Is a degree a waste for joining the police?

I want to be a police officer, and i was wondering whether there is any point in getting a degree or would it just be a waste of time and £40k+?

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Reply 1

Miracle Day

You'll earn more as a graduate and will be more likely to climb the ranks. Police often only recruit to people 23+ so what would do in the meantime anyway?

Reply 2

audi_turbo

Well. It depends I guess, you might want to go to university for the "uni life" although that doesn't appeal to everybody (and maybe it's not worth the debt), but also you might like to think of the degree as a back up plan - you might not always want to be a police officer.

It's certainly true that you would go higher up in the ranks though, you'd probably get to do less of the stuff lower down in the chain too.

Reply 3

ProStacker

Given that the police prefer older recruits with more life experience and that it isn't a dead cert you'd get in, do a degree.

Reply 4

geetar

I'd do a degree, because a) you might change your mind about what you want to do, b) the police aren't really recruiting atm anyway, and c) I think promotions and stuff will be easier to come by if you are a graduate.

Oh, and no-one on TSR seems to talk about this (in fairness it is the careers section), but a university can actually be a highly enjoyable time of your life. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to miss out on my experiences.

Bottom line, do what you want to do. I know someone who got a degree from Oxford and then went into the Metropolitan Police. I'm sure lots of people would 'look down' on that, and wonder why he hasn't one into investment banking, or corporate law, or one of those 'high-status' professions. But, having met him, he genuinely enjoys what he does, and he is a lot happier than he would have been if he had gone into one of those other jobs. Do what makes you happy, regardless of what others think.

Reply 5

pinkangelgirl

good luck getting in the police force- i'd love to do that but with all the government cuts at the moment hardly any of the stations are applying.

do a degree first, and then maybe in a few years time you will be ready/they will be hiring !

Reply 6

jackisback

If you know for sure that joining the Police Service is what you want to do, then a degree is a waste of money.

As it stands, a degree isn't needed to join the Police Service, or to progress through the ranks.
A faster way to progress through the ranks is to apply for the High Potential Development Scheme, but it's highly competitive, and focuses on leadership rather than intellect.

However, Tom Winsor is currently trying to reform the Police Service. If his reconsiderations are implemented, Graduates would have a direct entry to higher ranks, but many serving Officers are against this; even if you are promoted you may not be respected.

To summarise:
No, the degree, at the minute, won't effect your Police career. Uni may give you life experience, which could help you, though.

Reply 7

ProStacker

Original post by jackisback

If you know for sure that joining the Police Service is what you want to do, then a degree is a waste of money.

To summarise:
No, the degree, at the minute, won't effect your Police career. Uni may give you life experience, which could help you, though.

What if they are unsuccessful? The degree is a great addition. Also, that additional ability to study and learn will be very useful if they manage to progress in their career.
I find it curious that a 16 year old advises that getting a degree would be a waste of money.

Reply 8

IRL

University doesn't give you life experience. Not the kind the police is after anyway, haha.

A degree in the majority of cases is a waste of money. The only people that don't accept this is prospective University students, current University students and recent graduates.

Degrees don't mean **** UNLESS someone paid for you to do the degree through some kind of scholarship. Any nob can go to University and get a degree. They'll literally let ANYONE in.

Reply 9

M1011

Original post by IRL

More quality advise from you I see...

University gives you plenty of real life experience, not all of course (we don't get to live on loans for ever), but plenty nevertheless. For example, where else do you get the opportunity to live and work with such a huge, diverse mix of people from all walks of life and different cultural backgrounds? That seems like very valuable experience for someone hoping to join the police, wouldn't you say?

I also love how you say that a degree is a waste of money, and the only people that don't accept it are people that are going to get one, are currently doing one or that already have one? Way to rule out all the people that clearly do value it? That's paramount to me saying air is a waste of space, and the only people who deny it are those that breath it! Such an idiotic statement.

I'm by no means saying every degree is worthwhile. Clearly if you're going to do crap academically, then get into a crap university on a crap course then yes, that's a waste of money. But to say degrees don't mean '****' is just ignorant.

Reply 10

IRL

The vast majority of students are extremely average. The top tier candidates will always find it worthwhile, but for most it is a waste of time.

Reply 11

M1011

Original post by IRL

The vast majority of students are extremely average. The top tier candidates will always find it worthwhile, but for most it is a waste of time.

Well I guess you're entitled to your opinion, but I'd almost argue it was the other way around. Top candidates will find a way to do well, those that have less going for them are the ones that probably benefit more from the extra competitive advantage a degree gives.

Of course there are other equally viable ways, apprenticeships and such, but there is undeniable value in a degree so long as the majority of decent jobs require one as a prerequisite to even applying.

Reply 12

Pitt1988

I think it's not a bad idea. Might make you into one of the better officers of the law, the ones that have been there and done that. Not the power made, penis size issue coppers that plague the streets usually.

Reply 13

jackisback

Original post by ProStacker

If they're unsuccessful then that's a problem, obviously.

Of course, it's be advisable to see if you meet the entry criteria before choosing what to do for sure. That way they have a less likely chance of being unsuccessful.

How is the degree a great addition? If they're not going into the Police Service, then yeah, it is. If they are then it simply won't help, unless Winsor's recommendations come into existence.

Surely you still have the ability to study and learn even if you don't go to University; getting a degree would just prove that they can.

Why do you find it curious that I recommend he doesn't go for a degree when it won't help him in the slightest, if he were to be accepted into the Police Service? Also, what does my age have to do with anything?

Regards,
Jackisback

Reply 14

ProStacker

Given my own experiences of several years in a similar work environment (without a degree), my father spending 30 years in the police and several friends of mine in a couple of forces, I would heartily recommend getting a degree before joining.

I don't believe you can say a degree will not help in the slightest. It will be a great help later in a career - not the degree subject itself perhaps, but all that a degree entails. I say that as a current MSc student who appreciates what advanced education brings further on in a career.

Your age tells me that you have little if any experience of the work environment and almost certainly nothing of the work that goes on later in a career.

Reply 15

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by jackisback

Surely you still have the ability to study and learn even if you don't go to University; getting a degree would just prove that they can.

And that's the point. When an employer is faced with one candidate with proof of ability and another just saying they have the ability, 99 times out of 100 they are going to take the person with proof. Hiring employees represents cost and risk to employers, they are almost always risk averse and so like to see proof.

Reply 16

miser

I've just been looking into a job in the police, though unfortunately it looks like they're not hiring at the moment in my area. Their website says that they don't require any qualifications, but I suppose that qualifications would help. I'm not certain on whether a degree would help hugely, so it looks like a lot of money to put on a gamble. If you're certain that you want to go into the police force, it probably is unnecessary. If you want to keep your career options open, a degree would most likely earn its returns.

Reply 17

IRL

Original post by M1011

The majority of people holding degrees earn less than the average plumber or builder. For me, I have more fun on site with the lads than sat in some poxy office with a **** for a boss. **** uni.

Reply 18

M1011

Original post by IRL

The majority of people holding degrees earn less than the average plumber or builder. For me, I have more fun on site with the lads than sat in some poxy office with a **** for a boss. **** uni.

The average plumber earns more then the average person. That's a specialist trade in itself, so not exactly a good indication of the normal non-graduate salary.

I imagine the average grad salary after say 10 years is considerably higher than the average non-grad salary at the same age. You've also got to consider career progression. I have no figures to back this up, but I'm confident that it's true.

Evidently you personally don't value degrees, but nevertheless it's not you graduates are trying to impress with them. If someone wants to be a builder or a plumber, then they go through the apprenticeship route. Like I said before, nothing wrong with that, but evidently students who go to university have different career aims.

Reply 19

IRL

Original post by M1011

The average plumber earns more then the average person. That's a specialist trade in itself, so not exactly a good indication of the normal non-graduate salary.

LOL. Plumbing is stupidly easy. The notion that it's a specialist trade is retarded. You could learn 99% of what most plumbers do in a few weeks. I'll admit it takes time/experience to learn, what I'm really getting at is it is not academic, you can be qualified before your 18th birthday.

I imagine the average grad salary after say 10 years is considerably higher than the average non-grad salary at the same age. You've also got to consider career progression. I have no figures to back this up, but I'm confident that it's true.

It probably is true. However averages don't mean jack ****, there will still be graduates who earn way less than the non graduates. **** waiting 10 years to earn more than a non graduate anyway - that seems ****ed up.

Evidently you personally don't value degrees, but nevertheless it's not you graduates are trying to impress with them. If someone wants to be a builder or a plumber, then they go through the apprenticeship route. Like I said before, nothing wrong with that, but evidently students who go to university have different career aims.

Getting some ****ty 25k graduate job and hoping for years to get a promotion? That's the aim of most here.