The Short Answer
If you do not have a degree, you usually take the PCDA (3 years, earn a degree) or, where your force offers it, the PCEP (2 years, no qualification). If you already have a degree, the College of Policing points you to the DHEP (2 years, earn a graduate diploma). All are paid on the same constable pay scale, starting at Pay Point 1 (£32,255) in most forces.
PCDA (Apprenticeship)
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship. Full detail in our PCDA guide.
- Who is it for? People without a degree (level 3 qualification or equivalent experience).
- Duration: 3 Years (three-year probation).
- Qualification: a degree in professional policing practice (BSc (Hons) in the College of Policing's 2026 guide; the title is set by the partner university).
- Cost: no tuition fees (funded primarily through the apprenticeship levy).
DHEP (Degree Holder)
Degree Holder Entry Programme. Full detail in our DHEP guide.
- Who is it for? People who already hold a level 6 degree in any subject other than the professional policing degree.
- Duration: 2 Years (two-year probation).
- Qualification: Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice (120 credits at level 6).
- Cost: no fees (fully funded by the force).
Can I choose?
Pay Comparison
Contrary to myth, there is no separate lower pay scale for the degree routes. Recruits on either route are paid on the national constable scale, which starts at Pay Point 1 for everyone appointed on or after 1 April 2013.
| Year | PCDA Salary | DHEP Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (Pay Point 1) | £32,255 | £32,255 |
| Year 2 (Pay Point 2) | £33,609 | £33,609 |
| Year 3 (Pay Point 3) | £34,972 | £34,972 |
Check your force's advert
Academic Workload
Both routes require serious study, with off-the-job learning provided jointly by your force and a university partner. The PCDA must include a minimum level of off-the-job (protected) learning time for the whole programme, set by the apprenticeship rules (College of Policing, police constable entry routes). Older guides quote "20% of your time"; the rules have changed since, and forces timetable it differently (for example as study days or block weeks), so ask your force how it works.
PCDA Pressure
Spread over 3 years. In England it includes an evidence-based research project before the end-point assessment gateway.
DHEP Pressure
Quicker pace: all the training content in 2 years, assessed at level 6 throughout. Research and study skills are left out because they are generic to degree-level study (College of Policing).
What to do next
- Dig out your exam certificates (GCSEs/A-Levels/Degree).
- If you lost them, apply for replacements NOW (it takes weeks).
- Decide if you are ready for 2-3 years of further study.
Early-Career Earnings Explorer
Compare your take-home pay on both routes.
Recruitment Timeline Planner
See when the next intakes are.
Explore Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid less on the PCDA route?
Not on the national scale. New constables, whichever entry route they join by, are paid on the constable pay scale, starting at pay point 1 (£32,255 from 1 September 2026), or pay point 2 (£33,609) in forces that assign new constables there. Some forces set their own terms for apprentice or trainee officers, so always check the salary in your force's advert.
Is the degree free?
Yes, you do not pay tuition fees. The College of Policing says the PCDA is funded primarily through the apprenticeship levy and the DHEP is fully funded by the force. The PCDA ends in a degree in professional policing practice (the College's April 2026 guide describes it as a BSc (Hons); the exact title is set by the force's partner university).
Is DHEP harder than PCDA?
DHEP covers all the training content in two years instead of three, so the pace is quicker. The College of Policing says it is delivered and assessed at academic level 6 throughout and is designed to build on critical thinking skills from previous study.
Do I have to go to university?
Not full-time. On the PCDA and DHEP, off-the-job learning is provided jointly by your force and a university partner, alongside operational duty. The PCDA must include a minimum level of off-the-job (protected) learning time set by the apprenticeship rules; the College does not give a single percentage and forces timetable it differently. The PCEP is delivered within the force.
Can I choose which route I do?
Partly. Without a degree you need a level 3 qualification or equivalent experience, and can join through the PCDA or, where your force offers it, the PCEP. The College of Policing points degree holders to the DHEP, but the Home Office qualification list (Annex BA) does not bar a graduate from the PCDA or PCEP, so whether a force would place a graduate on those routes is the force's decision. Each force also decides which routes it runs.
What is PCEP?
PCEP is the Police Constable Entry Programme, a two-year non-degree route available to forces from April 2024. It is delivered within the force, does not itself provide a qualification, and has a two-year probation (College of Policing). Not every force offers it.
Do I have to write a dissertation?
On the PCDA, yes in effect: in England you must complete an evidence-based research project before the end-point assessment gateway. The DHEP is different: the College of Policing says it leaves out some curriculum elements, such as research and study skills, because they are generic to degree-level study. Your force's university partner sets the actual assignments.
Can I leave the police as soon as I get the degree?
We found no national rule requiring a PCDA or DHEP constable who leaves to repay training costs. Check your offer letter and your force's policies.
Independence Statement: Police Pay UK is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with any police force or the College of Policing. Official policies can change; always verify with your chosen force's recruitment team.
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