Professional Policing

This course is a national pre-join degree licensed by the professional body for policing, the College of Policing. The course is delivered by subject-matter experts and experienced practitioners (including retired police officers) with a wealth of subject expertise to prepare you with the key transferable skills required for the role of police constable.

Entry requirements for joining any of the 43 police forces in England and Wales have changed and is something to consider if you are thinking of pursuing a career as a police officer. The Degree in Professional Policing is one of the four College of Policing routes to join a police force as a police constable

On our course, you will cover all the learning content of the College of Policing’s Degree in Professional Policing, as well as receive additional detailed inputs on specialist subjects like public protection and digital crime. You will gain a grounded knowledge of the key aspects of policing, such as legislation, police powers and investigative interviewing skills.

Our excellent simulation facilities for role-play scenarios will allow you to put your knowledge into practice in a safe learning environment. Our policing skills labs comprise an immersive learning suite, interview rooms, crime scene houses, road policing scenarios, a custody office and a mock courtroom.

Through our relationships with police colleagues, we can help you obtain an opportunity to apply to be a special constable, allowing you to put your knowledge and skills into practice with on-the-job experience, and providing evidence to support your CV.

Check out "visit our course page link" underneath the provider information section at the bottom of this page for the most up-to-date information about what you will be studying.

This course is taught in three terms of ten weeks each.

Scheduled contact hours will be approximately 12 hours per week. Teaching takes place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

This course is delivered with the majority being in-person learning, however, there may be elements of online learning. Students can expect to take part in lectures, workshops and peer-led seminars.

Students should expect to spend an average of 10-20 hours per week on independent study which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, tutorial time with staff, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment.

Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

The assessment strategy for this course was developed in accordance with the requirements of the College of Policing to provide students with the necessary skills, abilities and experience to be an effective candidate for the Police.

Students will be assessed using a variety of methods, incorporating practical elements where applicable. Formative and summative assessments have been designed to authentically reflect professional policing through the production of material utilised within policing, thereby developing effective and robust transferable skills in graduates.