Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
Mode: Full-time
Are you interested in working at the forefront of the newest science and the criminal justice system? Are you excited by the idea of investigating crime scenes using the latest technology and techniques? Want to play a crucial role in helping law courts reach their verdict? Our Forensic Science degree provides you with the theory and practical experience you need to succeed.
Learn how to correctly analyse a crime scene and interpret the evidence in dedicated labs using specialist equipment, taught by academics experts from a wide range of forensic science disciplines. You’ll also have the opportunity to see how these are applied in the real world with a number of enrichment activities and trips focusing on forensic entomology, bone analysis, how fire behaves, and more. Plus, you’ll be able to flex the skills you’ve developed at our crime scene flat, where you’ll gather evidence across crime scenes in a realistic environment.
Watch the video below to see Forensic Science students witnessing a flashover, caused by mixing hot fat with water, on a visit to a fire ground organised by Fire Consultant Prometheus.
Mode | Duration | Start date | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time |
Duration 3 years |
Start Date September |
Location
Southwark Campus
|
Forensic science is the application of scientific techniques to crime investigation with the presentation of evidence in a court of law. This course covers:
The art of delivering and communicating your results as a forensic expert is developed by mock courtroom sessions during the course.
Forensic science is used to settle an increasing number of criminal cases – making sure law courts have accurate information to determine an outcome of guilty or not guilty. Forensic scientists mix biology, chemistry and maths to obtain and analyse evidence from a variety of sources. These include: blood and other body fluids, hair, textile fibres, glass fragments and vehicle tyre marks.
Many independent forensic laboratories provide services to the criminal justice system. At LSBU, we offer a whole range of transferable skills to enable careers in forensics and other scientific disciplines.
Scientific journalism, the pharmaceutical industry, environmental monitoring, laboratory-based employment and accident investigation are all popular destinations for forensic science graduates.
You will be prepared for further education and employment through awareness of occupations and Interaction with industry representatives
There are three main areas of forensic science: chemistry, biology and drugs and toxicology. Most roles include an aspect of all three. You can expect many hours of work, demanding strong levels of concentration, attention to detail and a methodical approach.
Forensic scientists collect and record evidence from places of interest such as crime scenes, then analyse samples using various laboratory techniques. Some forensic scientists work in-house with the police force, however many are now employed by the private sector.
Some careers (such as scientific journalism) are unlikely to require further education, although employers will look for relevant experience which can help you stand out from the crowd. Other career options however, such as a toxicologist, will require further training.
Many of our students progress to Masters level courses and some continue on to PhD level. Nearly all our students tend to choose London based masters courses based a UCL, Kings, Quenn Mary’s such as digital crime and security, forensic toxicology, chemical analysis, forensic anthropology.
After a few years' experience forensic scientists can be called to court as a reporting officer. This means you need to concisely and confidently explain to the court what you have found. Salaries after three years' experience are usually around £25,000-£30,000, with senior roles paying around £50,000 (Prospects).
Recent graduates from this course have gone onto roles with employers such as the emergency services, government agencies, medical laboratories and pharmaceutical companies.
At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:
Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.
This is the first undergraduate forensic science course in London to have gained professional accreditation from The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS). We also work closely with the City of London Police and various forensic science providers.
We have recently held guest lectures by representatives from:
At LSBU we offer our students the opportunity to gain practical experience of undertaking forensic investigations in our well-equipped laboratories. The facilities we have to offer include liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS), Fourier transform infrared microscope (FTIR), glass refractive index measuring system (GRIM-3), and DNA extraction and analysis facilities. You will have access to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We also have a Crime Scene Flat which we use to demonstrate various practical aspects of forensic science.
We have recorded all the experiments and practical activities, for instances when students can’t attend campus. Take a look at two examples experiments, the first is a ninhydrin experiment to uncover finger marks, and the second provides an overview of methods used to search for evidence at a crime scene.
Time spent in lectures, seminars and lab-based study | Self-directed learning | |
---|---|---|
Year 1 | 32% | 68% |
Year 2 | 34% | 66% |
Year 3 | 28% | 72% |
As an undergraduate Applied Sciences student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first three weeks at LSBU. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.
Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.
Your tutor should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.
You will have appointments with your personal tutor twice a semester for 15 minutes to one hour throughout your course. Office drop in times will be made available and you can contact your tutor for additional support by email.
Assessment methods are specified in each module guide. Surface learning is assessed formally by both seen and unseen examinations. Deep learning is examined using various coursework pieces, including case studies, essays and case file preparations. Practical skills are examined in the laboratory environment in terms of the quality of your measurements. You will also undergo courtroom examinations and project presentations and vivas, which will examine your ability to process your knowledge under pressure.
In order to be considered for entry to the course applicants would normally need to have 96 UCAS points from the following qualifications:
Level 4
Equivalent qualifications include:
We welcome mature applicants with other qualifications and/or relevant experiential learning judged to be equivalent. Past achievement can be assessed and considered for Credit for Prior Learning.
Overseas entrants are required to have European and overseas qualifications deemed to be equivalent to the above qualifications by the National Academic Information Centre for the UK, with ILETS level 6.0.
Direct entry to Level 5
If you have already completed some studies at another university, we may be able to consider you for advanced entry. Please see our advanced entry page for more information.
International (non Home/EU) applicants should follow our international how to apply guide.
Mode | Duration | Start date | Application code | Application method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mode Full-time |
Duration 3 years |
Start date September |
Application code F410 |
Application method |
Once we have made you an offer, you can apply for accommodation. You can rent from LSBU and you’ll deal directly with the university, not third party providers. That means we can guarantee you options to suit all budgets, with clear tenancy agreements and all-inclusive rents that include insurance for your personal belongings, internet access in each bedroom and on-site laundry facilities.
Or, if you’d rather rent privately, we can give you a list of landlords – just ask our Accommodation Service.
Read more about applying for accommodation at LSBU.
You don't need to wait for a confirmed place on a course to start applying for student finance. Read how to pay your fees as an undergraduate student.
Home/EU postgraduate students and research students should apply through our dedicated application system.
Full details of how to do this are supplied on our How to apply section for postgraduate students and our How to apply section for research students.
International applicants should use our international application system. Full details can be found on our How to apply section for international students.
See our admissions policy (PDF File 1,043 KB) and complaints policy (PDF File 516 KB).
Your application will be circulated to a number of potential supervisors who will look at your academic qualifications, experience and the research proposal to decide whether your research interest is something that could be supervised at LSBU.
There will also be an interview either by telephone or at the University. If you are successful you will be offered a place on a course and informed of the next enrolment date. The whole process normally takes between six to eight weeks, from receipt of your application to a decision being made about your application at the School.
After you’ve received your offer we’ll send you emails about events we run to help you prepare for your course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
We help our students prepare for university even before the semester starts. To find out when you should apply for your LSBU accommodation or student finance read the How to apply tab for this course.
Before you start your course we’ll send you information on what you’ll need to do before you arrive and during your first few days on campus. You can read about the process on our Enrolment pages.
Fees are shown for new entrants to courses, for each individual year of a course, together with the total fee for all the years of a course. Continuing LSBU students should refer to the Finance section of our student portal, MyLSBU. Queries regarding fees should be directed to the Fees and Bursaries Team on: +44 (0)20 7815 6181.
UK fee: £9250 | International fee: £15400 |
AOS/LSBU code: 1163 | Session code: 1FS00 |
Total course fee: |
UK £27750 |
International £46200 |
The individual Tuition Fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for undergraduate students.
We offer students considerable financial help through scholarships, bursaries, charitable funds, loans and other financial support. The majority of our scholarships are given as direct Tuition Fee discounts and we encourage all eligible students to apply for our National Scholarship Programme (NSP). The NSP features 100 full scholarships that exempt students from all Tuition Fees, and there are many more partial scholarships. Find out more about scholarships and fee discounts for undergraduate students.
The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.
See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).
We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations; read notices of PhD studentships.
Course Enquiries - UK
Tel: 0207 815 7500
Order a prospectus