Overview
How can science help us solve historic criminal cases? What causes miscarriages of justice? What can be done to prevent suicides in prison? Studying Applied Criminology with Forensic Investigation at Canterbury Christ Church University involves exploring answers to some of society’s biggest questions. Our applied focus encourages you to explore problems and challenges related to criminology and forensic investigation in addition to developing sustainable solutions.
Our innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum provides you with a comprehensive understanding of various aspects related to crime, criminal justice and the role of forensics in investigative processes. You’ll dive into the fascinating world where science meets the legal system to learn how forensic investigators play a crucial role in solving crimes. Through forensics modules you’ll develop practical skills, engaging with mock crime scenes and real-world scenarios.
You'll learn to recover, interpret, evaluate, and present forensic evidence just like the experts. Applied Criminology modules broaden your skills and knowledge, focusing on the intersections between crime, justice and society and enabling you to understand the importance of cooperation and communication between agencies within criminal justice. You’ll develop a strong foundation in criminological theories and a critical understanding of criminal justice processes. You’ll explore the complex cycles of violence which can make groups vulnerable to both victimization and violent offending and the impacts of mental health and trauma on individuals and society. Content helps you critically consider who commits crime and why, how the criminal justice system treats victims and why the law criminalizes some harmful behaviours but not others.
We provide opportunities for you to gain relevant practical experience and learn from external experts as well as enabling you to work with peers from diverse backgrounds in a supportive and inclusive environment. You’ll develop skills that enable you to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multiagency environments, developing a robust set of specific and transferable skills. You’ll also learn methods for evaluating the effectiveness of existing policies and recommending improvements, equipping you to contribute to the formulation of criminal justice policy.
Student support is at the heart of how we teach. Our teaching staff have experience as researchers and practitioners in criminology and forensic investigation. The course is industry-led and designed to prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities in professions associated with crime, forensic investigation and criminal justice, helping you to become reflective practitioners and policy makers capable of delivering change.
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. So we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate.
100%
of our Applied Criminology with Forensic Investigation students were in work or further study 15 months after finishing their course.
Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024Studying at Applied Criminology and Forensic Investigation at CCCU has opened my eyes to a whole new field of learning. Not only are the modules well-structured and thought out, they also simulate the working conditions for everyday life as a CSI. The lecturers themselves are approachable and kind mannered, which makes the whole experience enjoyable and rewarding.Luke, Applied Criminology and Forensic Investigation student
Entry requirements
112
UCAS Tariff Points
Accepted qualifications
We accept a wide range of general qualifications that attract UCAS Tariff points either on their own or in combination with others. Below are some common examples.
| Qualification | Grades |
|---|---|
| A Levels | BBC |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access | 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits |
| International Baccalaureate | 29 Points |
The grades in this table provide an indication of what is required to study this course. If you have qualifications that are not present in the table or want to tell us more about you specific situation then please contact our friendly Course Enquiry Team.
Don’t meet these entry requirements?
If you do not meet these entry requirements, a foundation year is a great way of beginning your university journey. We recommend you speak to our Course Enquiries team who will advise on a route to study that fits you.
More information
Module information
We know employers are looking for dynamic, open-minded graduates who can adapt, innovate, and collaborate. So we have designed a new way of teaching and learning to ensure that you are work-ready for when you graduate. Alongside the modules below you will choose from our new curriculum that will help you achieve student success, engage with contemporary topics and work with industry or the community.
As well as the core modules, you will also have the opportunity to study a number of option modules. The availability of specific option modules may vary from year to year. This will be subject to a minimum number of students choosing the module and staff availability. It means we cannot guarantee the availability of a particular option module. However, we will ensure you have a choice of option modules.
Core/optional modules
*Modules subject to approval
How you’ll learn
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, workshops and tutorials and you will typically have contact time of around 14 hours per week, supported by additional online materials. Your actual contact hours depend on the optional modules you select.
Key knowledge is provided through lectures, guided reading and online materials, and this is supported by class activities and discussion, which help you to apply theory to real life scenarios and problems. Some teaching is also delivered through workshops which blend knowledge delivery with discussions or activities, as well as helping with key skills development. Teaching sessions are interactive, allowing you to engage with material on a deeper level. Tutorials are available to provide one-to-one support.
You will have the opportunity to use a range of specialist methods and equipment in our dedicated forensic suite, which includes a range of crime scenes. Here you will develop your practical skills in sessions that are designed according to real life scenarios.
When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you'll have access to a range of resources to help you continue learning through self-study. This typically involves reading journal articles and books, undertaking research in the library, working on projects, and preparing for coursework assignments/examinations, workshops and seminars.
Your lecturers will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities, where appropriate, to complete before/after class and they will provide tutorials where necessary to support your learning.
We also recommend that you set up student study groups and support each other with your studies as research shows that we learn much better in communities.
A range of additional study skills and employability workshops are available within the University to help you reach your full academic and career potential.
The teaching team have academic expertise across a range of criminological and forensic investigation issues, including: mental health, crime scene investigation, the history of crime and punishment, biological and chemical evidence, migration and crime, drug related crime and drug treatment, hair and fibre evidence, youth justice and victimology. They are also involved in research activities in these and other areas, and they bring this research expertise into their teaching. Many staff have published in these areas and have practical experience in them too.
Staff use their research expertise to inform teaching, and they provide you with opportunities to be involved with research to help develop you academically and personally.
Our criminology staff and students were central to a pilot of the Bystander Initiative, which aims to support students and staff to identify and prevent sexual harassment, assault and coercive behaviour. The pilot was successful, and a modified version of the initiative is now available university-wide.
More information about our friendly teaching team can be found in the Meet the Team section of our school webpage.
We will work closely with you throughout your degree, guiding and enhancing your learning to ensure that you produce the best possible work, as well as making the subject enjoyable. Our interactive sessions will encourage you to work with us and your peers to develop your understanding and knowledge around crime and criminal justice.Maryse TennantCourse Director
How you’ll be assessed
Assessments are a core part of the course and each module has 1-3 assessments that contribute to the 4000 word assessment quota. The course is designed to ensure that each assessment is well supported by written guides, study skills sessions and staff guidance and that the course provides you with a range of assessment types to allow you to develop skills that are required in criminal justice and forensic professions.
We also provide opportunities for you to gain formative feedback informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark by providing developmental practice assessments or opportunities to gain feedback on assessment plans.
There are formal or 'summative' assessments during each of the modules and assessment methods include:
- written examinations
- essays,
- reports,
- forensic paperwork,
- forensic statements,
- portfolios,
- oral presentations
- final year dissertations.
The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark and feedback is provided to ensure that you can improve future assessments.
Feedback
The team is dedicated to providing high quality feedback on all assessments to enable you to understand what action you need to take to improve your work/marks. We try to ensure that feedback is student focused and constructive. Tutorials also enable you to discuss your work. We aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of hand-in for all assessments and use a range of feedback methods to meet the needs of our students.
Your future career
Through the study of this course you will have the opportunity to gain the core knowledge and skills required for not only many criminal justice careers, but also skills that can be transferred other sectors.
Graduates of the course typically secure posts within:
- The Police
- The Prison Service
- The Probation Service,
- Youth Work,
- Forensic Organisations,
- Medical Laboratories
- Third sector organisations working in crime control and victim support.
Further postgraduate study is also an option and you will be encouraged to make the most of the volunteering and networking opportunities available throughout your degree course in addition to your studies in order to enhance your employability.
We also host an annual Employability Fair where our students can network with experts from a range of fields and careers and gain top tips for progressing to graduate roles.
Throughout your time studying us you will have access to our Careers and Enterprise team who offer a wide range of services and support to help you kick start your career and meet your goals.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help and support in my endeavours to do well in Criminology. I have just received a job offer to train as a Probation Service Officer, which I have accepted.Adrian Graduate in Applied Criminology
Related courses
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated. The fees represented here are for study with Canterbury Christ Church University. If you are looking to study at a partner institution, please visit their website for fees information.
Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
The Government has announced that it will increase the tuition fee cap by 3.1%, in line with inflation, for the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to parliamentary approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 our undergraduate home tuition fees are expected to be £9,535.
Overseas/International Fees
Undergraduate / PGCE tuition fees for international students are not set by the UK Government.
- Read advice about funding your degree
- See information about the financial support available for undergraduate studies
- If you would like information about paying your fees, please contact accounts.receivable@canterbury.ac.uk
- For specific fee queries, please contact fees@canterbury.ac.uk
Additional Information
Some of our year two and three modules have prerequisite modules, which you must have studied in a previous year. You will be advised of these when choosing options each year to ensure you make informed choices.
Professional accreditation
The Applied Criminology course adheres to and is guided by the Criminology Benchmark Statements, which define expectations as part of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.
Industry links
We have a range of external criminal justice professionals and other experts involved in the delivery of the course. We work with them to aid course development in order to ensure our degree is current, accurate and relevant to criminal justice employers.
We actively consult and collaborate with a range of criminal justice and related organisations and these change on a yearly basis, in response to changing operational commitments of these organisations and trends in criminal justice. Collaborations include police forces, the prison service, charities and academics from other higher education institutions.
Specialist facilities
The Criminology team have access to the Canterbury Prison site as this is part of the University estate and our students are able to get involved in research and work in this area. In addition, the staff arrange visits and trips to allow students to experience a range of criminal justice settings where operationally possible.
The forensic facilities include a range of crime scenes, including cars, crime scene rooms, fire scenes and outside scenes and a forensic workshop and range of science laboratories. A wide range of forensic equipment is housed within these areas and the facilities and equipment used depends on whether you study Forensic Investigation as a single or combined honours degree.
We have a dedicated crime scene facility containing eight internal rooms and two outdoor scenes, a forensic workshop, five science laboratories, an incident room, a Hydra simulation centre and facilities to simulate courtroom scenarios, all with relevant equipment attached. One of our teaching rooms is an old courtroom, attached to the former Canterbury Prison.
We use our practical experience to generate realistic and complex scenarios to challenge your mind, your skills and the common misconceptions about crime.
Regulated by the Office for Students
The Office for Students (OfS) regulates Canterbury Christ Church University. The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education in England. It aims to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. Further details about its work are available on the OfS website.
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Duration:
3 yearsUCAS code:
MF94Location(s):
CanterburyAny questions?
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*We are advertising this course as ‘subject to approval.’ When we add new courses or update existing courses, we advertise the course as ‘subject to approval’. We do this to let you know the University still needs to agree to run the course. It is rare for a course not to gain approval, but it is not guaranteed. There may be changes to course and module titles, content and assessment, but we will tell you about these if there is a change. You can still apply to study a course subject to approval. We have prepared some questions and answers to tell you more.