Overview
Following the National Police Curriculum as set out by the College of Policing, this BSc (Hons) Professional Policing degree prepares you for the emotional, physical and mental demands of a rewarding career in policing and related fields.
Use simulated facilities that replicate situations you’ll face in your job, gain insights from teaching staff with law enforcement experience, and get experience with local police forces.
You'll also gain legislative, policy and procedural knowledge and develop the critical thinking, communication, decision making and conflict management skills you need.
You'll graduate with the core knowledge required of a probationary police constable, which provides you with an entry route into policing in England and Wales, the foundations to pursue other careers in law enforcement and criminal justice, or to continue your studies at postgraduate level.
Course highlights
- Explore crime scenes and situations using virtual reality environments, allowing you to test your police officer training in a simulated environment
- Build your professional network through our close ties with Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire constabularies
- Get experience of the interdisciplinary work practices you’ll encounter in your career as you study alongside criminology students
- Enhance your CV and apply your skills through volunteering opportunities with local police forces
- Choose to do a work placement year with a UK police force after your second or third year on this Connected Degree - we're the only UK university to offer flexible sandwich placements for undergraduates
- Or, have the opportunity to see other countries’ approaches to policing by spending a placement year at a policing-focused university overseas
- Receive a £2,000 bursary on graduation when you apply successfully to join the Thames Valley force, thanks to our partnership with Thames Valley Police
Careers and opportunities
A career in policing is an exciting, rewarding way to serve your local community and make a positive impact on society.
Working as a police constable
This policing degree is an approved entry route into the police services in England and Wales, so you'll be eligible to apply for police constable roles for up to five years after you graduate (you won’t need to do a graduate conversion programme). This allows you to work in neighbourhood and response policing.
With experience, you can rise in the ranks to roles such as:
- sergeant
- inspector
- superintendent
- chief constable
Thanks to our partnership with Thames Valley Police, students who apply successfully to join the Thames Valley force will receive a £2,000 bursary on graduation.
Working in other police force units
After a two-year probationary period as a police constable, you can apply to work in specialist areas such as:
- criminal investigation department (CID)
- firearms
- traffic
- intelligence
- child protection
- fraud squad
- drug squad
This course also gives you the knowledge and skills for roles in security organisations such as the National Crime Agency.
