COURSE CURRICULUM

The Fire and Rescue Leadership BA (Hons) program combines practical fire service experience with academic study to prepare students for leadership roles in public sector organisations. In the first semester, students undertake an intensive four-week practical placement to become on-call fire officers, after which they continue with one shift per week at a fire station. On-campus modules are scheduled around these placement commitments, ensuring students gain both practical and theoretical knowledge simultaneously. Core first-year modules include Academic Skills, Fire and Rescue Practical Placement, Introduction to Law and Politics, and Leading Self, providing a foundation in professional, legal, and leadership concepts while developing essential practical competencies. In the second year, students further consolidate their practical experience through continued placement work while studying Emerging Issues in the Public Sector, Organisational Leadership, and Strategic Management in the Public Sector. These modules enhance understanding of public service structures, leadership strategies, and contemporary challenges in emergency services. The final year mirrors the second year, with continued emphasis on practical placements and advanced study of leadership, strategy, and public sector issues. Through this integrated approach, students gain firsthand experience responding to real emergencies, develop resilience, teamwork, and decision-making skills under pressure, and acquire the academic knowledge required to progress into leadership roles within fire and rescue services or wider public sector organisations.