Four Reasons to Study Policing

Policing is one of the most recognisable professions, but it's also an occupation that changes from country to country, town to town, and even street to street! Here are four reasons why you should consider studying Professional Policing.

Policing is a very rewarding career path to follow, both professionally and personally. But what it takes to become a member of the police force is changing, which is why the university-level study of policing is becoming more and more important for those looking to forge a career in the sector.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled four key reasons why you should consider studying Professional Policing at university if you have aspirations to join this fascinating line of work.

Door-opening degrees

A degree in Policing doesn’t limit your career options to becoming a police officer. There are plenty of other policing-related fields you can go into, including intelligence services, private security, fraud and cyber security, policy advisor, youth justice work, research and more.

It would also be an ideal degree to enter other law enforcement agencies and statutory bodies, including the National Crime Agency, Local Authorities, Trading Standards and community safety teams.

What makes BCU's Professional Policing course stand out is that it is accredited by the College of Policing.

Start making a difference right away

Why wait until you’re a police officer to start making a difference? Start right away with a policing degree!

With our BSc (Hons) Professional Policing degree you can train as a special constable while you're still studying, thanks to our collaboration with West Midlands Police. This means that you will receive 'on the job training' alongside your academic studies. The role presents a significant opportunity to protect our communities from harm and to understand policing from the inside, long before you graduate.

Skills for life

While policing degrees teach you a lot of bespoke skills the policing sector finds desirable, they also provide a wealth of other transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of other sectors.

You’ll learn leadership and team building skills, which are ideal no matter where your career path takes you after graduation. Management roles always need those with the personal tools to get people motivated and productive. The same can be said for the report writing and analytical skills you’ll learn during the course too.

Expert experiences

Policing is one subject that benefits greatly from the experiences of ex-professionals. Police officers, both active and retired, come with a wealth of knowledge that they want to pass on to the next generation.

Students on our Professional Policing degree will benefit from a teaching team comprised of both Criminology academics, who explore the theoretical and psychological underpinnings of policing, and former policing professionals. This will give you an excellent balance of both the theoretical and practical skills modern police officers need to excel in their careers.

This is complemented by field trips to give you further hands-on experience. Field trips are planned to courts, police public order training and prisons, to give you real insight you wouldn’t get on other degrees.