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Why choose the School of Applied Social Sciences
Open to professionals with a qualification such as the Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP2) or equivalent; or recent experience in an investigative role (the last five years).
Your existing skills, experience and work-based learning is mapped against Policing and Law QAA benchmarking statements.
100% of our social sciences students were satisfied with how well our courses developed knowledge and skills for the future (NSS, 2024).
About the course
This ground-breaking, one-year course is designed for professionals already working in the field who wish to progress in their career through gaining a degree qualification or formally recognised managerial and leadership credentials. Blending theory with scenario- based practice, you refine your skills in analysing evidence-based practice; explore issues associated with modern-day criminal investigations; enhance your understanding of legislation and policy; and develop confidence in key skill areas such as communication, digital proficiency, presentation and effective management.
Course accreditation
An embedded unit, Coaching and Leadership in the Partnership Framework, is a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredited qualification and, on completion, you can register with the CMI.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Mock-custody suite
- Police interview room
- Scene-of-crime ‘flat’
- Simulation floor that takes you from a mock home to hospital, giving you hands-on experience of a range of scenarios
Industry links
We have robust associations with criminal justice stakeholders, local councils, companies, and voluntary sector and practitioners, which open up opportunities for volunteering and work placements in the community or in practice. We also have strong links with Bedfordshire and Thames Valley police forces offering opportunities for placements within their service.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Jonathan South
I am a retired Police Officer having served with Bedfordshire Police. I was fortunate to have experienced core functions of response, investigative and preventative policing. The last roles I had involved developing intelligence systems within Domestic Abuse and Neighbourhood Policing departments before moving on to a central Intelligence office developing serious crime packages.
Course Leader - Jonathan South
I am a retired Police Officer having served with Bedfordshire Police. I was fortunate to have experienced core functions of response, investigative and preventative policing. The last roles I had involved developing intelligence systems within Domestic Abuse and Neighbourhood Policing departments before moving on to a central Intelligence office developing serious crime packages.
Careers
As you will already be employed in an investigative role when you graduate, you will now have the investigative mindset, critical-thinking skills, and leadership and management confidence to develop or progress within your current organisation, or move to a different organisation with an officially recognised, higher-level qualification. It will open up opportunities within policing as investigators, including complex investigations, or in the wider private sector, working alongside victims or offenders.
You may also wish to progress to a Master’s by Research or a taught Master’s in an associated subject.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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