Forensic Science with Criminology with Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

Forensic Science with Criminology with Foundation Year

Course Description

This four-year course combines high-level skills as a forensic scientist with specific knowledge of criminology. Students will explore questions surrounding the causes of criminal behaviour and whether nature or nurture is responsible for such characteristics. The course also covers legal aspects of forensic science, including the court process, and the role played by expert testimony and evidence.

Study Options

• Full-time: 4 years
• UK fee: £9,535 per year (2025/26)
• International fee: £16,900 per year (2025/26)
• UCAS points: 72 (September 2025 entry)
• UCAS code: F412
• Start date: September
• Location: Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Course Structure

• Foundation Year
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Optional Placement Year
• Year 3

Core Modules

• Academic and Practical Skills
• Foundation in Forensic Science
• Principles of Cellular Biology
• Principles of Chemistry

Optional Modules

• English
• Mathematics
• Research Methods and Data Handling
• Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology

Accreditation

The course is accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

Foundation Year

The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen skills, knowledge, and confidence before advancing to stage one of the honours degree.

Specialist Facilities

• Forensic Training Facility
• Crime Scene House
• Blood Pattern Analysis Room
• Osteology Lab
• Wet Forensic Lab
• Darkroom
• Entomology Lab
• Clandestine Burial Site
• Replica Courtroom
• Crime Scene Cars
• Forensic Imaging Facilities

Boost Your Employability

• Take an optional placement year to put skills into practice in a real-world setting.
• Gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before graduating.

Employer Links

• Partnerships with Derbyshire Constabulary and the East Midlands Scientific Operations Unit (EMSOU).
• Opportunities for placements with EMSOU in their forensic imaging unit, footwear unit, forensic analytical service, or scenes of crime team.

Tailor Your Degree

• Choose from optional modules to focus on areas such as forensic anthropology, victimology, toxicology, and the human genome.

Careers

• Graduates have gone on to realise their career ambitions within the criminal justice system, the police force, the prison service, and forensic services.
• Skills and knowledge gained on the course make students well-suited to roles in insurance companies, law firms, pharmaceutical companies, and private laboratories.

Entry Requirements

• UCAS points: 72
• A Level: DDD
• T Level: Pass
• BTEC: MMP
• GCSE: Maths and English are preferred, but students can undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of their course of study.
• Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15.
• English language requirements: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area).

Fees and Funding

• UK: £9,535 per year (2025/26)
• International: £16,900 per year (2025/26)
• Additional costs and optional extras:
  • Laboratory coat and crime scene suit
  • Access to specialist software: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
  • Travel and entrance fees covered for fieldtrips
  • Optional costs not included in fees:
    • Forensic toolkit
    • Recommended textbooks or e-books
    • Chartered Society of Forensic Science membership costs

How to Apply

• UK students: Apply through UCAS or directly to the University.
• International students: Apply through the University's online application portal or through a trusted local representative.

Discover Uni

• Full-time: Forensic Science with Criminology with Foundation Year at University of Derby
• Visit Discover Uni for official information about this course and others.