Entry routes into Policing
The basic entry requirements for policing remain unchanged; you don’t need a degree to join as a police officer. However, policing as a service is professionalising and as a new recruit you will either already have a degree – in any discipline – or we will structure your training to support you to achieve a degree-level qualification.
If your application is successful, we’ll select the best entry route for you based on your education, skills and previous work experience. Take a look at our various entry routes below.
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
Join with a minimum of 2 Level 3 qualifications (or higher) and 3 years of work experience or 120 UCAS points AND GCSE (A-C grade) or equivalent in Maths & English and we will enrol you on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.
You will be a police officer from day one and will spend three years as a probationer. With a blended approach to learning, time spent between study at Northumbria University and practical on the job training you will be earning whilst you are learning.
At the end of your three year probation you will have achieved your degree in Professional Policing Practice.
Degree Holder Entry Programme
If you have already have a degree in any subject and GCSE (A-C grade) or equivalent in Maths & English, your first two years will be spent as a probationer following a work based training programme. This will be supported by off-the-job learning delivered by our in-house training team and study at Northumbria University.
From day one you will be a Police Officer and you will achieve a graduate diploma in Professional Policing Practice. You will find out more about our entry routes at our Police Officer engagement events, which is the first step in your recruitment journey.
Pre-Join Degree BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice
If you want to study first, you can undertake a three year degree in Professional Policing Practice (at your own expense) and then apply to become a Police Officer, through either our uniformed officer training programme or our detective programme.
If this is the route for you then from your first day as an officer you will follow a short predominately on-the-job training programme.
Graduate Detective Programme
If you have already have a degree in any subject and GCSEs (A-C grade) or equivalent in Maths & English, your first two years will be spent as a probationer dedicated to a detective based training programme. This will be supported by off-the-job learning delivered by our in-house training team.
You will achieve a graduate diploma in Professional Policing Practice alongside other detective focused work including the National Investigators exam. You will find out more about our entry routes at our Detective Police Constable focused engagement events, which is the first step in your recruitment journey.
Also the starting salary is the same as our other routes – £26,682.
Why degree
level training?
Police officers make difficult decisions which impact the public every day. They face complex problems, often in dangerous situations, with growing demands from digital investigation and vulnerable people.
The new programme recognises constables operate at a level where they take personal responsibility for decisions in complex, unpredictable environments.
The empathy, compassion and common sense needed in policing will be supported, not replaced by the new programmes, and will allow officers to get recognition for the complexity of their job.
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
Join with a minimum of 2 Level 3 qualifications (or higher) and 3 years of work experience OR 120 UCAS points AND GCSE (A-C grade) or equivalent in Maths & English and we will enrol you on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.
You will be a police officer from day one and will spend three years as a probationer. With a blended approach to learning, time spent between study at Northumbria University and practical on the job training you will be earning whilst you are learning.
Degree Holder Entry Programme
If you have already have a degree in any subject and GCSE (A-C grade) or equivalent in Maths & English, your first two years will be spent as a probationer following a work-based training programme. This will be supported by off-the-job learning delivered by our in-house training team and study at Northumbria University.
From day one you will be a police officer and you will achieve a graduate diploma in Professional Policing Practice. You will find out more about our entry routes at our engagement events, which is the first step in your recruitment journey.
Pre-Join Degree BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice
If you want to study first, you can undertake a three year degree in Professional Policing Practice (at your own expense) and then apply to become a police officer.
If you choose this route, from your first day as an officer you will follow a short, predominately on-the-job training programme.
Northumbria Police are not currently open for this entry route.
Graduate Detective Programme
If you have already have a degree in any subject and GCSEs (A-C grade) or equivalent in Maths & English, your first two years will be spent as a probationer dedicated to a detective based training programme. This will be supported by off-the-job learning delivered by our in-house training team.
You will achieve a graduate diploma in Professional Policing Practice alongside other detective focused work including the National Investigators exam. You will find out more about our entry routes at our Detective Police Constable focused engagement events, which is the first step in your recruitment journey.
Also the starting salary is the same as our other routes – £24,780.