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.
This course is subject to validation.
| UCAS Code | Study Mode
2022 |
Duration | Start Date | Campus | Campus Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PP11 | Full-time | 2 Years | September | Newport City | C |
| UCAS Code | Study Mode
2023 |
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)
Year Two (September to August)
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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 shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. The University has a Contextual Admissions Policy, therefore, whilst most offers we make are at the top of the range, under the Policy we take certain aspects of an application into consideration and eligible UCAS applicants can receive a personalised offer or have results considered individually when you receive them. Here is a link to our Contextual Admissions Policy Statement.
Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.
BCC - CDD to exclude General Studies (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).
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).
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).
Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 29 overall including 5 or above in English at standard level
Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points
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.
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.
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. |
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:
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;
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.
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.
Apply directly to the University if you live outside the UK.
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.
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.
Our Newport Campus is right at the heart of the city, overlooking the River Usk. This is one of the University's most iconic buildings.
It’s the community and friendships you’ll build that make this place special. Outside your studies you can experience our amazing sport facilities and Students’ Union.
Living in Halls is a great way to meet new people and make friends. We have high quality accommodation in Treforest, Cardiff and Newport.
