Policing undergraduate courses

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:

• Expert teaching team: learn and work alongside academics who have over 250 years combined experience in policing and the criminal justice sector, passionate about the subject and keen to pass on knowledge to our students
• Links with local constabularies: with opportunities to become police support volunteers or special constables, as well as arranged visits to specialist facilities during your time with us, you will gain vital insight into the police force and how they operate
• Outstanding facilities: enhance your skills in our training facilities, which include our replica custody suite, complete with interview rooms and cell, as well as our mock court room and crime scene house.

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.

Graduates

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

• police officer
• prison officer
• probation officer
• police detective
• youth worker
• community development worker