Policing and Investigation BSc(Hons)

It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

3 years full-time

Entry requirements

A Level - BBC-BCC

BTEC - DMM-MMM

See full entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

Chat with our students

About the course

Reasons to study

You can gain real-world experience through a work placement in your second year.
You’ll be taught by academics who have worked in senior positions in the police; they will share the knowledge they gained from working on some of the most complex criminal investigations.
You’ll hear first-hand experiences from guest speakers who work in positions including police officer, crime analyst, crime scene investigator, and fraud investigator.

The growth in policing and investigation as an area of criminal justice work is now broader than just the police service. Our Policing and Investigation BSc(Hons) course, therefore, offers you the opportunity to critically explore and assess the nature and use of policing and investigatory work in a variety of social contexts.

You’ll be supported to gain the knowledge and skills you’ll need to prepare for a future career working in organisations who engage with and in policing activities, including but not limited to local, national and international policing organisations, local councils, and private and voluntary sector organisations*.

This course is not accredited through the College of Policing and is not a ‘pre-join degree’ programme allowing direct entry into the police. It does prepare you well for one of the level 6 ‘top-up’ direct entry degrees that can be undertaken if you have already been awarded a degree and meet police entry requirements. If you're interested in one of the entry routes into policing, please visit the College of Policing website.

*Please note, some of these careers will require further education or training.

Why study Policing and Investigation BSc(Hons)

On this course, you’ll gain real-world experience through a work placement in your second year. You may also have the opportunity to study abroad.

You’ll be taught by academics who have worked in senior positions in the police, who will share the knowledge they gained from working on some of the most complex criminal investigations. Our tutors also have a wide range of research specialisms and knowledge of the issues involved in policing and investigation today, so they’ll give you an insight into key contemporary debates and concerns. You’ll have the chance, also, to hear first-hand experiences and viewpoints from guest speakers who work in positions including police officer, crime analyst crime scene investigator and fraud investigator.

This course provides the opportunity for you to: * Critically study the range of formal and informal responses to the prevention, detection, and investigation of criminal and anti-social behaviours. * Explore the different ways of understanding the work of the police and other policing and investigative agencies nationally, cross-nationally and internationally, as well as comparatively with other models of policing. * Consider the nature and function of policing, crime prevention and investigative work within the context of social control and order, and the relationship of such work to the state and to the public.

You’ll explore theories of criminal behaviour, strategies, and theories of policing, preventing, and investigating crime, accountability, and legitimacy, as well as evidence-based research and crime data analysis that can inform policing and the conduct of investigations.

You’ll have the opportunity to focus on security and terrorism, serious crime, international and borderless crime, and methods of research crime and policing issues. Key to the learning strategy is active and engaging debate around policing and investigation work, the historical and social context within which that work takes place, and its effectiveness in responding to contemporary crime challenges.

Not quite ready to start Policing and Investigation BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Social Science Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree will equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Policing and Investigation.

Course detail

Year 1

Exploring the Social Sciences

This module guides you through the process of exploring social science subjects at university and provides the opportunity for you to develop your ability to be a successful student. You’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your academic study skills, as well as your knowledge of research approaches and methods, using subject-specific topics and case studies. You’ll explore ways to assess your learning needs, set learning goals, develop learning action plans and produce effective academic assignments. You’ll also be introduced to the philosophies, methods and ethics of social research processes.

Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice

This module explores the nature of crime and deviancy, the main perspectives in explaining criminal behaviour, and the structures of the criminal justice system. You’ll start by examining the definitions of crime, followed by an exploration of the criminal legal system including the key criminal offences and defences. You’ll then be introduced to the key agencies within the criminal justice system, which include the Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Courts, and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. The second half of this module introduces the key theoretical explanations for criminality, ranging from psychological explanations to sociological explanations.

Introduction to Policing and Investigation

This module introduces you to key frameworks and issues relating to the policing of England and Wales. This includes legal and professional frameworks governing the scope and practice of policing, such as police powers, laws on evidence, legislation on criminal justice and public order and, the governance of policing. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the relationship of the police to the wider criminal justice system, their work with other agencies, private policing and other organisations involved in policing functions.

Myths and Realities of Crime

You'll explore both the myths and realities of crime. The realities of crime are examined by considering how we measure the amount and types of crime being committed in England and Wales, who by, against whom and where. The myths of crime are studied through media (mis)representations of crime, offending and victimisation, considering the factors that shape crime reporting. The effects of these representations on the public will be considered by exploring research undertaken linking media reporting of crime to fear of crime, violent behaviour or aggression.

Year 2

Approaches to Policing

You’ll study the history of police and policing in England and Wales and critically consider different styles and approaches to policing, with particular reference to globalisation and police legitimacy. You’ll further explore these issues by discussing approaches in other countries, cross-border and international policing.

Doing Research in Crime, Policing and Justice

You’ll build on your foundation year of study in research methods to explore in greater depth how to design, conduct and analyse different forms of criminological research in preparation for your independent final year research project. You’ll be provided with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of doing and analysing criminological research alongside theoretical study of research methodologies and design.

Evidence-based Policing and Crime Analysis

In this module you’ll consider the ways in which good policing practice and investigation is informed by research. You’ll explore the concepts of evidence-based policing and crime science before applying these to, firstly, key approaches in policing and investigation, such as securing eye witness testimony and interviewing techniques, officer deployment and offender targeting, crime reduction and self-selection policing. You’ll then learn about and have the opportunity to apply key techniques of crime analysis, such as offence series identification, offender network charts and crime mapping.

Exploring Work and Careers

You’ll have the opportunity to plan and complete a practical work based experience related to your course. This will give you the chance to apply your theoretical subject knowledge to a professional setting, helping to develop your employability skills in preparation for your future career.

Reducing Crime

This module explores the strategies of crime reduction and prevention. You’ll explore a range of different reduction responses and investigate the evidence regarding their effectiveness in different situations. You’ll also consider explanations for the different ways that society responds to crime, setting these in a social, political and theoretical context.

Option modules. Choose one from a list which may include:

Organised and International Crime

You’ll explore two aspects of organised crime. Firstly, you'll study white-collar, financial crimes and the damaging impact that they can have on the economy of a country. Secondly you’ll examine how organised crime can drive people trafficking and trading of drugs and illegal arms, which enables ‘rogue’ states to wage war on their own people. Finally you‘ll explore how both kinds of crime relate to your own life.

Violent Crime

You'll explore the nature, variety and extent of violent crime and its prevention (for example terrorism, homicide, work-placed bullying, and stalking). You'll demonstrate your knowledge of theoretical explanations for violent crime and violence prevention methods.

Year 3

Contemporary and Comparative Criminology

You'll be encouraged to critically consider contemporary and newly emerging issues and debates within criminology. You'll be introduced to the field of comparative criminology by exploring key criminological problems in England and Wales within the context of historical and international comparisons of crime patterns and trends, criminal justice policy, practice and theoretical developments. Example topics include prostitution, the illegal trade in endangered species, management of sex offenders, cyber crime and people trafficking.

Contemporary Policing Challenges

This module offers you the opportunity to explore key contemporary challenges to the nature and practice of policing and security. You’ll be enabled to consider the impact of social change on policing in a variety of ways including, for example: policing of new and emerging crimes; the impact of technological developments on the commission and investigation of crime; policing within the context of globalisation, marketisation, managerialism, risk and multi-culturalism; and threats to national and public security.

Final Year Project for the Social Sciences

You'll research a topic of your choice in depth, giving you the opportunity to develop your own research interests. Drawing on the area you have chosen to study, you'll engage with issues of project design and research methods. You'll discuss your project proposal in a presentation and produce a dissertation about your research topic. Throughout you will be supported by one-to-one supervision.

Serious Crime Investigation

You’ll explore modern police investigation practice in relation to serious crime, including the contribution of forensic science, offender profiling, surveillance data and new technologies. You’ll consider how current research into serious crime, such as homicide, terrorism and sexual offences, informs practice and police decision making, as well as how investigations and major enquiry management have become increasingly professionalised.

Option modules. Choose one from a list which may include:

Offenders and Mental Disorder

In this module you'll be supported to develop your knowledge of the relationship between mental illness and criminal activity. You'll explore a range of mental illnesses and disorders as a cause of offending and have the opportunity to consider the links between theory and practice.

Race; Ethnicity and Difference

In this module you’ll consider contemporary British society in relation to issues of race, ethnicity and difference. You’ll explore the extent to which race and ethnicity continue to shape contemporary society, in relation to education, health, employment, government policies and popular culture such as films and music.

Teaching and assessment

On average 17.7% of study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, tutorials. You'll be taught through seminars and tutorials, group work, practical experience and lectures. Student-centred learning is used where appropriate and its role generally increases throughout the course. Modules are designed to embed transferable skills and allow you to progressively increase your knowledge and confidence.

Assessment will include coursework, presentations, research, work-based learning and examinations. The nature of the assessment varies from module to module, and mirrors the modes of communication expected of graduates in this field, for example, report writing, presentations and essays. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks. Feedback on exam performance is available on request after the publication of results.

Further information

The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Timetables are normally available one month before registration. As this is a full-time course, you may have to attend every day of the week.

Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. Each year you study modules to the value of 120 credits, adding up to 360 credits in total for a bachelor’s qualification. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

If you achieve 120 credits for the current stage you are at, you may progress to the next stage of your course, subject to any professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

Teaching excellence

The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.
Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).
We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Global Professional Award

At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

Entry requirements

BBC-BCCat A Level .

112-104 UCAS tariff points from a combination of Level 3 qualifications.

Merit at T Level

DMM-MMM in BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma.

Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 level 3 credits at Merit or above.
112-104 UCAS tariff points from International Baccalaureate qualifications including a Higher Level at grade 6

If you do not have the appropriate qualifications for direct entry to this degree you may be able to apply to our Social Science Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree.

If you have alternative qualifications you may wish to contact us for advice before applying.

You may be eligible to gain accreditation for your prior learning towards this course.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages. If you have alternative qualifications or do not meet the IELTS requirement we also offer a range of Pre-Sessional English Programmes.

We are keen to support a wide and diverse range of applicants on to our courses. Other suitable experience or qualifications will be considered. For further information please see the University's minimum entry requirements.

Student story

Watch Chloe's film to see what influenced her to choose Criminology BSc(Hons) at the University of Huddersfield.

Chloe describes how she wanted to be a police officer when she was younger and had an interest in understanding what drove people to commit crimes. She enjoys listening to her tutors' real-life experiences of working in Probation and Policing. Her course has enabled her to debate and express her own opinions, inspiring her new ambition to study a Masters' in Human Rights.

Criminology at Huddersfield

Subject Leader Carla Reeves tells the story of how her interest in crime fiction lead her to a career in Criminology research and teaching at the University of Huddersfield.

Placements

This course includes compulsory work experience in the second year. You'll be expected to undertake at least 30 hours of work experience relevant to your course during that year. The module is designed to enhance your academic and personal development through work experience that shapes your key skills and increases your confidence for future employability.

Your work and careers module tutor, as well as your personal academic tutor will be on hand to support you in finding suitable work opportunities. They will assist you with preparing your CV and with interview techniques. They'll also be in contact with you during your work experience so that you'll be fully supported while you gain the skills that employers value so highly.

Previous work experiences within the criminology and policing subject area have included working with the police, in roles such as being a special constable, translator and appropriate adult. As well as departments and organisations such as the police visitor scheme, youth offending teams, prisons, restorative justice organisations, CCTV units, Local Authority anti-social behaviour units and courts as well as in voluntary agencies that provide support to adult and juvenile offenders and victims in the community.

For more information visit our placements page.

My work experience as a trained facilitator in Restorative Justice, which is a victim-led approach where they are given the opportunity to talk to the offender about the crime that has happened in a safe setting, enabled me to draw upon my learning from my course and apply it to real-life settings.

Laura Coupland, graduated Criminology BSc(Hons) in 2020, now working as a Contact Officer for West Yorkshire Police and completing a Master's degree

Facilities

Mock Court Room in the Business School

University campus.

Library.

Inside the University's extensive library.

Student Central Building.

Your career

Previous Huddersfield Criminology graduates have gone on to work in wide range of areas, including organisations such as West Yorkshire Police, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, UK Home Office and Lotus Sanctuary CIC or gone on to undertake further study.**

*Percentage of graduates from the course who were in work and/or further study within fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020/21, including both UK and non-UK domiciled, other activities excluded).

**LinkedIn.

100% Graduates employed*

Career support

We know you’re coming to university to study on your chosen subject, meet new people and broaden your horizons. However, we also help you to focus on life after you have graduated to ensure that your hard work pays off and you achieve your ambition.

So while you’re here (and even after you graduate) the Careers and Employability Service offer professional help, support and guidance, including industry-supported workshops, careers fairs and one-to-one guidance sessions. Find out more about the Service.

Further study

Progression to a postgraduate course is dependent on successful completion of your undergraduate studies, there may also be minimum qualification requirements such as a first class or higher second (2.1) degree. Please check the course details to confirm this.

We've got a huge range of postgraduate courses.

Inspiring Graduate

An undergraduate degree from the University of Huddersfield could be the start of an exciting career in your chosen field. Our graduates go on to succeed in a whole range of exciting careers. Here’s just one example.

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you’ll also become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

My time in university has helped me be the aspiring person I am today. The university ensures it supplies their students the essential skills needed to gain a successful career, enabling me to obtain suitable employment in an industry directly linked to my course.

The facilities on campus are also very modern and easy to use. The quality of the lectures and the teaching within the University are second to none, even throughout the pandemic the lecturers continued to provide excellent quality of teaching virtually.

Once a graduate from the University of Huddersfield, the university as well as its staff will always be there to provide guidance and support if needed.

Hasan Ali Sajjad, graduated Criminology with Law BSc(Hons) in 2022, now at HM Prison & Probation Service (Civil Service)

Career support

We've got a huge range of postgraduate courses.

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you’ll also become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

My time in university has helped me be the aspiring person I am today. The university ensures it supplies their students the essential skills needed to gain a successful career, enabling me to obtain suitable employment in an industry directly linked to my course.

The facilities on campus are also very modern and easy to use. The quality of the lectures and the teaching within the University are second to none, even throughout the pandemic the lecturers continued to provide excellent quality of teaching virtually.

Once a graduate from the University of Huddersfield, the university as well as its staff will always be there to provide guidance and support if needed.

Hasan Ali Sajjad, graduated Criminology with Law BSc(Hons) in 2022, now at HM Prison & Probation Service (Civil Service)

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

A wide range of resources are also offered within the School of Human and Health Sciences, which provides you with support in a variety of areas. These include:

Student Hub: a one stop shop for students, studying within the School. Their services include offering advice on extenuating circumstances, extension requests, course progression, suspension and welfare support, organising appointments with academic staff and signposting to other support networks.

Academic Skills Development Team: support students to develop their academic skills and build their confidence in order to improve their grades. The team provide support with academic skills including essay writing, being critical, reflective writing, numeracy, research skills, presentations and group work skills; as well as personal development for example time management.

Learning Technology Support Unit: helps students with any problems they experience with the University’s Brightspace Learning System, including logging on or difficulties experienced when accessing and using modules, and with the PebblePad platform, which is used by students when they go out on placements.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

The full-time undergraduate tuition fee for 2024/25 entry will be £9250.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and finance.

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

The full-time undergraduate tuition fee for 2024/25 entry will be £9250.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

On this course you’ll explore a range of topics including social inequalities, criminal justice, diversity, and criminality which will help to enhance your employability opportunities.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Undergraduate

View more courses

Start date

Duration

Entry requirements

Places available (subject to change)

About the course

Reasons to study

Why study Policing and Investigation BSc(Hons)

Course detail

Exploring the Social Sciences

Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice

Introduction to Policing and Investigation

Myths and Realities of Crime

Approaches to Policing

Doing Research in Crime, Policing and Justice

Evidence-based Policing and Crime Analysis

Exploring Work and Careers

Reducing Crime

Organised and International Crime

Violent Crime

Contemporary and Comparative Criminology

Contemporary Policing Challenges

Final Year Project for the Social Sciences

Serious Crime Investigation

Offenders and Mental Disorder

Race; Ethnicity and Difference

Entry requirements

Student story

Criminology at Huddersfield

Placements

Facilities

Your career

Career support

Student support

Fees and Finance

Fees and Finance

Important information

Changes to a course you have applied for

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules

Major changes

Termination of course

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