Keele Badge

FSC-40055 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

FSC-40055 - Digital Forensics: Applications and Advanced Examinations
Coordinator: Emma Hough Room: LJ0.04B
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

FSC 20013 or FSC 20029

Barred Combinations

FSC-30035

Description for 2025/26

This module will provide leading knowledge and understanding of Digital Forensics at the forefront of the discipline. Using AXIOM, software used within industry, you will work through a number of tasks to gain the critical skills vital for working within a digital forensics unit. You will be asked to complete written assessments, one of which will be a court report focusing of digital evidence and take an external examination to become a certified examiner within the software.

Aims
This module aims to provide students with an in-depth practical understanding of the analysis techniques and tools used by digital forensic examiners. Students will learn to analyse and parse the key areas of digital evidence across some of the main operating systems and develop an understanding as to their significance.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Evaluate the main sources of digital evidence in the main operating systems: 1
Develop an understanding of internationally recognised digital forensic tools and apply them appropriately: 1,2
Develop an ability to research the structure of potential evidence and understand its significance: 1
Critically review the implementation of the legal and ethical issues relating to presenting evidence in a court of law: 1,2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours:
Lectures: 12 hours
Laboratory sessions: 33 hours
Assessment workshops: 3 x 2 hours
Independent Learning Hours:
Pre-laboratory reading: 10 hours
Portfolio prep: 40 hours
SOP prep: 20 hours
Independent study: 29 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 80%
Portfolio
A portfolio of work, equivalent to 4000 words overall, completed throughout the semester, with a single submission deadline at the end of the module. The portfolio will include proformas from the practical sessions, focusing on the examination of different digital devices, working with the digital forensic software and gaining the knowledge for the certification

2: Assignment weighted 20%
Standard Operating Procedure Assessment
Submission of a standard operating procedure detailing the examination of a digital device using specific digital forensic software, equivalent to 1000 words

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025