About the course

By joining the police service, you’re making a real difference. This course – licensed by the College of Policing – opens up life-changing opportunities to develop personally and professionally.

The Professional Policing degree allows you to develop the knowledge and skills that underpin police work while preparing you for the challenges police officers face. Following the College of Policing curriculum, it combines theory, law and vocational experience (if you choose to be a volunteer or Special Constable) to give you a thorough understanding of modern policing.

The course explores the complexities of crime, crime control and the effects of crime on the individual and communities as well as specific areas of study such as offender management, victim support and public prosecution; criminal legislation; community policing; safeguarding; and mental health and offending.

Why choose this course?

• Study a curriculum designed and licensed by the College of Policing as part of the Police Education Qualifications Framework
• Learn from a specialist multi-disciplinary teaching team which includes former police officers, social workers, mental health workers, forensic scientists and safeguarding practitioners
• Develop your problem-solving skills through investigating the complexities of the police role; current and emerging issues; and the demands on the police and their wider partners
• Benefit from volunteering opportunities, supported by your tutors
• Extend your knowledge and skills through our guest lectures and workshops
• Once you graduate, you can apply for a role as a police constable within a Home Office force in England and Wales, with many future opportunities to specialise and progress
• A degree in Policing equips you with skills and knowledge that transfer to other career paths and sectors
• If you need to step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate course

Much of my career has had the key aim of helping others. Prior to retiring as a Police Officer in Bedfordshire I was fortunate to have experienced core functions of response, investigative and preventative policing.

The last roles I had involved developing intelligence systems within Domestic Violence and Community departments before moving on to a central Intelligence office developing serious crime packages.