Forensic Science

We're holding online Q&A sessions with Forensic Science lecturers on Facebook throughout the summer. Check the schedule for the next session.

Why study with us?

Forensic science tests the evidence at the scene of the crime. We get serving crime-scene investigators (CSIs) to leave traces of their crimes for you to investigate at our ‘crime house’. Using techniques like fingerprinting and DNA profiling, you collect evidence for analysis and identify it in the labs.

The course gives you a solid grounding in the scientific principles, techniques and skills needed in court and is structured around the three key areas—forensic investigation, forensic biology and forensic chemistry. This practical grounding prepares you for a career as a CSI or forensic analyst, or in a related area of science.

Where will this course take place?

If you enrol with us in September 2013, you may have the opportunity to spend time at both our Penrith and Ambleside campuses. Each campus offers individual and distinctive advantages, providing easy access to the English Lake District with its unique geography. These exceptional locations in effect become your classroom.

From September 2014, all Forensic Science students will be based in Ambleside.

What can this course lead to?

The vast majority of students stay with us to progress onto the BSc(Hons) Forensic Science top-up. We help you develop the skills needed for getting a job after the course also. The practical grounding prepares you for a career as a CSI or forensic analyst, or in a related area of science.

Graduates from the course are working as Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs), forensic analysts, firearms officers with the Ministry of Defence, police officers, science technicians in hospital and school laboratories, and in a variety of other careers such as management, banking and teaching.

View our graduate profiles.

Resources and facilities Our Crime House, Cow Pasture Cottage, is essential because gaining work experience for students in such a sensitive area is almost impossible. Real-life crime scenes and criminal investigation laboratories are out of bounds to members of the public. You will spend time in the cottage, under the supervision of serving Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs), learning how to gather evidence and manage a crime scene.

The programme is taught by both academic staff and industry practitioners with extensive teaching, research and professional expertise in this field. They bring together a wealth of knowledge and experience in forensic science and the criminal justice sector. Teaching staff are committed to providing high quality guidance and support, and are praised for their approachability. We also invite a number of guest speakers on the course.

Have a look at our learning resources for Forensic Science.

Entry requirements

80 UCAS tariff points

Find out more about qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.

Please check selection criteria for any additional entry requirements.

Credit and UCAS requirements UCAS code: F411 UCAS points: 80 Costs

Click the links below to view information on your study type and residence status. If you are unsure of your status, please see the UKCISA website for more information.

Full-time students

Home

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount).

As a full-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 (if you're from England) or £15,795 (if you're from Scotland). You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Additional funding

National Scholarship Programme

The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Full-time students may be eligible for one of 110 NSP awards for full-time students worth up to £6,000.

Cumbria Bursary

The Cumbria Bursary is an annual cash award of £1,000 for up to three years of study. There are 300 Cumbria Bursaries available in 2013.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:

• Achievement scholarships
• Outstanding performance awards
• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

EU

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount).

As a full-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.

Additional funding

National Scholarship Programme

The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Full-time students may be eligible for one of 110 NSP awards for full-time students worth up to £6,000.

Cumbria Bursary

The Cumbria Bursary is an annual cash award of £1,000 for up to three years of study. There are 300 Cumbria Bursaries available in 2013.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:

• Achievement scholarships
• Outstanding performance awards
• Utilities trust

International

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,960.

Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For students requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, a deposit of £3,500 is expected as a minimum before a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be issued. For more information, visit our international student finance page.

Early payment discount

If you are paying your own fees, you may be eligible for an early payment discount of £1,000. This discount is awarded to students who pay in full before registration.

Additional financial support

Our money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.

Part-time students

Home

The tuition fee for students starting study in the 2013/14 academic year is £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount). This fee is billed annually. For part-time students, the annual fee is calculated based on the number of years you take to complete your course. For example, a student studying part-time for six years may expect to pay £3,100 per year (where the full-time option takes three years).

As a part-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 (if you're from England) or £15,795 (if you're from Scotland). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.

Additional funding

National Scholarship Programme

The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Part-time students may be eligible for one of 40 NSP awards worth up to £3,000.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:

• Achievement scholarships
• Outstanding performance awards
• Access to Learning Fund
• Utilities trust

EU

The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount). The tuition fee for students starting study in the 2013/14 academic year is £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount). This fee is billed annually. For part-time students, the annual fee is calculated based on the number of years you take to complete your course. For example, a student studying part-time for six years may expect to pay £3,100 per year (where the full-time option takes three years).

As a part-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.

Additional funding

National Scholarship Programme

The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Part-time students may be eligible for one of 40 NSP awards worth up to £3,000.

More financial support

Access to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:

• Achievement scholarships
• Outstanding performance awards
• Utilities trust

Additional contact information For more information visit our subject area.
UCAS Link

Visit UCAS

Modules

Forensic investigation covers the investigation, management and processing of crime scenes, the collection and analysis of evidence, and the presentation of findings in court.

Forensic biology applies general and molecular biology to forensic investigations. Study of cell biology, biochemistry, genetics and immunology provides the necessary platform for exploring how techniques, such as DNA profiling, can be used to detect individuality in samples of blood, semen, hairs, teeth, bones or saliva. Forensic biology also explores the information that can be obtained from insect activity on corpses, from pathological examinations and from botanical analysis of samples.

Forensic chemistry covers the chemical theory of fires, explosives, paints, ink, glass and drugs, and their analysis. A range of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques is used to analyse unknown compounds and their application to forensic investigation is evaluated.

For detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course (PDF).

Course summary

The course follows the logical progression of gathering evidence at a crime scene to its laboratory analysis. In year one you develop and practice the techniques for the collection and processing of fingerprints, footwear impressions, hairs, fibres, glass fragments and tool marks. Emphasis is given to photographical recording of evidence, as needed by CSIs, and particularly important when you investigate mock crimes at our crime house. In year two you undertake detailed analysis of crime scene evidence and learn about the value of different evidence types, like blood spatter and ballistics, to a criminal investigation.

Case studies

When asked about this course, our students said...

"The lecturers are really friendly and approachable."

"Small lecturing groups allow for almost one-to-one tuition where nobody is afraid to ask questions."

"Practical classes give you the opportunity to put theory into practice."

"The great thing about my course is that it's fun, friendly and factual. The modules contain a good combination of seminars, tutorials and practicals and the lecturers are always around if you’re struggling or just need a chat."

View graduate profiles here

Ashleigh Hunt - Winner of the Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award for Teaching and Support of Learning

Ash created “an innovative and exciting learning environment for students, transcending the conventions of classroom teaching by taking forensic science into the simulated environment of a major incident. The panel were impressed by her initiative and drive to create an enquiry-based learning approach that engages students from all three years of the programme in working together, and has received highly positive feedback from students and diverse partner stakeholders alike”.