Course summary

Crime is evolving — and so are our ways of fighting it. Today, forensic specialists are the heroes of criminal investigations all around the world. It’s a subject that’s launched a thousand books, TV shows and true-crime podcasts, but there’s even more to forensics than you’ve read, heard, and seen. From day one of this course, you’ll be working with professional experts in world-class facilities . Comb our famous crime-scene house for clues; work on case studies built from the real-world experiences of our teaching team; review your evidence in our dedicated forensics, chemistry, bioarchaeology, and ballistics labs; and present your findings in NTU’s authentic on-site courtrooms. Perform well enough, and you can even progress onto our MSci course , where you’ll graduate with a Masters-level qualification. This fun, challenging, hands-on course sits at the intersection of law, ethics, and cutting-edge science; you’ll be supported by prestigious guest speakers, placement and study-abroad opportunities, and a close-knit community of staff and students. Forensics is a global science. Whilst it’s a dream job for crime-fighting-chemists, the professional possibilities stretch far beyond that — from food safety and biometric security, to wildlife and financial crime, to the worldwide battle against counterfeiting, smuggling, and dangerous new designer drugs. Why study this course?

• It’s accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences — the gold standard in degree-level forensic education.

• We have some of the best facilities in the UK — so good, they’re used to train organisations like the HMRC, the British Transport Police, and rescue services across the East Midlands.

• You’ll be learning from the experts. Our teaching team has the highest number of former and current forensic practitioners in the UK — and in 2022, four of the School of Science and Technology’s six nominees for ‘Outstanding Teaching Staff’ came from the Forensic Sciences team.

• You’ll have the chance to complete a 12-month professional work placement with organisations like the fire brigade, the NHS, and even the Dutch police — an opportunity that’s created job offers for many of our students before they’ve even graduated.

• Looking for an international perspective on forensic theory and practice? You can also take part in a year-long exchange programme with our partner university in Canada.

• The BSc (Hons) is a three-year undergraduate course — or four years if you choose to complete a work placement. If your academic performance is strong enough over the first two years, we’ll automatically offer you a place on the MSci course.

• The MSci (Hons) is a four-year course that leads to a single postgraduate qualification. The first two years are the same as the BSc course, with advanced, Masters-level study then spread across the third and fourth years.