Program Overview

BA (Hons) Professional Policing with Foundation Year

Overview

The PEQF (Policing Education Qualifications Framework) is a new, professional framework for the training of police officers and staff. As of 1st January 2020, successful appointment as a police officer in any one of the 43 Police Forces in England and Wales will be dependent upon the completion of a professional educational qualification. The College of Policing, as the professional body of the police service, have developed three new entry routes into the police service. One of these routes is by completion of a Pre-Join degree, whereby students will study a three-year degree in professional policing which will equip them to deal with the exciting challenges modern policing has to offer.

Course Details

• Award: BA (Hons)
• Start date: 15 September 2025
• UCAS Code: L901
• Course length: Part-time (8 years), Full-time (4 years)
• Campus location: University: City Campus
• School: School of Social Sciences and Humanities

Course Modules

Year 1

• Contemporary Social Issues
  • Module: 3GK015
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 1
  • Type: Core
• Preparing for Success at University
  • Module: 3GK012
  • Credits: 40
  • Period: 1
  • Type: Core
• Project-Based Learning
  • Module: 3GK013
  • Credits: 40
  • Period: 1
  • Type: Core
• Wolverhampton and its People
  • Module: 3GK014
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 1
  • Type: Core

Year 2

• Critical Thinking, Research Methods and Academic Writing for Policing
  • Module: 4PL020
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 2
  • Type: Core
• Human Rights in Criminal Justice
  • Module: 4CJ005
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 2
  • Type: Core
• Police Procedure and Evidence
  • Module: 4PL022
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 2
  • Type: Core
• Policing and Crime in the Community
  • Module: 4PL019
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 2
  • Type: Core
• The Idea and Purpose of Professional Policing
  • Module: 4PL021
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 2
  • Type: Core
• Working in the Criminal Justice System
  • Module: 4CJ002
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 2
  • Type: Core

Year 3

• Criminal Investigation
  • Module: 5PL013
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Core
• Police Information and Intelligence
  • Module: 5PL017
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Core
• Police Response and Major Incidents
  • Module: 5PL016
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Core
• Policing the Roads and Disrupting Organised Crime
  • Module: 5PL012
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Core
• Thinkers and Theories in Policing
  • Module: 5PL020
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Core
• Criminal Law
  • Module: 5LW002
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Optional
• Framing the Criminological World
  • Module: 5CJ002
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Optional
• Race, Empire and Modernity
  • Module: 5SL001
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 3
  • Type: Optional
• Counter Terrorism
  • Module: 6PL018
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 4
  • Type: Core
• Digital Policing
  • Module: 6PL019
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 4
  • Type: Core
• Dissertation
  • Module: 6PL023
  • Credits: 40
  • Period: 4
  • Type: Core
• Police Accountability and Standards of Professional Behaviour
  • Module: 6PL020
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 4
  • Type: Core
• Policing, Vulnerability, Abuse and Public Protection
  • Module: 6PL016
  • Credits: 20
  • Period: 4
  • Type: Core

Potential Career Paths

Many students who undertake this degree will be aiming to join the police service as a Police Constable, but it is essential to emphasize that completion of this degree does not guarantee employment as a police officer or police staff.

Additional Information

• Why Wolverhampton?
  • The BA (Hons) Professional Policing delivered at the University of Wolverhampton is the latest development in our long history of providing Policing Education in the region.
  • This new degree builds on the 10 years of experience we have in providing police education.
  • The course is delivered by staff with strong academic and operational backgrounds in Policing, and we draw on a range of specialist practitioners to enhance the student experience.
• What skills will you gain?
  • In the wider educational context, the professional benefits of BA (Hons) Professional Policing programme extend well beyond the confines of the curriculum itself, embracing the higher-level skills that a degree-based educational approach can import to the profession of policing.
  • Those learners who have successfully completed the BA (Hons) Professional Policing degree, and who progress to become police constables, will contribute to the policing profession by being capable problem-solvers, communicators, negotiators, and leaders, as well as being increasingly socially and emotionally intelligent individuals in the performance of their professional role.

Course Fees and Finance

• Location | Mode | Fee | Year
  • Home | Full-time | £9250 per year |
  • Home | Part-time | £4625 per year# |
  • International | Full-time | £14950 per year |

Entry Requirements

• Prepare for Foundation Pathway: We will consider applicants who have not achieved 48 UCAS points (equivalence) from prior level 3 qualifications, if you have a keen interest in this subject area or hold relevant experience.
• Contact the Gateway: University of Wolverhampton (wlv.ac.uk)