Course content

You will be taught by a range of academics and forensic professionals using state-of-the-art facilities in our modern laboratories using industry standard equipment. We have a dedicated Crime Scene House that allows you to put the theory into practise. Forensic Science at Keele is ranked 1st in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2018.

Studying this course will allow you to cover the entire forensic process from the collection of evidence at the crime scene to its presentation in court. You will cover key forensic areas such as genetics, anthropology, toxicology, ballistics and arson, alongside newer fields such as digital forensics. You will also develop your analytical science skills, so that you are able to analyse any piece of evidence you should encounter. This is complemented by additional emphasis on professional practice and an understanding of the roles of the crime scene investigator and the forensic scientist as an expert witness in the court.

Combinations

Forensic Science is also available as a Combined Honours degree. It can be studied in the following combinations:

• Forensic Science and Astrophysics 
• Forensic Science and Biology
• Forensic Science and Chemistry
• Forensic Science and Computer Science
• Forensic Science and Human Biology
• Forensic Science and Medicinal Chemistry
• Forensic Science and Neuroscience
• Forensic Science and Physics
• Forensic Science and Psychology

For more information please see our Forensic Science Undergraduate Brochure 2020.

Keele has been ranked as the No.1 university in England to study Forensic Science in this article published in 'The Telegraph'.

Course structure

Our degree courses are organised into modules. Each module is usually a self-contained unit of study and each is usually assessed separately with the award of credits on the basis of 1 credit = 10 hours of student effort. An outline of the structure of the programme is provided in the tables below.

There are three types of module delivered as part of this programme. They are:

• Compulsory modules: a module that you are required to study on this course;
• Optional modules: these allow you some limited choice of what to study from a list of modules;
• Elective modules: a free choice of modules that count towards the overall credit requirement but not the number of subject-related credits.

Modules for 2020 entrants are yet to be confirmed. Details of the modules that ran for entrants in 2019 are shown below. These can be used as an indication of the modules you will study. Once modules for 2020 are confirmed they will be published here.

A summary of the credit requirements per year is as follows, with a minimum of 90 subject credits (compulsory plus optional) required for each year.

Year	Compulsory	Optional		Electives
		Min	Max	Min	Max
1	90	0	30	0	30
2	120	0	0	0	0
3	120	0	0	0	0

Year 1 (Level 4)

Compulsory modules	Module Code	Credits	Semester
Forensic Science Principles	CHE-10039	15	Autumn
Chemical Science Principles	CHE-10038	15	Autumn
Cybercrime*	CSC-10042	15	Autumn
Understanding Crime*	CRI-10010	15	Autumn
Forensic Analysis	CHE-10037	15	Spring
Forensic Identification	CHE-10042	15	Spring
Optional modules	Module Code	Credits	Semester
Investigating Crime: Criminological Perspectives*	CRI-10014	15	Spring
Punishment: Beyond the popular imagination *	CRI-10015	15	Spring

In addition to entry at year 1, it is possible to join this programme at the start of year 2 as long as you are studying a forensic science combined honours programme in year 1. If you join this programme in year 1 you will study all the compulsory modules listed below. If you join in year 2 you will not study the year 1 modules marked with an asterisk.

Year 2 (Level 5)

Compulsory modules	Module Code	Credits	Semester
Spectroscopy and Advanced Analysis	CHE-20011	15	Autumn
Forensic Genetics	CHE-20021	15	Autumn
Forensic Document Analysis	CHE-20043	15	Autumn
Forensic Anthropology	CHE-20047	15	Autumn
Drugs of Abuse	CHE-20012	15	Spring
Digital Forensics	CHE-20042	15	Spring
Criminalistic Methods	CHE-20010	15	Spring
Forensic Taphonomy	CHE-20063	15	Spring

 

Year 3 (Level 6)

Compulsory modules	Module Code	Credits	Semester
Evaluation of Evidence: Explosives and Arson	CHE-30033	15	Autumn
Advanced Topics in Forensic Science	CHE-30035	15	Autumn
Forensic Geoscience	CHE-30034	15	Spring
Forensic Toxicology	CHE-30010	15	Spring
Forensic Science Team Project	CHE-30011	15	Both
Interpretation, Evaluation and Presentation of Evidence	CHE-30028	30	Both
Forensic Science Dissertation	CHE-30029	15	Both

 

For further information on the content of modules currently offered, including the list of elective modules, please visit: www.keele.ac.uk/recordsandexams/az

The module details given above are indicative and will give you a good idea of the range of subjects that we teach. We regularly review our teaching to ensure that the modules we offer are up-to-date; therefore, the modules available to study are liable to change.

Entry requirements

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, European Union and International students.

A Level requirements

• A Level requirement ABC/BBB
• A level Chemistry or Biology at grade B or above.

GCSE requirements

• Maths at C (or 4) 
• English at C (or 4)

BTEC

• BTEC requirements DDD
• You must have taken sufficient Chemistry/Biology units, please contact us for advice

International Baccalaureate

• 32 points to include Higher Level Chemistry or Biology at 6 or above.

Access to HE Diploma requirements

• Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 122 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. You must have taken sufficient Chemistry/Biology units, please contact us for advice.

Please note

*     Reformed GCSE grades for England are stated in brackets
**   If applicant has not had opportunity to sit AS level in England, please contact the Admissions team

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.

Fees and funding

Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

We can help you to manage your funds, create a budget and ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible. We also offer financial support such as the Keele University Hardship Fund and emergency loans.

For more information visit our money, advice and guidance section.

Career prospects

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

Our teaching strategy is designed to enable you to become an independent scientist who will have a great deal to offer prospective employers. Graduates have progressed to a range of different careers, including, within the forensic science sector, analytical laboratories, and teaching. It is also possible to continue on to a higher degree such as an MSc or PhD.

Recent employers

• 2030 Labs LTD
• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
• North Yorkshire Police
• Sandwell and Dudley Hospital
• Nottinghamshire Health

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

• Forensic Scientist
• Scene of Crime Officer
• Toxicologist
• Microbiologist
• Scientific Laboratory Technician
• Analytical Chemist
• Trading Standards Officer
• Secondary Teacher
• Solicitor
• Police Officer
• Prison Offier
• Environmental Health Officer

Regardless of which career you pursue after Keele, employers will want evidence of the range of skills and personal qualities you possess and which are required for the job. Your degree is clearly important in this respect but don’t forget the extra-curricular activities, positions of responsibility, jobs and voluntary work you may have been engaged in while studying at Keele. These activities allow you to demonstrate the skills and personal qualities required by employers and will be vital in your attempts to secure graduate employment.

It is estimated that 60% of jobs are open to graduates of any discipline. This demonstrates the flexibility of many graduate employers when setting out their academic requirements and that students are not necessarily restricted to careers related to their degree.