What I studied and when I graduated

I studied Criminology at The University of Manchester and graduated with a first-class degree in 2025. I chose to study at Manchester because it is my home city and there truly is nowhere else like it. The city has such a unique atmosphere. The people, the culture, and the energy around Manchester make it a special place to live and study.

The course itself immediately stood out to me because it focused on areas of criminology and policing that I was genuinely interested in. Throughout my degree, there were several modules that had a big impact on me, including Crime and Society in first year, Policing and the Police in second year, and Journeys Out of Crime and Mass Violence in third year.

One of the highlights of my degree was completing my dissertation, which explored the relationship between economic hardship and financially motivated crime during the cost-of-living crisis. This allowed me to combine statistical analysis with real-world criminal justice issues and strengthened my passion for pursuing a career in policing.

Alongside my studies, I balanced part-time work and volunteering, which helped me build valuable communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.

My job/career to date

Alongside university, I worked in hospitality roles that helped me gain experience working in fast-paced and high-pressure environments. I worked at Village Hotels, where I gained experience in bar work, customer service, table service, and supporting weddings and events.

I also worked at Nando’s, where I progressed into several responsibilities across both front and back of house. I worked as a Coordinator, Front Griller and Cashier, while also taking on additional responsibilities as a Buddy (trainer) and Staff Representative. These roles helped me develop confidence in leadership, communication, problem-solving, and supporting others within a team.

Outside of work, I volunteered for three years coaching children’s football at Hyde United, where I developed mentoring and teamwork skills while giving back to the local community.

I currently work for Greater Manchester Police as a Student Police Officer on the Detective Constable Entry Programme (DCEP) pathway. Joining GMP has been a huge milestone for me because policing has always been my long-term career goal. I am currently preparing to sit my Policing Operational Exam while continuing my training and development within the force.

What I do in my current job

As a Student Police Officer with GMP, I am developing the practical and academic skills required for a career in policing and investigations. During my training so far, I have learned about legislation, police powers, searches, interviewing techniques, and the importance of professionalism and decision-making within policing.

One thing I have really enjoyed about the role is how much there is to learn and how every day is different. The training is challenging and very detail-oriented, particularly in relation to standards, procedures, and uniform expectations, but maintaining those standards is a fundamental part of policing.

The most rewarding part of the job for me is putting on the uniform every day and knowing that you have the opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I expected the role to be hard work, but I have honestly been surprised by how much I am enjoying it. The people I work alongside make the role enjoyable, supportive, and motivating, which makes coming to work every day something I genuinely look forward to.

Alongside my police training, my previous experience in hospitality and university life helped me become comfortable balancing multiple responsibilities at once. Policing involves constantly managing different tasks, priorities, and situations, so already having experience juggling work, study, and volunteering helped me adapt quickly.

I also use many of the skills I developed during university in policing now, particularly communication and learning large amounts of information. Studying criminology improved my confidence in communicating with different people and helped me develop the ability to understand and remember legislation, theories, and complex information, all skills that are highly relevant within policing.

I am genuinely enjoying the experience so far and feel excited about continuing to develop within the role.

My future career aspirations

My long-term aspiration is to build a successful career within GMP, particularly within detective and investigative roles. I have always been drawn towards detective work because I see myself as a very analytical and logical person who enjoys problem-solving and investigations.

I am particularly interested in working within CID or the Major Incident Team (MIT) in the future, where I would hopefully be involved in high-profile and important investigations that make a meaningful difference.

One thing I have learned since joining policing is that being a good police officer is not simply about being physically able. The role requires communication, empathy, professionalism, and strong decision-making skills. Although my long-term goal is to qualify as a detective, I like knowing that policing offers flexibility and opportunities to continue developing in different directions throughout my career.

As I continue to gain experience, I would also potentially like to progress through the ranks and take on leadership responsibilities within policing.

How my course prepared me for the police

My Criminology degree gave me a strong understanding of the criminal justice system, social inequalities, crime trends, and the wider factors that influence offending and victimisation. The course encouraged critical thinking and taught me how to analyse complex issues from multiple perspectives.

Through assignments, presentations, and independent research, I developed strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to manage deadlines and work independently. My dissertation also strengthened my analytical and problem-solving abilities, as I worked with large police datasets and statistical analysis software to investigate real-world crime patterns.

The course also improved my confidence in discussing sensitive social issues and considering how policy and practice affect individuals and communities, skills that are highly relevant to a future career in policing.

The support I had from The University of Manchester

I received a great deal of support from The University of Manchester throughout my degree. My lecturers and tutors were approachable and always willing to provide guidance, whether that was academic support, dissertation advice, or feedback on assignments.

The university also provided excellent access to learning resources, academic support, and opportunities to develop employability skills. Careers support and guest speakers encouraged me to think about how I could apply the skills from my degree within my future career.

One area of support that meant a lot to me personally was the counselling and wellbeing support available through the university. During a particularly difficult period in my personal life, especially at such a crucial point in my degree, the support I received helped me manage both academically and personally. Knowing that there were people and services available who genuinely wanted to help made a huge difference.

I also valued the supportive environment within the School of Social Sciences, where I felt encouraged to challenge ideas, think critically, and develop confidence in my own abilities.

My advice for offer holders

My biggest piece of advice would be to make the most of every opportunity available to you during university. Throw yourself into new experiences and take opportunities even if they initially feel intimidating.

I would also say not to feel nervous about the future or pressure yourself into thinking you need to have everything figured out immediately. I graduated, stayed at Nando’s, and joined the police 8 months later, and that time helped me feel more confident in the path I wanted to take.

I remember feeling nervous about joining policing and questioning whether I was making the right decision. There will always be moments of doubt with any big life decision, but I genuinely feel that this career was made for me.

Balancing university, work, and volunteering taught me resilience and confidence, and those experiences helped prepare me for where I am now. My advice would simply be: grab every opportunity, jump into it feet first and have no regrets.

Written by Bethany McHale-Smith- BA Criminology Graduate

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