Keele University

• Recently placed 1^st in the UK for Forensic Science by the Complete University Guide (2018).
• Keele University 1st for Student Satisfaction in the National Student Survey (2014, 2015, 2016).
• Flexibility in the choice of Forensic Science degrees.
• Study to BSc or MSci level.
• New, dedicated Crime Scene House.
• Extensive laboratory facilities for Forensic and Analytical Sciences.
• Opportunity to study for a semester abroad at a partner university.

For further information, see the university website

Our Forensic Science Programmes

We offer the following programmes accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS)

•             BSc (Hons) Forensic Science (Major route)
•             MSci (Hons) Forensic and Analytical Investigation

The CSFS have also Recognised the BSc (Hons) combined honours degrees.  See here for further details.

The Forensic Science degree programmes offered at Keele combine high quality, research-led teaching with state of the art facilities to provide a solid start to your future career. Our modern laboratory facilities combined with industry standard equipment will help make that transition into industry or further study easier upon graduation. Studying forensic science gives you a wide range of career opportunities and as such we offer several different course options to enable you to tailor your studies to your interests or wider career plans.

The major route BSc (Hons) programme enables you to study solely forensic science in the final year, whilst in one of our combined honours programmes you will study forensic science alongside another subject over three years, with the opportunity to focus on one or both of these subjects in the third year.

For more information, see Keele University's website

The four year integrated masters (MSci) degree is designed to give you a deeper understanding and experience of forensic science, together with developing your skills as an active researcher. You will focus on gaining experience with a broad range of analytical techniques related to forensic analysis and further develop your professional skills. In the final year you will spend 50% of your time undertaking an individual research project that will focus on a specific problem in forensic discipline.

For more information, see Keele University's website

Accredited Status

Our recent re-accreditation visit from the CSFS in March 2017, confirmed accreditation across all three of the Component Standards:

•             Crime scene investigation
•             Laboratory analysis
•             Interpretation, evaluation and presentation of evidence

In their report the CSFS commended Keele University on the following aspects of these forensic science programmes:

• Commitment and approachability of the staff and organisation of the programme
• Extensive and diverse contributions from external professionals and their active help in programme development
• Extensive investment in analytical equipment
• Comprehensive teaching of statistics integrated within the forensic science context
• The teaching of crime scene photography
• The practice of requiring students to carry out risk analysis and to complete COSHH forms and risk assessments for their practical classes
• The overall crime scene facilities in the form of the newly acquired Crime Scene House (with CCTV), the ability to undertake vehicle crime scenes and use of the extensive campus for a range of outdoor scenes
• The introduction of additional content in Forensic Anthropology

After Graduation

Within our Forensic Science programmes, the emphasis is on both the scientific approach to forensic problems and the key skills our graduates will acquire.  This means that our forensic science graduates are particularly well placed to progress, not only to a wide range of scientific careers, but also to administrative and management roles where communication skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities are greatly valued.  Our graduates have entered careers within the professional forensic science sector, for example to technical jobs in one of the many private sector providers which cover everything from DNA profiling to digital forensics, or as analytical scientists and researchers within the broader business sector such as chemical analytical consultancies, pharmaceuticals or environmental monitoring.  Others have joined the “crime sector” as police or military police officers, as forensic specialists within the police force including crime scene investigator roles, or to other civilian jobs within these organizations. Many enter into a variety of more general graduate occupations such as scientific publishing or administrative roles. In common with other physical science disciplines, some of our forensic science graduates also undertake postgraduate qualifications such as an MSc, PGCE or PhD qualification prior to entering employment.

What our Graduates say

"Majoring in forensic science I developed my scientific and analytical skills. From collecting evidence at set-up crime scenes, interpreting our findings into court reports, to giving evidence and reporting our findings to internal and external examiners, all helped me to gain a real insight into the life of a forensic scientist. I am now a forensic scientist with one of the main forensic service providers in the UK"  

BSc (Hons) Forensic Science with Criminology

"Keele offers many opportunities outside of lectures as well, including a great students’ union, and being a campus university also provides a relaxing place to live and study. At Keele I was also offered the chance to study abroad which is a brilliant opportunity; it was a fantastic experience that allowed me to study one semester of my second year at a university in Canada, whilst still covering the work required for my degree. Since leaving Keele I have been very lucky to get my ideal job. I was employed within six months of graduating as a drugs analyst for the Forensic Science Service doing basic identifications of police drugs seizures. Four years down the line I am now a forensic practitioner for LGC Forensics drugs department carrying out thousands of examinations each year for the majority of UK police forces, SOCA, UKBA, Gibraltar and the Armed Services, and I have also been called upon to provide evidence as an expert witness in court."  

BSc (Hons) Forensic Science and Geology

"Since graduating from Keele I have taken up a job as a forensic scientist in biology at Key Forensic Services, in which I have already used many of the attributes I learnt at Keele, and since being with the company I have expanded my knowledge further in this field. It is great for me to see theory I learnt being used on a daily basis. I believe that my Keele degree has definitely helped me in obtaining a job by providing such a wide variety of skills, and there is no doubt it has set me up fantastically for a career in forensic science."  

BSc (Hons) Forensic Science with Neuroscience