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University of Bedfordshire

UCAS Code: F4FY | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Entry requirements

A level

C-B

A science A-Level is preferred.

Successfully completed Access Diploma course. A science subject is preferred.

32 - 48 UCAS Tariff Points. A science subject is preferred.

32 - 48 UCAS Tariff Points. A science subject is preferred.

UCAS Tariff

32-48

A Level 3 qualification in a science subject is preferred.

About this course

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2025

Subject

Forensic science

Technological advances have made the role of the forensic scientist increasingly important in crime investigations and other fields such as archaeology. Our degree course provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the biological and chemical sciences involved as well as exploring the most recent advances in areas such as DNA analysis, toxicology, criminal psychology, and fire and explosive analysis.

**Foundation Year**
In the Foundation year you will study three days per week. The focus will be on academic writing skills and numeracy, plus subject-specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree. It provides a balance between content related to your chosen subject and the range of wider skills required for undergraduate study. This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will be required to pass the foundation year in order to progress to the first year of your degree. This course is ideal for those who do not meet our standard entry requirements or those with a non-standard educational background. It will allow you to graduate with a full undergraduate degree in your chosen subject in four years.

**Course Accreditation/Industry Endorsement**
- Our BSc (Hons) Forensic Science is accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) so you can be sure its content and teaching are of a high, internationally recognised standard.

**Facilities and Specialist Equipment**
- Modern STEM building with high-tech labs and bespoke study spaces, providing you with a vibrant and supportive learning environment.

- Mock crime-scene flat designed as a typical residential home, allowing you to simulate crime scenarios and apply your learning to real-life situations.

- Specialist forensic laboratory with state-of-the-art microscopes and insectary.

- Practise for court appearances in the University’s Moot Court.

**Partnerships and Collaborations**
- Our Life Sciences Liaison Board works with industry professionals across the pharma-biotech, health and food sectors, including Glaxo Smith Kline, the NHS and Cellmark Forensics. Our collaboration within the sector help you establish links and gain valuable work experience.

**Your Student Experience**
- Prepare for future employment with our courses’ hands-on approach to learning.

- Put theory into practice in a real-world research project of your choosing.

- Our academic team are industry professionals in forensic science

- Study with academics who have world-leading research expertise in areas such as community safety, offending and youth justice; their experience shapes their teaching, keeping you up to date with the latest industry developments.

- Explore your prospects and connect with leading employers at our annual STEM Careers Expo.

- Learn from our regular masterclasses and interactive demonstrations by industry experts such as Paul Kingdon, former New Scotland Yard detective and police training manager for the Metropolitan Police Service Crime Academy.

- Take part in night-time, mock crime-scene investigations at our Putteridge Bury campus.

- Gain additional lab-work experience via the Student Skills Lab scheme where you can try out techniques for real-world applications, under the guidance of recent graduates.

Modules

Areas of study include:
- Chemistry and Molecular Genetics
- Essential Skills in Forensic Science
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Psychology and Criminal Behaviour
- Forensic Biology
- Interpretation and Presentation of Forensic Evidence
- Psychology and Criminal Justice
- Skills and Crimes Against Property
- Crime Scene to Court
- Fire Analysis
- Forensic Genetics
- Forensic Science Research Project
- Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis

Every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate at the point of publication on the UCAS website. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our website.

The Uni

Course location:

Luton Campus

Department:

School of Life Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say

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

99%
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

100%
Staff make the subject interesting
86%
Staff are good at explaining things
79%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
93%
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

71%
Library resources
71%
IT resources
86%
Course specific equipment and facilities
79%
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?

83%
UK students
17%
International students
24%
Male students
76%
Female students
20%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
E
B

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 science

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.

85%
low
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

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Course location and department:

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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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