BSc (Hons) Professional Policing (Accelerated)

NEW FOR 2022!

This two-year Degree in Professional Policing is ideal for students who want to focus their studies over a shorter period of time. Due to the mix of online, on campus and in-person teaching, the degree provides an easily accessible and fast-track pathway to achieving the BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Degree which is a recognised route into the Police Service as a Police Constable.

From community policing and counter terrorism to cyber-enabled crime and protecting the vulnerable, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the Police Service and benefit from learning from an incredible teaching team including former police officers with a wealth of operational knowledge who will bring your studies to life.

Get a glimpse of what it's like to study at USW before you apply

Take a look at our free online policing taster courses.

Take a free online policing taster course

2023
2024

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2023	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
PP11	Full-time	2 Years	September	Newport City	C

UCAS Code	Study Mode 2024	Duration	Start Date	Campus	Campus Code
PP11	Full-time	2 Years	September	Newport City	C

All modules cover the National Policing Curriculum and cover key areas of policing knowledge such as the role of policing in today’s society as well as police powers. Modules will allow you to learn and explore topics such as community policing, counter terrorism, covert policing activities, law and the criminal justice system, crime scene awareness, digital policing, cyber-enabled crime, protecting the vulnerable in society, police interview skills and many more.

Towards the end of your course, you will also be required to complete a large evidence-based research project focusing on an area of policing that interests you.

You will study the course across three terms (semesters) over two years including summer periods to enable a fast-track route to qualification. Typically, modules are defined by year of study and the topics covered during the course are detailed below:

Year One (September to August)

Academic Skills and Professional Development
Community Policing
Technology in Policing
Understanding Vulnerability and Risk in Society
Practical Forensics for Policing
Law, Governance, and the Criminal Justice System
Roads Policing and Investigations
Contemporary Operational Policing
Research Methods for Policing

Year Two (September to August)

Simulation and Immersive Learning
Vulnerability and Public Protection
Cyber Skills and Digital Investigations
Serious and Organised Crime
Police Duties and Law
Leadership and Professional Development
Evidence Based Research Project

Welsh-medium Provision available on the BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Accelerated degree

Level 4

Neighbourhood and Community Safety (20 credits)
Understanding Vulnerability, Risk, and Threats in Society (20 credits)

Level 5

Vulnerability and Public Protection (20 credits)
Roads Policing and Investigation (20 credits)

Level 6

Research Project (40 credits)

Pam Astudio'n Ddwyieithog?

Ysgoloriaethau Cymraeg (Scholarships)

We are licensed by the College of Policing to offer the Professional Policing degree. This means our two-year degree meets the core requirements of the National Police Curriculum, ensuring you are taught to the highest professional standard.

What kind of student would this course suit?

The University offers a number of routes to qualify to degree level in Professional Policing, you could opt to study on-campus for three years or take the fast-track two-year option.

This two-year fast-track option is ideal for individuals who are:

Focused on a career in policing and want to complete the BSc (Hons) Professional Policing in two years as an accelerated entry route into the Police Service as a Police Constable in England and Wales.
Comfortable with a blended approach to learning and can thrive during online learning, learning independently and in small groups, and who can plan to travel to attend specified venues for ‘consolidation of learning’ exercises.
Able to commit to engage in immersive challenge-based activities during their studies many of which will be at a campus of the University or a designated approved delivery centre (such as a police training facility).
Motivation and determination to accelerate their learning while remaining focused and meeting expected deadlines and learning schedules at all times.
Able to work independently and maintain an effective balance between the demands of learning and other existing commitments, allocating sufficient time every week to complete their studies and take responsibility for their own learning between designated academic checkpoints built into the course.

Teaching

The course is delivered over two years including study periods that take place over the summer months to enable a fast-track route to qualification.

The course is delivered using a mixture of delivery methods including online live, pre-recorded lectures, in person face to face sessions and challenge based immersive and simulated activities. The design of the course content allows you to learn flexibly and have access to a variety of learning materials.

As you work your way through each module, you’ll have direct access to a wider support network of lecturers and student services to guide you to successful completion, and ensure you get the most out of your studies. To help keep you on track, you’ll also benefit from built-in course checkpoints to assess your progress and any further guidance and support you may require - ensuring you flourish during your studies. From live stream drop-ins with teaching staff and guest speaker seminars to interactive quizzes, you’ll be supported every step of the way.

To compliment your online learning, you’ll also be invited to attend regular face-to-face consolidated learning activities. These on-campus activities will also act as milestone points throughout your studies to help build your confidence and provide an opportunity to join a community of learners.

During your modules you will be required to complete various challenge-based activities using your new knowledge and skills. These will be called ‘consolidation of learning exercises’ that can be carried out through Hydra Simulation both in-person and virtually. We also have a Crime Scene Training Facility and a mock court room to assist in preparing our students for their future role in policing.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods that are tailored to suit the content being studied. For example, law-based modules tend to be assessed using exams, whereas practical scenarios and case studies are used for modules requiring excellent communication, interpersonal and research skills. So, for instance, if we are assessing your interview skills, you will not be required to write an essay about interview skills! We want you to put your learning into practice, learn from feedback, and then demonstrate these skills by interviewing role actors as part of our simulated learning activities.

Assessment methods are varied and include:

Simulated exercises
Case studies and scenario analysis
Reports and presentations
Vlogs and podcasts
Professional discussions
Exams and some essays
Journal articles
Academic posters

Accreditations

We are licensed by the College of Policing to offer a BSc (Hons) Professional Policing. This means our two-year degree meets the core requirements of the National Police Curriculum ensuring you are taught to the highest professional standard.

Facilities

We offer unrivalled facilities for our students, who learn in a range of realistic scenarios using state-of-the-art facilities.

Our Hydra Simulation Centre - the only one in Wales - helps you practise dealing with realistic scenarios such as major crime enquiries. The simulation suite allows you to experience these incidents in a safe learning environment, where you can test your ability to make decisions, take action and see the consequences.

The Crime Scene Training Facility is where you practise your crime scene investigation techniques. We have forensic facilities where you can explore and analyse forensic evidence, and interview rooms with CCTV systems, so you can observe and assess your interview skills.

Our state-of-the-art moot courtroom provides an immersive environment for debates, press conferences with our journalism students and mock trials.

Lecturers

Policing has been taught at the University for more than 15 years.

Within this time, we have built up an unrivalled team that combines senior figures from the policing profession, who bring a wealth of operational knowledge, with academics at the cutting edge of research into key areas such as religion-based terrorism, international relations, and police governance and accountability.

Guest lectures are organised throughout the year featuring serving police officers of various ranks.

Support

Welsh speaking lecturers:

Study Skills Support through the medium of Welsh

Welsh opportunities point of contact: [email protected]

We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

The entry criteria below reflect our standard entry requirements for the course for September 2023. However, all applications received by the University are reviewed holistically and individually. Entry criteria for September 2024 is changing and will be published on ucas.com from 8th May 2023. Entry criteria for September 2024 will be updated on our website from the end of October 2023.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions. USW prides itself on it’s a student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy.

Other qualifications and experience

We can also consider combinations of qualifications and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable. We can sometimes consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or advanced entry to year two or three of a course where this is possible.

To find out which qualifications have tariff points, please refer to the UCAS tariff calculator.

If you need more help or information or would like to speak to our friendly admissions team, please contact us here

Typical A-Level Offer

BCC - CDD to exclude General Studies (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level to exclude General Studies (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical BTEC Offer

BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical IB Offer

Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall including 5 or above in English at standard level

Typical Access to HE Offer

Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points

Additional Requirements

GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances

Please note that whilst this course does not require a DBS Check for entry, some professions will not consider candidates who have certain types of criminal convictions. Therefore, if you have a criminal conviction and you are considering a particular career path we would recommend that you check with the relevant professional body or refer to their recruitment policy to make sure that your conviction will not disadvantage you.

Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee will remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course.

August 2023 - July 2024 Fees

Full-time UK: £9000
Full-time International: £14400

August 2024 - July 2025 Fees

Full-time UK: TBC
Full-time International: TBC

Student Perks

At the University of South Wales, you’re investing in so much more than a degree. We strive to provide our students with the best possible experience, no matter what you chose to study. Whether it’s access to top of the range mac books and PCs, state-of-the-art facilities packed with industry-leading equipment and software, masterclasses and events led by industry experts, or a wide range of clubs and societies to meet likeminded people, better tomorrows start with extra perks.

Each course also has their own unique student benefits to prepare you for the real word, and details of these can be found on our course pages. From global field trips, integrated work experience and free course-related resources, to funded initiatives, projects working with real employers, and opportunities for extra qualifications and accreditations - at USW your future, is future-proofed.

Click here to learn more about student perks at USW.

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

* Obligatory

Item	Cost
Kit (Uniform and Equipment) (Optional)	£20 - £30	Students may have the opportunity to borrow laboratory coats on site but they may wish to purchase their own.
Books (Optional)		Students may wish to purchase their own copies of Police related text, however, reference copies are available on-campus in the Library and online.
Residential (compulsory) *		Students will be required to fund the cost of travel to the residential elements of the course
Storage for electronic submissions and work (Optional)	£5 - £50	Cloud storage is available for use by students. Some students may wish to purchase additional storage devices to back up their work.
Printing (Optional)		Students' material is generally available online and in digital format. Some students may wish to produce hard copies for their personal use.

Funding

Funding to help pay for (or cover) course tuition fees and living costs

Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

To learn about course fees, funding options, and to see if you are eligible for financial support, visit our Fees and Funding pages.

Welsh Medium Scholarships

The University offers scholarships between £250 - £1000 to students studying part of their course through the medium of Welsh. The University is also part of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's scholarship scheme, which offer scholarships up to £3000. More information here: Welsh-Medium Scholarships | University of South Wales

South Wales Police Professional Policing Degree Bursary

In an aim to build a police force that better represents the community it serves, South Wales Police is offering a bursary of up to £4,000 to students from Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic backgrounds who are studying towards the Degree in Professional Policing.

To be accepted for the bursary, you must fulfil the bursary criteria.

Applications are welcomed from the beginning of June to the end of September each year. To apply for the bursary, please download the application form and submit it to the Positive Action Team at South Wales Police using the following information:

Email: [email protected]
Subject heading: FAO Positive Action Team - Application for PPD bursary

As this course is blended and makes use of synchronous and asynchronous delivery methods you will need to make sure that you have access to a suitable device and necessary internet access. The minimum IT requirements are shown below:

Minimum Hardware Requirements:

macOS (10.15 Catalina or higher) or Windows 10 or 11
4GB RAM (8GB RAM or more is highly recommended)
20GB of available hard-drive space
Screen resolution set to 1280x1024
Broadband/high-speed uninterrupted Internet access
minimum speed of at least 4Mbps download and upload speed
Webcam, microphone and speakers(a wearable headset is highly recommended)
Please note: Google Chromebook computers are not supported on some applications.
Microsoft no longer supports Office apps in the Google Play store on Chromebooks as of 11/2021.
Apple Silicon Macs (M1 Processors) will require installation on Apple’s Rosetta Translation Environment in order to install/run programs that designed for Intel/AMD processors.

Browser Compatibility

It is extremely important that you use a supported browser when using Blackboard Learn™ so that all course content and the course tools display properly and to avoid usability errors related to browser configurations.

The very latest editions of Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge should work fine on most devices. Microsoft Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser.

We recommend installing both Chrome and Firefox browsers for use with our technologies, especially if one results in an error message. Please try using a different browser to see if you experience the same results before contacting help desk support.

Additional Browser Configuration Considerations include;

Pop-up window blockers should be disabled, as they can conflict with online exams and assignments.

Additional Considerations:

Many of the modules will contain topics and content which is sensitive in nature. As a result applicants should be aware that at times they may need to consider carefully their learning environment.

Due to the intensive nature of this degree course, it is strongly recommended that you attend an initial academic touchpoint discussion to ensure expectations regarding time commitment and engagement levels are set and agreed.

The discussion can be carried out online or in person and will usually last around 30 minutes.

UK students

Apply via UCAS if you are a UK residing applicant, applying for year one of a full-time undergraduate degree, Foundation Year, Foundation Degree or HND and you have not applied through UCAS before. If you are applying to study part-time, to top up your Foundation Degree or HND, or to transfer to USW from another institution, please apply directly.

International and EU students

Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.

Admissions statement

This course covers the National Policing Curriculum and has been designed to best prepare graduates for roles within policing. At USW we are proud to work in partnership with a number of police forces who advise and co-design elements of the course to make sure they meet industry needs.

If you’re looking to gain additional experience to boost your prospects and career aspirations by applying to become a member of the Special Constabulary or a Police Student Volunteer in your local area, our teaching team can assist and advise. We can provide guidance on the roles, application, and recruitment process to give you the best chance of succeeding. Our Careers Service as well as the experienced teaching staff at USW are also on hand to assist with supporting you through any interview and assessment processes related to any opportunities.

Possible Career Options

This accelerated two-year BSc (hons) Professional Policing prepares you for the challenges of modern policing. It has been designed to meet all the core requirements of the National Police Curriculum.

Beyond pursuing a role as a Police Constable, you could also choose roles such as Community Support Officers, Control Room Operators and Analysts. Many of our Policing graduates have gone on to pursue careers in the criminal justice system from security and intelligence industries to prison services or the National Crime Agency.

Whilst the successful attainment of the degree will provide you with the knowledge, skills and qualification that will enable you to apply to your chosen force within 5 years, there is no guarantee of entry to a police force post-completion of the BSc (Hons) Professional Policing. The recruitment process for joining police forces in England and Wales is separate from this degree, with each police force specifying their own entry requirements.

(https://recruit.college.police.uk/Officer/Pages/default.aspx).

Nevertheless, the degree has been designed in a way that will best prepare you for the police requirement process; this includes mock fitness tests, interactive assessments, and application support.