Why choose the School of Life Sciences
Our Forensic Science courses tied UK 1st in their subject field for academic support; they rank in the UK top 5 for teaching and learning opportunities; in the top 10 for assessment and feedback, and organisation and management (NSS, 2025).
Our forensic sciences courses rank UK 2nd in their subject field for student satisfaction (CUG, 2026).
Awarded ‘Recognition’ by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS), ensuring course content and teaching are of a high, internationally recognised standard.
About the course
This course provides you with a strong foundation in the biological and chemical sciences involved in forensics; the latest developments in criminal theory; and how these disciplines come together to support the criminal justice system in the prevention, deterrence and punishment of criminal behaviour. It has been designed to develop your skills in laboratory analysis; the interpretation and evaluation of evidence; and the communication of scientific findings.
Course accreditation
This combined course has been awarded ‘Recognition’ by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) so you can be sure its content and teaching are of a high, internationally recognised standard.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Modern STEM building with high-tech labs and bespoke study spaces, providing you with a vibrant and supportive learning environment
- Specialist forensic laboratory with state-of-the-art microscopes and insectary
- Mock crime-scene flat designed as a typical residential home, allowing you to simulate crime scenarios and apply your learning to real-life situations
- Clinical suite for simulated mortuary experience
- Practise for court appearances in the University’s Moot Court
Industry links
Our Life Sciences Liaison Board works with industry professionals across the pharma-biotech, health and food sectors, including Glaxo Smith Kline, the NHS and Cellmark Forensics. Our collaboration within the sector help you establish links and gain valuable work experience.
Student experience
Our academic team are industry professionals with world-leading research expertise in criminological areas such as community safety, offending and youth justice.
Academics use their wealth of experience to shape their teaching, keeping you up to date with the latest industry developments.
Prepare for future employment with our practical-orientated approach to learning, with hands-on laboratory experience and court case simulations.
Explore your prospects and connect with leading employers at our annual STEM Careers Expo.
Gain expert knowledge from our regular workshops held by speakers such as Paul Kingdon, former New Scotland Yard detective and police training manager for the Metropolitan Police Service Crime Academy.
Get a taste of work in the field with night-time mock crime-scene investigations at our Putteridge Bury campus.
Gain additional lab-work experience via the Student Skills Lab scheme where you can test and try out techniques for real-world applications, and practise skills under the guidance of recent graduates.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - Dr Victoria Barlow
I joined the School of Life Sciences in November 2015, having completed my PhD with the Forensic Research Centre at Northumbria University.
Prior to this, I worked for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) from 2006, firstly as a DNA Analyst in the Intelligence Crime Stain Unit and subsequently as an Examiner with the Homicide & Violence Team, alongside being trained to assist with cases for the Sexual Offences Team.
Course Leader - Dr Victoria Barlow
I joined the School of Life Sciences in November 2015, having completed my PhD with the Forensic Research Centre at Northumbria University.
Prior to this, I worked for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) from 2006, firstly as a DNA Analyst in the Intelligence Crime Stain Unit and subsequently as an Examiner with the Homicide & Violence Team, alongside being trained to assist with cases for the Sexual Offences Team.
Course Leader - Dr Victoria Barlow
I joined the School of Life Sciences in November 2015, having completed my PhD with the Forensic Research Centre at Northumbria University.
Prior to this, I worked for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) from 2006, firstly as a DNA Analyst in the Intelligence Crime Stain Unit and subsequently as an Examiner with the Homicide & Violence Team, alongside being trained to assist with cases for the Sexual Offences Team.
Studying our Forensic Science and Criminology BSc (Hons) course will equip you with the knowledge and skills in the combined areas of biological and chemical sciences, criminological theory and the criminal justice system. To build the foundations of your study, you will be given a broad understanding of core scientific areas including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Molecular Genetics and Chemistry for Forensic Scientists where you will get to explore topics such as structure and relationship between body parts, patterns of genetic inheritance and the structure of molecules. To equip you with the research and practical skills for this course, our Skills for Forensic Scientists unit will teach you to record, analyse and report data from experiments as well as the key skills you need for investigation of a crime scene, including photography, evidence selection and exhibit packaging. In Evidence Examination Skills you will learn how to conduct a basic search of exhibits for evidence of interest and to complete your casefile notes. Moreover, you will learn how to examine biological evidence that could be encountered at a crime scene in our Biology in Forensic Science unit.
This is a crucial part of forensics, as biologists can support a range of investigations from preserving, recovering and analysing biological samples such as blood, saliva and hair, and using bones and teeth to help identify a body. Aside from human samples, you will also learn to examine and analyse a range of biological evidence using animals and plants to aid forensic investigations in our Animals and Plants in Crime unit. Other key evidence types, such as paint, firearms, digital evidence and documents analysis will be covered in Crimes Against Property where you will investigate how forensic techniques are used to identify class and individual characteristics of trace and physical evidence in order to reconstruct events of the crime of to form associations between people and crime scenes. To further develop your knowledge in DNA and drug evidence you will take Forensic Analysis to introduce you to the scientific principles and practical skills needed for these key evidence types.
To add to this, Evaluation of Evidence will equip you with the basic statistical methods to critically evaluate and communicate your scientific findings in the form of expert witness statements and presentation of evidence in a court environment. You will also undertake Suspicious Death Investigation during which you will develop the skills needed to build a biological profile when the deceased is unknown and to estimate the post-mortem interval. In areas of theory, you will be given an Introduction to Criminology by examining theoretical approaches used to explain crime, deviance and offending behaviour, and you will explore this in more depth in our Theorising Crime, Punishment and Justice unit to analyse and evaluate concepts of crime, justice and punishment used for crime control. More specifically, you will address and challenge low-level crimes in the areas of business, politics and finance that are committed by people in power or of a high social status in our Crimes of the Powerful unit.
Aside from this, you will also explore the complex world of Cybercrime to identify emerging issues in the field such as cyber terrorism, cyberbullying and cyber hate as well as the rationale behind it. You will also consider crime, disorder and social harm in urban areas such as within neighbourhoods, gated communities and housing systems in our Urban Crime unit. Finally, you will undertake a research project in your final year that will give you the opportunity to plan, design and execute a piece of research into a topic of your interest that is relevant to your field of study. Depending on your main area of research interest, you can select to take either the criminology-based SASS Change Maker Research Dissertation or the Forensic Science Research Project if you would prefer a lab-based project. To help you with this, our Skills in Science unit will equip you with a range of skills you need for your research and for a career in science. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to undertake a Professional Practice Year (Life Sciences) that will provide you with valuable career-related experience while allowing you to build on your professional skills.
Assessment is integral in all units to check that you have met the threshold standards expected to pass each unit. They are also linked to learning and are designed to develop and assess key subject specific and transferable skills for future employment. The requirements of each assessment will be detailed in a formal assessment brief document and discussed in teaching sessions.
Formative assessment activities including preparation for the end-of-unit examinations are integral to the unit delivery to support student learning and development. The assessment tasks will include:
- End of unit examination (unseen written or multi-choice examinations)
- Written reports; - Witness statements
- Analytical assignments
- Case study-based learning with written reports or poster presentation of findings
- Record keeping and reflection through laboratory notebook / research diary
- Literature review;
- Enterprise proposal
- Mock court presentation
- Webinar production
- Oral presentation
The commitment to development of practical skills and the ability to communicate and interpret data through scientific report writing is emphasised at all levels of the programme. As such practical (laboratory) reports form a significant proportion of your assessment.
Assessment throughout the later units most notably in the level 6 research project will call upon you to develop abstract writing and journal review skills to promote critical thinking and integration of knowledge across the course units. The importance of oral communication skills is also acknowledged as some units in level 5 of the award require all students to undertake oral presentations as a part of the unit assessments. This is then continued in level 6 units.
Careers
As a graduate, you will possess the knowledge and skills for subject-related employment such as in a forensic laboratory, the police probation and prison service as well as non-subject-related employment in a wider range of careers within academic or government research, the biotechnology industry, social work or education.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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