Professional Policing

Policing encompasses all the activities that prevent crime, detect offenders, support victims, and enhance community safety as you will discover on our BSc (Hons) Professional Policing degree.

Licensed by the College of Policing (the professional body for policing in the UK), the course is based upon the national curriculum for the role of police constable.

Through a carefully curated programme of modules, the degree will bring to life the theory and reality of working as a police officer and provide you with an entry route into policing or related fields.

Why study our BSc Professional Policing degree?

• ideal for those wanting to join the police or explore a similar career
• covers all key areas of modern policing
• fully licensed by the College of Policing
• one of the few degree courses closely mapped to the Policing Education Qualification Framework
• benefit from our strong links with the Metropolitan Police
• range of voluntary opportunities to gain experience
• learn from a team of expert lecturers with extensive policing experience.

Joining the police force post-study

One route to being a police officer is to gain this qualification before applying to join the police service. You would then need to successfully apply to join a police force as a probationary police constable. National and local entry requirements would need to be met, and the achievement of the degree does not guarantee a successful application.

What you'll study

The BSc (Hons) Professional Policing course provides a dynamic and active opportunity to study all aspects of policing and act as a springboard to a rewarding, exciting, life-changing career.

As well as following the College of Policing’s National Police Curriculum, this is one of a few degree courses nationwide that is closely mapped to the Policing Education Qualification Framework (PEQF), which covers all key areas of modern policing.

From building a comprehensive bank of knowledge and experience, you will develop both professionally and personally and become effective problem-solvers, communicators, negotiators, and leaders.

Benefits of studying at the Institute for Policing Studies

While studying with us, as well as enjoying our facilities and vibrant university environment, you will take advantage of:

• Expert lecturers - our team bring both the academic rigour required for your studies and extensive expertise across a range of policing roles
• Valuable experiences - as part of the consortium delivering initial recruit education for the Metropolitan Police, you can work alongside recruits and be taught by a team actively engaged with serving officers
• International interaction - our international work with the British Council means you will be able to interact with policing students from across the world, widening your understanding and providing you with many development opportunities
• Network building opportunities - our research network means you can engage with students and lecturers in many of the UK's leading police, academic and policing institutions to build a career-supporting network.

Relationship with the Metropolitan Police

We have developed strong relationships with the local Basic Command Units of the Met Police and will provide opportunities for observations and joint workshops to gain detailed insights. This will help develop your studies and build a portfolio that you will be able to use throughout your professional career.

Volunteering opportunities

We encourage all students to take on volunteering roles, which are a great way of increasing experience. This could be with:

• the Metropolitan Police Service as a Special Constable
• a law enforcement organisation such as the National Crime Agency
• a local charity working with victims or offenders
• a local authority community safety team.

It's not too late to study at London’s 2nd highest-rated university for student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2026).

UWL's world-class facilities and outstanding teaching will give you all the tools you need to succeed. Musicians can rehearse in performance rooms, audio recording spaces and a 200 seat black box studio. Pilots can brave the storm in the Boeing 737 flight simulator. Lawyers can perfect their argument in the mock courtrooms, and chefs can whip up delicious creations in industry-standard kitchens and serve real customers at Pillars, the student-run fine-dining restaurant located on campus.

You'll also be learning in one of the world's best student cities (2026 QS Best Student Cities) - think Saturday afternoons in Covent Garden, study sessions in the British Library and live concerts in the O2 arena. With scholarships and bursaries reserved for Clearing applicants, no ambition is out of reach!