Program Overview

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Police Leadership, Strategy and Organisation MSc

Course Description

The MSc in Police Leadership, Strategy and Organisation aims to meet the professional development of current and future leaders as well as providing a provision for individuals with high potential and capacity to shape the future of the profession.

Meeting 21st century priorities

This exciting course offers a unique combination of the latest business and management thinking, criminology and social sciences - all applied to the complex challenges of contemporary policing. It has been launched at a time of calls for greater public accountability, the growing importance of community partnerships and, in some quarters, a crisis of confidence in the integrity of police services.

Powerful networks

You’ll benefit from the wisdom of some of the most influential figures in policing today. We pride ourselves on a superb network of contacts, from chief constables and crime commissioners, to the representatives from national policing organisations such as the College of Policing, the Chartered Management Institute and representatives of the private sector.

A truly global outlook

Our approach provides a unique bridge between policing in the UK and the rest of the world. While other police leadership courses focus primarily on the UK and USA, our MSc boasts a broader international perspective and you’ll find yourself sharing insights and experience with senior police officers from around the world.

Teaching Team

You can be confident in our quality of teaching as we have an experienced team of academics that have over 250 years combined experience in the criminal justice sector.

What you will study

The course is made up of three stages - Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc. There may be the option of a practical placement, subject to numbers and security clearance.

Postgraduate Certificate

You’ll study the below core modules:

Policing and Accountability

You’ll examine the complex political, legal, financial and operational challenges of working with local and national government and the community as stakeholders.

Police Leadership and Organisational Transformation

You’ll consider the changes needed for reorientation of policing organisations to meet 21st century priorities, including the move towards community partnerships and proactive problem-solving.

Applied Research in Criminal Justice Systems

This module will equip you with the practical techniques to engage in postgraduate academic research and in real-world studies which support organisational analysis and improvement.

Postgraduate Diploma

You’ll study the below core modules:

Partnerships and Policing

You’ll develop advanced skills in multi-agency and inter-agency working and explore the situation of policing within the network of social, private sector and public organisations.

What Works in Policing

You’ll handle and critique live research case studies conducted in the field, examining and exploring the emerging findings and results so that you can identify what works within the policing arena.

You can then choose one of the following optional modules:

Digital Intelligence

Providing insight towards how to develop digital intelligence as a standardised tool.

Criminal Investigation 1: Principles of Investigation

Focus on how investigation practitioners carry out investigations with reference to intelligence and security gathering.

Criminal Investigation 2: Victims and Witnesses

Cover key topics such as identifying vulnerable victims and witnesses, protection of vulnerable groups throughout the criminal justice process, pre-interview contact, assessing competence, multi-agency working, interviewing and pre-trial preparation.

Criminal Investigation 3: Suspects

This module provides a rigorous and critical approach to not only the process of criminal investigation but also the context in which this takes place, the theory underlying it, and the variety of factors which influence approaches to it.

Financial Investigation

Explore a comprehensive and systematic critique of financial investigation, and develop critical insights into the knowledge of how to engage in lawful financial investigation.

Digital Investigation

Apply routine activity theory and crime scripting technique to the constructive study of ‘cybercrime’.

Understanding Radicalisation

Discuss and debate the many facets of radicalisation and explore whether communities and agencies can be successfully engaged to work together to identify, assess, refer and support those considered vulnerable to radicalisation and the implications for methods of managing risk and preparation, including mitigation, response and recovery.

Personal Career Guidance and Coaching

Explore the theoretical knowledge associated and delivery of career interventions through a variety of methods including career coaching sessions.

Concepts of Global Terrorism

Explore in detail contemporary academic and professional thinking and practice in relation to contemporary terrorism and counter terrorism practices.

Financial Intelligence (part-time students only)

Offering critical insight on how to develop financial intelligence as a standardised tool.

MSc

Independent Studies in Policing

You’ll propose a realistic research issue within the context of policing, criminology or the criminal justice sector. You’ll then plan its execution, demonstrating a critical awareness of relevant literature and theories.

How you will learn

Teaching and learning

The course combines highly stimulating lectures, engaging seminar group discussions, practical sessions in our courtrooms and interviewing suite, and guided student-centred and independent learning activities.

Tackling real-world problems

This course is highly vocational and problem-focused, with each module centred on real and simulated police strategy and organisational challenges.

Action research

As evidence-based policy and practice is taking on greater significance within the profession, we also place great emphasis on action research.

Assessment

Assessment is through 100% coursework.

Careers

At a time when recruitment to senior roles in the police is changing, this MSc provides an excellent professional development route.

Ongoing careers support

Our Careers and Employment Service will provide you with help, guidance and support from day one of your course - and for up to three years after you’ve completed your studies.

Entry requirements

You'll normally need an appropriate undergraduate degree 2:2 or above.

Fees and funding

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

• UK full-time: £9,720 for the full course
• International full-time: £16,900 for the full course

Additional costs and optional extras

We're committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, excellent facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

• Included in your fees:
  • Membership fee to the CMI.
  • Enhanced police security vetting conducted by and for Derbyshire Police, where appropriate, for research requirements.
  • Appropriate fieldtrips suitable for the module.
  • Access to the online university library resources where most of the core texts are available as e-books.
• Optional costs not included in your fees:
  • The MSc programme in this context allows a form of supervised consultancy – driven by employer need and requirements.