Select your course options:
Summary:
Applying through UCAS? Apply here (L721)
Course Code: L721
Applying through UCAS? Apply here (L720)
Course Code: L720
Where Are You Applying From?
How Would You Like To Study?
When Do You Want To Start Your Studies?
Which Campus Would You Like To Study At?
Which Options Would You Like With Your Course?
Why choose the School of Applied Social Sciences
This BA (Hons) Professional Policing is licensed by the College of Policing, meaning you are fully prepared for a role as an officer upon graduation.
The course is taught by former police officers alongside other professionals and academics.
We have strong links with local police forces, Bedfordshire and Thames Valley. Our lecturers can arrange short placements for students and help those who wish to volunteer as a special constable.
About the course
This degree allows you to develop the knowledge and skills that underpin police work while preparing you for the challenges police officers face. Following the College of Policing curriculum, it combines theory, law and vocational experience (if you choose to be a volunteer or special constable) to give you a thorough understanding of modern policing.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Mock custody suite and police interview room
- Scene-of-crime flat designed to mirror real-life police situations Interactive learning suite
- Bespoke lecture theatres, presentation rooms and group study spaces
- Seven-storey library with an extensive range of physical and digital resources
Industry links
We have strong links with Bedfordshire and Thames Valley police forces and can help you find placement opportunities within their service.
Your student experience
Our curriculum is continually informed and updated by the latest demand-driven issues identified by the Home Office and College of Policing, meaning you leave with skills and knowledge suitable to tackle the latest challenges in the field of criminality.
You are taught by a multidisciplinary team of academics, reflecting the multi-agency approach required in modern policing.
Put your theoretical knowledge into action with role-play activities and real-life simulations in our mock custody suite, interview room and scene-of-crime flat.
Gain workplace-orientated skills suitable for a range of careers both within and outside of policing.
Enhance your experience with relevant field trips to sites such as the Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice.
Learn from guest speakers at the forefront of the field in our regular interactive demonstrations and lectures.
Immerse yourself in our exciting #SASS Change Maker initiative, which works with local charities, policymakers and community influences to raise awareness of topical issues in society.
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
Much of my career has had the key aim of helping others. Prior to retiring as a Police Officer in Bedfordshire 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 Violence and Community departments before moving on to a central Intelligence office developing serious crime packages.
Course Leader - Jonathan South
Much of my career has had the key aim of helping others. Prior to retiring as a Police Officer in Bedfordshire 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 Violence and Community departments before moving on to a central Intelligence office developing serious crime packages.
What will you study?
This course provides you with an understanding of the complex relationships the Police service has with the public and other agencies within the Policing family and wider criminal justice system. Fundamentally this unit underlines the role of the police in maintaining public trust and confidence in order to support policing by consent. There are three constituent parts:
- Role of the Police organisation and Police Officers within society
- The police structure and where it sits within the Criminal Justice System
- Expected professional and ethical behaviours of Police Officers to maintain trust, confidence and Policing by Consent.
You will also explore the Criminal Justice system as a whole and how it attempts to protect the public and punish those guilty of committing crimes whilst also seeking to deter and rehabilitate. Students will understand the crime process from the processes of finding out crime or disorder has occurred to the investigation process, the judicial system and finally a more grounded understanding of the many things the police do. This will also include how police forces are monitored and assessed by the HMICFRS and the IOPC.
Finally, the unit will focus on professional behaviours expected of Police Officers and what happens when those professional behaviours are not met. Students will learn from an early stage that ethical decision making and behaviours are core concepts that need to be applied to learning and assessments throughout the whole degree. Understanding the role of the Police and wider criminal justice system will also help you to understand police responses and limitations within other modules such as Criminal Legislation and Police Powers, Community Policing and Evidence based Policing.
How will you be assessed?
A range of appropriate assessments will enable you to grow in confidence and develop your skills and knowledge. There are a variety of assessment methods including essays group and individual presentations recorded presentations practice based and problem solving exercises poster presentations and multiple choice exams.
By varying our assessment methods you will develop a wider set of skills. Whilst there will be practical learning and role play scenarios you will not be formally assessed on these but will be expected to reflect on a scenario. Some assessments require you to work individually in pairs or groups although you will receive individual grades.
Feedback is a simplified 2Q system as requested by our students that not only comments and grades your work but also provides you constructive comments on how to develop. Feedback is an important stage of developing as a student and you will have chance to discuss your work with your tutors.
The assessments develop incrementally across the years and you build on feedback given to you in order to progress. Assessments are graded on how you have met the unit learning outcomes and you are also supported by using our threshold statements which seek to guide you towards your assessment.
The final year has been designed as a springboard to developing more specialist knowledge that can used as a discussion point in job interviews or even consideration for post-graduate study. The culmination of the degree is a research project that looks at an area of personal interest. A full 3-year assessment map is in the Student Handbook that you will be given during enrolment so that you know what assessments there are in the degree. All assessments must be successfully completed before progressing on to the next level of the course.
Careers
This 'Pre-Join' degree will make you eligible to apply for a role as a police constable upon graduation. The degree does not lead to a guaranteed job with a police service but it does allow you to apply with a degree licensed by The College of Policing and you will gain the skills and knowledge that will support your progression into the police service of England and Wales. Your degree allows you to develop without being required to work as a police officer although we do have ties to local forces.
You will leave with knowledge and skills that are vital for modern-day policing such as communication skills decision making and critical thinking. The Pre-Join degree in Professional Policing offers transferable knowledge and skills that are required in careers in other sectors including the prison service Border Force or probation services or alternatively within the private sector working on investigations or security matters.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK 2024/25
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 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
Merit Scholarship
We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.
Bedfordshire Bursary
If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).
Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 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 2024/25
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £9,250 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
Merit Scholarship
We offer a Merit Scholarship to UK students, worth £2,400* over three academic years, which is awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, through scoring 120 UCAS tariff points or more.
Bedfordshire Bursary
If you aren’t eligible for the Merit Scholarship, this Bursary is there to help UK students with aspects of student living such as course costs. The Bursary will give you £1,000* over three academic years, or £1,300* if you are taking your course over four academic years (including those with a Foundation Year).
Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £15,500 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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