Course summary

Are you fascinated by the science behind crime scene incident investigation, evidence recovery and analysis? Keen to develop your investigative and laboratory skills and be trained in the delivery of expert witness testimony? This fascinating and challenging course teaches you skills that are attractive to employers in all fields, giving you the best possible start towards your future career. We create simulated crime scenes and conduct major incident exercises where you react in real time to an unfolding event. You can even prepare a case for court and present it at a simulated trial in a realistic court environment. You’ll see how forensic skills can also be applied within archaeology and in the food and pharmaceutical industries. This course is fully accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Reasons to study Forensic Science at Kent

• Forensic Science at Kent was ranked 3rd in The Complete University Guide 2023.

• Apply your knowledge and practical skills in our fantastic forensic investigation facilities, which include a crime scene house and vehicles along with industry standard laboratories.

• Spend a year on professional placement gaining valuable experience before you graduate. It’s also possible to spend a year studying abroad.

• Our unique courses teach you the science behind crime scenes, as well as criminal law and specialist modules such as ballistics, DNA analysis and digital forensics.

• Our Forensic Science degree is accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

• We support you in all areas of your student life with excellent in-house student support to assist with pastoral issues; careers experts with specialist knowledge to help prepare you for a great future; and Academic Advisors and Peer Mentors to help with your studies.

• You start by getting to grips with the broad base of knowledge on which forensic science is built, including core chemistry, biochemistry, drug chemistry, and ballistics. You also develop solid investigative and laboratory skills.

• Next you build on this knowledge to cover analytical chemistry, forensic archaeology, digital forensics, fires and explosions, and firearms. You also are trained in forensic expert witness skills.

• Our crime scene house helps you to develop your approaches to evidence recording and preservation, and to appreciate the importance of persistence. Extensive use of these practical sessions helps to prepare you for the diverse nature of crime scenes you may encounter in your future career and to develop many transferable skills for the future.

• You spend the third year of this four-year degree at one of our partner universities. As well as studying some relevant credits during your year abroad, you also get the chance to study new and unrelated subjects, giving you the chance to broaden your knowledge and experience.