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Professional Policing

Course details
  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 21 September 2027
  • 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

Course 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

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

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

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level

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

T Level
P

C or above on the core

UCAS Tariff
Offer: 104

Including a minimum of 2 A Levels

Scottish Higher

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

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 Advanced Higher

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

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

Any subject is considered.

Extended Project

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

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

Considered in combination with other qualifications.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 26

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

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

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

Any subject is considered.

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.

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.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

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.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

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

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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