Policing undergraduate courses

A career in policing demands, skill, responsibility, leadership and initiative, together with a genuine desire to make a difference to society. We’ll take your passion and help you match it with the skills to succeed.

As a student at the University of Derby, our degrees have been designed specifically for students who wish to specialise in policing as a future career, and will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to succeed. We are proud of what we have to offer to our students:

Policing at Derby

We offer a range of courses which will equip you with the skills and knowledge to pursue a career within the criminal justice field.

Our BA (Hons) Professional Policing course develops both the practical and theoretical knowledge needed to become an effective police officer. This course is designed in close partnership with local constabularies, giving you a head start for a future career in the force.

Our BA (Hons) Policing and Investigations course delivers an advanced understanding of criminal, civilian and corporate investigative processes which is combined with unique opportunities to gain vital investigative work experience.

We also offer a Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.

Policing at the University of Derby

View Policing at the University of Derby video transcript

Licensed degree

The College of Policing (CoP) is the professional body for the police service in England and Wales. The College of Policing has worked with the service and partners to develop a Police Education Qualification Framework (PEQF) that sets out the required future education and qualification levels for the service. Initially focused at entry-level ranks and roles, this transforms policing to a degree profession as so in line with the transformation agenda in the Policing Vision 2025.

There are three entry routes into the police service:

  1. Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP)
  2. Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
  3. Professional Policing Degree (Pre-join degree)

The University of Derby delivers a pre-join policing degree in our BA (hons) Professional Policing which follows a curriculum written and licensed by the College of Policing. This degree will give you the required qualification to pursue a career as a police officer.

We also deliver Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship in partnership with local constabularies. 

Partnerships

We have strong links with Nottinghamshire Police, Derbyshire Constabulary and British Transport Police, meaning you have a wide range of experience and opportunity available at your fingertips. From study visits to guest lectures, or the support to apply to become a police support volunteer or special constable during your studies, our aim is to enhance your skills, knowledge and experience as much as possible through our partnership links to help you stand-out in the graduate job market.

We also have strong international connections with forces beyond the UK. Our team at the University of Derby have been employed to undertake police training with a variety of forces such as the Royal Malaysian Police and Saudi Traffic Police.

Teaching team

You can be confident in our quality of teaching as we have an experienced team of academics that have over 250 years combined experience in the criminal justice sector. They’ll give you a fresh perspective on real world policing alongside relevant academic theories.

We have a great reputation for police education and research; we deliver the police leadership programme to serving officers across the East Midlands, so you can be confident in our standard of teaching knowing that you are receiving the same quality of learning as current serving force members in the region.

Specialist Facilities

Study at One Friar Gate Square, our dedicated centre for the study of law, criminology and policing. You will be able to build your practical experience in our specialist facilities which include a mock court room, student legal advice centre and replica custody suite.

 

A look around the Custody Suite and One Friar Gate Square, the home of the School of Law and Social Sciences

View University of Derby Custody Suite facility video transcript

Graduates

Our graduates have gone onto a variety of different roles. Studying policing could lead you to become a:

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

Book your undergraduate Open DayBook your undergraduate Open Day
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Student stories

Our students and graduates are people just like you. And they are making an impact in our region and around the world by using their knowledge and skills to drive innovation and change. You can be part of that story. Let our students and graduates tell you theirs.

Hear from our students and graduatesHear from our students and graduates