2025/26 entry Applications also open for 2024/25
BA (Hons) Policing and Investigations
Why study Policing and Investigations at Liverpool John Moores University?
- A new degree programme designed to focus students on the field of investigation, which may be attractive to students who want to progress into an investigative field
- Innovative and thought-provoking modules both reflect and challenge current policing practices and debates
- You will be taught in the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies by lecturers with academic and professional backgrounds in policing
- Regular career workshops and symposiums delivered by police officers and police career specialists to prepare you for a career in policing, security, risk management or criminal justice
- Opportunities to gain real-life experience of policing as a Special Police Constable, police volunteer or work in a related field
About your course
The new BA (Hons) Policing and Investigation at Liverpool John Moores University provides students with the knowledge and skills to consider direct entry into the role of a detective.
"The Chief Officers of the force have been pleased with the programme at LJMU and view it as being a significant development with regards to assisting professionalisation and the development of the workforce."
Professional accreditation/links
All of our qualifications conform to the professional and regulatory guidelines established by The College of Policing and have been developed to reflect changes in the way that police constabularies are recruiting new constables nationally.
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
Direct entry in to policing detective roles is now common place through the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) route and many students do not see themselves in a uniform role.
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.
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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.
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
Exploring Policing and Investigation Studies - Skills for Success
20 credits
In this module you will develop your academic skills including referencing and writing. You will research the court system in England and Wales and develop team work in a shared research project.
Introduction to Policing and Investigation
20 credits
This module aims to help you understand key theories and concepts relevant to policing and the wider criminal justice system by examining the chronological development of policing and other institutions within the system, landmark events and their inter-relationship and relevance.
Practice, Procedure and the Criminal Law 1
20 credits
This module aims to introduce you to the role, responsibilities and powers of the police in differing societal and operational environments. The module provides you with a critical introduction to the foundations of criminal law and the criminal justice system. You will identify the key ingredients of a criminal offence, the varying liability of third parties, and common defences prescribed by criminal law, highlighting the importance of police integrity and the role played by police officers in the successful application of criminal law sanctions.
Technology and Policing and Investigation
20 credits
This module will introduce you to the legal, professional and ethical issues relating to the use of a broad range of technologies in the policing and law enforcement context. You will explore the issues around social media and its use in the personal and professional context and the criminal use of technologies and the challenges this presents.
Introduction to Criminology for Policing
20 credits
This module will introduce you to a core of key concepts to encourage you to reflect upon the contribution of criminological theory and to understand contemporary crime issues and policing responses to them.
Professional Standards, Governance and Accountability
20 credits
This module will help you understand the meaning of ethics and their relevance in policing. Students will consider both the theory and application of ethics, and what is meant by professional standards and how the apply to police officers and the police service.
Level 5
Core modules
Policing Communities
20 credits
This module aims to develop your understanding of the concept of equality and diversity. It provides you with an opportunity to critically explore factors which have come to inform policing environments and practices, and to reflexively acknowledge how personal behaviours can support the promotion of the principles of equality and diversity within the workplace and the wider community.
Practice, Procedure and the Criminal Law 2
20 credits
The module aims to introduce you to aspects of the criminal law and police powers. At the end of the module, you will be able to identify and critically appraise the extent of these laws and powers, alongside exploring relevant legislation, policy and practice guidance.
Conducting Investigations
20 credits
The module aims to develop your understanding of the legislative and policy framework which sets out the parameters for the investigation of criminal offences and provide the opportunity for you to demonstrate and explain investigative procedures through the use of case studies and crime scene practical's. It will also provide an opportunity to critically explore the range of regulatory processes and professional values which inform practice, theories of team work, communication, issues of professional status and power and working across organisational boundaries.
Policy, Practice and the Evidence Base
20 credits
This module will develop your understanding of the literature relevant to the concept of evidence based practice as it relates to Policing. You will also explore the epistemological, methodological and ethical underpinnings of the study.
Psychology of Investigation
20 credits
This module aims to help students understand how an understanding of Psychology can support them when conducting interviews in relation to Qualitative methodology.
Community Engagement Project
20 credits
This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of the legislative and policy framework which sets out the parameters for Policing in England and Wales, alongside the relationship between the statutory and voluntary sector. You will be provided with the opportunity to explore the application of these frameworks through practical learning and application in communities.
Optional Modules
Study Year Abroad - Policing Studies
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.
Study Semester Abroad - Policing Studies
60 credits
The aim is to provide students with a semester of study at an approved overseas partner that will replace one semester of their LJMU programme at level 5.This is a semester of full-time study at an approved higher education institution which will replace one semester of level 5 study at LJMU. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be an appropriate substitute for the modules being replaced. Assuming successful completion of this semester, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the semester abroad.
Level 6
Core modules
Applying Forensics to Investigations
20 credits
This module aims to help students consider and apply how forensic science and analysis can support them when conducting an investigation, to include basic forensic concepts; recognition and recovery of evidence; crime scene integrity; the interplay between various components of the investigative process with forensics; and cold case analysis
Research Project
40 credits
The module aims to enable you to develop a detailed knowledge of your identified field and through this knowledge build a critical understanding of relevant policy and procedural guidance as it is applied in practice.
Approaches to protecting vulnerable people and the management of offenders
20 credits
The module aims to develop your understanding of the legislative and policy framework which sets out the parameters of multi-agency working arrangements across the sector. There will be an opportunity for you to work across disciplinary boundaries and gain experience through work related learning using 'real life' case studies.
Optional Modules
Investigating Serious and Complex Cases
20 credits
The module aims to develop your understanding of the legislative and policy framework which sets out the parameters for the investigation of criminal offences. You will be provided with the opportunity to demonstrate and explain investigative procedures through the use of case studies and crime scene practicals.
Comparative Studies in Policing
20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide you with the opportunity to conduct a focused piece of independent work in an international context on an area related to the Policing programme, and to encourage you to monitor and reflect critically on your own learning.
Terrorism and Counter Terrorism
20 credits
In this module you will examine the key concepts in relation to terrorism and explore a number of key issues including definitions of terrorism, ideologies, typology, group structures, tactics, methods of operation, target selection, state response, use of technologies, funding and media impact. You will also explore the concept of, and delivery of, counter terrorism initiatives with a focus on the measures being adopted within the United Kingdom, drawing on comparative counter-terrorism strategies from the US and Canada.
Application of Intelligence to Policing
20 credits
This programme will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the role, uses and application of intelligence within contemporary policing and partner agencies. You will also develop an understanding of how intelligence can be ethically collected, collated, evaluated, managed and analysed. This will also include the impact of the National Intelligence Model within policing and the wider criminal justice arena.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
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.
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.
Furthermore, Policing students have exclusive access to the new Crime Scene Investigation Suite, which has a carefully curated series of crime scene rooms for students to test out their knowledge in evidence collection, crime scene preservation and crime detection.
At the back of the John Foster Building is the Aldham Robarts Library, which gives 24 hour 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
Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy.
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
BCC-BBB
Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20
BTECs
Extended Diploma: DMM
Access awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
Pass overall with a minimum of 104 points
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications. Must include a relevant subject at Higher Level
OCR Cambridge Technical
Extended Diploma: DMM
Irish awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject
T levels
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
Alternative qualifications considered
Successful completion of the Foundation Degree Arts in Policing Studies. RPL/RPEL will be offered in accordance with the LJMU Academic Framework
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
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Other international requirements
Offers will be based on individual qualifications and experience.
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
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.