Earn as you learn and combine on-the-job learning and academic theory to train as a police constable with a degree in Professional Policing Practice

About the apprenticeship

Course length: 3 years, part-time

Start date: September

Course level: Level 6

University award: BA (Honours) in Professional Policing Practice

How much it costs: funded through the employer

Course summary

• Understand the legal and professional responsibilities of policing.
• Learn to engage in lawful, safe and effective front-line policing in specific professional areas.
• Study ethical approaches and how to maintain the highest professional standards.
• Develop knowledge of criminological theory and practice.

During this apprenticeship you’ll prepare for the fast-moving world of policing. Working as part of a police force, you'll gain experience in everything from community policing to road policing to criminal justice, developing the skills required to be a police officer.

This course meets the Police Constable apprenticeship standard.

How you learn

You will be working as a police officer whilst studying and will complete on the job learning. You’ll learn through a broad range of methods including attending university, online learning and workshops.

You will learn through: 

• work based learning 
• coursework
• teaching input from policing experts
• peer support
• self-reflection
• student presentations

You will progress through the course following successful achievement of assessments, which address the learning outcomes for each module and allow you to complete the course.

You will also complete an end-point assessment towards the end of the apprenticeship.

Campus facilities

You will study at our City Campus as well as at South Yorkshire Police’s training premises at Robert Dyson House in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Entry requirements

Throughout the course, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours at university. They can be existing employees looking to develop their careers, or new applicants to the business.

Applicants must:

• be over 18
• not be in full time education
• have the right to abode in the UK
• meet the course entry requirements

Police officer employment

You must be employed by South Yorkshire Police as a police officer to apply for this apprenticeship. 

To apply to join the force, visit South Yorkshire Police.

GCSE (or equivalent)

Maths and English at level 2 or above (grade 4, or previously C)

If you don't have this yet, you'll need to achieve this level before you take your end-point assessment.

Additional qualifications

Plus one of the following:

• 96 UCAS points from A Levels, Level 3 Diplomas or NVQs
• Level 3 qualification gained from outside England and Wales and is certified from the from the UK National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) to be equivalent to 96 UCAS points

We may consider you If you have served in the military, buy you must demonstrate that you have acquired academic ability. We will ask you to complete an assessment exercise and submit this alongside your application.

Applicants with alternative qualifications or a combination of qualifications and work experience are also considered.

Modules

The programme adopts a blended learning approach with modules delivered through a combination of lectures, class-based seminars, practical work and site visits.

Year one 

• Academic and professional skills
• Introduction to core policing practice
• Evidence based policing
• Introduction to criminology and criminal justice
• Managing risk
• Counter terrorism and digital policing

Year two 

• Enhancing academic and professional skills
• Developing core policing practice
• Applying evidence based policing
• Risk, society and its implications policing in the 21st century
• Experiencing criminology and criminal justice

Year three 

• Academic and professional skills development
• Advanced policing practice
• Contemporary policing landscapes
• Evidence based policing research project
• Professional review and future planning

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change.

Next steps

If you are an applicant

To apply for this apprenticeship, you must be employed by South Yorkshire Police as a police officer.

To apply to join the force, visit South Yorkshire Police. You will then apply for the course through them.