Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship | Durham Constabulary

This Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) is an academic and professional programme jointly delivered by officers from Durham Constabulary and academic staff from across Northumbria University. This programme is for officers of Durham Constabulary only.  The programme has been designed and developed to meet the requirements of the College of Policing (CoP), the professional body for all those working in the Police Service, for the professional education of new entrants into policing via a newly-established police constable apprenticeship entry route. 

Standard Entry

Admission onto a higher or degree apprenticeship can only take place if applicants are currently employed and their employer has a training agreement in place with Northumbria University.

Applicants must be employed in a relevant role, with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts directly to their personal and professional work experience.

Potential apprentices will need:

120 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-levels, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas or the International Baccalaureate. We may also consider applicants who have successfully completed a related Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, or those with non-standard qualifications, or a significant amount of relevant work-based or professional experience.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator  

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need English Language and Maths at minimum grade 4/C and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or equivalents.

During the programme, apprentice officers will undertake a number of supported and specialist deployments in order to achieve Independent Patrol Status and Full Operational Competence. On the programme, they will address critical questions that span a range of areas, to explore problems from multiple perspectives relating to the role, function, and delivery of 21st century policing, including expertise in:

• Criminology;
• Law;
• Applied Science;
• Computer and Information Services (CIS);
• Business

At the end of the programme, apprentice officers will undertake an individual project based around evidence-based policing and the specialist area they have undertaken in year three. Apprentices will also develop transferable key skills throughout the apprenticeship, including:

• enhanced research skills enabling apprentices to progress, if desired, to postgraduate study, or a research orientated career;
• communicating ideas in written and oral forms;
• the use of appropriate IT tools;
• personal time management;
• project management;
• problem solving abilities;
• independent learning skills enabling students to take responsibility for their own continued and sustainable professional development.