School of Social Sciences and Humanities

BA (Hons) Professional Policing

BA (Hons) Part-time 6 years, Full-time 3 years

Our BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree provides education and training for those looking to pursue a career in police work.

Our BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree provides education and training for those looking to pursue a career in police work.

Award
BA (Hons)
Start date(s)
16 September 2024
UCAS Code
L900
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (6 years),Full-time (3 years)
Campus location
Wolverhampton City Campus
School
School of Social Sciences and Humanities
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

Our BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree provides education and training for those looking to pursue a career in police work. The course not only covers relevant topics in policing, but also provides an insight into the criminal justice system. This makes the degree perfect for those wanting to kick-start their career in policing.

The BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree, or the PEQF (Policing Education Qualifications Framework) is a new, professional framework for the training of police officers and staff. 

As of Jan. 1, 2020, the Police of England and Wales' must have a post-secondary educational qualification in order to be appointed as a police officer in any of the 43 forces. There are three new entry routes into the police service, developed by the College of Policing, the professional body of the police service. One of them is by finishing a Pre-Join degree, where students get a 3-year professional diploma in policing, so they can deal with the challenges and exciting obstacles that modern policing has to offer.

The BA (Hons) Professional Policing programme has been crafted to meet the educational needs of students who wish to embark on a career in the police service. This policing degree will also be useful for those wishing to work in other related areas. Some of these areas include the National Crime Agency, probation service, military police, private security industry, civil service, local authority, banking, and similar organisations where investigative or relevant legal knowledge is required.

As well as the industry-relevant skills that a policing degree will provide, students will also be able to develop other important skills that are of great interest to future employers. These include the ability to present a strong argument, IT expertise, research skills, analytical skills, and the ability to work effectively in teams.

Riot training

What's unique about this course?

  • The course not only covers relevant topics in policing, but also provides an insight into the criminal justice system.
  • PEQF (Policing Education Qualifications Framework) is a new, professional framework for the training of police officers and staff.
  • This policing degree will also be useful for those wishing to work in other related areas.

What happens on the course?

The national curriculum for the new ‘pre-join’ professional policing route (as prescribed by the College of Policing, which is the professional body for policing) is professionally transformative, in that there is comprehensive, modern, and up-to date coverage of the knowledge, skills, and professional approaches that have been identified as being critical to the 21st century policing role of the constable. 

These include, but are not limited to:

  • evidence-based policing
  • decision-making and discretion
  • criminology and crime prevention
  • pro-active approaches to vulnerability risk and public protection

Students will learn about a number of the five principle policing practice areas: responding to emergencies, assisting communities, policing the roads, information and intelligence, as well as investigation. Through both practical and classroom-based activities, students will conduct exercises to apply their knowledge.

Becoming immersed in the role of a police constable, the policing degree will cover a number of contemporary policing issues, including digital policing (cybercrime), terrorism, public protection, and much more. Not only studying the modern day involvements of a police constable, students will also learn the origins of the constable and how historical police events have made modern policing what it is today. Students will become acquainted with the procedures involved with major and uncertain crimes as well as the intricacies of road policing, law enforcement, and serious and organised crimes. 

Whilst studying law enforcement procedures and acquiring a comprehensive knowledge of police power, students will learn investigative capabilities such as how to interrogate suspects and witnesses. Importantly, students will learn the value of police accountability throughout the course, and how to incorporate this behaviour into professional policing. 

A student's final year will provide them with the opportunity to use their critical thinking, research, and academic writing skills to explore an area of policing of their choice.

 

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Although many students studying this course will be wanting to become a police constable upon completion, it is important to reiterate that this policing degree does not guarantee employment as a police officer.

Police services in England and Wales each have their own recruitment process and terms for selection, with entry requirements varying from each service. It’s important to check your eligibility through the police service website, which will assist you in deciding to undertake the BA (Hons) Professional Policing course or to pursue a policing career.

The BA (Hons) Professional Policing course opens up a lot of career opportunities, not limited to the police force. Others careers could include:

  • The National Crime Agency
  • Probation service
  • Military police
  • Private security industry
  • Civil service
  • Local authority
  • Banking and similar organisations where investigative or practical legal knowledge is required

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

The University of Wolverhampton BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree is a new degree that is based on the 10 years of experience we have providing policing education. Delivered by academic staff with operational backgrounds in policing, we draw on a range of specialist practitioners to enhance the student experience.

Operational police officers may attend the University to give students an opportunity to relate what they’ve learnt in class to understanding real life scenarios. Previous student experiences have included visits to courts, the Midland Regional Tactical Training Centre, Birmingham Airport, and local police stations.

 

In the wider educational context, the professional benefits of BA (Hons) Professional Policing programme extend well beyond the confines of the curriculum itself, embracing the higher-level skills that a degree-based educational approach can import to the profession of policing. Those learners who have successfully completed the BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree, and who progress to become police constables, will contribute to the policing profession by being capable problem-solvers, communicators, negotiators and leaders, as well as being increasingly socially and emotionally intelligent individuals in the performance of their professional role

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £9250 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time £3120 per year# 2022-23
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £4625 per year# 2024-25
International Full-time £13450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £14450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £14450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £14950 per year 2024-25

Additional Course Costs

If you choose to apply to become a special constable, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and vetting by the police. This process will involve detailed checks being made not only in relation to you but also your family. In addition you will have to undertake a medical examination.

Further information on these additional costs will be provided prior to the start of your studies

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

Typical entry requirement: 96 UCAS points

  • A Levels - grades CCC / BCD
  • BTEC L3 Extended Diploma or OCR Cambridge L3 Technical Extended Diploma - grades MMM
  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (96 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at merit)
  • BTEC L3 Diploma - grades DD

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points

Other Requirements

Students must usually have studied for a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, we will consider applications from mature students who do not have two years of post-16 study, where they have relevant work experience. Please see http://wlv.ac.uk/mature for further information.

If you choose to apply to become a special constable, you will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and vetting by the police. This process will involve detailed checks being made not only in relation to you but also your family. In addition you will have to undertake a medical examination.

College of Policing

Licensed by the College of Policing for the purpose of meeting all the requirements of the national curriculum for multiple entry routes into policing.

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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