Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship in Maidstone

Our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) means you can learn as you earn, gaining a (BSc) Hons degree in professional policing practice. The Met covers all qualification fees so there's no cost to you, it's all fully funded.

It's a three-year programme, which combines learning with policing London's streets. The three years count as your probation. On successful completion, you graduate from both the degree and probation. The starting salary is over £42,210. On successful completion, you'll earn £47,465. All salaries include allowances.

You must meet the eligibility criteria to be a police constable set out in 'Who we are looking for'. You will need a Level 2 qualification in English language at a GCSE grade C or above, or grades 4 to 9, and one of the following:

• Two A Levels at grade E or above in any subject or be working towards these
• Level 3 qualification or be working towards one, including an International Baccalaureate Diploma or NVQ. We will also consider the equivalent overseas qualification
• Training or work experience that's equal to a Level 3 qualification
• To have served as a Police Community Support Officer, a Special Constable or Designated Detention Officer for 12 months
• To have been a member of the Met's Volunteer Police Cadets for 24 months
• Service in the Armed Forces. You must have successfully completed the minimum term of service and have an exemplary reference. Service must have been a minimum of two years within the last five years

We will also consider an English Language equivalent overseas qualification in place of the Level 2 qualification.

Your first week is a three-day introduction to the Met with the remainder spent at your university. Our partner universities are:

• Brunel University
• University of West London
• Anglia Ruskin University

You then complete 16 weeks initial learning at your university, covering:

• 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 next eight weeks you will spend working in a police team, based on a London borough. This will be alongside a dedicated experienced police officer acting as your tutor constable. 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 return to your university 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 following information will help you have the best chance of success with your application. It will tell you what you can expect from our recruitment process at each stage. It can take around six months for people to complete our recruitment process. At each stage you will be contacted by and receive more information from our recruitment team who are there for you throughout.