2024/25 entry
BA (Hons) Professional Policing
Why study Professional Policing at Liverpool John Moores University?
- The College of Policing, the professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) for policing, has licensed LJMU to offer the Degree in Professional Policing
- From 2020 there will be three entry routes into policing - this degree in Professional Policing is the requisite qualification for one of those routes
- The programme covers a wide-ranging areas of law, social science, policy and research skills essential to a policing career
- You will be taught in the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies by lecturers with academic and professional backgrounds in policing
About your course
Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing is a pioneering research centre for interdisciplinary law enforcement, and is licensed by the College of Policing to deliver degree programmes included in the Police Education Qualification Framework.
The degree aims to make you an attractive recruitment option for UK police constabularies. The degree in Professional Policing is the defined pre-join qualification for a police career. It gives graduates a solid foundation and a head start from which to embark upon their careers when they are subsequently appointed to a police force. The programme covers all academic and theoretical elements of the College of Policing initial curriculum. Therefore, once appointed to a police force graduates require only minimal practical training and orientation in their chosen police force.
You will have the opportunity to combine your studies with service as a Special Constable, which enables you to achieve many of the practical initial operational requirements. This can further minimise the time spent training once appointed to a police force.
This is an opportunity afforded to you as a Professional Policing student, and entry onto the programme is not dependent upon taking up this opportunity, nor does it affect your ability to successfully complete the programme.
Each student is allocated a personal tutor whose role is to offer general advice, guidance and support regarding the broader aspects of your studies and university life in general.
"The skills and knowledge that I now have is going to be very valuable when getting into a career after my degree, it's a fantastic course and will only get better and better."
Professional accreditation/links
The College of Policing, the professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) for policing, has licensed LJMU to run this degree as an entry level professional degree
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
On completion of this three-year degree programme, you will be eligible to apply within five years to police constabularies for appointment as police constables.
Achieving this degree is a requirement but does not guarantee appointment to a police force. Recruitment and appointment is subject to the relevant regulations and requirements of police recruitment and selection processes. This includes medical and fitness testing along with background and security checks. Recruitment and selection processes are rigorous and may vary between forces.
Candidates applying to join a police constabulary must also undertake a series of assessments including National Recruitment processes and Force vetting. Guidance on recruitment can be found on the College of Policing website.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
A life-changing experience
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Introduction to Policing
20 credits
Within this module, you will examine the history and development of the British policing model and the underpinning features and philosophy. You will examine the modern policing and wider law enforcement landscape, the organisations and bodies that comprise it, what each does and how they interact. You will also develop an understanding of the role and position of the police in contemporary society and the nature of the relationship with the community they serve.
Academic and Policing Studies Skills
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with the necessary knowledge needed to enable you to demonstrate a structured approach to studying, writing essays and referencing content. This module will emphasise the importance of communication within policing and determining, the key influences on the decision-making process, and the importance of team-working and leadership skills within a policing context.
Criminal Law, Practice and Procedure 1
20 credits
This module will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of legislation and police powers in relation to a range of typical policing incidents. It will enable you to apply such knowledge to a range of specified circumstances and incidents.
Crime, Vulnerability and Risk 1
20 credits
This module will define what is meant by vulnerability and familiarise you with the complex nature of vulnerability, whilst providing an understanding of how situational and environmental factors, combined with personal vulnerabilities, may result in a person becoming a victim and/or perpetrator. You will explore how the effective use of training, knowledge and skills can assist in supporting those who are vulnerable and why it is necessary to use a safeguarding approach to those who are vulnerable.
Professional Standards, Governance and Accountability
20 credits
The aim of the module is to understand the meaning of ethics and their relevance in policing. You will consider both the theory and application of ethics to consider what is meant by professional standards and how the apply to police officers and the police service. You will examine the role of each of the various bodies involved in the governance and accountability of police officers and the police service.
Evidence Based Policing and Policing Strategies 1
20 credits
The module will provide you with an appreciation of the concept of evidence-based policing. You will discuss a range of key concepts relating to criminology, exploring the relationship between community engagement, crime prevention, and the local policing strategies. You will also be able to identify the importance of information and intelligence to all areas of policing, differentiating between them.
Level 5
Core modules
Leadership and Professional Development
20 credits
This module will critically review the key principles and theories of leadership and apply these to the policing role. This will include identification of the appropriate leadership skills needed by police officers. You will assess leadership models in a variety of settings and consider leadership in comparable organisations (public and private), identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each model of leadership.
Academic and Policing Study Skills 2
20 credits
This module will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of research methodologies and approaches, demonstrating effective referencing, applied to a range of theories and practices and associated with communication. You will also gain knowledge and understanding of quantitative and qualitative research techniques and their appropriate use.
Criminal Justice Process
20 credits
The aim of this module is to learn about the components of the criminal justice system, how they operate and how the relate to each other. You will learn about the specific roles of the various agencies and institutions within the criminal justice system and you will explore the process of getting people to custody and the routine processes around detention.
Crime, Vulnerability and Risk 2
20 credits
The aim of this module is to understand the nature of the relationship between police and vulnerable people. You will examine theory relating to offending and offending patterns and the impact of differing approaches and intervention strategies. You will also gain knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues around vulnerability and criminal exploitation of certain groups.
Criminal Law, Practice and Procedure 2
20 credits
This module will provide you with the knowledge and understanding of legislation and police powers in relation to terrorism and counterterrorism measures. It will enable you to apply such knowledge to a range of specified circumstances and incidents.
Evidence Based Policing and Policing Strategies 2
20 credits
This module will discuss and identify the potential constraints associated with an evidence-based policing approach. You will identify the specialist roles and procedures that can assist in gathering information and intelligence and evaluate the benefits that a greater understanding of sociology and criminology can have.
Level 6
Core modules
Evidence Based Practice Research Project
20 credits
The module will ensure that you have the knowledge, understanding and skills to conduct research into more complex issues within the context of a policing related topic. It will provide the opportunity to develop an ethically sound research question and to develop appropriate research methods to justify your choice.
Conducting Investigations
20 credits
The aim of this module is to develop knowledge and understanding of the investigative process in a range of operational contexts. You will develop practical solutions to provide effective policing methods in this area whilst furthering your own competence within the pathway.
Information and Intelligence
20 credits
This module will develop knowledge and understanding of the theory, legislation, policy and practice relating to information and intelligence in policing.
Policing Communities
20 credits
The aim of the module is to develop a knowledge and an understanding of policing in a Community Policing context.
Response Policing
20 credits
This module will develop your knowledge and understanding relating to a Response Policing context and of the social issues and pressures relating to response policing demand.
Policing the Roads
20 credits
This module will develop your knowledge relating to Roads Policing and understanding to conduct investigations in a Roads Policing context.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
In addition to lectures, workshops, online activities and seminars there will be realistic simulated exercises and role- plays. The programme is delivered by academic staff and practitioner academics. These practitioner academics are academically qualified, former serving officers of all ranks and roles, from Constable to Chief Constable. All staff are experienced in a wide range of subject areas and specialisms. Throughout the programme there is a mentoring scheme that supports students in their academic, professional and personal development.
Work-related Learning
This degree incorporates specific and specialist work-related topics into every level of learning, as well as equipping you with a versatile range of transferable skills and knowledge in analysis and interpretation, presentation, teamwork, initiative and research.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
It is often useful to discuss course-related issues on a one-to-one basis and for this reason we will assign you a personal tutor for the duration of your studies at LJMU. Your tutor will also help you put together your personal development plan so that you can monitor progress and set your own targets. Module tutors also provide support in the form of online learning materials, course guides and one-to-one consultations if you need them, and there will be study skills sessions to help you prepare for assessments.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We understand that all students have different strengths and preferences when it comes to assessments, so we use a variety of methods to assess your work structured across the academic year. These include essays, exams, fieldwork projects, reports, case studies, portfolios, online blogs and wikis, workplace practice, posters, presentations (individual and group), debates, reviews and group work.
You will normally receive extensive written feedback on your assessments, and occasional verbal feedback. All feedback is designed to help you achieve your full potential and get the most out of your studies, so staff will be available to discuss it with you and direct you to further support if you feel you need it.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Dr Laura Pajon Moreno
Programme Leader
Dr Laura Pajon is a Senior Lecturer at the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies. Her research focuses on law enforcement and multi-agency responses to serious and organised criminality, in particular, human trafficking and modern slavery crimes. She publishes, teaches and advises widely on these topics. As a result of her research, Laura has worked closely with local, regional and national law enforcement agencies and organisations across the public, private and third sectors, advising and influencing the way police and other stakeholders organise the response to serious and organised criminality. In addition to her research, Laura has helped develop and coordinate anti-slavery partnerships. In 2021, Laura received the award of the Young Researcher of the Year from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Association of Universities (IAU) for her work and research on human trafficking.
Policing is a really exciting industry to be involved with and the undergraduate policing programmes at Liverpool John Moores University are an outstanding introduction to this field and provide you with the skills you need to be successful in pursuing your ambitions
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
Based within the John Foster Building, in the Mount Pleasant Campus, the School of Justice Studies is a leading provider of education in Policing Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice. We provide specific training for policing students wishing to enter the service as a graduate recruit. The John Foster Building has many outstanding facilities, including well-equipped IT Suites, a light-filled Student Common Room and dedicated study areas. At the back of the John Foster Building is the Aldham Robarts Library, which gives access to an exceptional range of materials to support your studies.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: BCC-BBB (104-120)
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Please note: Applicants who wish to progress into the police service as a police constable will require passes in Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.
A levels
BTECs
Extended Diploma: DMM
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
OCR Cambridge Technical
Extended Diploma: DMM
Irish awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
T levels
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/international-entry-requirements
Further information
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DBS, Occupational Health requirements
Can this course be deferred?
Yes
Is a DBS check required?
No
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
Applicants who do not meet the standard academic entry requirements may be considered for admission onto the programme. In such cases, and where applicants indicate other factors which could be taken into consideration, the university will consider these factors in making a determination and support the applicant where possible.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.