Police Studies, Procedure and Investigation - BSc (Hons)
Why study this course?
This course aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of the role of the modern police service and is designed to equip you with both a practical and strategic insight into the demanding and complex landscape policing operates in. The degree will enable you to attain the equivalent of the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing and gain the experience as a special constable that is currently required as a prerequisite to join the police service.
More about this course
Policing in the UK is undergoing some of the most radical changes since Sir Robert Peel first launched the Metropolitan Police in 1829. The challenges that the modern day policing practitioner faces are often high risk and fast moving in a context of increasing accountability. There’s now a strong professional commitment at a senior level which openly encourages policing practitioners, both serving and potential, to develop to degree level.
Building upon both practical and theoretical insights, the course will develop you across a wide range policing contexts, and encourage critical and analytical thinking whilst preparing you for a role in twenty-first century policing.
Lecturers on this degree have had significant experience in working in the police service, are distinguished academics, and are engaged in important research links to police practice. We have strong links with the City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Police and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.
Assessment
You're assessed through a combination of essays, module-specific research projects, seen and unseen examinations and an individual largely self-directed project which includes an assessed oral presentation. In Year 1, assessments seek to encourage you to specify and describe theories and institutions. In Year 2, assessments require you to extend and critically evaluate the knowledge you have encountered.
Students at this level are also required to produce reports including data analysis and interpretation. In Year 3, assessments test your critical knowledge of applied areas of police studies and criminology and your ability to think and research independently.
Professional accreditation
This degree offers two routes for entering into the police service. We are in the process of gaining approval by the College of Policing to deliver the equivalent of the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing. The course also provides the opportunity to apply to become a special constable.
Entry requirements
In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:
- a minimum of grades BBC in three A levels or minimum grades BC in at least two A levels in academic or business subjects (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification)
- GCSE English at grade C (grade 4 from 2017) or above or Higher Diploma (or equivalent)
If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the International Relations and Politics Extended degree.
Applicants with relevant professional qualifications or extensive professional experience will also be considered on a case by case basis.
All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.
Modular structure
If you're studying full-time, each year (level) is worth 120 credits.
Year 1 (Level 4) modules include:
- Introduction to Policing
- Introduction to Criminological Theory
- Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
- Criminal law
Year 2 (Level 5) modules include:
- Perspectives on Policing
- Skills for Community Police Officers
- Knowledge in Policing
- Policing in Practice (optional)
- Youth, Crime and Violence (optional)
- Crime in Context (optional)
- Racism and Ethnicity (optional)
Year 3 (Level 6) modules include:
- Criminology and Policing project
- Advanced Police Processes: Psychology and Analysis
- Frameworks in Investigation
- Criminology Work Placement (optional)
- Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (optional)
- Victims and Crime (optional)
- Crime Control and Penology (optional)
After the course
At the end of the programme you’ll gain the skills and qualifications needed to become a police officer or police employee. These will be gained by taking specialist modules which provide the equivalent of the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing approved by the College of Policing. You’ll also gain the skills necessary to become a police analyst and those required for policing in schools and neighbourhood policing. There are also opportunities to spend time as a special constable to gain academic credit.
Police services in London include the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Police and the City of London Police. Students will be fast tracked into a role as a special constable from which the strongest candidates may gain a permanent post.
There are other further opportunities to study security and policing courses at master’s and doctorate level.
Moving to one campus
We're investing in an exciting, multimillion pound transformation of the London Metropolitan University campus, between 2016 and 2020. We’re moving all of our activity to one place, our current Holloway campus in Islington, north London. This will mean the teaching locations of some courses will change over time.
Whether you will be affected will depend on the duration of your course, when you start and your mode of study. The earliest moves affecting new students will be in September 2018. This may mean you begin your course at one location, but over the duration of the course you are relocated to one of our other campuses. Our intention is that no full-time student will change campus more than once during a course of typical duration.
All students will benefit from our move to one campus, which will allow us to develop state-of-the-art facilities, flexible teaching areas and stunning social spaces.
Additional costs
Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.
Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.
Unistats - key information set
Unistats is the official site that allows you to search for and compare data and information on university and college courses from across the UK. The widget(s) below draw data from the corresponding course on the Unistats website. If a course is taught both full-time and part-time, one widget for each mode of study will be displayed here.
How to apply
If you're a UK/EU applicant applying for full-time study you must apply via UCAS unless otherwise specified.
UK/EU applicants for part-time study should apply direct to the University.
Non-EU applicants for full-time study may choose to apply via UCAS or apply direct to the University. Non-EU applicants for part-time study should apply direct to the University, but please note that if you require a Tier 4 visa you are not able to study on a part-time basis.
When to apply
The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) accepts applications for full-time courses starting in September from one year before the start of the course. Our UCAS institution code is L68.
If you will be applying direct to the University you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only be able to consider your application if there are places available on the course.
Fees and key information
News and success stories
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Professor Grieve CBE QPM is recognised for a lifetime achievement award
Professor John Grieve won runner up in the lifetime achievement category at this 2017 NO2H8 Crime Awards.
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Exploring Terrorism and Collective Moral Responsibility
An Emeritus Professor of London Metropolitan University was asked to speak at a workshop held in the Netherlands. By chance, he found himself alongside three of his former students.
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Senior Lecturer presents at International Economic Crime Symposium Cambridge
Dr Nick Ridley, Senior Lecturer in Policing and Security, presented a paper at the International Crime Symposium for the 12th successive year.
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Dr Robin Bhairam
Dr Robin Bhairam is named in Queen’s birthday honours list
London Met Senior Lecturer has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in recognition of his 30 years of service in the Metropolitan Police.
Meet the team
Visit us
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Mini Open Day - Human Sciences, Social Sciences, Social Professions, Computing and Digital Media
Date 18 Apr 2018 Time 1:00 PM Venue London Metropolitan University
166-220 Holloway RdThis Mini Open Day is for those who are interested in studying with us on human sciences, social sciences, social professions, computing and digital media subjects (see subject area list below). We... more
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Date 3 May 2018 Time 6:00 PM Venue Tower Building
166-220 Holloway RoadTouring our Holloway campus* is an excellent way to experience life at London Metropolitan University. One of our student ambassadors will guide you around our state-of-the-art facilities, such as the... more
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Date 14 Jul 2018 Time 11:00 AM Venue This open day is for all students interested in studying an undergraduate course at London Metropolitan University. This is your chance to find out everything you need to know about studying... more
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