Professional policing degree:

The degree in professional policing is a professional academic knowledge-based degree, based on the national curriculum for the police constable role.

The degree can only be offered by organisations that have been licensed by the College of Policing. It is a three-year degree programme - if studied full-time - and is paid for by the student themselves.

If you wish to enter the police service via this route, you should achieve a professional policing degree before applying to join the police service. You would then need to successfully apply to join a police force as a probationary police constable. National and local entry requirements would need to be met, and achievement of the degree does not guarantee a successful application.

Once you have graduated with a professional policing degree, you will need to apply to join your chosen police force as a probationary police constable. To do this, you must:

• Apply within five years of your graduation date
• Meet all of the recruitment criteria for the particular force.

Once you have successfully joined a force as a probationer, you must then:

• Undertake further practice-based learning and assessment in your force
• Demonstrate competence in the police constable role
• Complete the two-year probationary period, in line with police regulations.

For a list of universities licensed to offer the degree, please click here.

We have regular recruitment windows for applications to become a police officer. You can register your interest by emailing: [email protected]

Details are kept on file and during recruitment windows the work force planning team will notify you.