BSc in Professional Policing

This course is a national pre-join degree course licensed by the Policing Professional Body, the College of Policing and will be delivered by subject matter experts and experienced practitioners (including retired police officers) with a wealth of subject expertise to prepare you with key transferable skills required for the role of Police Constable.

This course has been developed through consultation with a range of police service areas and the College of Policing, to give you the opportunity to examine the fundamental concepts of policing whilst also developing the practical and transferable skills you need for a career in law enforcement.

What's covered in this course?

The course will help to develop your critical thinking about policing, policy and practice through complementary modules encompassing the theory and principles of operational policing, legislation and police powers, structured interviewing skills and much more. To develop these skills, you will be involved in practical activities, and events and will be exposed to a range of guest speakers. These speakers will be from a range of criminal justice and public sector agencies as well as police officers of all operational levels.

The course will utilise a range of exciting and innovative forms of assessment which match the working practices within policing. You will also be supported in applications for job roles within policing and will have opportunities to take part in mock assessment centres, and fitness and team-building exercises.

You will also benefit from a partnership between the university and West Midlands Police (WMP). The organisation has agreed to support the training of twenty-five special constables both within the service settings and on campus. WMP will provide support and guidance through both the assessment and training stages so as to ensure students feel capable and equipped to face a variety of incidents and issues.

This course will combine all of these elements together whilst offering you the opportunity to take part in a work placement which could be within a variety of areas in the field of community safety and criminal justice. You will be encouraged to take part in visiting courts, police training establishments and prisons.

The course material will help develop a professional focus and real-world experience, ensuring that upon graduation, you are equipped to make an impact in your chosen career. The course teaching team will also provide additional support sessions to refresh you on academic and research skills so as to ensure you are fully prepared to carry out independent research projects throughout the course.

Successful attainment of the BSc in Professional Policing does not in itself provide any guarantee of recruitment as a trainee Police Constable. Each police force within England and Wales sets out its own recruitment process and selection policy and entry requirements vary from force to force. You are therefore strongly advised to check the specific requirements of their chosen force prior to undertaking the study. It is also important to contact local force areas and the college of policing to ensure that you are fully familiar with the eligibility criteria and any barriers which may inhibit you from becoming a police officer.

Professional placement year

This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).

Why choose us?

We have a strong relationship with the British Society of Criminology. We hosted the 2018 British Society of Criminology Conference at our City Centre Campus. In all of our courses, you will gain a professional focus and real-world experience, ensuring you are equipped to make an immediate impact in your career. You have the opportunity to embark on a year-long professional placement as part of your degree course. The course’s professional relevance is supported by our close links with local criminal justice organisations, including our partnership with West Midlands Police Force (WMP). You can get hands-on experience with West Midlands Police (WMP) through participation in major policy initiatives. Students have taken part in online police scrutiny panels, gained experience working as Special Constables (including roles within WMP's homicide teams), and have previously accompanied officers to observe stop and search in action. In your first year, as part of our partnership with West Midlands Police, you will get the opportunity to be trained and supported to become a Special Constable' All our courses have an international focus. This is embedded throughout the curriculum, giving you the opportunity to transform your experience with us into a global one. There are a variety of exciting possibilities open to you, including our many overseas study exchange programmes.

With around 29,000 students from 100 countries, (HESA Student Record 2020/21 © Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited) Birmingham City University is a large and diverse place to study. We put students at the heart of everything we do, giving them the best opportunities for future success.

The University for Birmingham

We put £270 million into the regional economy and support thousands of jobs in the area. We're investing £340 million in our estate, including a major expansion of our city-centre campus at Eastside, providing students with an enviable range of facilities.

Social responsibility

At Birmingham City University we are committed to transforming students’ lives and enhancing opportunity through education and advancement. We play a key role in supporting the economy and public sector in Birmingham and the West Midlands, as the University for the city of Birmingham.

Whether developing research to enable people to lead healthier lives, decrease bullying in schools or help talented children in South Africa reach their musical potential, Birmingham City University undertakes a wide variety of work to ensure that we operate as a socially responsible University.

On Monday 17 September 2018, we announced that staff had voted for Acorn’s Children’s Hospice and Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid to be the University’s Chosen Charities.