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Criminal Investigation with Policing Studies BA (Hons)

Explore the criminal justice system, its legislative context, and the leadership and management of contemporary issues in policing and develop the knowledge to become a professional practitioner in the public or private policing sector.

Overview

Our Criminal Investigation and Policing Studies course can teach you the skills to become a professional practitioner in the public or private policing sector. 

This programme is the ideal choice if you’re interested in studying policing or criminal investigation but do not necessarily wish to pursue a career in the police service. This provides opportunities for you to pursue a career as an investigator or intelligence officer in other law enforcement agencies.

Taught by policing and criminology academics with substantial experience of criminal justice practice, in the first year you will get an introduction to criminology and the profession of policing, as well as learn how to research in the crime and justice sector and gain an understanding of the criminal justice system. In years two and three, you will study topics covering the leadership and management of contemporary issues in policing, research for effective practice and multi-agency working, as well as complete a dissertation on a subject of your own choice. Both years will have a bespoke progressive investigation taught module, which is designed to develop your critical understanding of operational and critical incident investigations within public and private law enforcement agencies and within the Criminal Justice System. 

Key features

  • This programme is taught by experienced practice-based policing and criminology academics and researchers, who will help broaden your understanding of the sector while keeping you up to date with contemporary issues and debates.
  • You will study a range of modules including Introduction to Criminology, The Profession of Policing, Leadership and Management of Contemporary Issues in Policing, and Multi-Agency Working.
  • Take advantage of placement opportunities with a local investigatory agency offered through our DMU Works careers programme, which will help enhance your employability through offering real-world experience alongside your studies.
  • Previous graduates have landed roles at local authority Trading Standards, the Leicestershire Police investigations teams and the Independent Police Complaints Authority.
  • Gain international experience and apply your knowledge to a global context through our DMU Global programme. Previously, our Criminal investigation and Policing students have had the opportunity to visit destinations such as New York, where they were taught about the differences and similarities between the policing system in the US and the UK.

Scholarships

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.

 

 

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: 5LN3

Duration: Three years full-time

Start date: September 2022

Location: De Montfort University, Leicester UK. You may also have to attend Inter-Professional Education (IPE) sessions and community experiences that are not necessarily based at the university. 

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: 5LN3

Duration: Three years full-time 

Start date: September 2022

Location: De Montfort University, Leicester UK. You may also have to attend Inter-Professional Education (IPE) sessions and community experiences that are not necessarily based at the university.

Fees and funding:

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £16,250

Find out more about available funding for international students.

 

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

GCSEs

  • Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above including English Language or English Literature*

Plus one of the following:

A levels

  • A minimum of 112 points for the BA (Hons) from at least two A levels

BTEC

  • BTEC National Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit
  • BTEC Extended Diploma - Distinction/Merit/Merit

Access to HE Diploma 

  • Pass in QAA accredited Access to HE overall 112 UCAS tariff with at least 30 Level 3 credits at Merit. 

International Baccalaureate: 24+ points

English language requirements:

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning (CELL), is available both before and during the course.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information.

* We may still consider applicants that do not meet the GCSE requirements providing they can demonstrate ability or attainment in these subjects in an alternative way; usually through work experience, alternative qualifications or by a University admissions test or interview. All such applicants will be considered on a case by case basis.

Interview required: No

Work experience required: No

Applications from mature students for this programme are welcome and candidates with relevant work experience and other qualifications, which do not necessarily amount to the minimum entry requirements for the programme will be considered on a case by case basis. Requirements for these students would include an interview and the consideration of the candidate’s CVs by the programme leader. Alongside this, the student would also be required to submit a piece of work to indicate the their abilities to write and engage at an appropriate level. A diagnostic test would be given with regards to Level 2 Functional Skills.

 

UCAS Tariff changes

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

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Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

Teaching contact hours

 

 

First Year

  • Researching Crime and Justice
  • The Criminal Justice System and its Legislative Context 
  • Introduction to Criminology
  • The Profession of Policing

Second Year

  • Leadership and Management of Contemporary Issues in Policing (I)
  • Researching for Effective Practice
  • Elective Modules 
  • Investigative Management - Investigative Management and Leadership (I)

 

Third Year

  • Dissertation
  • Multi-Agency Working
  • Leadership and Management of Contemporary Issues in Policing (II) 
  • Investigative Management – Investigative Management and Leadership (II)

 

Click here for more detailed module information 

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

A variety of teaching methods, include:

  • Lectures
  • Case studies
  • Seminars
  • Desk-top exercises
  • Workshops
  • E-learning
  • Specialist guest lectures from practitioners
  • Visits to practitioners in action

Assessment methods include:

  • Essays
  • Examinations
  • Phase Tests
  • Presentations
  • Posters
  • Case-study critiques
  • Desk-top, simulated exercises
  • Policy books
  • Research Proposal
  • Dissertation

All of which will be developed as you progress through the course.

Your precise timetable will depend on your modules, however, typical teaching time is approximately 9 hours each week. In addition, you will also be expected to achieve approximately 20 hours of self-directed study.

Contact hours in a typical week will depend to some extent on the optional modules you choose to study. However, typically you will have up to 9 contact hours of teaching and this will break down as:

Medium group teaching: approx. 1 hour of practical classes, workshops or seminars each week

Large group teaching: approx. 8 hours of lectures each week

Personal study: approx. 20 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study using hand-outs, online activities, etc.

In addition, you will attend in the region of approx. 8 hours of Inter-Professional Education (IPE) each academic year.

In the second year you may also have the opportunity (subject to availability) to complete an 80 hour community placement.

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Health and Life Sciences facilities

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Purpose-built clinical skills areas allow you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment. You will receive guidance and support from staff, to ensure that your practical ability in the clinical skills suites is accurate.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
CCJ Policing Placements

Placements

During this course you will have the option to complete a paid placement year, an invaluable opportunity to put the skills developed during your degree into practice. 

This insight into the professional world will build on your knowledge in a real-world setting, preparing you to progress onto your chosen career.

Our careers programme DMU Works can help to hone your professional skills with mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, and an assigned personal tutor will support you throughout your placement.

CCJ Policing Graduate

Graduate Careers

Graduates from this course can benefit from a wide variety of career choices, including the opportunity to pursue employment within public and private law and regulatory enforcement fields. Upon completion of this programme, work opportunities are also available within other agencies and related fields including Victim Support, HM Prison Service (HMPS), Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and youth work.

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DMU Global

Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons, helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world. Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK-based activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Previously, students on this course have benefited from the opportunity to travel to New York, where they visited the New York Police Department headquarters and learnt about the differences and similarities between the policing system in the US and the UK.

 

Take your next steps

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