Public Services - BA (Hons) Public Services (Top-Up)

The programme offers an academically and vocationally focused curriculum which develops a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, processes and practices of working within the Public Services. This provides a challenging, employability-led curriculum, that uses work-based knowledge and real life scenarios, allowing development of a range of transferable skills, abilities and competencies necessary for a successful career in the public sector.

The programme offers a broad base of subject knowledge for you to draw on in your working life, providing the opportunity to explore legal, theoretical and political application and acquire an understanding of strategic management processes used within public sector organisations.

The BA (Hons) Top-Up Programme has been designed to include core modules, which cover key generic public service management material following consultation with key stakeholders, professional partners and current/past students. In addition to core modules the programme has two distinct pathways of study. One pathway focusing on careers towards criminal justice sectors including, but not limited to, the Police Service, Youth Justice, Trading Standards and Prison Service. The second pathway focuses on management careers within the broader public sector such as, but not limited to, the Local Authority, Housing, NHS. This allows progression from Foundation Degrees.

You will learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, case studies, simulations/role play, work-based projects, self-directed study and research. Guest speakers and industry visits will enhance your learning and application of this into work-based situations.

You will be expected to undertake 10 hours per week of self-directed study per module. You will also receive directed student support where you will receive pastoral and academic guidance and study skills to support dissertation development.

• Dissertation
• Emergency Planning & Incident Response
• Leadership and Management
• Punishment & Penology
• Globalisation and Crime

The programme includes a varied range of academic and vocational assessments designed in line with employer consultation to provide you with the key skills and attributes necessary for public service working life. These include; reports; group presentations; progress files; simulations; and dissertation.

HND/FdA in a relevant discipline at Pass level (55 and above average at Level 5).

Those with previous experience or learning that is relevant may be eligible via our Accredited Prior Learning (APL) process for accreditation towards this course.

All external applicants must complete a satisfactory interview.

Students successfully completing the Level 6 top-up degree in BA (Hons) Public Service Management or can progress onto a Level 7 Masters degree externally in a relevant discipline.