Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship - Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police Force is the largest police service in the UK. Our officers and staff are at the heart of policing in the Met. Every day we rely on thousands of officers and staff who are committed to working together and with our communities and partners to successfully deliver the policing that Londoners need and deserve; people who share our values, are committed to high standards, and want to help create change for a better London.

If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding role, our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship allows you to earn as you learn and gives you a qualification in Professional Policing. You’ll get loads of experience, build your skills, and be an officer from your first day.

Our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) is a three-year programme that combines classroom learning with frontline experience on London’s streets. Real-world policing experience will be central to this programme. You’ll build on everything you learn, working in a number of different policing roles, from responding to emergency calls from the public to policing London’s neighbourhoods and working directly with communities. Each role will help you advance your skill set, enhance your knowledge and help you gain valuable experience.

You’ll also be required to complete operational and academic assessments from time to time, including exams, essays and presentations. Your initial training will consist of 17 weeks at Hendon, including a 4-day introduction to the Met. The initial learning at Hendon will include:

• policing, the law and police powers
• protection, vulnerability and public protection
• policing communities, response policing and investigating crime
• police leadership, coaching and mentoring
• officer safety training
• emergency life support
• safeguarding
• crime investigation and operational policing skills

The first four days you will work 08:00 – 16:00 shifts. From then on the shift pattern at Hendon during your training is alternating weeks of earlies and late shifts. It is Mon – Fri, 07:00 – 15:00 (early), and 14:00 – 22:00 (late).

The next ten weeks you will spend working in a police team, based on a London borough. This will be alongside dedicated experienced police officers acting as ‘tutor constables’. This is called street duties, and is where you can put into practice what you have been taught.

The remainder of your three years will be spent building on what you have learnt so far. You’ll enhance your skills, experience and knowledge through a number of different policing roles, including working on teams that respond to emergency calls from the public, and as officers policing London’s neighbourhoods working with communities.

You’ll complete further learning in year two, twice for up to three weeks of learning. In your final year, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake research into an area of policing you’re particularly interested in. You’ll then present your research by way of an academic poster and short briefing.

Throughout your training you will need to complete operational and academic assessments. Academic assessments include exams, essays and presentations. Upon successfully completing your three-year programme you’ll be a fully qualified police constable and will graduate from your degree.

The three-year training will also count as your probation. On successful completion, you’ll graduate from both the degree and the probation.

Entry requirements: It can take up to six months for the entire process to be completed, but the career that you will be building is worth the wait. London is one of the most diverse cities in the world. That’s why in the Met, we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who are committed to making a difference for the communities we serve. We are looking for people who share our values of integrity, courage, accountability, respect and empathy.

In addition to this, we also have our standard eligibility criteria, including:

• Academic Qualifications: You must have, or be working towards, 1-2 A-Levels or a Level 3 qualification. English at GCSE at Grades 4 to 9 (Grade C or above). Training or work experience equivalent to a Level 3 qualification is also acceptable.
• Health and Fitness: You will need to pass a fitness test. You will be required to run up and down a 15-metre track, beating a ‘bleep’. The whole test takes three minutes and 35 seconds and covers a total of 525 metres.
• Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions can prevent you from being able to cope with the physical and mental demands of the job.
• Eyesight: You must meet the police eyesight standards.
• Vetting: Everyone joining the Met must be vetted.

Skills required: Accuracy, Adaptability, Analytical and Inquisitive, Problem solving, Resilient, Respectful, Team Player.

Our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) means you can learn as you earn, gaining a free (BSc) Hons degree in professional policing practice. The Met covers all qualification fees, so that you can get a degree that is relevant to policing.

Completing the training programme opens up a number of career paths and opportunities for you. The Met is the largest police service in the UK, and naturally, offers a wide variety of specialist units and opportunities to progress your career.

As a police constable, the work you do matters. To thank you for your service, you can receive benefits, including:

• Access to our dedicated discount site, offering money off a host of high street shops, grocery shops, days out, and gyms.
• Eligibility for the Blue Light Card, which will give you discounts on a variety of things, from restaurants to experiences.
• Access to free physiotherapy.
• Free eyesight tests.
• On-site gym facilities in our buildings across London.
• Four sport club houses, offering free or low-cost access to sporting facilities to our officers and their families.
• Free travel inside London and heavily discounted travel from up to 70 miles outside London.

Disability Confident Statement: The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job‑related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles.

Closing Date: The closing date for this job offer is on 31/10/2026.