Undergraduate

Professional Policing

Criminology student Megan Witty with Humberside Police
Student with clipboard in crime scene lab
Students using crime scene lab swabbing for evidence
Criminology lecturer teaching student in crime scene lab
We’ve worked side by side with Humberside Police to design this degree with real-world authenticity.
All new police recruits must be qualified to degree level – this course gives you the knowledge and skills you need to enhance your employability after graduation.
We’re one of the few universities with a replica crime scene training facility. So you can get to grips with crime scene investigation.
This degree is licensed by the College of Policing and gives you hands-on training.
You could gain first-hand experience of policing while you study with Special Constable and Police Service Volunteer opportunities.
Criminology student Megan Witty with Humberside Police
Student with clipboard in crime scene lab
Students using crime scene lab swabbing for evidence
Criminology lecturer teaching student in crime scene lab
Criminology, Sociology & Professional Policing - Professional Policing

Code

Duration

Mode

  • Standard course
  • With a foundation year
  • September 2024

Typical offer

What does this mean?

This hands-on degree will give you the knowledge and skills to become a police officer.

All new police recruits must be qualified to degree level. This, combined with the Government’s commitment to raise the number of police officers, means you'll have excellent employment opportunities after graduation.

We work closely with Humberside Police to ensure that you’ll have the opportunity to apply to become a Special Constable or Police Service Volunteer.1 So you can gain first-hand experience of policing while studying and be ready to start your career after graduating.

  • Get into policing

    with a nationally recognised entry route

  • Train as a Special Constable

    alongside your degree 1

  • Access

    to roles within the criminal justice system and policing network

  • Replica crime scene

    training facility

  • College of Policing

    licensed course

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Course overview
Module options

About this course

This accredited programme will give you the knowledge and professional skills you need for a career in the police service.

We have an excellent reputation in this field and strong links with local, regional and national criminal justice agencies. Which gives you invaluable experiences including stimulating evidence-based policing project opportunities, as well as field trips to courts, police stations and prisons.

Explore criminal activity and gain hands-on experience of collecting evidence in our replica crime scene facility. You’ll see the world of forensic science brought to life, with detailed and realistic crime scenes for you to investigate.

You’ll get a taste of life as a police officer alongside your degree with the opportunity to train as a Special Constable or Police Service Volunteer.1 Your employability will be enhanced as you will complete your degree in line with Humberside Police's Special Constable programme. And you’ll have the chance to network with significant regional and national employers at our yearly Careers in Criminal Justice Fair.

Scheduled study hours and how you’re assessed

Throughout your degree, you’re expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That’s based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours, time spent on placement and independent study. How this time is divided across the year varies and depends on the module you are studying.

How you'll be assessed depends on the course you study, and the modules you choose. You may be assessed through a mix of examinations, coursework, presentations and group projects.

Choose your modules

Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits – so you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more. In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120. Some modules are compulsory, some are optional, so you can build a course that’s right for you.

Preparing for Learning in Higher Education

This module is designed to give you the best possible start to your university studies, making sure you have all the essential skills you need to succeed. Through lectures and workshops we will teach you how to write in an academic style, how to find quality sources, how to reference work, culminating in writing up a mini-research project.

Core•20 credits

Introduction to Social Science

This module is designed to provide you with an understanding of the key concepts underpinning research in the social sciences, including the value of appropriately used sources and data.

Core•20 credits

Research in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education

This module will equip you with the necessary skills to conduct and analyse research in a specific interest, supported by academics within your subject. You'll navigate through the research process, from identifying an area of interest to presenting their findings to your peers.

Core•20 credits

Group Challenge (Humanities)

Formulate and execute a group led enquiry into texts, cultural artifacts, film, music or dance. You'll explore their topics in groups at supervised workshops and develop questions on the cultural object relates to the living world of human experience, as well as developing your own methods to answer these questions.

Compulsory•20 credits

Foundation in Data Analysis

Develop a strong foundation in data collection and analysis. This module will introduce you to qualitative and quantitative data and how to analyse it; the collection of primary and secondary data; the production of high quality graphics; and report writing.

Compulsory•20 credits

Academic Writing Skills

Developing confidence in expression, oral as well as written, is a key feature of this module, which also aims to familiarise you with submission and assessment procedures in the context of Higher Education. This is a clear building block onto your degree programme and places you at a distinct advantage when you move into the following year.

Compulsory•20 credits

Students who require Foundation Year study will register on the Criminology with Foundation Year programme. Upon successful completion, you can transfer to Professional Policing.
6 Modules

Applied Criminology and Crime Prevention

You will be introduced to key concepts, theoretical approaches and their application, in relation to crime, victimisation and response to crime and deviance.

Compulsory•20 credits

Applied Research Methods and Professional Practice

Using extensive ‘real world’ case studies and datasets, this module will provide students with an understanding of those research strategies and methods most relevant to undertaking research within the fields of policing, criminal justice, crime prevention and community safety and harm reduction.

Compulsory•20 credits

Policing Communities

This module provides insight into the meaning, purpose, development and implementation of community policing.

Compulsory•20 credits

The Criminal Justice Process and Public Sector Management

You will gain an understanding of the roles and functions of the different agencies working within the British criminal justice system and introduces students to the principles of evaluative research, with special emphasis on evaluation of criminal justice and crime prevention initiatives.

Compulsory•20 credits

Understanding the Police Role

You will develop an understanding of the social, political and historical development of policing, placing British policing within its local, regional and national context.

Compulsory•20 credits

Valuing Difference and Inclusion

Covering equality, diversity and human rights considerations as a core function of professional practice, you will examine the relationship between workforce representativeness, equal opportunity and non-discrimination, police legitimacy and effective service provision.

Compulsory•20 credits
6 Modules

Decision Making and Discretion

This introduces you to theoretical explanations of decision making, the role of discretion and bias in decision-making, and provides an understanding of the rationale underpinning the development and application of the National Decision Making Model (NDM), and how it is applied to policing practice.

Compulsory•20 credits

Police Investigations

This introduces students to the key aspects of the criminal investigation process.

Compulsory•20 credits

Policing the Police

In this, you will cover police professional standard issues and the application of ethical and professional standards within policing practice and governance.

Compulsory•20 credits

The Policing of Vulnerability and Risk

You will be considering the ways in which the police service understands and responds to vulnerability, providing an overview of the strategies and legislation that have been developed to reduce victims’, offenders and police officers susceptibility to risk and harm.

Compulsory•20 credits

Victimology, Victims and Witnesses

Considering the broad areas of victims, victimisation and victimology as they apply within the policing context, you will address the legal and professional responsibilities of the police and allied criminal justice partners in providing support to victims and witnesses of crime.

Compulsory•20 credits

Problem Solving and Public Protection

You will study issues of public protection and provides insight into police service and allied partnership arrangements to support individuals in need of public protection.

Compulsory•20 credits
6 Modules

Policing Cross Border Crime

This module considers how increased mobility, developments in information and communication technology, transportation and postal systems have impacted upon new and emerging areas of crime.

Compulsory•20 credits

Policing Insight

Considering contemporary issues and developments in relation to policing, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills and professional practice as they relate to, and are applied within the professional policing context.

Compulsory•20 credits

Policing the Roads

This module introduces you to the legal and professional responsibilities of roads policing to enable you to engage in lawful, safe and effective front-line roads policing.

Compulsory•20 credits

Response Policing

You will develop an understanding of the legal and professional responsibilities of response policing and aims to equip students to engage in lawful, safe and effective front line response policing.

Compulsory•20 credits

Counter Terrorism and Extremism

This module covers national strategies, policies, preventative measures and professional policing practice in relation to countering terrorism and extremism.

Compulsory•20 credits

Evidence-Based Policing Project

You will gain a thorough grounding in research planning and design, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis in order to apply evidence-based research strategies and skills in an area relevant to professional policing practice.

Compulsory•20 credits
6 Modules

This course is accredited by

Playlist

Mike McKue

Course Overview 1 min

Criminology facilities

Course highlight 2 mins

Life on campus

University Life 2 mins

Teaching facilities

University Life 1 min

Entry requirements

What do I need?

When it comes to applying to university, you'll need a certain number of UCAS points. Different qualifications and grades are worth a different amount of points. For this course, you'll need…

Use UCAS's calculator to work out your estimated points

We consider experience and qualifications from the UK and worldwide which may not exactly match the combinations above.

But it's not just about the grades - we'll look at your whole application. We want to know what makes you tick, and about your previous experience, so make sure that you complete your personal statement.

Have questions? Our admissions team will be happy to help.

What do I need?

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

  • Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our academics

Study with research leaders on issues like violent crime, social justice and desistance, prisons and restorative justice, domestic violence, cybercrime, organised crime and intelligence.

Our expert staff each have their own relevant research specialisms – their research powering their teaching.

See more academics for this subject
Mike McKue
Featured academic

Mike McKue

Mike has over 20 years of experience working in the police service and is now the programme director for BSc Professional Policing. His research interests include hate crime, gender, counter-terrorism and modern day slavery.
Gill Hodgson
Featured academic

Gill Hodsgon

Gill has extensive experience in policing, especially in the areas of front line policing and CID, having spent 12 years working as a PC and DC before completing a Masters degree in Criminology.

Take a look at our facilities

Crime Scene Training Facility

Get to grips – literally – with topics from modern-day slavery to knife crime, and from domestic violence to cybercrime in our on-campus crime scene training facility.

Brynmor Jones Library

Our seven-storey library is a superb learning space. As well as over a million books, there’s a variety of study areas, and one amazing view.

Open access PCs

You’ll find over 400 open-access PCs at your disposal in our library. There’s also group learning rooms with big-screen PCs, teaching rooms and private study rooms – plus interactive projector tables.

Group lecture theatres

Collaborate with our expert academics and your fellow students and in group lecture theatres.

See more in our virtual tour
student using crime scene lab

Look around

Look around

Look around

student using crime scene lab
Brynmor Jones Library Observation Deck
Brynmor Jones Library Group Study Room
Wilberforce TV Teaching Room
Jade-Heredia-Humberside-Police-15th-November-2018-129

Future prospects

Our strong partnership with Humberside Police means you'll develop the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to enhance your chances of employment after graduation.

You could go on to become a police officer, a community support officer, a control room operator, a police analyst, or a police service volunteer.

Although the qualification is recognised by the police service, successful completion of the degree does not guarantee recruitment as a police constable. Prospective students are advised to check the eligibility criteria for recruitment as a Police Constable and as a member of the Special Constabulary.

University of Hull Open Day

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

The standard way to apply for this course is through UCAS. This will give you the chance to showcase your skill, qualities and passion for the subject, as well as providing your academic qualifications.

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

Visit our next Open Day, and see all that Hull has to offer for yourself. Talk to our lecturers about your subject, find out what university is really like from our current students, and take a tour of our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.

Book your place now

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  1. You will need to apply for the Special Constable training programme through Humberside Police, who will make the final decision on your application.

 

All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

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