Why study this course?
Our Forensic Science (including foundation year) BSc (Hons) degree focuses on the science and investigative techniques required for a career in forensics.
This four-year course has a built-in foundation year (Year 0), designed to help you enter higher education if you can’t meet the entry requirements or don’t hold the traditional qualifications you require to enrol on an undergraduate degree. You’ll graduate with the same title and award as students on the standard Forensic Science three-year course.
More about this course
Our Forensic Science (including foundation year) BSc (Hons) course will provide you with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of forensic science. It will equip you with a range of scientific techniques to examine problems of a biological or chemical nature within the context of forensic science.
The foundation year will equip you with the fundamental knowledge of scientific disciplines including biochemistry, chemistry and biology. We’ll help you develop your study and transferable skills in time management, writing and mathematics, enabling you to start the subsequent years of your study with confidence. There will also be an introduction to the laboratory environment, as well as to the simple biological and biochemical procedures relevant to any science degree.
You’ll share your foundation year with students completing Year 0 from other disciplines, which will allow you to share your ideas and meet people with different academic interests.
During the subsequent three years, you’ll be joined by students from the standard three-year course and study a wide range of challenging and engaging subjects including anatomy, physiology, criminalistics, DNA technology, biochemical toxicology and forensic interference from biological remains.
If, at the end of your foundation year, you find yourself wanting to specialise in a different area of human sciences, there will be flexibility to do so.
Professional accreditation
As a graduate of the full degree you’ll will be eligible to apply for associate membership of the Society of Biology.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 0 modules include:
Biochemistry (core, 15 credits)
Biology (core, 30 credits)
Chemistry (core, 30 credits)
Foundation Year Project (Biosciences) (core, 15 credits)
Scientific Studies (core, 30 credits)
Year 1 modules include:
Anatomy & Physiology 1 (core, 15 credits)
Anatomy & Physiology 2 (core, 15 credits)
Biochemistry (core, 15 credits)
Cell Biology (core, 15 credits)
Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (core, 15 credits)
General Chemistry (core, 15 credits)
General Microbiology (core, 15 credits)
Professional Studies (core, 15 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Criminalistics I (core, 15 credits)
Criminalistics II (core, 15 credits)
Human Immunity (core, 15 credits)
Metabolism (core, 15 credits)
Microbiology (core, 15 credits)
Molecular Biology (core, 15 credits)
Quantitative Analysis (core, 15 credits)
Spectroscopic Methods (core, 15 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Advanced Bioanalytical Science (core, 15 credits)
Biochemical Pathology (core, 15 credits)
Inferences from Biological Remains (core, 30 credits)
Project (core, 30 credits)
Toxicology (core, 15 credits)
Applied Immunology (option, 15 credits)
Medical Genetics (option, 15 credits)
Virology (option, 15 credits)
Work Placement (for Life Sciences) (option, 15 credits)
Where this course can take you
Successful completion of this degree will open up a wide range of exciting career opportunities in the field of forensic science.
The course is also excellent preparation for further study at postgraduate level.
What is a degree with a foundation year?
This is a four-year degree course with a built-in foundation year (Year 0). It’s the perfect route into university if you don’t meet the necessary entry requirements for the standard undergraduate degree. You’ll graduate with a full undergraduate degree with the same title and award as those who studied the three-year course.
