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Professional Policing (with Foundation Year)

  • 3 Study options
  • Undergraduate
Frenchay Campus
Awarded by:
University of the West of England, Bristol
More about Bristol, UWE

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

UWE Bristol are regional pioneers of the national transformation in police education. We are licensed by the College of Policing to offer the Pre-join Degree in Professional Policing. This course will prepare you to apply for a role in one of 43 UK police forces.

Why study Professional Policing?

Police education is in the early stages of a national transformation, recognising the complex and challenging role of today's police officers. This transformation aims to equip future employees with the skills they need for success in modern policing, including communication, digital fluency and critical thinking.

As an aspiring regional hub of police education, UWE Bristol are early adopters of this cultural change. Our pioneering policing degree is designed to address the changing needs of the sector and places a strong focus on improving equality, diversity and inclusivity in policing. Completing this degree will be your first step towards working for the police.

Why study at UWE Bristol?

Study a Professional Policing degree that's at the forefront of the national transformation of recruitment and training in the policing sector. You'll learn to apply an evidence-based approach to Professional Policing, supported by research-led teaching, bespoke facilities and specialist staff from practice.

You'll also benefit from our strong professional connections with Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Take advantage of exciting opportunities to collaborate with police officers in practice and interact with local police forces through mentoring, shadowing and ride along activities. By the time you graduate, you'll have the academic knowledge required to become a police officer.

Where can a policing degree take me?

Aimed at those who aren't already employed by a police force, this course is one of three accredited routes to become a Police Constable that UWE Bristol offers. Our Professional Policing degree will prepare you to apply for a response officer role in any national force area.

We welcome applications from a range of prospective students, from school leavers interested in policing or criminology, to armed forces employees seeking a career change. We also encourage those looking to work in non-operational policing roles to apply.

Professional bodies

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

  • College of Policing

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Frenchay Campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours) • Full-Time • Integrated foundation year • 4 Years
  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours) • Full-Time • Integrated foundation year • 5 Years
  • Bachelor of Science (with Honours) • Part-Time • Integrated foundation year • 8 Years

Start dates

Application codes

Institution code:
B80

Bristol, UWE has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

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What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Application codes

Institution code:
B80

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

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Discover what it's like to study Professional Policing (with Foundation Year) at Bristol, UWE: insights on the course, making friends, personal statement tips, uni prep, and recommended books, podcasts, and videos.

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Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff
Offer: 48

A level

No specific subjects required

Typical offers:

You will need to meet the following Level 2 requirements:

GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.

In addition to the above Level 2 qualifications, you'll need to achieve the published tariff points from your Level 3 studies prior to entry. This page provides an indicative list of the main qualification types. However, we will consider any Level 3 qualifications towards meeting our entry requirements.

Tariff points: 48

Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/undergraduate-applications/contextual-offers

English Language Requirement: International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our english language requirements: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/international-applications/english-language-requirements

EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No subjects required. For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/undergraduate-applications/entry-requirements

Access: No subjects required.

Irish Highers: No subjects required

Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.

Cambridge Technical: No specific subjects required.

T Levels: No specific subjects required.

We're unable to accept applications from international/EU students who require a Student Route visa.

The Professional Policing degree at UWE Bristol (accredited by the College of Policing) is one of the recognised routes into policing and provides all the knowledge and theory required for successful graduates to pursue a career in the police service.

Those wishing to undertake an operational role as a police officer can use this qualification to make an application and if successful will be upskilled with a short practical course when their employment commences.

Those looking to pursue other careers within and beyond the police, will find that many of the theoretical knowledge and skills developed on this course will be useful. For example, students will develop a grounding in team working communication and leadership skills as well as policing specific attributes such as an investigative mindset, interviewing and decision making.

Please go to How to apply to join the police for more information: https://www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/application-process/get-ready-to-apply

Read more about entry requirements: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/undergraduate-applications https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/L49F/professional-policing-with-foundation-year#entry

English language requirements

International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*). *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language requirements pages: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/international-applications/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.

Follow the link to see our contextual offers page

Learn more on the Bristol, UWE 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.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

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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

Fee information is to be confirmed. All fees are subject to final approval. Please visit our website for further information.

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