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Professional Policing (BSc)
This programme is subject to re-validation.
Our Professional Policing degree aims to develop students across a comprehensive range of policing professional standards, situations and contexts through learning and development enhancing the capability of the police constable to perform effectively in key specific areas of professional policing responsibility. Your learning and development will be specifically and directly relevant to professional performance and delivery in core areas of policing
BSc Professional Policing students will learn about the political and social processes of victimisation and criminalisation in light of criminological theories, and social diversity and inequality and their effects in relation to crime, victimisation and responses to crime and deviance.
You will be introduced to the complex social problems of crime, class, and victimisation and be taught the responses to crime and deviance, developing the skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the use of comparison in relation to crime, victimisation and responses to crime and deviance.
You will research various strategies and methods and evaluate the appropriateness of their use. You will also be introduced to criminal justice agency practices and developments in terms of changing values and relationships between individuals, groups, and public and private agencies in different locations.
This is a pre-join knowledge-based degree in professional policing to be achieved prior to formal recruitment to the police service.
New Locations
As well as being taught on our Swansea campus, this programme can also now be studied in a blended format at our London and Birmingham campuses, with a mix of on-campus and online delivery.
Professional Policing (BSc)
Ucas Code: PRP1
Apply via UCAS
Professional Policing (CertHE)
Ucas Code: PRP6
Apply via UCAS
Professional Policing (DipHE)
Ucas Code: PRP5
Apply via UCAS
Full-time applicants who wish to start in September should apply through UCAS. Part-time applicants, or applicants who wish to start in January or May, should apply through the University.
Book an Open Day Request Information
Tuition Fees 2023/24:
Home (Full-time): £9,000 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £13,500 per year
Why choose this course?
- The is a pre-join knowledge-based degree in professional policing, to be achieved prior to formal recruitment to the police service.
- Student-centred learning strategies will be employed throughout the programme.
- The University works in collaboration with South Wales Police and Gwent Police forces.
- The programmes are available in both on-campus and blended modes.
- 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.
This project has turned my perspective of the professional policing degree massively. It’s opened so many opportunities for me to develop my skills which is useful when completing assignments as I have first-hand experience with dealing with a range of situations. If anyone is thinking about doing this project beside their degree, my advice is grab it with both hands and take it: you won’t be disappointed.
South Wales Police Special UWTSD Constable Project (Student)
What you will learn
Student-centred learning strategies will be employed throughout the programme to ensure a balance of theory and practice that is both personalised and collaborative.
Students are expected to critically reflect on a variety of policing contexts and cases and be able to integrate and apply new knowledge to new situations.
Students will form a learning community and will be engaged in negotiation and management of learning tasks, and will gain practical experience of key policing practice activities, many of which will relate to authentic, real-world problems and cases.
Students will be charged with selecting contemporary, and sometimes controversial, topics from the professional police practice discipline area that are of concern to society to stretch students’ standpoints and considerations of police-related research. This allows students to take responsibility for their learning by giving them scope to choose areas of interest to them while they develop their independent learning and build confidence in developing arguments and expressing strongly held viewpoints.
Students are expected to interrogate theoretical concepts and principles with consideration for a diverse range of legal and policing contexts. Students will critically engage with differing philosophical perspectives and concepts that underpin approaches to the subject area.
Students, reflecting on influences and experiences, will construct their own arguments, drawing on appropriately selected evidence and after critical engagement with their fellow learners and tutors.
Learners will be engaged in re-construction of ideas in different media both as individuals and in collaboration with fellow learners and tutors in smaller groupings.
The modules 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.
Year One – Level 4 (CertHE, DipHE & BSc)
- Criminal Law (20 credits; component pass)
- Evidence-based Approaches to Policing Decisions (20 credits; component pass)
- Legal Process (20 credits; component pass)
- Preparing for Professional Policing (20 credits; component pass)
- Response Policing (20 credits; component pass)
- Study Skills (20 credits; component pass).
Year Two – Level 5 (DipHE & BSc)
- Operational Policing (20 credits; component pass)
- Policing Terrorism (20 credits; component pass)
- Policing the Public (20 credits; component pass)
- Preparing for Research within Policing (20 credits; component pass)
- Understanding Crime, Justice and Punishment (20 credits; component pass)
- Welsh in the Workplace (20 credits; optional).
Year Three – Level 6 (BSc)
- Conducting Investigations (20 credits; component pass)
- Digital and Operational Policing (20 credits; component pass)
- Independent Project (40 credits; component pass; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
- Organisational Leadership within the Police: Theory into Practice (20 credits; component pass)
- Vulnerability, Welfare and Risk (20 credits; component pass).
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.
This Framework aims to develop your professional skills and competence alongside your academic subject knowledge. You’ll study up to 40 credits per level throughout your programme from the Graduate Attributes Framework.
The Graduate Attribute modules are designed to enable you to develop, and evidence, a range of career-focused skills related to your subject area. These skills include digital competency, research and project management, as well as such personal competencies as communication, creativity, self-reflection, resilience and problem-solving.
- Find out more about the Graduate Attributes Framework
Related Links
Swansea Business Campus
Volunteering with the South Wales Police
Key Information
80 UCAS points or equivalent.
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.
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.
- Public Services (BA)
- Law and Public Service (BA)
- Law and Criminology (BA)
- Law and Policing (BA)
- Policing and Criminology (BSc)
- Criminal Justice and Policing (MA).
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.
Please visit our Accommodation pages for more information.
