Policing and Investigation (Distance Learning), BSc (Hons), University of Portsmouth

the United Kingdom

Study options for this course

The award	How you will study	Study duration	Course start	Domestic course fees	International course fees
BSc (Hons)	Part-time, Distance	4 years	September	GBP 0 per year	GBP 0 per year

About Policing and Investigation (Distance Learning), BSc (Hons) - at University of Portsmouth

Overview

Explore and analyse areas critical to policing and investigation – such as criminal justice, intelligence, major crime and public protection – that you can use to:

develop or enhance your general academic interest in policing and criminal investigation
qualify for the degree-holder entry programme to the police service in England or Wales (if you're thinking of joining the police as an officer)
level up from your current role to a senior or specialised role (if you're already working in a police force in any capacity)

This BSc (Hons) Policing and Investigation degree course is a part-time, distance learning course, which you can study around your other commitments, anywhere that suits you.

It's open to anyone with an interest in how policing works and the theory of investigation. If you're planning a career in policing, criminal justice or related areas (such as investigation, police oversight bodies, or financial investigation in banking), you'll develop the practical skills you'll need in your future career.

If you’re already a serving police officer, this relevant and flexible degree will enable you to enhance your contribution to your organisation, increasing your potential to level up in a new role and achieve a higher salary.

Course highlights

Transform a passion for the criminal justice system into a rewarding career, with optional modules to suit your ambitions such as cybercrime, forensic psychology, contemporary terrorism and rehabilitation
Have the freedom to choose a final year project topic that suits your career goals – previous students have focused on areas including human trafficking, domestic abuse, terrorism, county lines drug trafficking and the retention of special constables
Be taught by leading academics from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, whose research areas include forensic interviewing and science, economic crime and cybercrime
Have the chance to use on-the-job experience as proof of relevant prior learning to complete the course quicker

Benefits of distance learning

Work from anywhere, at your own pace, in your own time – with interactive online learning materials hosted on our virtual learning environment, Moodle, and available 24/7 on any device – find out how distance learning works
Access to over 600,000 ebooks, 55,000 online journals, digital newspapers and a postal loan service from our University Library – see all library support for distance learners
Invitations to online forums where you can discuss your studies with other students and your lecturers
Access to all student support services via email, phone, online chat or video call

Careers and opportunities

Society relies on the police force, and those that study effective policing, to keep communities safe.

This means there will always be a demand for the skills you develop on this course – whether you're just starting out, upskilling in your current role or planning to put your skills and knowledge to use through consultancy, investigation or research.

Careers in the police

If you want a career in the police in England or Wales, this degree qualifies you for one of the College of Policing’s entry routes to the police service.

If you're planning to stay with your current force after graduating, you could use this degree course to secure a more senior or specialised role.

But you could also apply the skills and knowledge you develop on this course to any number of roles across multiple industries. As well as equipping you to become a confident police officer, this course opens up a range of other opportunities.

What areas can you work in with a policing and investigation degree outside the police force?

You could join the public sector, working for organisations including:

the Probation Service
the National Crime Agency
Department for Work and Pensions – investigating fraud
HMRC– investigating smuggling

You could join the private sector, working for organisations including:

banks and financial institutions – investigating fraud
insurance companies – investigating false claims
legal firms – assisting in legal cases
loss prevention and private security companies
private investigation firms

What jobs can you do with a policing and investigation degree?

You could take on various roles, both within and outside the police force, including:

crime scene investigator
police staff investigator within the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
intelligence analyst and researcher
private investigator
security analyst

Ongoing career support – up to 5 years after you graduate

Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience.

Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.

Notes about fees for this course

https://www.port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance

Entry requirements

There are no specific qualification requirements, we will assess your application on its own merits. Applicants without relevant Level 3 qualifications will be required to produce a short written artefact to better assist the course leader as to the suitability of the applicant.

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

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Policing and Investigation (Distance Learning), BSc (Hons), University of Portsmouth

Study options for this course

About Policing and Investigation (Distance Learning), BSc (Hons) - at University of Portsmouth

Notes about fees for this course

Entry requirements

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