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If you're interested in forensic science and want to pursue a career in this field, this fascinating course is for you.
The course is in three stages - at stage one you will study the core areas of bioscience relevant to forensic science. These include cellular chemistry, biochemistry and genetics, human anatomy and physiology, and the psychology of the criminal mind.
At stage two, you will study applied forensics in more detail. This includes a greater emphasis on laboratory analysis, such as forensic skills in psychology and criminal justice. We also call on forensics experts from local police forces to deliver specialist lectures. In addition, topics such as cellular pathology, medical physiology and haematology put forensic science in a broader context as it relates to human biology.
At stage three, you will study advanced forensic analysis, including recent advances in DNA analysis, toxicology, psychology, and forensic science case studies.
The skills and knowledge you will acquire on this course will open up a range of opportunities in analytical and investigative science. These include working in research organisations and institutes, as well as commercial laboratories, plus careers in teaching, scientific publishing and medical sales.
This course offers a unique mix of science and psychology, drawing on staff expertise in both the Division of Science and Division of Psychology.
During the course you will:
Areas of study you may cover on this course include:
The assessment philosophy of the Forensic Science course conforms to the general assessment pattern in the Biology and Biomedical Science field. A commitment to scientific report writing is emphasised in all levels of the Forensic Award where practical reports form a large proportion of the assessments you will undertake, as opposed to essay writing. Empirical reports are also assessed in the psychology based units at levels 2 and 3. The importance of oral communication skills is also acknowledged in units in level 2 and level 3 that require you to undertake oral presentations as a part of the assessments.
A key assessment feature of the Psychology based units is the preparation of Portfolios in the form of e-journals and contribution to student forums on BREO. This encourages you to reflect on your learning and experiences throughout the course and enables you to receive rapid tutor feedback.
Examinations in the Forensic Science Award remain a major part of the assessment vehicle in for science based units in Levels 2 and 3 of the award as they do in the Field as a whole. It is recognised that you may require training in examination technique and to this end examinations in Level 1 are relatively few in number with a preference for short formative tests, which provide a rapid means of feedback to both you the student and academic staff. End of year summative exams take the form of 1 hour computer-based multiple choice tests. The emphasis is then shifted from a short test-based assessment to a more traditional examination scenario. In order to ensure that all students are familiar with this form of assessment in class timed essays are present in units in Level 2 and 3 of the award. This provides students with an early feedback mechanism regarding their strengths and weaknesses in examinations, which enables remedial action to be taken where appropriate. These assessment strategies are consistent with those of the Field as a whole.
The Forensic Science course supports a commitment to the development of key skills and of specific transferable skills. Specific skills developed are detailed below.
Laboratory Skills - achieved through practical work culminating in the self-directed project unit.
Scientific Report Writing - achieved through extensive practical report writing culminating in the project.
A full Induction week programme is provided by the Division of Science to new Level 1 students, during which you are introduced to the Divisions academic and administrative staff. You are given information about the running of the Division and procedures for practical sessions including some formative laboratory work.
All students are assigned a personal tutor who arranges a meeting with their tutees once a term. You can contact your Personal Tutor by e-mail and s/he will contact you especially if there appears to be absences or problems with your studies.
BREO (the Universitys Blackboard based Virtual Learning Environment - VLE) provides a great deal of help and back-up material such as lecture notes and additional background information on all units. In some cases there are discussion boards and you can get in touch with lecturers and tutors vie e-mail. BREO also provides a certain amount of distance learning, revision material and formative assessments as well as containing all the administrative material you need such as the unit handbook and regular announcements. In addition all unit co-ordinators have set times during which students may book an appointment to discuss academic issues arising from a unit.
Throughout Level 1, notably in the Foundations and skills unit you are given further guidance from representatives of the Learning Resources Centre (LRC) and Professional and Academic Development (PAD) to help improve information literacy, referencing and report writing skills. At level 2, you are given guidance in terms of preparation for the final year research project.
At level 3 the project supervisor acts as the first port of call for academic advice and support.
While your main contact in terms of academic advice is the Personal Tutor, you may also book an appointment to see one of the Division of Sciences two Academic Advisors for course related academic advice. Furthermore, you will be able to contact the Field Chair and / or Head of Psychology who can deal with more substantive issues such as deferrals, transcripts and other issues that cannot be covered by the Personal Tutor.
Collaborative activity and team working is an important aspect in modern science and in particular within a team of individuals involved in a forensic investigation.
Throughout the course you are expected to work collaboratively in group work (eg, working as small groups in practical sessions or producing group reports and presentations). These group activities are designed to develop your team working skills as a preparation for professional life and will often have an impact on assessment grades.
Many students organize themselves into small study groups to support each others learning.
Developing career management skills are important for your employability. The course encourages all students to discuss your career intentions and occupation requirements with your lecturers or staff at the Centre for Personal and Career Development.
Staff from the Centre for Personal and Career Development regularly give talks to students from Induction week through all 3 levels to encourage you to think about your future career.
One of the rationales of engaging visiting lecturers who are experts in their fields of forensic or biomedical science is to benefit you by providing a careers and employment focus to the course. As such we hope that meeting expert consultants, members of the police and hospital laboratory staff will inform your career management.
The Division of Science encourages students to keep an up to date curriculum vita in their Progress File and this is assessed as part of the Level 3 Project unit.
Career:
Further study:
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
The course welcomes students with disabilities. During the application process disabled students discuss their needs with individual members of the academic staff, as well as staff from the Disability Advice Team. It has normally been the case that disability has not provided an obstacle to students participating fully in the practical aspects of coursework.
Any students that have any form of disability or medical condition that might affect their studies should make themselves known to the Field Chair or Programme Manager BEFORE beginning their studies. This is particularly important where an existing condition may generate health and safety concerns either working in the laboratory or working alone in the field.
The Disability Advice Team is available to discuss any issues students may have and can provide services such as sign language interpreters, note takers, dyslexia screening / tuition and support with mobility on campus. They offer confidential advice and information about academic and personal issues, adjustments in examinations, applying for the Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) and buying suitable equipment.
A minor potential barrier to study is wheel chair access during practicals, although limited in some laboratories, is possible by special arrangements, necessitated by health and safety concerns. Students with asthma or related conditions should inform academic staff prior to commencing the practical work on a unit to ensure that their health and safety is safeguarded.
Communication
To help with the development of this you will:
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will:
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this you will:
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will:
The course encourages all participants to identify and address your own personal and professional development needs. You should be proactive in discussing these needs with academic staff teaching the units and with your personal tutor. You should pay particular attention to feedback, both written and verbal, from various sources and throughout the programme.
Guidance from representatives of the Learning Resources Centre (LRC) and Professional and Academic Development (PAD) to help improve information literacy, referencing and report writing skills is given early on in the course and introduces students to further support that can be given by these departments.and seminars provided by experts.
In particular, the Honours Project provides you with an opportunity to participate in scientific research at the forefront of your subject. It also gives you chance to develop a strategy for using skills in problem solving over an extended period of time and to manage study time effectively with a degree of self-discipline and self confidence.
A student progress file is a paper-based document charting your individual development as a student. It contains three main elements: your transcript, personal record and personal development planning. It can be thought of as a portfolio of your achievements at University.
The Progress File is not currently assessed but will be monitored by personal tutor system. You will be given guidance and information about the Division of Science policy on progress files during the Foundations and Skills in Forensic Science unit.
Both staff and students are expected to maintain high professional standards by:
The professional standards will be introduced to students during the induction week. The standards required of them and those they can expect from staff are clearly laid out. You will be introduced to safe laboratory working in Induction Week and this is emphasized throughout Levels 1 and 2 both by the use of pre-practical talks and in the Laboratories themselves.
You are expected to be proactive in maintaining these professional standards. The professional standards will be monitored and issues addressed throughout the programme. Failure to address professional Health and Safety standards in particular will not be tolerated.
Ethical issues related to forensic science and wider bioscience issues will be addressed within individual units as they arise and will form a basis for assessment in some instances.
In formulating the project proposal and in its implementation, you will have the opportunity to show how well embedded the professional standards are by: your reliability in collaborating with fellow students, meeting deadlines and keeping appointments, showing an awareness of the ethical issues surrounding your area of research and by successful completion of health and safety risk assessments for your practical work.
