Criminology and Forensic Biology
University of Chester
UCAS Code: MF94 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
University of Chester
UCAS Code: MF94 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
The Department requires one of the following subjects as essential for entry: GCE A Level: Biology or Chemistry
Access to HE (Science) Diploma, to include 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Merit
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
26 points including 5 in HL Biology
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Including H3 in Biology
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
BTEC Extended Diploma Applied Science
Scottish Higher
BBBB including Biology
T Level
T Level must be in Science
UCAS Tariff
The Department requires one of the following subjects as essential for entry: GCE A Level: Biology or Chemistry
About this course
A Combined Honours degree at Chester gives you the opportunity to study two subjects. You will spend a fairly even amount of time studying each subject area, with possible opportunities to declare a major – minor towards the end of your studies.
Our BSc Criminology and Forensic Biology course explores the compelling intersection of criminological theories and criminal justice practices. This dynamic and interdisciplinary program immerses you in Psychological and Sociological perspectives on critical societal issues such as social inequality, crime, and justice, with case studies drawn from both national and international contexts.
You’ll study a combination of forensic aspects with a thorough grounding in biology, mastering advanced techniques in molecular biology and DNA profiling. These skills are essential for forensic applications and versatile across various biological fields, preparing you for a range of graduate career opportunities.
Our experienced lecturers are supported by practising forensic experts from many disciplines, offering a rich learning experience. Emphasis is placed on the development of key generic skills, equipping you with the necessary theoretical basis and practical experience to enter many areas of employment in forensic and biological sciences and criminology.
Additionally, you'll have the chance to engage in hands-on activities, from crime scene investigations to courtroom activities, preparing you for real-world situations and complex challenges.
Modules
The Criminology and Forensic Biology Course is delivered through a series of core modules that provide you with a detailed understanding of the theoretical and practical applications of both disciplines. In year 1 (Level 4), you will be introduced to the essential principles, mechanisms and concepts that underpin both Forensic Biology and Criminology.
In year 2 (Level 5), you will expand your knowledge and develop more advanced skills in both disciplines. In Forensic Biology, you’ll learn how principles are applied in forensic investigations – from crime scene to court. In Criminology you will explore theoretical and practical understandings of crime, harm and victimisation applying knowledge and building an understanding of the criminal justice system and journey.
In your final year (Level 6), you will tackle more complex topics while continuing to develop a range of analytical skills. In Forensic Biology, your focus will be upon the benefits of biosciences and applied analytical techniques. Subjects such as biotechnology, pharmacology and toxicology are considered as opportunities for problem solving. There will also be an exploration of experiences of punishments and injustices considered in the context of promoting social change. You will also develop an active voice as a reflective academic and researcher with cultural awareness and sensitivity in responding to real-world problems relevant to criminology and criminal justice. At Level 6 the dissertation/major project module will be delivered alongside other modules.
The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.
Assessment methods
This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term students’ study 40 credits usually comprised of either one or two modules. At Level 6 the dissertation/major project module will be delivered alongside other modules.
Average scheduled contact hours range between approximately 6 and 10 hours per week depending upon the module, level of study, number of practical sessions, and the complexity of the material being taught. The course is delivered through a mix of in person and online learning. Students can expect to take part in lectures and seminars. Alongside this, students will develop relevant skills (e.g. laboratory, field, computer) through practical sessions, field trips, or work placements.
Independent learning is an important part of this course. Students should expect to spend an average of 30 – 34 hours per week on independent study which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, using the University’s library, working with peers, and preparing work for assessment.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Chester
University of Chester Law School
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.
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.
Sociology
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Forensic and archaeological sciences
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Sociology
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.
Top job areas of graduates
We have quite a lot of sociology graduates, although numbers fell last year. But graduates still do pretty well. Most sociology graduates go straight into work when they complete their degrees, and a lot of graduates go into jobs in social professions such as recruitment, education, community and youth work, and housing. An important option for a sociology graduate is social work - and we're short of people willing to take this challenging but rewarding career. Sociology is a flexible degree and you can find graduates from the subject in pretty much every reasonable job — obviously, you don't find many doctors or engineers, but you do find them in finance, the media, healthcare, marketing and even IT. Sociology graduates taking further study often branch out into other qualifications, like teaching, law, psychology, HR and even maths, so don’t think a sociology degree restricts you to just one set of options.
Biology
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.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Sociology
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£18k
£21k
£24k
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.
Sorry, no information to show
This is usually because there were too few respondents in the data we receive to be able to provide results about the subject at this university.
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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:
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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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