Funding to support higher education study.
The 2023 bursary scheme is open for applications and closes on Monday 3 April.
The College of Policing bursary offers a maximum of £4,000 towards two years of course fees at higher education level. For example, studying for a BSc/BA, master's degree or PhD. The course needs to be with a recognised UK academic institution and include a research component.
Get peer support
Access peer-to-peer support for academic study through the academic support network on Knowledge Hub (you will need to log in).
Bursary recipients 2022
Our bursary scheme has helped towards the academic studies of around 440 police officers and staff since it was introduced in 2016.
In 2022, we made offers to 83 students, whose studies are now underway. Subjects being studied include:
- criminology and criminal justice
- computer science
- cyber security
- forensic psychology
- leadership and management
Since 2016, almost 60% of bursaries awarded went to police constables and sergeants. A quarter of bursaries were awarded to police staff. More than a quarter of bursary recipients had no previous experience of studying at higher education level.
Find out how officers and police staff have benefitted from the bursary.
Shrey Jhalani
Shrey Jhalani is the Business Change and Engagement Manager at Derbyshire Constabulary, and is currently seconded to the National Digital Forensics Programme. Shrey had self-funded a PhD in Policing and Forensic Science at University College London (UCL) before realising that the College of Policing bursary supports police staff and that he was eligible to apply.
Shrey is continuing his PhD studies with a bursary contribution from the College, researching how effective the current policing and forensic science processes are, as well as their subsequent impact on the criminal justice system.
Emma Bloodworth
PC Emma Bloodworth from South Yorkshire Police had experience and specialism in policing exploitation and protecting vulnerable people but no formal qualifications. She applied for a College of Policing bursary to study a degree in criminology at Sheffield Hallam University. A lecturer suggested she apply for a master's degree instead, as her experience in policing meant she could use the recognition of prior learning scheme, which the university supports.
Never in a million years did I expect to get into university, but I threw my hat into applying for a master's and the bursary and got both. I didn’t finish my GCSEs and joined the police with no qualifications. It has always bugged me that I should go back to do some – now’s my chance!
Bursary recipient, Staffordshire Police
As part of a PhD, a detective constable working in a Major and Organised Crime Unit in Staffordshire will be examining the shortage of female detectives within the criminal and investigation department (CID). They will explore the preferences of women when selecting detective positions.
The moment I walked into university, it felt like home really. It’s quite strange as I have 24 years' police service, mostly as a detective, so to find education so late and feel so comfortable was completely unexpected.
I care hugely about the detective role. It has gone through some enormous changes, though I wanted to focus my dissertation on the shortage of detectives to try and uncover what might stop uniform officers from considering CID. Caring about an issue or situation is a good place to start your research.