Forensic Science Foundation

UCAS code: BLS3

Here's what De Montfort University says about its Forensic Science Foundation course.

The initial year of this course is taught by DMUIC, which occupies a single, specially-designed site in the heart of the DMU campus. As a DMUIC student, you will have full access to all the university’s facilities including the library, gym, bookshop, cafes and computer labs. During this year, you will be taught in small class sizes by experienced tutors, receiving excellent academic teaching and superb support to ensure that you get all the help you need to succeed and progress to the Forensic Science BSc (Hons)/MSci degree.

The first year of this full-time, four-year course is ideal for careers in the medical and healthcare professions or laboratory science, but do not have the relevant grades to study Forensic Science at degree level. You will be taught the core skills in chemistry, biology, mathematics, IT and communication, providing you with the key requirements needed to study Forensic Science BSc (Hons) at DMU.

Once you have successfully completed the year zero stage of your degree at DMUIC and have met the criteria for continuation, you will continue studying directly with the university on our Forensic Science BSc (Hons) degree - a course which is professionally accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and developed in collaboration with Leicestershire Police, ensuring your learning remains relevant to current practice and standards.

Key features

• Direct progression on to the Forensic Science BSc (Hons)/MSci programme at DMU following successful competition of the Year Zero programme.

• You will study a range of topics including human biology, cell biology, chemistry and biochemistry and their relevance to health and life sciences in the wider context, as well as communication skills.

• Learn from experienced tutors, who combine academic teaching excellence with high levels of support to help you succeed.

Human Biology Basic Microbiology Introduction to Psychology Study Skills 1 - Introduction to DMU Study Skills 2 - Information Technology & Numeracy Study Skills 3 - Communication Skills Cell Biology Chemistry 1 Chemistry 2 Introductory Biochemistry

All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Assessments come in three main forms:

• Diagnostic assessment allows you and your tutors to see your strengths and weaknesses so you can focus your efforts more effectively (e.g. your tutor may ask you to complete a task in class which you can then ‘mark’ yourself and see where your strengths and areas for focus lie).

• Formative assessment allows your tutors to give you feedback that you can use to improve (e.g. you may be asked to write a report for one of your earlier assignments). You will be given a mark and feedback for this which you can then use to improve your report writing in a later assignment or exam question.

• Summative assessment in which your grade or mark counts towards your final module mark (e.g. an exam at the end of a module).

In order to ensure that you can achieve your full potential, you will receive regular feedback on your assessed work. Feedback will be given in a variety of ways: written, verbal, audio-visual, email, and so on. Feedback has one purpose - to assist you in reflecting upon and revising your work. If you do not act on feedback, or choose not to engage in the different feedback opportunities, your grades are likely to suffer.