Skip navigation
Risk and Security Management (Distance Learning) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
Apply

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

Course summary

Overview In an increasingly global society, understanding crime and the risk it presents is critical to managing security and preventing threat. If you’re already working in security, or want to break into the field, this flexible BSc (Hons) Risk and Security Management distance learning degree course will give you an advanced understanding of topics that have a critical impact on society. Study anywhere that suits you while developing your potential as a security professional in disciplines such as strategic and operational management, risk management, security management, business continuity management, cyber security, investigations and counter fraud. Developed by leading researchers in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, in collaboration with the private security sector, you'll learn to understand crime and risk at a specialist level through study of the latest security and risk management techniques, processes and approaches. You'll graduate with enhanced career opportunities and the ability to contribute more value to your current employer. Course highlights

  • Develop academic and professional expertise in the security sector
  • Specialise in areas that are relevant to you, by choosing modules that match your interests and career ambitions on topics such as organised crime, victimisation, rehabilitation and terrorism
  • Be taught by leading academics from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, including Mark Button, Director of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies and Nick Pamment, whose team has adapted forensic fingerprinting techniques to fight illegal wildlife trafficking
  • Study on a course that inspired an Imbert Prize award-winning dissertation from the Association of Security Consultants, on the topic of the use of handcuffs and restraints in the private security industry
  • Have the option to convert relevant prior learning or work experience from previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses into credits and complete the course in less time
  • Get a Certificate of Higher Education after 18 months and a Diploma of Higher Education after 36 months, if you're unable to complete the full course
Careers and opportunities 96% of course graduates are in work or further study 15 months after they graduate and 90% of those graduates are in highly skilled work in welfare, protective services and housing, as managers, directors, senior officials and public service associates. What's more, 93% of course graduates find their work meaningful. So the skills you’ll learn on our course are in high demand and are likely to set you up for progression into a senior professional role you're passionate about. 10% of our graduates go onto further study alongside their work, and you could also continue your studies to a PhD or other postgraduate qualification, such as our Risk, Crisis and Resilience Management Master's and a Professional Doctorate in Security Risk Management. What sectors can you work in with a risk and security management degree? When you finish the course, you’ll boost your career prospects and be prepared to take on professional roles across any sector that requires risk and security management. Areas you could go into include:
  • the civil service and armed forces
  • intergovernmental organisations (such as the United Nations)
  • international charity organisations
  • intelligence
  • law enforcement and local authority
  • security risk analysis
  • crisis and disaster management
  • counter fraud
  • private security
  • information security
Graduate destinations Previous graduates have gone onto roles with companies such as Control Risks (global risk consultancy) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. "Each course through research opened my eyes to a changing world and provided me with the tools necessary to be a better security manager in this dynamic domain." – Oneil Wildgoose, BSc Hons Risk and Security Management student

Modules

Year 1 Core modules currently include:

  • Criminal Justice and the Legal System (40 credits)
  • Essential Skills in Criminal Justice Studies (40 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules currently include:
  • Organisational and Security Management (40 credits)
  • Risk and Crisis Management (40 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 3 Core modules currently include:
  • Research Methods and Analysis (40 credits)
Options currently include:
  • Advanced Investigation and Operational Policing (20 credits)
  • Contemporary Terrorism and the Global Response (20 credits)
  • Cybercrime and Security (20 credits)
  • Forensic Psychology: Investigation (20 credits)
  • Fundamentals of Forensic Investigation (20 credits)
  • Organised Crime (20 credits)
  • Rehabilitation of Offenders (20 credits)
  • Victimology - Victimisation and the Criminal Justice System (20 credits)
Year 4 Core modules include:
  • Global, State and Corporate Security (40 credits)
Optional modules include:
  • Advanced Investigation and Operational Policing (20 credits)
  • Contemporary Terrorism and Global Response (20 credits)
  • Cybercrime and Security (20 credits)
  • Forensic Psychology: Investigation (20 credits)
  • Fundamentals of Forensic Investigation (20 credits)
  • Organised Crime (20 credits)
  • Rehabilitation of Offenders (20 credits)
  • Victimology - Victimisation and the Criminal Justice System (20 credits)
Year 5 Core modules include:
  • Dissertation (40 credits)
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through essays and reports, with essay titles provided at the beginning of the academic year. You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future. The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows: Stage 1 students: 100% by coursework Stage 2 students: 100% by coursework Stage 3 students: 100% by coursework

How to apply

To apply for this course you will be taken to the provider's website, where you can find out more information and make an application.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

There are no specific qualification requirements, we will assess your application on its own merits. Applicants may be required to produce a short written artefact to better assist the course leader as to the suitability of the applicant.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £3180 Year 1
International £3180 Year 1
England £3180 Year 1
Northern Ireland £3180 Year 1
Scotland £3180 Year 1
Wales £3180 Year 1
Channel Islands £3180 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £3180 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

Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. Please check the course page on our website for the most up to date fee information. Fees are subject to annual increase. Please see the following webpage for further undergraduate fee information: https://www.port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Risk and Security Management (Distance Learning) at University of Portsmouth - UCAS