The course is designed to be progressive, building on the required knowledge and skills as laid down in the National Policing Curriculum. At Level 4, we start with the history, structure and role of the Police Service, before examining such fundamentals as decision making, ethical considerations, vulnerability and risk, legislation and procedure, academic study skills and aspects of criminology and psychology. As we move to Level 5 we drill further down into vital aspects of underpinning theory, including academic research skills. At Level 6, the more complex aspects of ethics, decision-making and vulnerability are further examined, alongside optional modules covering specific aspects of policing and a year-long dissertation project.
Graduate destinations
The course is specifically designed for and is ideally suited to any prospective student who is considering a career in the Police Service. As described earlier, it is licenced and recognised as fit-for-purpose by the professional body for the Police, and will allow our graduates to apply for any 'pre-join' intake advertised by any Force in England and Wales. It provides a firm base of knowledge for any graduate starting their police career, and will provide a launch pad for success in all aspects of policing. It also has application outside of the Police Service, in the wider law enforcement and security arena; for example, MI5 (the Security Service), MI6 (the Secret Intelligence Service) and the military policing agencies.
Course outline
Course summary
Our course is designed to be progressive, building on the required knowledge and skills as laid down in the National Policing Curriculum. At Level 4, we start with the history, structure and role of the Police Service, before examining such fundamentals as decision making, ethical considerations, vulnerability and risk, legislation and procedure, academic study skills and aspects of criminology and psychology. As we move to Level 5 we drill further down into vital aspects of underpinning theory, including academic research skills. At Level 6, the more complex aspects of ethics, decision-making and vulnerability are further examined, alongside optional modules covering specific aspects of policing (such as crime investigation, or intelligence) and a year-long dissertation project.
The University of Cumbria's BSc in Professional Policing has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the National Policing Curriculum, as mandated by the College of Policing. It is a specific 'pre-join' qualification and forms one of the three routes of entry to the Police Service of England and Wales, in line with the requirements of the Police as a degree entry-level profession. As a product, this course has been licensed by the College of Policing and, therefore, meets the professional body requirement for policing in the 21st Century. It is, simply put, the 'go-to' degree qualification for any potential student who is considering a career in the Police Service. As a Team, it is a course we are very proud to offer.
Modules
Year 1
If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application. We also offer Integrated Foundation Year programmes to support your return to education which are specifically designed for students who have the ability to study for a degree but may not have all the necessary qualifications, skills or experience to join the degree in Year 1. Contact our Course Enquiries Team for more information.
POLI 4501, Understanding the Police Constable Role POLI 4502, Policing Vulnerability in Contemporary Society POLI 4503, Police Legislation POLI 4504, Academic Study Skills and Applied Social Sciences POLI 4505, Information and Intelligence POLI 4506, Policing, Decisions and Ethics These modules cover the initial learning stages of specific, vital areas of policing. Central strands (such as decision making, ethics and vulnerability, for example) are laced throughout the syllabus.
Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment. We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. For 2021 the University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 and 2 – you can check your postcode here https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/young-participation-by-area/search-by-postcode ) Care leavers and mature students returning to education we will make an offer at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. Find out more about our events at but must meet the terms and conditions of these events.
Year 2
POLI 5501, Professionalism, Values and Standards POLI 5502, Vulnerability and Risk POLI 5503, Specialist Procedures POLI 5504, Operational Policing POLI 5505, Academic Research Skills POLI 5506, Criminological Concepts These modules are designed to take the student effectively to the next level of learning. They still retain the core strands of knowledge that are vital requirements for any Police Officer serving in the modern age, and link directly back to the first year of learning.
Year 3
POLI 6501, Coaching and Mentoring - a compulsory module POLI 6502, Response Policing - a compulsory module POLI 6503, Community Policing - a compulsory module POLI 6504, Police
Investigation - an optional module POLI 6505, Information and Intelligence - an optional module POLI 6506, Dissertation - a year long, compulsory module These modules provide the crucial and final links to the knowledge base of a competent and effective Police Officer. They are designed to enable analytical thinking, effective and ethical decision making and a robust and comprehensive knowledge based approach to policing, as well as the wider world of law enforcement and other relevant career pathways.
Programme Specification
Programme specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
96-112 UCAS tariff points.
Potential to succeed can be measured in a number of ways including academic qualifications and skills obtained outside academic study such as work experience. We have a points range so we can take into account all of the information on your application form and adjust the offer from the evidence provided.
You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.
Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.
Selection criteria
Student are selected for this course using the following criteria: 1. by gaining the required UCAS points for entry onto the course. 2. by undertaking a structured interview.
If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application. We also offer Integrated Foundation Year programmes to support your return to education which are specifically designed for students who have the ability to study for a degree but may not have all the necessary qualifications, skills or experience to join the degree in Year 1. Contact our Course Enquiries Team for more information.
Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment. We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. For 2021 the University of Cumbria will make offers to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 and 2 – you can check your postcode here https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/young-participation-by-area/search-by-postcode ) Care leavers and mature students returning to education we will make an offer at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. Find out more about our events at but must meet the terms and conditions of these events.
Application information
See programme specification
Student finance
We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.
Student FinanceAdditional costs
Resources and facilities
All BSc in Professional Policing students will have access to a full range of library resources, from key texts in policing to current and historical journal articles, to a wider range of academic skills and study texts, and titles covering criminology, law and other areas of social science. As part of our teaching, learning and assessment strategy the Course Team may incorporate the use of the University's Crime Scene House at the Brampton Road campus, or other facilities at other campuses, to bring a level of reality to a learning or assessment event. Students also have access to quiet learning areas, additional IT support and resources, and to specific learning and academic support, at all of our campuses. Our students are encouraged to engage with all the support on offer, and to make full use of the excellent facilities provided in the student learning areas and in the libraries.
