How can I become a police officer?

If you want to join the police as a new Police Constable, there are four main routes you can take, these are: The police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA) - this provides you with the opportunity to study for a degree whilst training on the job A degree in Professional Policing - gain a degree which can lead into the police or a related career Police Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) - this is the traditional entry route which is a two-year training programme within a police force The degree-holder entry programme (DHEP) - If you’ve studied an undergraduate degree in any subject, follow this work-based programme supported by off-the-job learning

How do I apply for a Degree Apprenticeship?

We work with both Cumbria and Lancashire Constabulary to deliver their degree apprenticeship programmes. You will need to apply to your preferred constabulary, to find our more information on vacancies, entry requirements and applications visit: Cumbria Police website Lancashire Police website

Professional Policing Practice Degree Apprenticeship

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Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

3 years

Start

December 2024

Delivery

In-person

Studying and achieving the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship is an approved entry route into a career in the Police. The apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with a police constabulary. You'll need to apply through your preferred constabulary.

Why study with us

Develop critical thinking, learning and research skills, to formulate sound problem-solving and evidence based practices.
Our School houses a wealth of outstanding facilities across all subject areas including; Policing Hydra Minerva Suite and a range of specialised laboratories.
There are many learning opportunities within both the University and the police force, which will develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours to meet academic and operational competence.

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A day in the life of a Policing student

Why choose a Degree Apprenticeship?

With a Degree Apprenticeship you get a great qualification and a career boost. It’s the perfect opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge through work-based learning, as you earn.

You’ll grow and nurture your talent through the forward-thinking businesses we collaborate with to offer a Degree Apprenticeship.

Who is this course for?

Our programme is aimed at learners wanting to become a modern Police Constable (PC).

Modern policing is undergoing significant transformation and highly competent PCs are vital to the delivery of an enhanced service to the public.

Being a PC is a physically and intellectually demanding occupation, requiring high levels of emotional intelligence, strong behavioural interpretation skills and an ability to analyse and resolve rapidly evolving events.

PCs have a unique employment status, as every PC is a warranted officer, making autonomous lawful decisions including taking away an individual’s liberty if required. PCs exercise wide-ranging powers to maintain the peace and uphold the law across complex and diverse communities. They must justify and personally account for their actions through differing legal frameworks including courts, while also under the close scrutiny of the public.

Competent PCs work safely and lawfully, intelligently applying a wide range and depth of skills, knowledge and behaviours to many different and increasingly complex policing contexts. Examples include: the management of a sensitive investigation into the sharing of sexual imagery involving vulnerable victims and witnesses, or the protection of vulnerable people, including those with mental health problems.

A high level of knowledge is required to confidently respond to these complex scenarios. Increasingly, PCs are individually responsible for determining, applying and evaluating practice based on the best available evidence, known as evidence-based policing.

What you'll do

On this Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, you’ll receive practical on-the-job learning, alongside academic theory and knowledge, while earning a wage.
You’ll develop the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills required to carry out the role of a Police Constable.
You’ll learn to apply a wide range and depth of skills, knowledge and behaviours to many different and increasingly complex policing contexts.

Modules

Teaching and learning methodology will comprise of a blend of lectures and seminars, along with workplace learning. The balance of these learning opportunities will be achieved in close cooperation with the employer and focus on providing protected time for academic learning along with the consolidation of learning in the workplace. Assessment methods will test academic development and practical development in the workplace. Assignments will test the apprentice’s knowledge of law and procedure, the ability to write critically and analytically, as well as assessing practical and problem-solving skills relevant to the police constable role through activity and presentations in the workplace

Module code: FZ2653

Module code: FZ2654

Reflect on your performance over the whole degree, with a focus on the finalisation of your Operational Competence Portfolio. You'll gain the knowledge and skills essential to complete the End Point Assessment. Successful completion of the OCP and all other academic elements allows you to pass through the ‘gateway’ to the End Point Assessment. You cannot undertake the End Point Assessment until this module has been successfully completed.

Module code: PC3007

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

Frequently asked questions

If you want to join the police as a new Police Constable, there are four main routes you can take, these are:

The police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA) - this provides you with the opportunity to study for a degree whilst training on the job
A degree in Professional Policing - gain a degree which can lead into the police or a related career
Police Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP) - this is the traditional entry route which is a two-year training programme within a police force
The degree-holder entry programme (DHEP) - If you’ve studied an undergraduate degree in any subject, follow this work-based programme supported by off-the-job learning

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News hydraminerva banner — Hydra Minerva Suite

Professional qualifications

Recognised Degree Apprenticeship Scheme, approved by The College of Policing.

Academic expertise

UCLan Policing has a good reputation in the sector and attracts the best staff from both academic and operational policing backgrounds, with a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience.

Over 40 experienced staff provide skills and expertise relevant to the discipline. Ranging from general operational policing, criminological and sociological issues, to expert knowledge, skills and practice across a range of specialisms. Teaching staff are also dedicated to improving the learning and skills of each student, developing your individual critical thinking and communication skills.

Clive Tattum

Dean

Entry requirements

Admission will follow successful appointment as a Police Constable
Recruitment is via a National Assessment Centre process
Candidates will be interviewed locally to assess their suitability for the role and academic study
Applicants will have level 3 qualifications where the grades total 96 UCAS points or higher
Applicants will be required to have Maths and English GCSE at Grade C or equivalent
Applications for non-standard entry will be considered from applicants who demonstrate equivalent professional training or work experience

This course will involve you working with vulnerable groups of individuals, this may include children. In order to ensure that the University offers places on their programmes to suitable candidates you will be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB).

We will be able to guide you through this process once you have been offered a conditional place of study at the University of Central Lancashire.

It is important to note that should your Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prove to be unsatisfactory for the purpose of the course you have applied to, your offer of a place for that course may be withdrawn. If you have already enrolled on a course and your DBS check subsequently discloses a criminal conviction, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started. If you are aware that your DBS check will disclose a previous conviction, please contact the course leader for advice as not all convictions may preclude you from continuing with the course.

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Degree Apprentice Care Leaver Bursary
We offer a range of support and services to help all apprentices, but you may need a little extra assistance if you have been in Local Authority care and don’t have support from your parents. Find out more about our Care Leaver Bursary for our Degree Apprentice students.
Find out more about Degree Apprentice Care Leaver Bursary

Professional Policing Practice leads to the option to apply for a career in the police, or associated investigative professions. Your skills and high levels of confidence will be valued by private and public sector graduate employers in all areas of employment.

Many of our policing graduates have joined local forces, or work for the British Transport Police. Some also work within insurance or banking, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, HM Prison Service or carry out fraud investigation within the Department of Social Security and UK Border Agency.

All apprentices sit an independent end-point assessment (EPA), assessing all the knowledge, skills and behaviours you’ve learnt throughout your apprenticeship.

It’s taken at the very end of the on-programme phase of training when your employer, or in some cases your training provider, is satisfied that you meet the “gateway” criteria to take the assessment.

End-point-assessments are graded and you’ll get an apprenticeship certificate after you’ve successfully completed your EPA. It’s a test that’s valued by current and future employers.

The University has many learning resources both on and off campus – including online access to other libraries and information services (which may be closer to you) through schemes such as Sconul Access and an Inter-Library Loans Service.

There’s also an information skills training programme, IT help and advice from LIS Customer Support.

And you’ll be able to remotely link to the university’s network account, the library's electronic resources and some core software applications.

A three-year degree apprenticeship is an exciting opportunity for successful applicants to achieve a degree in professional policing practice while also serving as a working police officer.

We work with both the Cumbria Constabulary and Lancashire Constabulary to deliver their degree apprenticeship programmes. To find out more including vacancies, entry requirements and applications visit:

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Information for employers

An apprentice is employed to do a real job while studying for a formal qualification, usually for one day a week at one of our campuses or training centres.

This course meets Apprenticeship Standards and your apprentice will have the knowledge and skills to either succeed in their chosen career or progress to the next apprenticeship level.

Benefits to the employer

The programme is a great way to address skills and knowledge gaps in your workforce, retain and attract staff who want opportunities for professional development through a high-quality degree.
The Degree Apprenticeship will develop staff throughout their career through continual professional development.
The programme will improve staff retention and loyalty by providing them with a job, professional development, professional accreditation, and high-quality degree.

This course is delivered by the School of Law and Policing

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

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Professional Policing Practice

Why study with us

A day in the life of a Policing student

Why choose a Degree Apprenticeship?

Who is this course for?

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

Year 3

Compulsory modules

Frequently asked questions

View the course facilities

Professional qualifications

Academic expertise

Entry requirements

Scholarships and bursaries

Degree Apprentice Care Leaver Bursary

Information for employers

Benefits to the employer

Professional Policing Practice

Why study with us

A day in the life of a Policing student

Why choose a Degree Apprenticeship?

Who is this course for?

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Frequently asked questions

How can I become a police officer?

How do I apply for a Degree Apprenticeship?

View the course facilities

Professional qualifications

Academic expertise

Entry requirements

Scholarships and bursaries

Degree Apprentice Care Leaver Bursary

Future Careers and Job Role

Learning and End Point Assessment

Vacancies

Information for employers

Benefits to the employer

Key information and funding

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