What is the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP)?

The Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) is a two year conversion programme that leads to a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice (GDPPP). 

This route is available to anyone who successfully applies to the police service in England and Wales and already has an Honours degree. The degree could be in any subject.  

It is designed to provide degree holders a route in without having to complete an apprenticeship.  

There are two key requirements to following this route, in addition to already having a degree: 

• You must have been recruited as a police officer. 
• The force you have joined must have a partnership with a university that delivers the programme.  

What if I choose to study a policing or criminology related course. Do I still have to do the DHEP? 

Example courses include: 

• Criminology  
• Criminology with Law  
• Crime and Investigation  

Yes, you'll apply to a police force like everyone else has to, going through the same recruitment process.

If you are recruited, then you'll have to successfully complete the two year DHEP and gain a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice (GDPPP).  

This route means that your probationary period is two years as opposed to three under the apprenticeship route. You will receive a substantial pay rise after two years. Some forces offer a higher starting salary to those with a degree. 

If you don’t want to do the two year DHEP conversion. 

You can choose to study the Professional Policing Degree (a three year undergraduate Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree) as an alternative to completing the Degree Holder Entry Programme.