School of Forensic & Investigative Sciences
Forensic Science at UCLan enjoys an outstanding reputation due to the breadth of its courses, the expertise of staff and its facilities. We were the first university in the UK to offer a dedicated undergraduate forensic science degree, which was designed and taught by former practising forensic scientists, academics and crime scene investigators.
We continue to lead the field today and are the leading provider of forensic sciences education in Europe. We use the full range of our professional and academic experience to develop specialist degrees specifically designed to maximise your opportunities for career development and employment within a wide range of relevant professions. All our courses are accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS)
Our degrees include specialisms such as crime scene and laboratory-based investigation, forensic chemistry and toxicology, forensic genetics and entomology and forensic anthropology. Our focus on crime scene and laboratory-based investigation, as well as criminal investigation gives you the knowledge and skills required for a career within a forensic science laboratory, the police service, or with other investigative agencies.
Facilities
Our degrees are supported by impressive facilities and the purpose-built JB Firth Building is truly world class. UCLan was the first university in the UK to utilise dedicated crime scene houses for studying purposes. We now have three scene houses, a vehicle examination bay, office premises and a blood splatter analysis suite. Our dedicated criminalistics laboratory is equipped with cutting-edge equipment which mirrors that used in practice for fingerprint recovery and identification, and the analysis of a wide range of physical evidence including glass, hairs, fibres, documents, ballistics and tool marks.
Research-informed teaching
Forensic Science at UCLan is supported by research in a wide range of areas. UCLan has established the first facility in the UK dedicated to research into forensic taphonomy - TRACES - which allows researchers to conduct research using animal models. Cutting-edge research is also being conducted in the areas of forensic genetics, handwriting analysis, ink analysis and the detection of gunshot residue in latent fingerprints.
Our Courses
BSc (Hons) Forensic Science
This course provides education and training in forensic investigation, the management and processing of crime scenes, law for forensic scientists, and the laboratory-based analysis of evidence. Graduates will be well placed for specialist employment in areas of forensics, chemistry or biotechnology. In the first year, all four elements of forensic investigation, biology, chemistry and anthropology (analysis of skeletal remains) are taken but as you progress you will specialise in the key sciences of biology and chemistry that underpin the analysis and interpretation of evidence. Forensic biology covers the analysis and interpretation of biological evidence and includes areas such as forensic genetics, entomology and medicine. Forensic chemistry involves the chemical and physical analysis of evidential material such as fire debris, explosives, narcotics, paints, inks and other trace material.
BSc (Hons) Forensic Science and Anthropology
BSc (Hons) Forensic Science and Anthropology provides education and training in forensic investigation, the management and processing of crime scenes, law for forensic scientists and the laboratory-based analysis of evidence. Graduates will be well placed for specialist employment in areas of forensics, chemistry or biotechnology. In the first year, all four elements of forensic investigation, biology, chemistry and anthropology are taken. As you progress the emphasis will be on human remains recovery and the analysis of skeletal remains together with one of the other key disciplines of forensic biology (including forensic genetics, entomology and medicine) or forensic chemistry (analysis of evidential material such as fire debris, explosives, narcotics, paints, inks and other trace material).
This unique course will focus on the analytical knowledge and practical skills required by students aiming for a career within the civilian or military police and the many domestic and international investigative agencies. The course has three core elements. Firstly, criminal investigation in which you will learn about sources of law, domestic and international criminal law, legal powers, and investigative and interviewing techniques. You will also cover forensic investigation, which is primarily concerned with finding, recovering and analysing scientific evidence. This course allows you to tailor your learning to meet your own interests, aspirations and qualifications. You will have the option to choose an area to specialise in, choosing from either crime scene investigation or forensic anthropology.
BSc (Hons) Forensic Chemistry
UCLan’s School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences has a reputation for the high quality of its facilities for the study of forensic and related topics. Chemistry is one of the core disciplines in forensic science and the forensic chemist applies specialist chemical knowledge to the investigation and analysis of evidence gathered from crime scenes. The nature of chemical evidence encountered is diverse and may include drugs of abuse, accelerants, fibres, paints and pigments to name but a few, therefore a good background in chemistry and its associated analytical techniques is imperative. This course provides a solid foundation in chemistry with a strong emphasis on analytical techniques.