Forensic Investigation
BSc
Undergraduate
September 2025, September 2026
Overview
Study Forensic Investigation with Criminal Investigation with Foundation Year and explore the policies, practices, and procedures found in policing and the crucial role that the forensic sciences play within criminal investigations. A foundaiton year helps you develop the study skills and self-confidence needed for higher education when you don’t reach the entry requirements for your subject or you need a grounding in a new subject area.
This course will provide you with an in-depth and practical insight into the main theories, concepts, and procedures used by the police to investigate crime and manage criminals, victims, and witnesses. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of how forensic investigation, which is made up of forensic science, criminal investigation, and the Criminal Justice System, is governed within the UK, as well as global perspectives on methodologies and international standards, enabling you to gain a holistic understanding of the associated legal and regulatory frameworks.
This degree in Forensic Investigation with Criminal Investigation has been carefully crafted to nurture critical thinking and inquiring minds, enabling you to adopt analytical approaches to exploring key concepts, theories, and practices within criminal and forensic investigations.
You'll gain hands-on experience in a wide range of techniques including investigative interviewing, decision making, crime scene processing, the search, recovery, and interpretation of forensic evidence and the presentation of evidence in court. You'll have the opportunity to work on real-life cases such as miscarriages of justice and missing persons.
What's more, you'll have access to our £65 million industry standard facilities, which include a court room, Hydra Suite, interview rooms, police cells, crime scenes flats and vehicles, and our award-winning Anatomy Learning Centre. Furthermore, the diversity of modules offered as part of the degree means that you'll have the opportunity to explore subjects that are of interest to you and develop key skills that will enable you to shape your career.
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.
The modules are enjoyable to study and have effectively enabled me to put my knowledge into practice. It gave me the ability to foresee how I could apply these skills in real-life scenarios and compare them with current practices “in the real world”.A.T., Forensic Investigation with Criminal Investigation student
Entry requirements
64
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 | DDE |
| BTEC | MPP |
| Access | Pass 45 Credits |
| International Baccalaureate | TBC |
More information
Contact us
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
How you’ll learn
The academic year is divided into two semesters. In your Foundation year, you will complete a mix of 30 credit, 15 credit and 5 credit modules. The 5 credit "success modules" are designed to help you settle into University and develop the core skills you will need to succeed in your studies.
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical workshops. You will typically have around 12 contact hours per week. However, your actual contact hours depend on the option modules you select and specific activities prepared for you.
Seminars in smaller groups will enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures. We have made sure that teaching is not only done in a classroom setting and you will take part in practical exercises throughout this course. In addition, you will meet with your personal academic tutor (PAT), who will be able to assist you with any queries or problems that you may have. They will also be able to signpost you to any of the University services should you need them.
The teaching sessions are interactive, allowing you to engage with the material on a deeper level, and all practical sessions are designed to enable you to apply theory to context. You will have the opportunity to use a range of specialist methods and equipment relevant to the modules you study, and we have a dedicated forensic suite, including a workshop and a range of internal and external crime scenes.
You will have the opportunity to gain extensive practical experience in sessions which are designed around real-life scenarios, often related to staff's real, previous case work. You will also have lectures from professionals working in the field who can bring you their valuable and captivating experiences. This provides context to theory and may provide you with future contacts in the fields which interest you.
We will support you with getting work experience and, where possible and depending upon your module choices, we arrange field trips that are designed to consolidate your knowledge (such as fire dynamics demonstrations, ballistics / shooting trips, and visits to relevant external organisations).
When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops, or other timetabled sessions you will have access to a range of resources we provide to 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 or examinations, workshops, and seminars.
Your lecturers will direct you towards specific readings and/or activities where appropriate to complete before or after class and 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 study skills and employability workshops are available from the University and we encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities.
Each 30-credit module requires approximately 300 hours of learning, of which approximately 66 hours are taught class contact time, with the remaining being guided learning and independent study.
The teaching team consists of highly qualified and experienced forensic practitioners and academic researchers, who have a range of expertise and experiences. This experience is injected into teaching sessions and assessments to make your experience as realistic as possible.
The core team is supported by other staff in the University, drawn from the law, policing and criminology teams, and a range of professionals currently working in the field who provide guest lectures. More information about our teaching team can be found in the Meet the Team section of our school webpage.
Our degree is taught by forensic practitioners who offer an informative, innovative, practical and rigorous course that will open up a vast range of career opportunities for you.HellenCourse Director for Forensic Investigation
How you’ll be assessed
Assessment Support
The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Some modules contain a piece of practice or 'formative' assessment for which you can receive feedback from your module tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. You will also be able to gain formative feedback through discussions with a module leader or a personal academic tutor. You will be able to access centrally-run services (e.g. Study Skills Support) for more help with assessments.
There is a formal or 'summative' assessment for all of the modules. Assessment methods include a range of coursework and examination assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, or your final year major project. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark. Our summative assessments were designed with you at the centre – and so, they not only test for University level learning but also industry relevant skills.
Feedback
You will receive feedback on all practice and all formal coursework assessments. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.
Your future career
This course provides an excellent grounding for any career that involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of information or evidence, as these skills are taught in core modules and transferable to many careers. The graduate attributes that are routinely required by employers are embedded into the Forensic Investigation curriculum and therefore, graduates are normally able to evidence these skills, preparing them for a range of careers. This is evidenced by ex-students who have secured positions in forensic organisations including:
· The UN
· Police forces (UK, Ireland and International Forces)
· UK Border Force
· National Crime Agency
· The Military
· Cellmark Forensic Services
· Eurofins
· HM Prison Services
· Pharmaceuticals.
Many have gone onto higher degree studies at CCCU and other universities at home and abroad. We even have our own home-grown PhD students.
Many students have ambitions to become Crime Scene Investigators, and we are delighted they have achieved this dream locally (Kent) and further afield (London and elsewhere). The role requires immense dedication and resilience - we will do our best to support you in applying your knowledge and skills in this. However, our guest lecturers bring with them a wealth of experiences, and students discover new ambitions and inspiration through their sessions.
Other career opportunities include becoming investigators for organisations such as:
- National Crime Agency
- the Military
- Independent Office for Police Conduct,
- Security Services,
- Business & Commerce.
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 employment prospects.
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.
Studying Forensic Investigation at CCCU provided me with the knowledge, practical experience and personal skills required to adjust and adapt in my current career role. The course helped me develop my research skills and the practical facilities gave me the opportunity of real-world experience. I will always be grateful for the help and support the staff has provided me throughout my time at CCCU.IPResearcher for a UN missing persons unit
Related courses
Fees
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
| UK | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time - Foundation Year 0 | £9,535 | £15,500 |
| Full-time - years 1-3 | £9,535 | £15,500 |
Tuition fees for all courses are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
The tuition fees relate to 2025/26 only. Please read the 2025/26 Tuition Fee Statement for further information regarding tuition fees and year on year fee increases.
Home (UK) Fees
Home (UK) tuition fees for Foundation Years at Canterbury Christ Church University will be set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for foundation years in classroom-based subjects or non-classroom based subjects, as set by the UK Government.
Home (UK) tuition fees for subsequent years 1-3 are currently set in line with the maximum tuition fee cap for standard undergraduate degrees set by the UK Government.
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 onwards, our undergraduate home tuition fees for subsequent years of study 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
Industry links
We welcome visiting lecturers, who are practitioners working in the forensic field. They will share their expertise and experience with you to give you an insight into real life forensics. You may also have opportunities to participate in field trips.
One member of the teaching team is a trained coach and mentor and has injected this influence into the degree course structure, to enable students to develop as people and professionals, in addition to learning the subject. It is often personal qualities such as confidence that prevents us from reaching our potential, and this approach is actively helping students to overcome issues that might impact their success.
We have a range of external professionals involved in the delivery of the course and these professionals also act as advisors to the core lecturing team. They advise us on changes in legislation, procedure and trends, and aid the core team in course development, thereby ensuring that our degree is current, accurate and relevant to forensic employers.
We actively consult and collaborate with a range of forensic and related organisations and these change on a yearly basis, in response to changing operational commitments of these organisations and trends in forensic investigation. Collaborations include Kent Police, Kent Fire Brigade, Prometheus Fire Investigation, Metropolitan Police and a range of independent laboratories and professionals.
Professional accreditation
The Forensic Investigation course adheres to and is guided by the QAA Benchmark Statements for Forensic Science, which define expectations as part of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.
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