Course summary

Over 90% of crime is now recognised as having a digital element and the UK Government has stated that digital forensic science sits at the heart of delivering justice in the 21st century, spanning the entire criminal justice system from crime scene to courtroom. The new MSc in Digital Forensics, offered by Cranfield University in partnership with CCL Solutions Group, (CCL) will seek to address the academically orientated operational needs of UK policing and serious skills shortage of educated and trained individuals in the field to fill digital forensic positions and support the UK’s criminal justice system. In 2020, Cranfield Forensic Institute successfully secured £3.6 million funding from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) Local Growth Fund as matched funding to investment of £3.6 million by Cranfield University to create a state-of-the-art forensic investigation teaching and research facility at its Bedfordshire campus near Milton Keynes. Who is it for? Digital forensics is becoming one of the most critical fields within forensic science. As such, the Digital Forensics MSc at Cranfield University will help equip students with the necessary understanding of digital forensic science, courtroom skills and research methods to prepare them to practise as digital forensic professionals. Exposure to up-to-date research targeted at addressing current real-world problems means that students will not just be academically prepared to enter the digital forensics field, but practically prepared for it too. Why this course? The key aims of the course are to: Provide students with an understanding of how digital forensic science can be used to help resolve issues in relation to civil and criminal law Help equip students new to the field with the necessary understanding of digital forensic science, courtroom skills and research methods in order to prepare them to practise as digital forensic professionals Enhance and develop existing practitioners’ knowledge and skills through in-depth academic research guided by acknowledged experts