Course summary

Course Overview

• Explore the science of investigation, learning the skills to collect, analyse and interpret evidence. It’s a highly specialised course, designed to put you on a high-impact career path.

• We are one of the few universities in the UK with the experience, facilities and industry connections to offer such a professionally relevant programme in forensic science. Here, you’ll learn from experts in their fields, whether seasoned CSIs or leading academics.

• The course is built around three core topics of forensics – investigation, biology and chemistry – with a range of options to help you steer your studies toward your strengths and interests. You’ll learn the theory and practice of forensic investigation, crime scene processing and laboratory-based analysis.

• With our own crime scene houses and professional-standard labs, you’ll develop workplace-ready skills. And, thanks to our partnership with Lancashire Constabulary, you could even get the chance to shadow a professional forensic scientist in an operational environment. So, by the time you graduate, you should have everything you need to pursue a future as a forensic scientist.

• This course is ranked 1st in the North West and in the UK’s top 10 (Complete University Guide 2020)

• Forensic and Archaeological Sciences are 1st in the North West for overall student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support - National Student Survey (NSS) 2019.

• We have joined forces with Lancashire Constabulary to create the Lancashire Forensic Science Academy, a ground-breaking partnership that gives our students the chance to shadow operational CSIs at crime scenes.

• Forensic Investigation involves the management and analysis of crime scenes, the collection of forensic evidence and its analysis by means of methods such as fingerprinting, footwear impressions, document analysis, tool marks, forensic photography, glass fragment analysis, trace evidence, body fluids, hair and fibre analysis and ballistics.

• Forensic Biology includes topics such as the identification of body fluids, forensic medicine, forensic entomology and DNA profiling, the identification and analysis of molecular genetic variation which can be used to match body fluids such as blood, semen or saliva to individuals, or to carry out paternity analysis.

• Forensic Chemistry examines a variety of compounds from narcotics to paints and accelerants, using chemical and physical methods to characterise and match trace samples.

• Forensic Anthropology is an option in years one and two and involves the study of the skeletal remains in order to determine a profile of a deceased individual as well as aspects of decomposition and burial.