Professional Policing BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- Typical Offer: 104 - 112 UCAS tariff points
- UCAS Code(s): L436
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: Three years full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
Introduction:
Police officers are the first responders, the investigators, the front line. In an ever-changing world, they're a key partner in the communities they serve, and they all play a pivotal role – from police constable to chief constable.
Sometimes policing can be the blues-and-twos and chasing criminals, and sometimes it can be methodical detective work, investigation, and building a solid case. Policing isn't really a career you just fall into; it can be gritty and complex, but it can be equal parts impactful, rewarding and life changing.
Supported by our academic team of ex-coppers and law enforcement experts, you'll combine knowledge and theory with hands-on learning to be well-prepared for one of the most challenging – and exciting – jobs that modern society has to offer.
Why choose this course?
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Our links with local forces: you'll be able to get hands on through opportunities to become a special constable, or undertake a placement in police control rooms. -
Our teaching team: our academics have over 150 combined years of experience in law enforcement, with many of them being former police officers. -
Guest speakers: we invite guest speakers from forces across the country to come in and support your learning. -
Explore the context: we cover everything from the inception of policing, to what modern policing really means.
What you’ll study
Throughout your three years with NTU, you'll combine learning about police powers and the criminal justice system, with hands-on experience as you learn to conduct suspect interviews, and get stuck into the forensics at our on-campus Crime Scene Training Facility.
We'll provide the context of policing in the UK, the role of the police and what makes a modern police officer, alongside in-depth explorations of public protection and community policing. You'll also explore how law enforcement operates in the digital world for which you'll achieve associate membership of the Institute of Cyber and Digital Professionals (ICDP).
Towards the end of your studies, you'll be able to apply your knowledge to a research project focusing on an area of policing that interests you. If you choose to become a special constable or volunteer with a local police force during your time with us, you can apply these experiences to your research project.
Core modules
The Role of the Police
This module will provide you with the rationale for the development of the modern police officer, before examining the functions of the contemporary police service alongside other criminal justice agencies and its governance in England and Wales.
Crime Investigations One
An introduction to crime investigation techniques such as statement taking for victim and witnesses, evidence gathering at crime scenes the and subsequent management of evidence. The module also includes an introduction to investigative interviewing techniques for suspects utilising police models.
Problem Solving and Decision Making
This module provides students with an introduction to problem solving and decision-making techniques and models as utilised within the police service to make effective decisions at police incidents, and to implement effective evidence-based crime reduction techniques and strategies.
The Criminal Justice System
An understanding of the structure and operation of the UK criminal justice system and the role of the police within it.
Criminology for Policing
This module provides students with an overview of the evolution of criminological theory, and how it applies to and affects policing in the 21st century. The module offers an understanding of criminological models and how they influence the police and the criminal justice system.
Police Powers One
During this module you'll begin to develop your portfolio of practical work experiences while under the tutorship of Nottinghamshire Police. You'll also develop a foundation of legal knowledge and IT packages such as 'Niche' and 'NCALT'.
Core modules
Public Protection
You'll gain a critical evaluation of the theme of public protection, concentrating on specific areas of legislation. The module will cover areas such as domestic violence, the management of sexual and violent offenders, vulnerable victims, safeguarding of adults and children and the police approach.
Evidence Based Policing
You'll explore the concept of evidence based policing and how EBP informs police decision-making, policy and practice.
Crime Investigations Two
This module provides students with additional development from Crime Investigation 1 and further seeks to develop knowledge and understanding of crime investigation techniques, crime scene management, forensic awareness.
Police Intelligence and Community Policing
An introduction to the concepts of police intelligence, intelligence handling and interaction with the community, and partner agencies to effectively police by consent.
Police Powers Two
This module provides students with further enhancement of the students’ knowledge and understanding of key pieces of legislation required for the role of a police constable, and apply them to more complex and sensitive situations within policing following successful completion of Police Powers 1.
Core modules
Digital Policing and Counter Terrorism
You'll critically develop your understanding of digital policing concepts and counter terrorism issues. In this module you will learn specifically how to manipulate digital devices and extract evidence for a policing purpose.
Front Line Policing
You'll further develop your existing knowledge from levels 4 and 5 and focus specifically on front line and road policing issues.
Police Powers Three
An understanding of key pieces of legislation required for the role of a police constable and apply them critically to more complex and sensitive situations within policing, whilst building upon knowledge gained from Police Powers 1 and 2.
Research Project or Applied Research Project
The ‘Research Project’ is worth 40 credits and provides you with the opportunity to apply your knowledge to a large-scale academic project on a specific area of policing which you select. For those who are special constables or police volunteers, the ‘Applied Research Project’ is the equivalent 40 credit module and the focus for this is decided in liaison with course staff and Nottinghamshire Police. This is to ensure the focus is relevant to emergent issues in local/national/international policing whilst also reflecting the College of Policing key thematic strands. Both versions of the module consolidate a large number of transferable skills and are the pinnacle of students attained research skills and abilities as an autonomous learner.
You will get the option to choose one of these projects:
Research Project
You'll bring together the various skills developed through the BA (Hons) Professional Policing syllabus as well as their research methods skills and apply this to a theoretical policing issue.
Applied Research Project
You'll have the opportunity to bring together the various skills developed through the BA (Hons) Professional Policing syllabus as well as their research methods skills and apply this to a contemporary policing issue.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you’re taught
To provide you with a first-class learning experience and to guarantee you have an opportunity to make the most of your time at university, you'll receive contact time through a diverse range of delivery methods. Structured teaching will be delivered through a combination of traditional lectures, seminars, workshops and police-delivered training sessions. The smaller group seminars and workshops provide opportunities to develop your problem-solving skills, group working and your analysis, debating and presentation skills. They also give you the chance to get involved in discussions about a wide range of views.
Tutorials with staff
As the relationship between students and tutors is an important one you can expect to have lots of direct contact and support through seminars and one-to-one tutorials. At these sessions, you'll have the opportunity to discuss and gain feedback about your work, ask questions about the projects you're working on and raise any difficulties you are experiencing relating to your work, personal circumstances or your university experience.
Virtual learning environment
You'll use our virtual learning environment, NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that allows you to have 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and other students, and submit coursework electronically from anywhere in the world.
Learning from experts
You'll be taught by enthusiastic, engaged and expert staff. The course team have experience in police training, practice and research, providing you with a unique and innovative insight into the world of policing.
How will I be assessed?
During the course, you'll be assessed in a variety of ways, such as: in class mock exams, draft report plans, role-play or practice scenario simulations, individual / group presentations and individual / group case study or practice-based exercise. In your final year, you'll combine this with a dissertation / independent study project. In response to student feedback the University have introduced a policy ensuring marked work is returned to you electronically within three weeks of submission.
Contact hours
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (32%), independent study (68%)
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (26%), independent study (74%)
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (22%), independent study (78%)
How you’re assessed
- Year 1 coursework (42%), written (33%) and practical (25%)
- Year 2 coursework (33%) and practical (67%)
- Year 3 coursework (60%) and practical (40%)
Careers and employability
Your career development
43 regional forces cover England and Wales, with specialist forces protecting our rail networks, civilian nuclear facilities, defence assets and providing air support. Many of you undertaking this course will be interested in becoming a police officer in one of these areas, and our course is designed to prepare you to do just that.
Equally, your future may not lie in the UK. International students are a core part of our student body, and our course can provide new perspectives that prepare you to start a policing career in another country.
Outside of the traditional policing roles, some of our graduates have also embarked on successful careers in related services such as His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, the Security Services, or in non-policing law enforcement roles. This is down to the essential skills and knowledge they developed during the course, such as communication and expert problem solving, along with use of information technology to gather, analyse, evaluate, and present data.
Our Employability Team
We have a dedicated Employability team located on the City Campus. The team are well placed to give you specialist guidance and practical help that will really make a difference to your prospects once you do graduate.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Chaucer and Newton buildings, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, the facilities including a mock prison cell, banks of open-access PCs, social spaces for either quiet study or busy group work.
As part of your learning, you’ll also have the opportunity to head over to our Clifton Campus and make use of the Crime Scene Training Facility.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to keep occupied between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our superb Students’ Union building that includes a two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets catering to every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!
If that’s not enough, just take a few steps off campus, and you’ll find yourself in the beating heart of Nottingham — one of Britain’s top 10 student cities. Enjoy lush green spaces and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink, and social scene by night.
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
- Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
- Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Becoming a Special Constable (optional practice element)
Becoming a Special Constable is sometheing that some of our students decide to do, but is an optional element of the course.
In order to undertake either the special constable or police volunteer streams within the course, you will be subject to further eligibility checks which are separate from/additional to the course entry requirements. In particular, for those wishing to undertake the Special Constable role:
- Candidates will need to satisfy a number of pre-employment checks such as security and financial vetting, biometric and drug testing, and a medical examination;
- Candidates will be required to complete each stage of the recruitment policy such as competency-based questions, an interview and a physical fitness test.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
What are we looking for?
- 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Becoming a Special Constable (optional practice element)
Becoming a Special Constable is something that some of our students decide to do, but is an optional element of the course. It is available to some, but not all, international students.
In order to undertake either the special constable or police volunteer streams within the course, you will be subject to further eligibility checks which are separate from/additional to the course entry requirements. In particular, for those wishing to undertake the Special Constable role:
- Candidates will need to satisfy a number of pre-employment checks such as security and financial vetting, biometric and drug testing, and a medical examination;
- Candidates will be required to complete each stage of the recruitment policy such as competency-based questions, an interview and a physical fitness test.
There are restrictions on who can apply to be a Special Constable. Applications can only be accepted if you are a national of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or, if not, have leave to enter or remain in the UK for an indefinite period free of restrictions.
Countries included in the EEA are:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Additional Costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Travel
Travel grants and Erasmus funding may be available to help fund international travel costs. The course will utilise University resources throughout your course such as the Crime Scene House (Clifton Campus), Mock Court Room / Moot Room (City Campus), Video Interview Suite (City Campus). Students will be expected to pay for travel costs if applicable.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Fees for September 2024
Mode of study | International tuition fee |
|---|---|
Full-time | £17,150 |
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page.
Good luck with your application!
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.