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Professional Policing at University of Cumbria - UCAS

Course summary

In a society marked by escalating security concerns and intricate criminal challenges, individuals face the pressing need for a dedicated force to maintain law and order and address emerging threats. Immerse yourself in a robust, industry relevant curriculum, designed and licensed by the National College of Policing. Explore the principles of obtaining intelligence, leadership and the nuances of criminal behaviour, equipping you with the essential tools to confidently embark upon a rewarding career in the forces. Elevate your university experience by applying to volunteer in the local Special Constabulary, providing you with real-world policing experience alongside your studies, and giving you the golden ticket to our immersive Major Incident Event, where you will work alongside Paramedics and Forensic Scientists to develop your inter-professional skills. You will benefit from the unwavering support of our expert academics, who have experienced policing and law enforcement first hand during their career. Their practical insights and real-world knowledge will enhance your learning experience, providing you with a robust foundation for your future endeavours in the field. Course Overview Our BSc (Hons) Professional Policing course provides a strong foundation in both the theory and practice of modern policing, alongside key supporting disciplines such as criminology, ethics, and the interpretation of legislation and procedure. The curriculum is set by The College of Policing, ensuring your studies align with national standards and best practices. Delivered by an experienced academic team with diverse policing backgrounds, the course is enriched with insights from guest speakers across the policing and wider criminal justice sectors. As a licensed ‘pre-join’ degree, it’s the perfect starting point for those aspiring to a career in policing. You’ll learn through a blend of engaging teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, directed study, and independent research. Our facilities also allow for immersive practical training, with simulated crime scenes and scenario-based role plays designed to mirror the challenges and complexities of policing in the real world. Upon successful completion of the programme, you'll be academically prepared to enter the policing profession or pursue a variety of roles in the broader criminal justice field. On this course you will:

  • Learn how to make effective and dynamic police decisions and solve problems.
  • Learn the fundamental powers and procedures that Police Officers use every day.
  • Have the opportunity and be supported in applying for the local Special Constabulary, providing you with real-world policing experience alongside your studies.
  • Have the opportunity (if a serving Special Constable) to take part in our CATE-nominated Major Incident exercise. You will work alongside Forensic Science and Paramedic Practice students to develop your inter-professional skills.
What you will learn 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.

Modules

Year one

  • Understanding the Police Constable Role
  • Policing Vulnerability in Contemporary Society
  • Police Legislation
  • Academic Study Skills and Applied Social Sciences
  • Information and Intelligence
  • Policing, Decisions and Ethics
Year two
  • Professionalism, Values and Standards
  • Vulnerability and Risk
  • Specialist Procedures
  • Operational Policing
  • Academic Research Skills
  • Criminological Concepts
Year three
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Response Policing
  • Community Policing
  • Police Investigation (specialism)
  • Information and Intelligence (specialism)
  • Dissertation

Assessment method

Some of the assessments within the pre-join degree have been designed to reflect the professional requirements of report and document writing within policing. The purpose of the assessments we undertake are to monitor both your learning informally (using formative assessments) and to assess your progress at the end of each module and the programme overall (using summative assessments). You will be offered continuing support to make sure your progress is on track and that the key principles and supporting guidance around evidence-based policing threads through the learning you undertake on the programme and in all that you learn and understand. Each module tutor and your personal academic tutor will ensure that you are clear about the intended learning outcomes for each module and the assessment marking criteria to make sure you understand what you are being asked to learn and upon what criteria you are being assessed. Examples of assessment methods include: case study, reflective reports, academic essay, e-portfolio, production and presentation of reports, poster and oral presentation, written report.


How to apply

This course is not open to application until the 13th May 2025.

Application codes

Course code:
L900
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


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

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 to be confirmed
Professional Policing at University of Cumbria - UCAS