Do you want a career in the police force? Are you interested in contemporary policing and law enforcement?

Our Professional Policing degree offers an exciting opportunity to develop the knowledge and understanding of the role that professional police officers undertake in the UK.

Since 2020, all new entrants to UK police forces are expected to hold or gain a degree level qualification. This pre-join Professional Policing degree is a professional academic knowledge-based degree, based on the national curriculum for the police constable role, licensed by the College of Policing.

This specialist degree will give you the pre-join qualification you need to apply for a police officer role in England or Wales. It will provide you with a wide range of knowledge and understanding of theories that the College of Policing has identified as being advantageous for those aspiring to join UK police forces.

You will have the opportunity to study a range of subjects including operational policing, legislation connected to police work, diversity, response and community policing, criminal investigation and safeguarding.

Learning from lecturers with extensive experience working within the police, prisons and security services, you’ll develop your knowledge of the UK police force and gain an understanding of the policing profession.

Throughout your studies, you'll be encouraged to form professional links with police forces as a volunteer or in the role of a special constable in order to gain additional practical experience and further enhance your employability.

Outside of your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to take specialist employability skills courses to enhance your CV and help you stand out in a competitive job market. These optional short courses blend theory and practical application, so you’ll develop real-world knowledge and expertise as well as the confidence needed to excel in your chosen career in law enforcement, offender rehabilitation, intelligence analysis, social justice or the wider criminal justice system.

A Professional Policing programme is specifically designed as a pre-join qualification for the police force. In line with the College of Policing licensing of the programme, professional work placements are not offered as part of this course.