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Professional Policing

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

Our Professional Policing degree, licensed by the UK College of Policing, is taught by expert criminologists and senior ex-officers. Gain the skills and hands-on experience needed for careers in law enforcement, security, and all areas of policing.

Immersive, real-world training
Experience realistic crime scene investigations, live suspect interviews with actors, and simulated courtroom trials - bridging theory and practice in a hands-on learning environment.

Expert-led teaching
Learn from former senior police officers and leading criminologists who bring decades of frontline experience and academic insight, including major event management like the 2012 Olympic torch relay.

Career-focussed
Licensed by the UK College of Policing as a Pre-Join degree, this course opens doors to a variety of careers across public, private and third sectors.

This course is for you if...

  • you have a desire to make a tangible difference – to serve and protect communities

  • you seek to develop transferable skills across law enforcement, security and public service roles

  • you're driven to apply your skills in real-world settings – through immersive experiences such as crime scene simulations, courtroom presentations, and live suspect interviews

  • you are aiming for a rewarding and dynamic career in law enforcement.

Modules

Year 1
Semester 1 – Who are the police and what do they do?
You will start with a history of the modern police, their role and function and how they respond to public need and gain insights into roads policing and the trauma experienced by first responders.

Semester 2 – Criminology and communities
Understanding the causes of crime and applying criminological theory, you will problem-solve real policing issues by analysing criminal and community intelligence.

Year 2
Semester 1 – From crime scene to court
Immersing yourself in our realistic crime scene you will form investigative hypotheses, interview live suspects, and develop policing skills to solve a murder scenario.

Semester 2 – The ethics of the police
The police service operates in a risky environment with the need for fast paced but high-quality decision making. You will work through real-life case studies where the police have caused the death of a member of the public to enhance your decision-making capabilities under stress.

Final year
Semester 1 – Protecting the vulnerable
You will challenge your understanding of how to safeguard the vulnerable, protecting children and tackling extremist radicalisation and domestic abuse.

Semester 2 – Criminology and communities
Police corruption and cyber-crime are examined in depth, and you will be able to contribute to the development of evidenced-based policing through your dissertation research into real-world policing problems.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Assessment method

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • College of Policing

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
L900
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated Student Immigration Advice (SIA) service who will support you from the day you accept an offer at the University, right through to graduation. They will offer help and advice so you can get the most out of your studies, and your time in the UK, visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/international-student-advice for more information. Once you have applied, your conditional offer letter will also be sent to you by email, so be sure to enter your current email address on your application and to check this email regularly. You'll need your unconditional letter, and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that we'll send you, when applying for your student visa to the UK. A tuition fee deposit will be required before we'll send you the CAS. We're a licenced Sponsor under the Points Based System. To comply with our duties as a Sponsor, we're required to check other aspects of your application in addition to your academic achievements, for example any previous studies, financial status and your immigration history in the UK. For course entry requirements (inc. English requirements) please refer to the specific page for the course you are interested in (www.plymouth.ac.uk/study). A recognised English language qualification (e.g. IELTS) would be required or successful completion of one of the University's pre-sessional English Language courses. Check our country pages to find out more about application from your specific home country www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/study/international-students-country-guides. International fees, please visit our fees and funding pages www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees. If you have any questions please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Open days

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 104 points

A level

104 UCAS Tariff points, including a minimum of 2 A Levels.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

Any subject is considered.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass a named Access to HE Diploma with 33 Level 3 credits at Merit and/or Distinction. Any subject is considered.

Scottish Higher

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D

Any subject is considered.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

Scottish Advanced Higher

104 tariff points. English and Mathematics accepted within as GCSE equivalent.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points

To include a Grade 4 in any subject at Higher Level. English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalent.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Extended Project

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

104 points from Irish Highers. Any subjects are considered. English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalent.

T Level - M

Any subject is considered.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6With 5.5 in all elements.
Full details of English Language requirements can be found on our website.

English Language Requirements https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At the University of Plymouth, we believe in building a welcoming and inclusive community that supports every student to achieve their full potential.

With our contextual offer scheme, we may extend offers below our standard entry criteria to those applicants whose circumstances and experiences could have impacted their education and academic performance. You can check your eligibility for a contextual offer using our online postcode checker.

Learn more on the University of Plymouth website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Data from:
This course and 2 other law courses
Date range:
2022-2024

Offer rate for UK school & college leavers

100% Students aged 17/18 who applied to this course were offered a place.

How do you compare?

See how students with your grades have been accepted onto this course in the past.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

68 Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)

93 Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

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

For all information about tuition fees, please visit our fees and funding pages at www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees

  • Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.
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