Skip to content

Do you want to make a difference?

Our public services courses are designed to give you the skills and knowledge you will need.

Turn Your Passion for Helping Others Into a Career

City College Plymouth provides excellent support for those considering a career in the Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Armed Forces, Prison Service, HM Revenue and Customs, and Probation and Social Services.

Based in a city with a major military and public service presence, our students benefit from a wide range of career opportunities across both uniformed and non-uniformed sectors. Alongside roles in the Army, Navy, RAF, Police, Fire, Coastguard, Ambulance and Prison Services, students can also explore careers in local government, social services, probation, and civil administration.

Our highly experienced staff help students prepare both mentally and physically for the next stage of their journey. Close relationships with local employers mean we offer endorsed programmes in a professional environment, with daily routines and fitness sessions that reflect real industry expectations.

Through co-created assessment methods, students gain rare insights into a broad range of careers while developing vital skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and resilience – helping them build a strong foundation for success in public service.

Choose your course

Uniformed Protective Services (Policing Pathway)

  • Course code: NPS1CP
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Extended Diploma
  • Awarding body: Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC)
  • Duration: Two years
  • Course type: Full-time

Uniformed, Community and Public Services

  • Course code: NPS1
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Extended Diploma
  • Awarding body: Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE)
  • Duration: Two years
  • Course type: Full-time

Community and Public Services Management

  • Course code: UF6057, UX6057
  • Level: 6
  • Qualification: BSc (Hons) top-up
  • Awarding body: University of Plymouth
  • Duration: One year (full-time), two years (part-time)
  • Course type: Full-time, Part-time
View all courses
Please accept marketing-cookies to watch this video.

Devon & Cornwall Police Partnership

City College Plymouth actively works alongside Devon & Cornwall Police to enrich our students’ learning experience by offering a real-world perspective on policing careers, as well as working in the public sector. Our alliance has significantly enhanced our curriculum, fostering a learning environment where students are enriched with the proper values, attitudes, and skills needed for success in their chosen fields.

Future Careers

What you could earn:

Senior Police Officers

£124,790.90

Potential salary

£22,041.09

Entry level salary

£53,900.89

Average salary

3

Annual openings in Plymouth

Virtual Tour

City College Plymouth like you’ve never seen it before. Tour our facilities from the comfort of your sofa and explore our various subject area-focused introductory videos and demonstrations.

Welcome to City College

COME VISIT US

We hold multiple events all year round, from Year 11 taster sessions to full open days. Our events are a great way to see our facilities, meet our staff and get a feel for life at City College. 

Keeping Beauty Therapy Training in Step with Industry Trends: The Partnership Between Vanity Fayre and City College Plymouth
Development of support workers crucial to patient wellbeing
Jack