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BSc (Hons) Professional Policing

Explore the dynamics of the modern UK police system and its diverse responsibilities in society. Gain indispensable skills and knowledge to fearlessly tackle present and future challenges, enabling you to fulfil your journey in law enforcement.

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Curriculum regularly enriched with perspective of the Crown Prosecution  Service (CPS)

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Full scale replica crown court where you’ll gain real-life experience

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2nd in the East of England for Social Policy (Complete University Guide, 2023)

Course overview

Our BSc (Hons) Professional Policing is designed to provide you with an unparalleled in-depth understanding of modern policing.  Licensed by the College of Policing, the course contains all elements of the National Police Curriculum (NPC).

From the outset, the course is intended to be vibrant, dynamic, and forward-thinking. It has been structured to provide a healthy balance between academic and practical study and assessments. The course has been designed with direct input from Hertfordshire Police who, as a leading potential employer for successful students, will closely support its delivery through regular involvement and hands-on opportunities where possible.

Why choose this course?

The University of Hertfordshire has a uniquely close association with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), meaning you’ll benefit from specialist CPS input.

The course is intended to provide specific learning outcomes applicable to careers in policing and law enforcement, the Criminal Justice sector, and other related fields such as investigative journalism. Successful students will also develop a host of essential transferable skills including effective communication, problem solving, decision-making, teamwork, and leadership. Specific support will be provided to those wishing to apply to become a Special Constable.

Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to visit key sites such as a police control room, custody suite, and operations centre. You will visit both Magistrates’ and Crown Courts to gain a practical understanding of the Criminal Justice Process in action. You will practice giving evidence and applying for search warrants within the replica crown court in UH’s first-class Grace Ononiwu Law Court Building.

You will examine in detail the critical thinking that underpins the societal aspects of policing and develop essential policing skills. As the first officer on scene, what skills and knowledge are most relevant? What considerations must be made to deal effectively with a vulnerable victim or a crime scene, or both? How effective is Stop & Search as a crime-fighting tool, and to what extent is criticism of its use justified? Why is the right to protest important in UK? To what extent are police/community relations important? Does current legislation provide the police with sufficient powers to deal with climate change activists? Does the use of live Facial Recognition outweigh privacy concerns? Is there an argument for a National Police Service?  What is “digital policing” and what is its significance in modern policing?  What might be the impact of ‘driverless’ cars? What is ‘Evidence Based Policing’ and what how might the use of research be optimised? How does Mental Health affect current policing processes? What is ‘deepfake’ and how might it influence current investigative strategies?

All sessions will be delivered by qualified professionals or ex-professionals in the sector, with expert input from selected guest speakers from the police, CPS and other key partners.

Professional accreditations

Licensed by the College of Policing, upon graduating from this course you will be qualified to pursue a career as a Constable through our specialised PPD (Degree in Professional Policing) entry route.

*Completion of this course does not guarantee entry to the police force – you will need to meet the eligibility requirements when applying. This could include passing medical and fitness tests, as well as background and security checks. You will also need to undertake a series of assessments, including national recruitment processes and force vetting.

Your future career

The demand for graduates within police recruitment is higher than ever. In acknowledgement of this, our BSc (Hons) Professional Police Degree has been specifically designed to equip you with the necessary foundations to excel in a variety of careers within the sector.

  • Police officer
  • PCSO
  • Special Constable
  • Forensics: (scenes of crime officer/digital forensics)
  • Intelligence: Researcher/Analyst
  • Communications: (call centres/media)
  • Other: Criminal Justice Units, graphics etc

What you'll study

To guarantee a first-class learning experience, the course is delivered through a range of academic and practical based learning. Structured teaching consists of traditional lectures, seminars, workshops, and sessions led by police professionals. Smaller group seminars and workshops will allow you to enhance your problem-solving, teamwork, analysis, debating, and presentation skills. You’ll be able to put those skills into practice through various practical scenarios.

In your first year, you will be introduced to the principles, processes, and practices that underpin modern-day policing. You’ll explore the ethical challenges and dilemmas faced by police officers and how to promote integrity and accountability. The course looks into the legal framework which govern police actions including relevant case laws. Students will learn to understand the needs of victims, identifying vulnerable individuals and how to best support them.

In your second year, you will learn the art of conducting effective investigations, utilising forensic techniques to gather evidence and make informed decisions. Students will analyse the internal and external bodies whose role it is to provide oversight to policing, exploring the strategies used to promote transparency, professionalism and ethical conduct within law enforcement. This will enable you to increase your ability to engage with diverse communities and enhance community well-being.

During your final year of study, you will learn the strategies and techniques used to combat complex crimes, as well as the rapidly growing area of cybercrime. You’ll explore the challenges involved in policing the roads and how public safety can be maximised. Students will also examine the different forms of extremism and counter measures. Your final year will involve an Applied Research Project, enabling you to apply your knowledge and critical thinking skills to a real-world issue in the field of law enforcement. This will develop your ability to conduct rigorous research and produce evidence-based solutions.

What if I need support?

As a supportive and inclusive university, we prioritise the well-being of our students. Our friendly staff team are available to help you adjust to the demands of university learning and living.

You’ll also be assigned a dedicated Personal Support Tutor (PST), who will schedule regular one-on-one meetings with you throughout your studies. They can provide you with support with securing work experience and graduate jobs.

Where you'll study

Our renowned law school is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and resources, including a dedicated Crime Scene House. Here, you will have the unique opportunity to delve into realistic criminal investigation scenarios.

Whilst studying for a professional policing degree, you will have access to a full-scale replica Crown Court, giving you a unique insight into the the realities of how evidence plays out in court and some of the associated challenges. You will experience first-hand how to make applications to the court, e.g. in applying for search warrants, and/or giving evidence.

You will be taught on the de Havilland Campus, a vibrant location with dining options, coffee shops, and recreational spaces, as well as the Hertfordshire Sports Village which has a gym, swimming pool, and climbing wall.

The 24/7 Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is home to the University library and has a dedicated area for SLE students to study in a quiet space.

The university is just a short 25-minute train ride into central London. Our location on the A1(M), with access to the road network, makes travel quick and convenient.

Who you'll learn from

All sessions are delivered by staff with extensive practical and academic experience of policing or the wider law enforcement sector.

Herts Policing and Criminology department is led by Dr Mark Roycroft who has had an extensive career as a senior detective for over three decades. A Fulbright scholar and author of three books on policing, Mark has taught Policing and Criminology degrees in the UK and Middle East.

We also regularly enrich our curriculum with diverse perspectives and input from Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and other professionals.

How we support our students

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible.

We offer a range of support services, from childcare to counselling, ensuring that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying, having fun, and have the support you need.

Entry requirements

The University of Hertfordshire is committed to welcoming students with a wide range of qualifications and levels of experience. The entry requirements listed on the course pages provide a guide to the minimum level of qualifications needed to study each course. However, we have a flexible approach to admissions and each application will be considered on an individual basis.

Typical offer (UCAS points)112–120
Typical A Level offerBBC–BBB
Typical BTEC offerDMM–DDM
Accepted T LevelsDesign Survey and Planning for Construction; Design Production, Design and Development; Education and Childcare; Healthcare Science; Health; Science; Digital Support Services; Digital Business Services; Onsite Construction; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Legal Services
GCSE English Language and Maths 4/C
Access coursesAn overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3.
Additional informationFind out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements

Typical offer (UCAS points)112–120
Typical A Level offerBBC–BBB
Typical BTEC offerDMM–DDM
Accepted T LevelsDesign Survey and Planning for Construction; Design Production, Design and Development; Education and Childcare; Healthcare Science; Health; Science; Digital Support Services; Digital Business Services; Onsite Construction; Building Services Engineering for Construction; Accounting; Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Finance; Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing; Management and Administration; Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Legal Services
GCSE English Language and Maths 4/C
Access coursesAn overall merit profile in 45 credits at Level 3.
Additional informationFind out more about our standard and contextual Undergraduate Entry Requirements

English language

All students from non-majority English speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency, equivalent to an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band.

If you do not have the required IELTS or equivalent for direct entry on to your degree programme, our Pre-sessional English and International Foundation courses can help you to achieve this level.

Additional information

Find out more about International Entry Requirements

Ready to apply?

UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK
Start date Study typeApply
September 2024 Full time Apply via UCAS
Part time Apply with Herts

Fees and funding

At Herts, we’re dedicated to providing world-class teaching supported by industry-level facilities and incredible social spaces. We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to higher education, and we strive to keep both our standard and additional costs as low as possible.

Study typeFees
UK studentsFull time£9,250 for the 2024/2025 academic year
Part time£1,155 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year
EU studentsFull time£15,550 for the 2023/2024 academic year
Part time£1,940 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year
International studentsFull time£15,550 for the 2024/2025 academic year
Part time£1,940 per 15 credits for the 2024/2025 academic year

Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University’s Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed “When tuition fees change”), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

Scholarships, grants  and bursaries

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a non-repayable scholarship, grant or bursary to support your studies.

Disabled Students' Allowance

The Disabled Students’ Allowance can cover any study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

Student loans

Find out about securing a student loan, from how much you could be eligible for to when you need to start making repayments.

Accommodation costs

We offer a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

Additional course fees

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet.

More about the course

Course fact sheets
BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Download PDF
Programme specifications
BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Download PDF
Additional information

Applications open to international and EU students

Yes

Course length

Full Time, 3 YearsPart Time, 6 Years

Not ready to apply?