We recommend accessing the interview from a laptop rather than a mobile phone or tablet if you can.
  • This is an interview for a professional course leading to a professional qualification. Please dress and conduct yourself in a professional way.
  • The interview is your chance to impress our panel with your understanding of the role of a paramedic, and why you would make a good candidate.
  • Please have available some photo ID to show on screen when asked by the interviewer. This is a standard check that would normally be undertaken in a face-to-face interview. This will be checked by the interviewing team. This can be a passport, driving licence or ID badge from your current employer or college.

Interview format

This is a panel interview and it will have two parts to it.

1. Pre-interview task (details given above): the task consists of a hypothetical scenario where you’ll need to develop a plan and verbally present your answer to the panel at the start of your interview.

Your goal is to prioritise the tasks in the scenario in the order you believe they should be addressed.

We are looking for your ability to make logical decisions.

Your answer should reflect your judgement and critical thinking skills.

2. Individual questions: we’ll be interested in your knowledge of the role of the paramedic, your communication skills, and your values as well as your understanding of the requirements and responsibility of the course. This includes your commitments to travel to and from placement.

We are looking for your understanding of the role of the paramedic, course commitments, (placement, travel), NHS Constitution, resilience and transferable skills. We are interested in your approach to your answers, interpersonal communication skills, as well as your values.

What happens next?

You’ll be notified via UCAS of the outcome of your interview within one working week.

What next if I am offered a place?

  • Accept your offer via UCAS Hub.
  • Arrange your accommodation.
  • Complete your DBS and Occupational Health information.
  • Notify the Admissions team of any changes to your circumstances.

What next if I am unsuccessful at interview?

  • Please consider the areas which need improvement and ask for written feedback to prepare for future interviews.
  • We are happy to accept applications for next academic year.

Above all, you need to be certain that this is the profession you want to join. Consider visiting us at an Open Day, if you haven't already. Then commit yourself to learning as much as you can before your interview day.