Protection of persons and property
A field of study in services
Vocational or degree?Both routes4 in 10 train through vocational routes in the EU: 30,000 finished vocational training and 40,000 higher education in this field (2024). Figures for the wider field.Eurostat
Do graduates use it?59% in a matching jobof services graduates with a degree in the EU work in a job that matches what they studied. After vocational training: 48%.All services fields · Eurostat 2024
Do they find work?87% in workof people who finished higher education in the last 1 to 3 years in the EU (2025). Vocational training: 80%. General upper secondary only: 67%.All fields · Eurostat
What you'd learn
Law enforcementFire safety regulationsConsumer protectionFraud detectionFire-fighting systemsFire prevention proceduresSecurity threatsInvestigation research methodsIllegal substancesFood fraudCorrectional proceduresLicences regulation+ 13 more
The knowledge areas ESCO files under this field, those most needed by jobs first. Actual programmes vary by school and country.
Where it can lead
27 jobs use what this field teaches.
| Job | Prospects | Pay | Usual study | AI exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prison officer | Good | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Security guard | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Juvenile correctional officer | Good | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Hand luggage inspector | Average | About average | Post-secondary | Low |
| Criminal investigator | Average | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Police inspector | Average | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Fire service vehicle operator | Good | About average | Vocational | Low |
| Crowd controller | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Life guard | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Police detective | Average | About average | Post-secondary | Very low |
| Firefighter | Good | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Weights and measures inspector | Average | About average | Post-secondary | Low |
| Chief fire officer | Good | Well above average | Degree | Low |
| Police officer | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Fire commissioner | Good | Well above average | Degree | Low |
| Correctional services manager | Good | Well above average | Degree | Low |
| Irrigation technician | Good | About average | Vocational | Very low |
| Coastguard watch officer | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Police commissioner | Good | Well above average | Degree | Low |
| Consumer rights advisor | Average | About average | Post-secondary | Low |
| Emergency response worker | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Street warden | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Lifeguard instructor | Good | About average | Post-secondary | Low |
| Tax compliance officer | Average | About average | Post-secondary | Moderate |
| Civil enforcement officer | Limited | Below average | Vocational | Very low |
| Chimney sweep supervisor | Limited | About average | Vocational | Very low |
| Advertising installer | Good | Below average | Basic schooling | Low |
Jobs that need the knowledge this field teaches (ESCO), closest match first. This is not a record of where graduates actually end up: no EU-wide data says that per field.
Where to study
819 institutions in the EU offer services bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.