Forensic Science

Forensic science is the application of science to law and is carried out through the recovery, analysis, interpretation and presentation of scientific evidence, from crime scene to court.

If you have an enquiring mind, are great at solving scientific problems, want to work with cutting-edge equipment and facilities and develop in-depth industry specific knowledge and skills, then this could be the right course for you. You can choose to study a three-year BSc pathway or a four-year integrated masters (MSci) pathway.

In year 1, you will study the foundations of both chemistry and biology for forensic science, you will develop your forensic, professional and quantitative skills, including crime scene and forensic photography skills, and learn much more about a broad array of areas of forensic science in the essentials of forensic investigations module.

In year 2, you will learn about bodies, tissues and fluids, drugs and trace evidence, analytical forensic chemistry and will go on to learn more about the legal system in our issues in criminal justice module.

In your final year, you will learn about how forensic science is practiced and what can happen when things go wrong in the forensic case studies module. You’ll learn much more about DNA profiling and the presentation of evidence, fire and toxicology and will also conduct forensic science research in our research project and professional skills module.

Key features

Our forensic science courses are designed in collaboration with Leicestershire Police so they are relevant to current practice and standards.

The BSc course is professionally accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences ensuring your teaching and learning is to a high standard.

You will have lots of opportunity to develop your practical and professional skills in our crime scene house, crime studio, crown court and our excellent forensic science laboratory facilities.

Our strong links with industry mean you’ll not only develop practical and professional skills, but may also be offered the opportunity to apply them to real-world scenarios by spending a year on placement.

Our teaching is delivered by a team of expert academics and former practitioners, including Leisa Nichols-Drew, who was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to help her to develop her work exploring international approaches to the forensic investigation of knife crime.

Students have gained valuable and often unique international experience as part of their studies with our DMU Global programme, which has enabled students on previous trips to unearth information on human rights abuses and genocide in Guatemala, attend the New York Supreme Court to learn about judicial processes, and support refugees in Berlin.

Our graduates have gone on to work for world-leading employers including Eurofins (formerly LGC Forensics), Cellmark Forensics, Key Forensic Services, GlaxoSmithKline, Reckitt Benckiser, 3M and the National Crime Agency.