This course is intended for those contemplating a career with the Police and seeks to equip students with the necessary knowledge, practical, vocational and key skills. The course was developed in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary and now also includes collaboration with Greater Manchester Police, British Transport Police and West Yorkshire Police. It is designed to be full-time and combined with membership of the Special Constabulary, provides the equivalent of the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme that all new Police recruits have to complete.

Graduates, along with the training provided as members of the Special Constabulary will, at the appropriate time when recruitment is underway, be considered for employment by Lancashire Constabulary (and potentially by other forces) subject to the successful completion of the national police selection process.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Normal entry requirement is 160 points or the equivalent but in line with our support of Access to Higher Education your application will be considered without this if you can show the ability to enjoy and benefit from degree level studies. We look for alternative or professional qualifications, life experience, motivation and commitment.

All students will be interviewed as part of the application procedure and will also be required to apply separately for appointment as a Special Constable. Failure to be appointed as a Special Constable does not preclude completion of the course.

Course Content

The Foundation Degree in Policing is intended for those who wish to study policing with a view to pursuing a career with the Police either as a uniformed officer or as a member of police staff. Foundation degrees have been developed to address the demands of employers for Higher Education to place even greater emphasis on the key skills necessary to be effective in work skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. UCLan’s Foundation Degree in Policing will be highly valued, having been developed in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary to equip students with the necessary knowledge, practical, vocational and key skills to pursue a career in the policing sector. It is designed to be delivered on a full-time basis and to be combined with membership of the Special Constabulary. The course, essentially, provides the equivalent of the current Initial Police Learning and Development Programme that all new Police recruits have to complete. Students who successfully complete the foundation degree along with the training provided as members of the Special Constabulary will, at the appropriate time when recruitment is underway, be considered for employment by Lancashire Constabulary (and potentially by other forces) subject to the successful completion of the national police selection process.

The course is designed to deliver the National Curriculum for Police Recruits. During the first year students will study 5 compulsory modules covering quality policing, personal development, ethics and diversity in policing, evidence and procedure in policing, and police powers and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Students who are appointed to the Special Constabulary will also cover preparation for public service, where they will study health and safety, conflict resolution and defensive tactics. Students who are not eligible to join the Special Constabulary will undertake a Pathway module that addresses issues of community service. The second year comprises another 5 compulsory modules covering issues such as signal crimes and disorders, investigative skills and criminal justice and road policing. Students who are appointed to the Special Constabulary will also take a module in operational policing whilst those not eligible will take a module that addresses police performance issues. The programme for each academic year is shown in the 'At a Glance' section. The programme is endorsed by Skills Mark through the Skills For Justice Sector Skills Council.

Course at a Glance

Year 1

Compulsory:
Quality Policing
Personal Development
Ethics and Diversity in Policing
Evidence and Procedure in Policing
Police Powers and PACE

Optional:
Preparation for Public Service
Community Service

Year 2

Compulsory:
Signal Crimes
Signal Disorders
Investigative Skills and Criminal Justice
Road Policing

Optional:
Operational Policing (double module)
Police Performance (double module)

Links with Professional Bodies:

Our FdSc Policing course is endorsed by Skills Mark through the Skills for Justice Sector Skills Council.

Assessment:

Students must pass 12 modules assessed in a variety of ways including coursework, essays, reports, presentations, practical assessments and end-of-module examinations. Some modules will be delivered and assessed in the workplace.

Learning Environment:

On average, students will attend eight hours of lectures, tutorials, role play and simulation sessions and practical classes per module per week. Personal study also forms an integral part of the course and will take the form of directed reading, self-study and preparation for assignments.

Those students who are members of the Special Constabulary will also take modules delivered in the workplace and will undertake training whilst operational.

Careers:

Graduates of this course will have received training that is based on the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme and as such will be well suited to pursue a career with the Police Force as either a uniformed officer or as a member of police staff after successful completion of the national police selection process.

Other Opportunities:

Opportunities for further study in policing exist, and students who successfully complete this course will be eligible to study the BSc (Hons) Police and Criminal Investigation top-up degree. You can study for a higher qualification (MSc, MPhil, PhD) in any of the areas covered by the course.

Fees and Finance

The standard fee for this course will be: £9,000 per year

For further information including the availability of bursaries/scholarships or student financial support please view our Fees and Finance pages.