Professional Policing (Full-time) (BSc Hons)
Our Professional Policing degree aims to equip students with a wide range of skills and knowledge needed for modern policing. This course covers important policing professional standards, various situations, and different contexts. It aims to enhance your ability to perform effectively as a police constable in key areas of professional policing.
As a BSc Professional Policing student, you will explore how political and social factors influence crime. You’ll study criminalisation and the political and social processes of victimisation. You will also learn about criminological theories and how social diversity and inequality affect crime and responses to it. Understanding these concepts will help you see how crime affects different groups of people in society.
The course introduces you to the complex social problems related to crime, such as issues of class and victimisation. You will learn about the responses to crime and deviance, and develop skills to compare these responses, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. This will involve studying criminal investigation methods and understanding how to evaluate their effectiveness.
Throughout the degree, you will research various strategies and methods used in policing. You’ll learn to assess how appropriate these strategies are in different situations. The course also covers practices and developments in criminal justice agency practices. This includes looking at how values and relationships are changing between individuals, groups, and both public and private agencies.
This degree is a pre-join knowledge-based degree in professional policing, which you need to complete before you can formally join the police service. By the end of the course, you will have gained knowledge and skills directly relevant to law enforcement in the Police Service in England and Wales.
Key topics covered in the course include community policing, response policing, and public protection. You will also study evidence-based policing, which involves using research to inform your decisions and actions. Additionally, you will learn about the roles of the National Crime Agency and the Prison and Probation Services.
This Professional Policing degree is designed to prepare you for a successful career in policing. You will gain a solid foundation in the core areas of policing, with a focus on understanding and responding to crime and deviance. This course provides the essential knowledge and skills needed for recruitment to the police service and to excel as a police constable.
Course details
- On-campus
- Blended (On-campus)
- Full-time
- English
Tuition Fees 2023/24 and 24/25
Home (Full-time): £9,000 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £13,500 per year
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
This course balances theory and practice using learning strategies that are both personalised and collaborative.
Throughout the programme, students will gain experience in key policing activities, many of which address real-world problems and cases. This approach ensures that students are not only learning in the classroom but also applying their knowledge in practical settings.
We aim to develop critical thinking, practical skills, and a deep understanding of policing. This multifaceted approach ensures that students develop a wide range of skills, preparing them for the complex and dynamic field of professional policing.
In the first year, you will be introduced to the basics of professional policing and examine factors that influence crime and policing. Modules in communication skills for policing are also offered.
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The second year delves deeper into the complexities of crime, class, and victimisation. You will study various responses to crime and deviance, developing skills to critically compare these responses. Specialised modules including policing Wales, Community policy and response and roads policing.
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In the final year, you will focus on advanced topics in professional policing. You will undertake independent research and apply evidence-based policing strategies. This year aims to consolidate your learning and prepare you for recruitment to the police service, ensuring you are ready for the challenges of this sector.
(20 credits)
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(40 Credits)
Course Disclaimer
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We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals.
For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.
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Staff
Our People
You will be taught and support by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Accommodation
Swansea Accommodation
Swansea has a huge student population, and the variety of accommodation available will leave you feeling spoilt for choice. Various purpose-built student accommodation providers provide accommodation in Swansea, and the accommodation team can guide you through your options. It will offer ongoing support throughout your time as a UWTSD student.
Further information
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80 UCAS points or equivalent.
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The assessments have been designed by the programme team collectively, to ensure they form a cohesive whole and meet the requirements of the College of Policing’s PEQF curriculum for the Pre-Join Professional Policing degree.
The key purpose of the assessment scheme is to enable students to demonstrate individually that they have met the aims of the programmes and achieved the learning outcomes at the standard required for the level of study. Assessment will also be used to provide feedback to students so as to assist in subsequent learning.
Each module will be assessed summatively through a range of individual assessment tasks but formative methods are also used. Formative assessment is carried out through practical exercises that are undertaken and discussed in class, role-plays, negotiations, presentations by students and the sessions devoted to reviewing exams after these have been marked.
A range of summative assessment methods will be employed. Exams are primarily (but not exclusively) used to test knowledge and understanding.
Coursework and practical assessments also test knowledge and understanding but tend to focus more on the development of cognitive, practical and key skills. Such methods are highly appropriate to the nature of the policing discipline as they facilitate authentic, workplace relevant assessment and practice. Coursework and practicals will be set in a variety of formats; these include:
- Essays
- Reports
- Portfolios
- Research projects
- Presentations.
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It is possible to complete this programme of study without any additional costs.
Students may wish to purchase textbooks for modules, such as the Independent Project, but this is not a requirement and will have no bearing on the final grade.
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries section.
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As an approved provider, forces will be able to recognise the degree as one that is fit for purpose and ensure that students are seen in a positive light on application.
The University works in collaboration with South Wales Police and Gwent Police forces. Historically, a number of our graduates have gone on to work with these forces due to the links that have been made. As a result of this collaboration, we have a number of police trainers that work with the team to deliver extra professional practice and provide HYDRA practical sessions for the students.
The volunteer police programme that has been run with UWTSD and South Wales Police since 2012 provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable practical policing experience which also enhances their progression opportunities.