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Forensic Science [with Foundation Year]

Entry requirements


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About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Forensic science

If you’re fascinated by forensic science but don’t meet the entry requirements for our 3 year BSc (Hons) Forensic Science course, our extended four year course is for you. It is accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and provides graduates with the skills to follow a range of careers in forensic science and other analytical science related fields.
Criminal prosecutions depend on evidence which has been safely and appropriately collected, stored, examined, analysed and reported by forensic scientists. In your foundation year, you’ll cover key areas of chemistry, biology and mathematics. After that you will learn the fundamental principles of forensic science from crime scene to court. You will learn how to analyse and investigate a range of evidence at crime scenes and in the forensic laboratory. During your degree you will have the opportunity to analyse a range of ‘real’ samples including ignitable liquid residues, drugs of abuse, trace evidence such as paint and fibres and biological material. By the time you graduate, you will have an understanding of the UK legal system and your role in it as a forensic scientist. You will be able to present your observations and conclusions as evidence in a court of law. You will also have learnt how to conduct thorough, independent research, and feel confident about presenting comprehensive reports, both verbally and in writing.

During your degree you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of a range of analytical techniques including Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission (ICP-OES) spectroscopy, Microspectrophotometry (MSP) and various Gas Chromatography (GC) and Liquid- Chromatography (LC) instruments with different detection systems. For biological analysis we have a range of instruments available including a Nanodrop 1000 spectrophotometer, Qubit fluorometer, Lightcycler 96 real-time PCR system and an AB 3130 genetic analyser. In addition, we have a variety of microscopes available including comparison, polarizing light and confocal, as well as a selection of specialised forensic equipment.
Our lecturers are all research-active and have first-hand experience of crime scene examination or the analysis of forensic evidence. As well as benefitting from their knowledge, you’ll have guest lectures from visiting professionals and get an understanding of the workplace through visits to places such as the Magistrates Court, Crown Court, and other field trips.
Studying this course qualifies you to become a member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

Modules

Year 1:
Core modules
Interactive Learning Skills and Communication
Information and Communication Technology
Critical Thinking
Maths for Scientists
Cellular Biology
Biology – Physiology
Chemistry
Physics for Life Scientists
Year 2:
Core modules
United Kingdom Legal Systems and Law for Forensic Scientists
Applied Science for Forensic Investigators
Introduction to Forensic Photography and Methodologies
Personal and Professional Development - Level 4
Physical and Quantitative Chemistry for Forensic Scientists
Physical Criminalistics
Group Tutorials
Year 3
Core modules
Forensic Genetics
Forensic Scene Examination
Forensic Spectroscopy Techniques
Chemical Criminalistics
Forensic Analytical Chemistry
Personal and Professional Development - Level 5
Group Tutorials
Ruskin Module
Year 4:
Core modules
Advanced Forensic Methodologies
Forensic Analysis of Drugs and Poisons
Forensic Pathology
Advanced Fire and Explosion Investigation
Forensic Anthropology
Undergraduate Major Project

Assessment methods

We’ll use a range of assessment methods to measure your progress. Our course has a hands-on approach, so a lot of your assessment will be through practical work. You’ll also do exams, essays, portfolios, role plays and presentations.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Cambridge Campus

Department:

Life Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

83%
Forensic science

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Forensic and archaeological sciences

Teaching and learning

89%
Staff make the subject interesting
91%
Staff are good at explaining things
87%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
91%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

92%
Library resources
85%
IT resources
92%
Course specific equipment and facilities
64%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

82%
UK students
18%
International students
21%
Male students
79%
Female students
81%
2:1 or above
11%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

D
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Forensic and archaeological sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£18,252
med
Average annual salary
92%
med
Employed or in further education
36%
low
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

17%
Science, engineering and production technicians
14%
Protective service occupations
14%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Forensic and archaeological sciences

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£20k

£20k

£22k

£22k

£23k

£23k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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