Skip navigation
Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice (with integrated foundation year) at University of Cumbria - UCAS

University of Cumbria

Degree level: Undergraduate

Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice (with integrated foundation year)

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
Apply

University of Cumbria has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

7Dec
Brampton Road Open Day
Undergraduate

Course summary

The concept of security stretches from keeping assets safe to analysing how global events impact upon our lives then designing measures to address these needs. Our course provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience of practices previously only available within a few public sector professions. Investigative practice skills are widely sought after by a wide range of employers. Course Overview Our foundation year is designed to help you to develop confidence and essential university skills which will enable you to progress onto our degree level programme. Security and intelligence has traditionally been associated with law enforcement and the military whereas our course merges skill sets gained in these environments with all aspects of the commercial world. The ability to identify and fill gaps of knowledge is a fundamental investigative requirement from crime to any other discipline requiring questions to be answered. Whether you are engaged in analysis, protective services, any part of the public sector or private business the elements of this course will feature in your professional and private life. This course provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience of practices previously only available within a few public sector professions. On this course you will...

  • Gain a professional and ethical understanding of how to recognise security risks in a variety of environments.
  • Learn to recognise intelligence gathering opportunities, access material and data in a legal and ethical manner.
  • Learn to analyse threat and design solutions needed to minimise them.
  • Explore how to meet the diverse needs of employees.
  • Explore investigative techniques and develop a detective skill set.
What you will learn You will identify the three threads (security, intelligence and investigative practice) this programme is built on. These three threads are interrelated and will help to further develop your understanding of the bigger picture of security, intelligence and investigative practice. You will learn to use these threads to solve problems in a multivariable environment. The modules build from introductory, enabling you to have a firm understanding through to a strategic international perspective in line with contemporary security, intelligence and investigative demands. Year one
  • Essential University Skills One
  • Contemporary Issues and the Media
  • Introduction to Policing, Criminology and Law
  • Essential University Skills Two
  • Families, Communities & the Criminal Justice System
  • Professional Practice in the Community
Year two
  • Intelligence, Structures and Products
  • Managing Criminal Enquiries
  • Crime Scene Investigation
  • Operational Security
  • Cyber Security
  • Evolution of threat
Year three
  • Investigative Interviewing
  • Serious Organised Crime Investigations
  • Covert Operations
  • Security Risk Management
  • Digital Intelligence
  • Practical Action Research (optional module)
  • Forecasting Future Challenges (optional module)
Year four
  • Global Threats & Risk Principles
  • Safeguarding Society
  • Freedoms and Protections
  • Extremism
  • Dissertation/ Work Based Project

Modules

Year one - Compulsory modules: Essential University Skills 1, Contemporary Issues and the Media, Introduction to Policing, Criminology and Law, Essential University Skills 2, Families, Communities & the Criminal Justice System, Professional Practice in the Community. Year two - Compulsory modules: Intelligence, Structures and Products, Managing Criminal Enquiries, Crime Scene Investigation, Operational Security, Cyber Security, Evolution of threat. Year three - Compulsory modules: Investigative Interviewing, Serious Organised Crime Investigations, Covert Operations, Security Risk Management, Digital Intelligence. Optional modules: Practical Action Research, Forecasting Future Challenges. Year four - Compulsory modules: Global Threats & Risk Principles, Safeguarding Society, Freedoms and Protections, Extremism, Dissertation/ Work based Project.

Assessment method

Coursework - may include written tasks and assignments, reports, dissertations, portfolios, project work - Year 0 = 40% Year 1= 50% Year 2 = 60% Year 3 = 80%. Practical Exams - may include practical assessments, oral assessments or presentations - Year 0 = 40% Year 1= 40% Year 2 = 30% Year 3 = 20%. Written Exams - formal exams only - Year 0 = 20% Year 1= 100% Year 2 = 10% Year 3 = 0%.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
L438
Institution code:
C99
Campus name:
Carlisle - Fusehill Street
Campus code:
F

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

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. The Integrated Foundation Year programmes support your return to education and 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.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
75%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
International £13575 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

These fees are for the first year only. For years 2 - 4, the BA or BSc fee will apply. Visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/studentfinance for more information about student fees and finance, and for details about our alumni discount.
Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice (with integrated foundation year) at University of Cumbria - UCAS