Program Overview

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BSc (Hons) - Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

Course Overview

This 3-year apprenticeship course runs alongside your training as a full-time police constable. A nationally recognized program overseen by the College of Policing, it is a key requirement for all new recruit police officers to achieve a policing degree, resulting in confirmation in the position of Police Constable.

A blended learning approach combines practical application in the form of on-the-job training with theory and learning through university provision.

On this course, you will...

• The degree qualification is a requirement for confirmation in the post of Police Constable.
• The qualification is mapped against a series of approved competencies overseen by a professional body 'The College of Policing'.
• Continuous professional development of key skills, including communication, confidence, and decision-making.
• Enhancement of critical thinking, problem-solving, team working, and leadership.
• Compliment your operational policing with development of writing skills to ensure quality of reports and case files.
• Improved performance and progression within the wider policing profession, supporting advancement along appropriate career pathways, i.e., promotion/specialization.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK
• Course Location: Blended Learning
• Institute: Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership
• UCAS Code: L901
• Delivery Style: Blended Learning
• Course Duration: Full-time: 3 Years
• Course Start Point: January
• Award: BSc (Hons)
• Open Days: All

Minimum Entry Requirements

• GCSEs: Demonstrating achievement of functional skills in English and Maths.

Fair Admissions

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

At interview, we will assess your suitability to train for the profession you have applied for. All professional course interviews are scored. Any offers made will be based on your whole application and your interview score.

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 program. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing professional policing and reflect upon any experience you have gained. At interview, you have the opportunity to demonstrate your motivation, enthusiasm, and interest in Policing.

Contextual Admissions

Not applicable to apprenticeships.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.

Language Requirements

Please follow the link to check language requirements for this program.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

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

Degree apprenticeships are only offered to students undertaking the course as part of their employment. The apprenticeship training is therefore funded by the employer using their apprenticeship levy, with or without a contribution, depending on the size and status of the organization.

Apprentices will not be required to pay any fees and will not be eligible for Student Finance England maintenance support as they are in receipt of a salary. See further information on our Information for Aspiring Apprentices page.

The University will typically charge the maximum fee for the standard, before applying reductions based on accepted prior learning, which is determined on an individual basis at the application stage. To discuss sponsoring a learner on a program, please contact.

Additional Costs

Most of your expenses are included in the program, however, we do recommend that you have some additional resources for the following options: £10- £20 per year for stationery and £100 for trips (optional). All figures listed are approximate as of January 2018 and may be subject to change/inflationary increases.

Books and Journals

A full reading list is supplied on commencement of the course, which can be accessed free online or through the University library. Blackstone's - 'Handbook for Policing Students' is supplied free of charge.

Clothing and Equipment

iPad supplied on commencement of the course.

Course Structure

What you will learn

As a full-time operational police officer, you will initially learn the role of a Constable, including legislation, your powers, and procedures. This will progress to working alongside experienced police officers with exposure to a variety of policing incidents. The academic provisions bring in the theory elements to enable greater understanding of topic areas, which include history of policing, decision-making and discretion, critical thinking, criminology, and crime prevention, proactive approaches to vulnerability, risk, and public protection, supporting victims and witnesses, resilience, problem-solving, team working, and leadership.

Masterclasses will seek to broaden student officers' knowledge and understanding of high-profile case studies and the lessons learned. Group discussions and the delivery of presentations will enhance students' communication skills and confidence in a public arena. The assessments will develop key writing skills to aid report writing in a policing context.

Year one

The initial training consists of a 15-week classroom delivery, which provides student police officers with the knowledge and practical skills to enable them to patrol operationally and includes the role of a constable, powers, and procedures, decision-making, conflict management, first aid, radio skills, and basic report writing. Student officers will be posted to a police station where they will work alongside experienced officers in gaining knowledge and confidence to patrol independently.

This posting provides exposure to a range of operational incidents where you will be encouraged to take the lead, make decisions, and take action, including making arrests, comforting victims, or searching for missing people amongst other things. Alongside this, the degree program will encourage reflective practice together with the application of theory learned through workbook material and masterclasses. Regular assessments will explore knowledge and understanding of topic areas.

• Introduction to Policing
  • History of the Police, policing by consent, human rights, core principles of ethics and behavior.
• Operational Policing
  • Legislation, powers, and procedures, investigations, and reflective practice.
• Studying Criminology
  • Understanding criminology concepts, behaviors, procedural justice, problem-solving, and evidence-based policing.
• Community Policing
  • Community Policing, concept of problem-solving, partnership working, and benefits of intelligence.
• Vulnerability
  • Offending and victimization, national projects for those at risk, review of case studies, and lessons learned.
• Reflective Practice Based Learning
  • Importance of self-evaluation, self-improvement, and reflective practice. Decision-making and communication.

Year two

Year two develops competence and confidence in the role of Constable as you will be patrolling independently. The academic modules explore key topic areas in greater depth and seek to expand your critical thinking and overall application of theory and practice.

Experience in the operational field will support your wider reading and further develop your knowledge of policing. The report writing encourages evaluation and analysis across all areas of policing, both locally and nationally.

Midway through the second year, you will be introduced to the concept of research. How to choose a title to explore in detail, linking in literature, statistical analysis, and presenting your findings. On the operational side, you will be expected to develop your knowledge and experience in key areas and must demonstrate competency as an effective front-line police officer.

• Community Policing
  • Evaluation of policing activities, process of intelligence gathering, and terrorism.
• Policing
  • Professional standards and community confidence.
• Operational Policing
  • Challenges of Operational Policing & the criminal justice system.
• Studying Criminology
  • Introduction to research.
• Vulnerability
  • Multi-agency working, repeat victimization, theories, and practices associated with vulnerability.
• Reflective Practice Based Learning
  • Self-reflection, decision-making, and communication skills at police-related incidents.

Year three

The final year sees further practical development as student officers focus on a specific area of policing. The benefits of coaching and mentoring in the workplace are also explored as new recruits join the police, and you may be called upon to mentor them yourself.

The final degree requirement is that of a research project where student officers build on their year 2 introduction to research and analyze data through a range of sources in response to a question posed. This encourages wider analytical skills, the review of existing literature on the associated topic, reflection, and review together with the presentation of findings.

Confirmation in the role of Constable is achieved when all aspects of the operational policing requirements have been met together with successful completion of the academic assessments.

• Coaching and Mentoring
  • Benefits of coaching and mentoring in the workplace.
• Specialism
  • Focus on a specific area of policing.
• Specialist Procedures
  • Focus on a specific area of policing.
• End Point Assessment (EPA)
  • Review of practical competence, research project of choice, and confirmation of appointment as a Constable.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

A variety of teaching and learning methods are designed to match learning outcomes set by The College of Policing, which will all complement your role as an operational police officer. We encourage and support you as an independent mature learner.

Teaching and learning will be led by police trainers and lecturing staff from the university. This will include group discussions and individual tasks together with practical role-plays and specialist police training.

How you will be assessed

Assessments take place at regular intervals throughout the duration of the 3-year program. The assessments are police-related topics and cover a range of methods, including essays, report writing, presentations, and exams, all of which are supported through online material, masterclasses, and practical learning sessions. For specific police-related practical skills, these will be assessed by police trainers in a workplace environment.