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Summary:
Course Code: F410
Course Code: F4FY
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Why choose the School of Life Sciences
97% of our forensic sciences students were satisfied with the learning opportunities their course offered; 95% were satisfied with how well it developed knowledge and skills for the future (NSS, 2024).
Our forensic sciences courses rank 8th in their subject field for student satisfaction (CUG, 2025).
Accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, ensuring the course content and teaching are of a high, internationally recognised standard.
About the course
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.ÌýÌý
Course accreditation
Our BSc (Hons) Forensic Science is accredited by 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
Industry links
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.
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.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
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with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
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Course Leader - Dr Victoria Barlow
I joined the School of Life Sciences in November 2015, having completed my PhD with the Forensic Research Centre at Northumbria University.
Prior to this, I worked for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) from 2006, firstly as a DNA Analyst in the Intelligence Crime Stain Unit and subsequently as an Examiner with the Homicide & Violence Team, alongside being trained to assist with cases for the Sexual Offences Team.
Course Leader - Dr Victoria Barlow
I joined the School of Life Sciences in November 2015, having completed my PhD with the Forensic Research Centre at Northumbria University.
Prior to this, I worked for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) from 2006, firstly as a DNA Analyst in the Intelligence Crime Stain Unit and subsequently as an Examiner with the Homicide & Violence Team, alongside being trained to assist with cases for the Sexual Offences Team.
What will you study?
Studying our Forensic Science BSc (Hons) course will equip you with in-depth skills and knowledge needed for crime scene investigation, examination and analysis of evidence in the laboratory and communication of your findings for court. You will be given a broad understanding of core scientific areas including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Molecular Genetics and Chemistry for Forensic Scientists where you will get to explore topics such as structure and relationship between body parts, patterns of genetic inheritance and the structure of molecules. To equip you with the research and practical skills for this course, our Skills for Forensic Scientists unit will teach you to record, analyse and report data from experiments as well as the key skills you need for investigation of a crime scene, including photography, evidence selection and exhibit packaging. As one of the crucial parts of your study, you will learn how to conduct a basic search of exhibits for evidence of interest and to complete your casefile notes in our Evidence Examination Skills unit. This leads into our Biology in Forensic Science unit where you will learn to examine biological evidence that could be encountered at a crime scene. This is a crucial part of forensics, as biologists can support a range of investigations from preserving, recovering and analysing biological samples such as blood, saliva and hair, and using bones and teeth to help identify a body.ÌýÌý
Aside from human samples, you will also learn to examine and analyse a range of biological evidence using animals and plants to aid forensic investigations in our Animals and Plants in Crime unit. Underpinning many types of biological evidence in forensic investigations is DNA, this is where our Forensic Genetics and Advanced Applications in Forensic Genetics units will introduce you to DNA analysis and profiling techniques to develop your understanding so that you can devise a forensic strategy for any sample type. Other key evidence types, such as paint, firearms, digital evidence and documents analysis will be covered in Crimes Against Property where you will investigate how forensic techniques are used to identify class and individual characteristics of trace and physical evidence in order to reconstruct events of the crime of to form associations between people and crime scenes. You will also learn to identify properties of legal and illegal substances encountered in forensic drug examinations in Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis and to identify, recover and analyse evidence from fire or explosion crime scenes in the Fire Analysis unit.Ìý
To deepen your understanding of criminal behaviour, our Psychology and Criminal Behaviour unit will help you understand the contexts in which criminal behaviour occurs while introducing ways to assess and rehabilitate various types of offenders based on different types of crime, including stalking, violence and terrorism. Similarly, you will learn how science contributes to law-making processes, enforcement and prosecution in criminal justice settings in our Psychology and Criminal Justice unit. As a result of your examinations, Presentation of Evidence will equip you with the basic statistical methods to critically evaluate and communicate your scientific findings in the form of expert witness statements and presentation of evidence in a court environment. You will then get to apply these skills in our Crime Scene to Court unit where you take the role as the lead scientist and work on a simulated forensic investigation that develops in real-time over the course of a semester.Ìý
During this time, you will manage your own work, complete examination notes and subsequently present your results in a court session. In addition, you will undertake our unit in Suspicious Death Investigation during which you will develop the skills needed to build a biological profile when the deceased is unknown and to estimate the post-mortem interval. Finally, you will undertake a Forensic Science Research Project in your final year that will give you the opportunity to plan, design and execute a piece of research into a topic of your interest that is relevant to your field of study. You will work to answer a research question based on research and laboratory work using the skills you gained throughout the course. To help you with this, our Skills in Science unit will equip you with a range of skills you need for your research and for a career in science.Ìý
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How will you be assessed?
The course is designed to introduce students to fundamental principles of anatomy chemistry genetics and crime scene management at level 4. Assessments at level 4 therefore focus on knowledge retention and understanding (end of year examinations) as well as the ability to produce effective reports to present data from laboratory practical sessions. These reports use a structure that is the professional standard for publishing scientific research and encourage students to employ an effective scientific method in considering the background and aim of an experiment the appropriateness of the method employed the reliability of the results obtained and the meaning of the data in a broader scientific context.
As students progress through level 5 they are expected to apply their basic understanding to novel situations and the analysis of more complex scientific phenomena. Although practical reports are still a key assessment method the assessment criteria weighting changes from an emphasis on subject understanding and written structure at level 4 to an emphasis on accurate analysis of the results critical evaluation of the method and data and effective use of literature at level 5. Similarly end of year exams involve short essay answers allowing students to demonstrate broader understanding of the subject material and an ability to apply their knowledge in different contexts.
Students will be introduced to essential topics around the interpretation and presentation of forensic evidence including use of statistics to support casework conclusions how to write both streamlined forensic reports and full witness statements and how to present their findings in court. Additionally level 5 students will complete a scientific proposal assignment in their BHS022-2 skills unit that requires that they assess the published literature to identify a research need that they can address through proposal of a novel experiment/product/service. This requires students to develop and practice the scientific method to generate hypotheses and to consider the commercialisation and broader applicability of the science.
At level 6 students are expected to demonstrate an ability to integrate varied knowledge and to critically evaluate their understanding. Students will write reports based on the laboratory work evaluate and communicate case study information through the production of a scientific webinar as well as further develop their skills in the communication of their findings in their role as an expert witness. Teaching throughout this year is more student focused and students are expected to lead discussion and to devise their own research question to answer a forensic case related query. As part of this project students will be required to assess literature to support their research and design a scientific experiment to test their hypotheses. End of year exams are long essay based to enable students to demonstrate knowledge synthesis and critical evaluation.
Careers
This course is designed to open a range of opportunities in analytical and investigative science. These include working in research organisations and institutes as well as in commercial laboratories plus careers in teaching scientific publishing and medical sales.
Careers directly linked to your degree might be:
- Analytical chemist
- Biomedical scientist
- Detective
- Forensic computer analyst
- Forensic scientist
- Scientific laboratory technician
- Teaching laboratory technician
- Toxicologist
Careers where your degree would be useful include:
- Further education teacher
- Higher education lecturer
- Paralegal
- Police officer
- Science writer
- Secondary school teacher
- Solicitor
The careers listed here are for information and guidance purposes only. Many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject. By completing your degree you have demonstrated skills which are transferable to a range of careers.
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Entry Requirements
- GCSE grade 4/Functional Skills Level 2 Maths
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
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International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
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International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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