Curious about studying Professional Policing - BSc (Hons)at Birmingham City University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
City Centre Campus (The Curzon Building)
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
This course is a national pre-join degree course licensed by the Policing Professional Body, the College of Policing and will be delivered by subject matter experts and experienced practitioners (including retired police officers) with a wealth of subject expertise to prepare you with key transferable skills required for the role of Police Constable. This course has been developed through consultation with a range of police service areas and the College of Policing, to give you the opportunity to examine the fundamental concepts of policing whilst also developing the practical and transferable skills you need for a career in law enforcement.
Professional Placement YearThis course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies. If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course. Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
This introductory module covers key ideas and concepts that are essential in developing an understanding of the fundamental aspects of how police services in England and Wales are structured, delivered and governed. The module will introduce you to the history and development of both the police service itself and to its growth as an academic discipline. You will explore the concepts of the meaning of police work and, by exploring several case studies, will develop an understanding of how policing in England and Wales has radically changed over time and how it continues to evolve and adjust
The module covers key ideas and concepts related to models of policing and models of intelligence. You will examine the historical underpinning of policing models, their development, purpose and function in managing criminal behaviours, and explore the impact of intelligence within a wider policing context.
The module covers key ideas and concepts that are essential in developing an understanding of the fundamental aspects of the study of crime and its control. You will explore the concept of “crime” and, by exploring several case studies, will develop an understanding of how it can change over time and from place to place.
This module considers the different forms of forensic evidence and the variety of methods and practices of forensic science. You will explore the theories and academic debates surrounding current practice and examines the value of forensic evidence in criminal investigations.
The aim of the module is to equip you with a detailed understanding of how research evidence can inform practice in policing contexts. The fundamentals of Evidence-Based Policing will be examined, with reference to real-life examples in order to highlight the benefits, issues and challenges associated with EBP approaches. Coverage will include consideration of police decision-making, and how effective working can be facilitated through the use of evidence.
The module covers key ideas and concepts that are essential in developing an understanding of the fundamental aspects of the study of equality, diversity and inclusion and measures used by police forces and agencies to manage engage with minority groups. The module will examine the definitions of equality, diversity and inclusion and how forces embed these terms into daily practice, strategy and policy.
This module considers a variety of relevant criminal statutes and police powers and how they apply within the wider criminal justice system and applied practice. It particularly explores the police’s role within the criminal justice system and the importance of the proportionate and necessary application of the criminal law to effective service delivery. The module provides knowledge and critical understanding of the uses of police powers within a liberal democracy and the concept of legitimacy and policing by consent.
This module explores key terms around professional ethics within policing and investigates the challenges found within tactical, operational and strategic conditions. Students are given the opportunity to critically assess a wide-range of subject matters, including case-studies and ethical dilemmas, in order to enhance understanding and promote further learning. The evaluation and use of ‘policing industry’ process models are also highlighted, including the National Decision Model. This emphasises the importance of ethical, effective and risk-based decisions and outcome focussed approaches.
This module applies a variety of effective investigative interviewing practices regarding victim, witness and suspect interviews. Students evaluate various interviewing models, tools and approaches that retain the concepts of obtaining best evidence for criminal investigation and court processes. Cognitive approaches are highlighted, along with the application of advanced techniques that support interviewees in memory recall and in student understanding of the psychological and environmental characteristics of memory construction.
This module focuses provides students with the practical and theoretical understanding of the skills required to pass the police application process in England and Wales. It is designed to improve your employability prospects and is focused on the development of core skills, qualities attributes, and personal reflection. It draws on practical assessments such as mock assessment centre tasks, a personal skills audit and bleep test amongst others. This module is co-delivered with Police Forces.
The module covers key ideas and concepts that are essential in developing an understanding of the fundamental aspects of the study of vulnerability and measures used by police forces and agencies to manage public protection. Discussion will be had into the historical context of care within society and how abuse and exploitation of vulnerable groups can take place. Students will explore the causal factors behind domestic and violence and abuse within both the home and wider society.
This module focuses on the development of practical and research skills required to excel as an office. During the first part of the module, you will engage in skills-focused role-plays and immersive simulation activities to build vital skills such as communication skills and conflict resolution and de-escalation skills. During the second part of the module, you will undertake a group applied research project. This module encourages reflexivity.
In addition to the curriculum content, a range of support workshops will be provided throughout the second year in order to ensure that you are equipped to implement research methodologies to conduct an independent research project in year three. These will be non-credit bearing and will be delivered through workshops, lectures and independent tasks which will be accessible through virtual learning environment systems. You will also be allocated a support mentor, who will guide you into discussing potential research topics for your independent research project.
This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.
This module investigates the core issues within police leadership, management and organisational effectiveness. These areas focus on the tactical, operational and strategic practices and theories within contemporary police leadership. Students will also critically evaluate the challenges of police leadership from the further perspectives of critical incident command, equality and diversity and human resourcing practices.
The module provides students with the opportunity to carry out a substantial and self-directed critical investigation of a specific topic within Policing and Investigation. Students will understand the varying methods of research, including a range of approaches used to analyse and evaluate a specific topic area. For the module, students will be allocated a supervisor who will provide project specific guidance and direction throughout the course of the year.
The aims of the module are to critically examine the future landscape of policing in England and Wales. Some of these discussions will examine budget cuts and reductions in resources and explore whether this will continue and what implications this would have on managing crime. It will explore the impact of digital technologies within policing and the heightening of moral panics and public fears around specific crime types. The transnational nature of society means that police services in England and Wales are increasingly working with forces from all over the world and the legislative and organisational difficulties will be explored. The module will explore the changing roles and function of officers and whether these trends will continue or whether a reversal of thinking will take place. Including in this will be the increasing use of educational to improve professionalism with reference made to the impact of the national college of policing.
This module will provide you with a detailed look at the theories that surround terrorism and chart how these have developed through an engagement with a range of far-reaching discussions and different events across the concept’s history. Discussion and debate surrounding issues such as the definition, history and causes of terrorism as well as highlighting the divergence that exists between “orthodox” and “critical” schools of thought will allow you to engage in an authoritative and critical manner with this topic of tremendous contemporary significance. The module will discuss police and agency responses to terrorism, including the use of intelligence to identify and target known risk groups.
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