City and Islington College and the Met Police work closely to deliver this exciting and innovative programme. To show their support, any course fees that have been incurred will be reimbursed to you by the Met Police if you are subsequently accepted as a Police Officer.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma: Policing is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to join the police service or work within the fields of crime, criminology, or law. The course has been designed in partnership with the Met Police Service to prepare students for a career in the police service and is purposely aligned for progression to the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Program. For those that wish to progress to university to study at degree level, the Access to Higher Education Diploma is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification perfect for anyone looking to start a university course.
If you would like to study Policing or Criminology at university but left school without the qualifications you need, then this Access to HE course could be for you. Each year, over 20,000 Access to HE students apply for a degree course at a UK university; if you go on to complete a relevant degree at university, your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off by Student Finance England.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma is a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification perfect for anyone looking to start a university course, with no formal qualifications. The Access to HE Diploma: Policing provides HE progression opportunities and widening gateway access for adults who do not have the necessary two A levels or an equivalent Level 3 qualification (as defined in the Education and Skills Act 2008) to enter the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Program. City and Islington College has worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to provide a broadening access program based on sound theoretical education and vocational training.
This course will help you get the qualifications you need to study policing or criminology, or a related course, at university. The qualification will provide you with a broad understanding of crime and the criminal justice system, whilst also addressing the psychological techniques used by investigators to assist in the detection of crime. The Policing Education Framework 2020 includes a need for new applicants to have a Foundation Degree and you will require a Level 3 qualification, such as this Access to HE Diploma, in order to access a Foundation Degree.
You will also have a personal tutor who will support you during the year and who will advise you on your applications to higher education institutions.
Alex Walsh, Director of Learning at the Met Police said: “We’re delighted that, working collaboratively with OCN London, we’re able to offer this new Met-inspired diploma designed to give people the skills and confidence they need to apply to become police constables. We value the wealth of life experience and skills in our London community and recognise that many have the desired attitude and aptitude to become a police officer but feel that they’re unable to join the Met because they don’t have the necessary qualifications. This is why we are passionate about creating and offering this diploma so that education providers will help bridge the gap, enabling a more diverse and experienced range of people to pursue a career in policing with one of the most globally-renowned police forces.”
Teaching occurs through a combination of lectures at our Angel Campus in Islington, or online via Microsoft Teams.
Teaching is by experienced practitioners in the field including ex-Police Officers, Forensic specialists, and through a series of subject-specific guest lectures from working criminal justice professionals.
Topics covered include:
This course is a part-time course run over 3 days however this can vary.
You will need:
This course is assessed through coursework assignments, tests, and examinations throughout the course, which are set and marked by your teachers and externally moderated by OCN London.
Assessment is continuous over the whole year and is based on a number of set pieces of work such as essays, projects, presentations, and tests.
If you will be aged 19 to 23 prior to the start date of your course, and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for a Level 3 entitlement, in which case your study with us will be free. Otherwise, you will have to pay the fees yourself or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.
Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.
Once you have completed your Access to HE course, you can progress to a Higher Education degree at a university or college.
Learners primarily progress to Higher Education study in areas related to Criminology. These may include some of the following areas of Degree level study: Criminology, Crime Scene and Forensic Investigation, Criminal Psychology, Policing, and a range of combined and related degrees.
Learners can also onto Police Apprenticeship degrees, which is a vocational course that focuses on practical learning and is specifically tailored to help learners start their career in policing.
City and Islington College and the Met Police work closely to deliver this exciting and innovative programme. To show their support, any course fees that have been incurred will be reimbursed to you by the Met Police if you are subsequently accepted as a Police Officer.
Read about this course on the Met Police website: Level 3 Access to HE Diploma (Policing)
Graham has been working at the college since 2019 and is our lead policing lecturer. While at the college he has helped deliver the Foundation Degree in Policing, Access to Policing and Criminology program and the new Met Police-inspired Access to Policing program.
He is a former Police Chief Inspector with over thirty years of experience. His areas of expertise are public order policing and event planning, neighbourhood policing and learning and development. Graham is a former student of Canterbury Christchurch University.
Georgina is a lecturer of Forensic Science, Public Services and Access to Policing at City and Islington College. She is a fully qualified Police Officer and Detective Constable, specialising in PIP2 investigation techniques.
Georgina graduated from the University of Nottingham and following a year teaching in an international school in Switzerland, she joined Bedfordshire Police. Throughout her career with the police, Georgina worked across multiple departments including response, CID, drugs, guns and gangs and the rape and serious sexual offences unit.
Georgina is an experienced lecturer, has a wealth of knowledge in her subject matter and teaches students aged 16-18 as well as adult learners on the Access to HE program. She is incredibly passionate about her subject and provides real-life examples from her experience on the front line. As well as lecturing, she is also a personal tutor and provides support and career advice to students.
The teachers listed may change, these shown are an example of the teachers who teach on these programmes.