Astrophysics and Forensic Science

Astrophysics and Forensic Science - BSc (Hons)

Explore the nature of our Universe and analyse the science behind a crime scene to identify and present admissible forensic evidence to uphold justice. Our Astrophysics and Forensic Science BSc will equip you with advanced critical thinking, mathematical and problem solving skills and develop your knowledge, analytical skills, methods and techniques to be able to enter a rewarding science-based career in a variety of sectors.

Year of entry

2023 - for 2022 entry see here

Course type

Combined Honours

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area / School

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences

UCAS code

FF54

Duration of study

3 years/ 4 years with International Year

Enquire about this course Book an open day Chat to students

Why study Astrophysics and Forensic Science at Keele University?

No. 1 in England for Forensic Science (The Complete University Guide, 2022)

Professional accreditation pathways are available

Access to Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories (CSL)

Develop your practical and professional forensic skills in our crime scene facilities

Experience different cultures by spending a year studying abroad

Course overview

Study two fascinating topics and advance your subject knowledge and skills on our Astrophysics and Forensic Science BSc programme.

The course will introduce you to the topics that underpin the study of both subjects areas. In astrophysics you will apply physics to understanding how the universe works and potentially explore questions like 'Is there an Earth-like planet around another star?' 'Is there a black hole at the centre of every galaxy?' And 'Why is the expansion of the Universe accelerating?' These are questions that astrophysics helps you discover the answer to.

Forensic science is a critical element of the criminal justice system. As criminals continue to use ever advancing tools and techniques to commit crime, the field of forensics is integral in producing scientific evidence for use in courts of law to support the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations.

Astrophysics will give you the quantitative and analytic skills needed for analysing data and solving problems and is underpinned by a core physics curriculum as set out by the Institute of Physics. This includes the fundamentals of classical and quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, thermodynamics, solid state, atomic and nuclear physics, together with the mathematics that is used to describe them.

We have our own observatory here at Keele that students on this combined honours programme can get involved with on a volunteer basis with the potential to learn some astronomical techniques.

As you progress, you will build on your existing knowledge in familiar core areas of astrophysics including mechanics, special relativity, nature of matter and gravitation, electricity, oscillations and waves and focus on areas like the basics of stellar structure and stellar astrophysics. Later in your degree you will get the opportunity to study at a deeper level topics such as electromagnetism, cosmology, black holes and gravitational waves in different modules.

Forensic science focuses on the entire forensic process, from evidence collection, analysis and interpretation to court reporting. The core curriculum includes key topics in forensic chemistry, forensic biology and criminalistic science. Throughout your studies you will develop an understanding of continuity of evidence and how the crime scene, the laboratory and the court contribute to the forensic and legal process.

We provide you with the opportunity to align your Astrophysics and Forensic Science BSc to your career aspirations and interests by choosing from a variety of optional modules in your final year.
Your Forensic Science studies will culminate with the opportunity to unleash your creativity and apply the knowledge and techniques you have acquired throughout your studies by working on a final year extended project. This will enable you to integrate your personal passions and examine them from a forensic perspective and further develop your expertise, teamwork and communication skills required for a career within the field.

Examples of previous forensic science team project titles include:

Analysis of post-mortem bone trauma
Analysis of trace evidence -identification of drugs in latent fingerprints
Long-term geophysical monitoring of simulated clandestine graves of murder victims
Wildlife forensics –assessment of presumptive tests on non-human blood
Forensic odontology -bite marks
Investigating the appearance of aged fingerprints

International year

In between years two and three of your studies you can choose to spend a year studying abroad. This exciting opportunity enables you to experience different cultures and to establish international networks.
It also shows you have the personal attributes to embrace new experiences which can enhance your employability. We offer exchange opportunities with a wide variety of partner institutions.

Student support

We offer a multi layered student support structure to help you meet your academic and personal needs. Our open-door policy enables you to engage with us directly, meaning you can seek support, gain feedback or discuss any matters on a regular basis. You will benefit from the support of an assigned academic mentor and access to Keele's Student Experience and Support team.

Societies

We have a wealth of student-led societies here at Keele which cover a diverse range of interests. Joining a society related to astrophysics or forensic science is a great opportunity to continue to develop your skills away from your studies. This is another excellent way of demonstrating your genuine interest for the area and can be beneficial when it comes to applying for graduate roles. It’s also a great way to make friends and share interests with fellow students.

Next Steps

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Accreditation and professional recognition

This programme is accredited by the Institute of Physics and recognised by the Chartered Society of Forensic Science. It is accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Science if you specialise in Forensic Science, and if you specialise in your final year, you will only be eligible for the accreditation aligned to the subject you have chosen to specialise in.

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Additional opportunities

Foundation year International year Study abroad Explore more

There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

Entry requirements

Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

Read more about our undergraduate entry requirements for United Kingdom and International students.

A Level requirements

A Level requirement BBC
A Level Physics or Maths at grade B or above. If Maths is presented without A Level Physics, please contact Admissions.
A Level Chemistry or Biology at grade B or above.

GCSE requirements

Maths at C (or 4)
English Language or English Literature at C (or 4)

BTEC

BTEC requirements DMM
You must have taken sufficient Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry OR Biology units. Please contact us for advice.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

International Baccalaureate

29 points to include Higher Level Physics at 6 or Higher Level Maths at 6 plus Higher Level Physics at 4 AND Higher Level Chemistry or Biology at 6

Access Course

Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 112 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction, to include sufficient Maths/Physics and Chemistry/Biology units, please contact us for advice.

If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

Preparation programmes for international students

International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

Next Steps

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"As a Fraud Analyst, I use the skills I developed as an astrophysics undergraduate to identify and solve complex problems"

David, Astrophysics with Business Management

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"My experience on the forensic science course has been brilliant due to the commitment of the lecturers and lab staff in providing me with the necessary tools to pursue a career in forensic science. I particularly enjoy the practical lab sessions where we get hands on experience with techniques used in the field such as fingerprint enhancement and identification, DNA, blood spatter, and chemical analysis using the newly added equipment and lab spaces contained within the CSL building."

Max, Forensic Science

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LEARN FROM OUR CAMPUS - OUR OWN 'LIVING AND NATURAL LABORATORY'

From recovering evidence in our indoor and outdoor crime scene facilities to replica skeletal remains within the grounds of Keele woods, our unique 600-acre campus offers a fantastic environment to apply your theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios you may encounter within forensic investigation. These practical experiences will also provide you with the opportunity to develop and refine the methods and techniques that are integral to work within the field.

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Your future career

96% of Keele graduates were in a job or further study within six months of graduating (HESA, 2017)

Our Astrophysics and Forensic Science degree will equip you with a diverse range of transferrable skills in advanced problem-solving, numeracy, computation, analytical, communication, data analysis and data interpretation. These abilities open up a wide variety of science-related career opportunities and are highly valued by employers.

If you choose to follow the forensic science route you could consider joining Chartered Society of Forensic Scientists (CSFS) to keep you up to date with developments in the sector and help you make valuable contacts.

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do include :

Scientist
Engineer
Physicist
Academic researcher
Astronomer
Secondary school teacher
Analytical chemist
Toxicologist
Microbiologist
Scientific laboratory technician
Forensic scene investigator
Forensic examiner
Intelligence analyst
Quality control scientist
Security analyst
Science teacher
Researcher

Please note you may need to take further postgraduate study to enter some of the professions listed above.

Enhance your employability

Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability. From mock interviews, careers guidance and CV advice, to careers fairs, alumni mentoring and networking events, along with helping you find part-time and graduate employment - the team will support you throughout your studies and beyond.

Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

Next Steps

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Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching in Astrophysics

The student voice is at the heart of our teaching and we regularly seek student feedback on our programmes and make improvements through meetings with student representatives and by asking students to provide anonymous feedback on module content. In addition to our variety of teaching methods, great emphasis is placed on teaching in smaller groups and collaborative working. This is supported by a diverse mixture of digital learning materials that are available on our Keele Learning Environment (KLE) and the assistance of PhD student demonstrators during practical sessions.

Our teaching focuses on problem solving. This occurs in problem classes where practice problems are solved with staff and postgraduate research students, acting as graduate teaching assistants are available to help; in laboratory teaching where practical and computational problems are addressed; and in directed work for assessment.

Methods of teaching include:

Lectures
Tutorials
Laboratory classes
Computational laboratory classes
Exercise/problem-solving classes
Individual progress interviews
Problem sheet assignments
Group and individual projects
Directed reading and independent study
Literature research tasks
Use of e-learning/the Keele Learning Environment (KLE)

Assessments in Astrophysics

The wide variety of assessment methods used on this programme at Keele reflects the broad range of knowledge and skills that are developed as you progress through the degree programme. Teaching staff pay particular attention to specifying clear assessment criteria and providing timely, regular and constructive feedback that helps to clarify things you did not understand and helps you to improve your performance.

Methods of assessment include:

End of module examinations
Assessed problem sheets
Laboratory and project reports
Observation of laboratory skills and laboratory notebooks
Oral and/or poster presentations
In-class exercises and tests
Group oral presentations and reports
Engagement with problem classes
Dissertation

Teaching in Forensic Science

We offer a personalised learning experience in an environment where you can feel part of a community. Many of our teaching staff are Fellows or Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy, the professional body for teachers in Higher Education. Fellowship provides individuals with recognition of their practice, impact and leadership of teaching and learning. To ensure you receive a high-quality learning experience, teaching will be delivered through a blend of in-situ and digital approaches.

Methods of teaching include:

Lectures (including those from guest speakers from the profession)
Practical laboratory classes
Practical simulated crime scene examination (indoor and outdoor)
Tutorials and problems classes
Mini-projects and extended research projects
Group/ team-work and independent project work
Problem-based learning workshops
Team-based learning workshops
Use of e-learning/the Keele Learning Environment (KLE) (Blackboard) and MS Teams

Assessments in Forensic Science

Class tests
End of module examinations, open book assessments and case work portfolios
Problems sheets and data analysis exercises
Laboratory diaries, proformas, reports and examination forms
Crime scene investigation reports
Court expert witness statements
Oral, poster and digital presentations
Essays
Technical leaflets
Dissertation and research paper literature critical reviews
Project plans, team project interviews and viva examinations
Cross-examination assessment

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Central Science Laboratories

Develop your practical skills in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories

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Foundation year

Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

The information within this page is for students wishing to start their studies in September. If you would like to start this course in January, please visit our January pages for further details.

Course Content

Our Foundation Year allows you to develop your critical thinking, academic reading, writing, and communication study skills along with subject-specific knowledge and skills. Upon meeting the progression criteria and successfully completing our Foundation Year, you will automatically progress into your Keele undergraduate degree with the confidence that you have the skills, and knowledge needed to successfully complete your course.

Our combined honours foundation year is a two semester programme which provides a tailored pre-degree programme of study to better prepare you for the BSc (Hons) Astrophysics and Forensic Science degree. For example, the Foundations of Physics module will introduce you to the mathematical skills needed to solve problems in physics at level 3 while studying fundamental equations and concepts in classical physics. Meanwhile, the Advancing Chemistry module aims to increase your knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of chemistry in a theoretical context, while also demonstrating the application of concepts in a practical environment. All of the modules you take will prove useful in your degree and professional career. Course content has been developed in collaboration with degree teaching teams, so that by the time you begin Year 1, you will be ready to excel at your studies, as the majority of our Foundation Year students do.

Find out more about the Keele Foundation Year, including information about teaching and assessment methods by visiting the Foundation Year homepage.

Course Structure

The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

Semester One

FYO-00185	Practical and Academic Skills in Science	15 credits
FYO-00215	Foundations of Mathematical Methods	15 credits
FYO-00189	Foundations of Chemistry	15 credits
FYO-00205	Foundations of Physics	15 credits

Semester Two

FYO-00209	Advancing Physics	15 credits
FYO-00231	Advancing Mathematical Methods	15 credits
FYO-00191	Advancing Chemistry	30 credits

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Between 40-56 UCAS points from at least 1 A level/level 3 qualification or equivalent, or
Relevant work experience

AND

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C), or Level 2 Functional Skills, or
IELTS 5.5 (with 5.5 in all subtests)

AND

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above

How to Apply

Students will need to apply for BSc (Hons) Astrophysics with Foundation Year (UCAS code: F513) through UCAS at www.ucas.com. You will then be contacted to confirm your second subject by a member of our team.

Direct Entry Students

If you already have your qualifications, are not expecting any further results and only wish to apply to Keele, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.

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