Bournemouth University (BU) offers Forensic degree programmes at both Undergraduate and Masters Level. These cover an extensive variety and varied pathways for progressional routes available for students. At Undergraduate level we offer two accredited courses:
At Masters Level we have 3 accredited courses:
Our Facilities
All our Forensic degrees centre on providing a strong practical element, giving you the chance to put your learning into action in our state-of-the-art facilities. At BU we have a designated forensics lab which houses a wide range of industry-standard equipment that students will learn to use throughout their course. This provides hands on and real life skills to prepare you for work in the field of forensics in commercial and police laboratories, as well as help you develop analytical skills that will serve you well in any role.
Examples of the equipment we have includes:
- Superglue fuming cabinet - within this cabinet superglue is heated, causing it to fume and adhere to any fingerprints on items inside, enhancing them for forensic investigators.
- Downflow units - there are three of these in the labs and they're used during fingerprinting and chemical enhancement work.
- Electrostatic detection apparatus (ESDA) - this is used to examine indented writing. We also have an ESDA humidifier that prepares the paper for use with the ESDA.
- Range of fingerprinting powders and kits.
- Electrostatic lifting apparatus (ESLA) - this can be used at crime scenes to lift footwear impressions from the dust and ground.
Student Career Progression
These courses provide such a wide, varied skill set of excellent transferable skills that has led our graduates onto roles working for organisations in such capacities as forensic science, within hospital labs, local authority enforcement agencies, crime scene investigation teams, trading Standards, HM Customs and Excise, and The Environment Agency, as well as taking positions in forensic laboratories and private consultancies. Our courses prove to be so successful that 95% of those undertaking a Forensic Science course work or further study within six months of completing their course.
Our Approved Undergraduate Courses
BSc (Hons) Forensic Investigation is designed to cater specifically to those interested in the investigative side of forensics; the course covers the theoretical and practical aspects of the forensic investigation of a typical crime scene, preparing you for work in this fascinating sector.
BSc (Hons) Forensic Science allows you to cover crime scene science, toxicology, chemistry, and molecular biology amongst other fascinating modules. This course draws on our expertise in forensic archaeology, anthropology, genocide investigation and toxicology.
Our Approved Postgraduate Courses
MSc Forensic Archaeology involves the use of archaeological principles and techniques for the location, recovery, and interpretation of evidence for past events within the constraints of the criminal justice system. It utilises both field and laboratory skills in the investigation of serious crime, missing persons, human rights and mass disasters. These skills range from searching for and excavating clandestine graves to the international investigation of crimes against humanity.
MSc Forensic Anthropology is concerned with the application of biological anthropological techniques to the analysis of human skeletal remains within a legal context and provides a vital suite of expertise and skills that can be applied to answer both modern and archaeological questions. Specialist anthropological skills can contribute, not only to our understanding of the past, but also to the effective investigation of serious incidents in the modern world, particularly murder, genocide and human rights violations within the constraints of the criminal justice system. Such skills have also proved increasingly useful in recent years in the wake of mass disasters, both natural and man-made.
MSc Forensic Toxicology by Research, the study of drugs and poisons, is an expanding area of study that offers graduates a wide range of career options. On this course you'll study the signs and symptoms associated with the use of common drugs and poisons, basic pharmacology, mechanisms of drug/poison action, drug metabolism and drug elimination from the body. The course is delivered by experience forensic toxicologists and forensic practitioners with an emphasis on professional capabilities.
All statistics shown are taken from Unistats, Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE), BU institutional data and Ipsos MORI (National Student Survey) unless otherwise stated.