BSc (Hons) Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice with Foundation Year

Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) - Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice (Integrated Foundation Year)

Course Overview

Our foundation year is designed to help you to develop confidence and essential university skills which will enable you to progress onto our degree level programme. Security and intelligence has traditionally been associated with law enforcement and the military whereas our course merges skill sets gained in these environments with all aspects of the commercial world. The ability to identify and fill gaps of knowledge is a fundamental investigative requirement from crime to any other discipline requiring questions to be answered. Whether you are engaged in analysis, protective services, any part of the public sector or private business the elements of this course will feature in your professional and private life. This course provides the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience of practices previously only available within a few public sector professions.

On this course you will...

• Gain a professional and ethical understanding of how to recognise security risks in a variety of environments.
• Learn to recognise intelligence gathering opportunities, access material and data in a legal and ethical manner.
• Learn to analyse threat and design solutions needed to minimise them.
• Explore how to meet the diverse needs of employees.
• Explore investigative techniques and develop a detective skill set.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK
• Course Location: Carlisle - Fusehill Street
• Institute: Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership
• UCAS Code: L438
• Delivery Style: In-Person
• Course Duration: Full-time: 4 Years
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: BSc (Hons)

Minimum entry requirements

• 48 UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

• £5,760* - UK (Fee for Foundation Year only. Subsequent years will be the standard undergraduate fee)
• £14,900 - International

Related Courses

• BSc (Hons) - Security Intelligence and Investigative Practice
• BSc (Hons) - Professional Policing

Course Structure

What you will learn

You will identify the three threads (security, intelligence and investigative practice) this programme is built on. These three threads are interrelated and will help to further develop your understanding of the bigger picture of security, intelligence and investigative practice. You will learn to use these threads to solve problems in a multivariable environment. The modules build from introductory, enabling you to have a firm understanding through to a strategic international perspective in line with contemporary security, intelligence and investigative demands.

Year one

• Essential University Skills One
• Contemporary Issues and the Media
• Introduction to Policing, Criminology and Law
• Essential University Skills Two
• Families, Communities & the Criminal Justice System
• Professional Practice in the Community

Year two

• Intelligence, Structures and Products
• Managing Criminal Enquiries
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Operational Security
• Cyber Security
• Evolution of threat

Year three

• Investigative Interviewing
• Serious Organised Crime Investigations
• Covert Operations
• Security Risk Management
• Digital Intelligence
• Practical Action Research (optional module)
• Forecasting Future Challenges (optional module)

Year four

• Global Threats & Risk Principles
• Safeguarding Society
• Freedoms and Protections
• Extremism
• Dissertation/ Work Based Project

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice is delivered through a variety of methods. The delivery is designed to foster confident, self-reliant students, well placed to maximise their study. Learning approaches throughout the programme balance academic study and professional practice. Representatives from a range of professions active in the three core areas contribute to the curriculum to ensure students are well prepared for future careers.

Professional practice is used to illustrate research and theory. Simulations are used to provide students an environment to utilise their learning in a practical environment. The opportunity to simulate practical environments continues with the use of virtual reality equipment to create a safe supportive environment to use developing skills. Acquisition of knowledge and understanding is through a combination of:

• Lecture
• Facilitated discussion and debate
• Case studies
• Guided reading and study
• Reading groups
• Simulation
• Peer assisted learning
• Interactive on-line and classroom based activities
• Virtual reality simulations
• Creating a nexus between social media, research and traditional lectures
• Reflection on contemporary issues
• Volunteering opportunities
• Experiential visits to the workplace

How you will be assessed

Summative and formative assessment is an important part of the programme curriculum. It is recognised that a breadth of assessment strategies is supportive across the range of student preferences. Support will be provided to successfully meet the assessments within modules. A selection of assessment methods are employed including:

• Case studies
• Essays
• Reports
• Examinations
• Practical skills assessment
• Poster presentation
• Oral briefings
• Virtual reality supported vignettes

Entry Requirements

• A-levels: A
• T-levels: P (D or E) All subjects are accepted for entry to this course.
• Access to HE: 45 Credits at Pass.
• CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: D
• OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: PPP
• Scottish Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.
• Irish LC Highers: 48 UCAS Tariff Points.
• Other experience: Pearson Level 3 National Diploma MP.

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course and reflect upon any experience you have gained.

The Integrated Foundation Year programme supports your return to education and are specifically designed for students who have the ability to study for a degree but may not have all the necessary qualifications, skills or experiences to join the degree in Year 1.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here), applicants that are estranged from their parents, are care leavers or have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply).

Language requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this programme here.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

• £5,760* - UK
• £9,250 - UK
• £13,575 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

Funding

The tuition fees for the integrated foundation year are as stated All subsequent years will be at the standard fee rate for the programme.

For information about funding, please visit our undergraduate funding page.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The BSc (Hons) Security, Intelligence and Investigative Practice (Integrated Foundation Year) program focuses on the concept of security from a broad perspective, encompassing asset protection to analyzing global events and designing solutions.

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Objectives:

• The course merges skill sets from law enforcement and the military with the commercial world.
• It equips students with the ability to identify and fill knowledge gaps in various disciplines.
• The program prepares students for careers in analysis, protective services, and both the public and private sectors.

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Outline:

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Year One:

• Essential University Skills One: Develop foundational academic and professional skills needed for effective learning and successful progression.
• Contemporary Issues and the Media: Analyze current issues through the lens of media relevant to the program's subject area.
• Introduction to Policing, Criminology, and Law: Gain a foundational understanding of the English and Welsh Legal and Criminal Justice system and the discipline of criminology.
• Essential University Skills Two: Further enhance the skills acquired in Essential University Skills One.
• Families, Communities, and the Criminal Justice System: Explore psychological and societal risk factors and pre-cursors to criminality.
• Professional Practice in the Community: Develop awareness of community groups and activities to gain a deeper understanding of society.

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Year Two:

• Intelligence, Structures, and Products: Introduces core concepts related to intelligence and its role in 21st-century policing.
• Managing Criminal Enquiries: Focuses on the fundamental theory and practice of criminal investigation.
• Crime Scene Investigation: Explores techniques employed by UK forensic agencies in crime scene investigation and evidence recovery.
• Operational Security: Introduces the processes behind security measure implementation.
• Cyber Security: Explores protective digital practices and real-world examples of cybercrime in a digitally driven society.
• Evolution of Threat: Examines the history of threats, such as protest, extremism, and terrorism, drawing upon literature, inquiries, and practical contexts.

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Year Three:

• Investigative Interviewing: Emphasizes the importance of human testimony in information gathering for investigative practice.
• Serious Organised Crime Investigations: Develops knowledge of decision-making, crime, investigation, and offending, with a focus on serious organized crime.
• Covert Operations: Introduces covert techniques used in investigations.
• Security Risk Management: Teaches the recognition of risks in both physical and electronic environments.
• Digital Intelligence: Understands technical intelligence gathering operations using advanced and customized methods for collecting and analyzing intelligence.
• Practical Action Research (optional module): Enhances research skills through an action research project, emphasizing independent inquiry.
• Forecasting Future Challenges (optional module): Develops research skills, recognizing and forecasting potential threats to individuals and communities.

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Year Four:

• Global Threats & Risk Principles: Provides a comprehensive understanding of the impact of events in a globalized environment.
• Safeguarding Society: Understands how to manage vulnerability.
• Freedoms and Protections: Explores the meaning of privacy in contemporary society.
• Extremism: Delves into the theory and practice surrounding acceptable protest and illegal extremism.
• Dissertation/ Work Based Project: Develops an appropriate investigation into a chosen area of practice.

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Assessment:

• Summative and formative assessments are integral to the curriculum.
• A diverse range of assessment methods are employed, including:
• Case studies
• Essays
• Reports
• Examinations
• Practical skills assessments
• Poster presentations
• Oral briefings
• Virtual reality supported vignettes

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Teaching:

• Delivery methods include a blend of academic study and professional practice.
• Representatives from various professions contribute to the curriculum to ensure students are prepared for future careers.
• Professional practice is used to illustrate research and theory.
• Simulations provide practical learning environments.
• Virtual reality equipment enhances practical skills development.
• Learning approaches include:
• Lectures
• Facilitated discussions and debates
• Case studies
• Guided reading and study
• Reading groups
• Simulations
• Peer-assisted learning
• Interactive online and classroom activities
• Virtual reality simulations
• Connecting social media, research, and traditional lectures
• Reflection on contemporary issues
• Volunteering opportunities
• Experiential visits to the workplace

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Careers:

• Investigative practice skills are widely sought after by employers.
• Potential career paths include:
• Analysis
• Protective services
• Public and private sector roles

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Other:

• The program is delivered in-person at the Carlisle - Fusehill Street campus.
• It is a full-time, four-year program.
• It is available to UK, RoI, EU, EEA, and international students.
• The minimum entry requirement is 48 UCAS Tariff points.
• The course structure balances academic study and professional practice.
• The program uses professional practice to illustrate research and theory.
• Students have the opportunity to engage in virtual reality simulations to enhance their practical skills.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

• Tuition Fees
2024 - 2025 £9,250 - UK £13,575 - International
• The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.
• Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year.
The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.