Take the fast track route to a highly regarded professional policing degree. In just two years, this pioneering course – the first of its kind in the country in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police force – equips you to meet the challenges and responsibilities of a career in one of the most rewarding professions of all.
Our intensive accelerated BA (Hons) Professional Policing course provides an alternative route for ambitious students who want to complete a pre-join policing degree in a shorter time frame than usual. You will follow a curriculum written and licensed by the College of Policing, giving you all the theoretical knowledge and practical skills expected of a high-level entrant to the profession.
The highlights
This degree gives you the advantage of progressing from education to employment more quickly: it represents the fastest route to qualifying for a policing career
You will be fully prepared to become an effective police officer at a time when demand for new recruits to the profession is set to rise
You can choose to take the Special Constable route whilst studying this degree, a unique opportunity in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police
Visits to police stations, prisons and victim support centres will give you a close look at how the criminal justice system works
Our academic staff have wide-ranging experience in policing and are producing influential research
Please note that completion of this degree does not guarantee employment as a police officer or police staff.
Why this course?
As career opportunities in policing are due to grow dramatically, with the government having committed to a recruitment drive of an additional 20,000 police officers, we have become the first university in the country to introduce the accelerated route to the BA (Hons) Professional Policing.
This course provides the same comprehensive preparation for a policing career as our traditional three-year degree, but with the teaching condensed into two years to include tuition over the summer. It is a convenient and more affordable option if you want to progress from education to employment quickly and have both the capacity and capability to commit to a more intensive study programme.
We will help you develop an in-depth understanding of the role of a police officer today, including a thorough grasp of criminal justice systems and the powers and laws used by the police in England and Wales. Throughout, you will have the chance to apply theory to practice with case studies, practical scenarios, research projects and volunteering opportunities with local police forces.
Challenge and choice
The course is delivered through a combination of face-to-face teaching, work-based learning and self-directed learning, taking place over three semesters during the year instead of the traditional two. Your learning experience will be rigorous and demanding, but we offer a full range of support to help you meet the challenge and achieve your goals.
The final stage of the degree enables you to focus on an area of policing that particularly interests you and matches your career aspirations. For your dissertation, you will work on a real-life issue or solve a problem, currently experienced by local police forces, producing evidence-based research which can influence change within the profession and the wider community.
Become a Special Constable with Nottinghamshire Police
The BA (Hons) Professional Policing (Accelerated) includes two pathways options. You can choose the theory only route, or you can choose to apply to become a Special Constable while completing your studies, in partnership with Nottinghamshire Police. Being a Special Constable gives you invaluable practical insights into what it is like to work in a local constabulary, making you a standout candidate when applying for a role in the force. You will still follow the same high-quality curriculum as students who do not pursue this option but your experiences in the workplace will enrich your learning and stand you in good stead for the future.
We have partnered with Nottinghamshire Police to deliver the Special Constable route and you will need to pass the relevant vetting, assessment centre, medical and fitness procedures set by them in order to join the Special Constable route.
Your questions answered
In this video, Chief Inspector Richard Stapleford discusses what it is like to study on our fast track two-year degree in Professional Policing.
Our teaching staff have years of policing experience at all levels, giving you fresh perspectives on real world policing alongside the relevant academic theories. You can also draw on our excellent network of contacts ranging from chief constables and crime commissioners to representatives of national and international policing organisations.
Our outstanding visiting speaker and events programme captures topical issues and debates. Recent guests have included policing experts from the USA – a retired police Captain, a retired Chief of Police and a current SWAT commander – who provided a unique insight into their policing models. In addition, the former Chief Constable of Derbyshire shared experiences from his career, the changes which have transformed the profession and the challenges for policing in the 21st Century.
Your studies will be underpinned by our leading-edge research into the explanations and motivations for criminal behaviour and how criminal activity can be detected and prevented. This includes a focus on the notion of policing itself, ethical codes, human rights and police governance.
Equipment and resources
As a BA (Hons) Professional Policing student, you will be based at our Derby Campus at our One Friar Gate Square site. Offering the perfect environment for innovative and engaging teaching, it includes a replica custody suite (complete with interview rooms and cell), mock crown court and interview rooms alongside well-resourced lecture theatres, seminar rooms and social learning spaces. Students have also been able to make use of other specialist facilities at the University such as our forensic crime scene house.
Because you will be working alongside students taking courses in subjects such as law, criminology and sociology, there are many opportunities to share knowledge, expertise and experience in the field of criminal justice.
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
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.
external visits to settings such as police stations, police custody suites, victim support facilities, courts and various voluntary organisations working within the criminal justice sphere
guest lectures
online support through the University's virtual learning environment
teaching input from policing experts
peer support
guided reading
individual student reflection on learning
How you are assessed
You will be assessed in a range of ways including:
role plays and practical scenarios
coursework
exams
presentations
case studies
Who you'll meet
You will be taught by a teaching team with over 250 years combined experience in the criminal justice sector. They include:
Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.
Amy has been with the University of Derby since January 2020 ss a lecturer on the BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree course. This course is accredited by the College of Policing and is one of the new entry routes into a career in policing
These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2023 entry.
Requirement
What we're looking for
UCAS points
120-128
A Level
ABB-BBB
T Level
Merit - Distinction
BTEC
DDM
GCSE
GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HE
Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6
As part of the application process, we would like all applicants to demonstrate in their personal statement their skills, interests and passion for this course, with a particular emphasis on how you intend to manage your workload and other commitments whilst on this degree. Due to the intensity of an accelerated degree, we want to ensure all applicants are best prepared beforehand to successfully meet the academic requirements of a two-year degree.
Alternative entry qualifications
The University of Derby in collaboration with Nottinghamshire Police and Derbyshire Constabulary run the police cadet scheme resulting in the Foundation in Policing qualification. On successful completion of the Foundation in Policing, applicants applying for this course will qualify for entry.
We will consider applicants with alternative academic profiles and significant work experience that can demonstrate ability at interview.
Additional entry requirements
Interview: Yes
English language requirements
IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
This course is aimed at ambitious individuals who want to pursue a career in policing. It paves the way for you to join a hugely rewarding profession which brings new challenges every day, demanding high levels of responsibility, dedication and integrity.
Although the BA (Hons) Professional Policing qualification will not guarantee you a position within the police service, it will set you apart as an attractive candidate to secure a role. Taking the two-year accelerated route will also mark you out as a committed, confident and resourceful individual.
In addition, the skills you develop on the course could prove invaluable for a career within the broader criminal justice system. You could, for instance, consider roles in areas such as civilian investigation, crime reduction partnerships, probation, security and loss prevention.
Our Careers and Employment Service will provide you with support from day one of your course to ensure you leave Derby as a 'work-ready' graduate - industry aware, motivated and enterprising.
Throughout your studies, you will also benefit from our Personal Development Planning (PDP) scheme which enables you to reflect on your learning and develop your career ambitions. The support continues once you have completed your course too: you are entitled to further help and guidance from the Careers and Employment Service for up to three years after leaving the University.
Further study
You can choose to progress to postgraduate study at Derby: one of the benefits of the accelerated route to the BA (Hons) Professional Policing is that you can continue studying and gain both an undergraduate degree and a masters qualification in just three years.
As a graduate of the University of Derby, you may benefit from an alumni discount on your postgraduate course fees if you continue to study with us.
If you need any more information from us, such as on courses, accommodation, applications, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Contact us
If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.
Additional costs and optional extras
We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.
Please also note that due to the current Covid-19 situation, if your course offers fieldtrips, the location of these may change or be cancelled. If this happens, you will be communicated to in advance and we will do our very best to seek out other practical opportunities to ensure your experience is not affected.
The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.
Included in your fees
International study trip to the Hague if applicable and appropriate
Local trips and visits to criminal justice organisations (such as Police HQ and custody suites)
Special Constable route only: own shoes or boots: these are a personal choice but must meet required standards
Special Constable route only: own transport to and from interviews, assessment centres and testing during induction week (travel expenses can be claimed back once the initial training is completed but not in retrospect).
Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.
