Program Overview

Forensic Investigations BSc (Hons)

Course Overview

The Forensic Investigations BSc (Hons) degree is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of investigative techniques, including the interpretation and presentation of evidence. The course covers a range of topics, including criminal and civil law, investigative practice, forensic science, and forensic interviewing.

What You'll Study

• Year One
  • Criminal and Civil Law (20 credits)
  • Investigative Practice (20 credits)
  • Critical and Digital Communication (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Forensic Science (20 credits)
  • Forensic Interviewing (20 credits)
  • Data Collection and Presentation Skills (20 credits)
• Year Two
  • Research Methods (20 credits)
  • Spatial Reconstruction (20 credits)
  • Forensic Crime Scene Analysis (20 credits)
  • Understanding Evidence (20 credits)
  • Basic Digital Forensics (20 credits)
  • Fraud Investigation (20 credits)
• Placement Year
  • UK Work Placements (0 credits)
  • International Study/Work Placement (0 credits)
• Final Year
  • Advanced Forensic Crime Scene Analysis (20 credits)
  • Specialist Inquiry (20 credits)
  • Surveillance Studies (20 credits)
  • Situational Analysis (20 credits)
  • Individual Research Project (40 credits)

How You'll Learn

The course emphasizes practical, hands-on experience through guest lectures, work placements, industry visits, skills development, and the study of real-life case studies. Teaching methods include lectures, group work, seminars, tutorials, laboratory skills, flipped classroom, PC labs, mock courtrooms, interviewing, and simulation exercises.

Entry Requirements

• Typical Entry Requirements
  • UCAS points: 112
  • A level: BBC, excludes General Studies
  • GCSE: maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2
  • BTEC: DMM
  • IB Diploma: 27 points
  • Access to HE: The Access to HE Diploma in a science or health subject to include 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

Fees and Funding

• Student | Full-time | Part-time
  • UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £9,535 per year | Not available
  • EU | £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary | Not available
  • International | £16,800 per year | Not available

Facilities

The course is delivered at the Coventry University campus in Coventry, with state-of-the-art facilities, including:

• Two fully functional houses with video and audio links to a central control room for simulated crime scenes
• Ethical hacking lab isolated from outside networks for digital forensics
• VR Oculus Quest 2 headsets for 3D simulations and spatial reconstructions

Careers and Opportunities

Successful completion of this course can lead to a wide range of careers in areas such as the intelligence services, insurance companies, banking, the prison service, accountancy firms, fraud investigation organizations, environmental or financial services, and teaching. Some graduates have chosen to continue their studies with postgraduate qualifications, such as the Terrorism, International Crime and Global Security MA at Coventry University.