BSc(Hons) Forensic Science (with Foundation Year)

Accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, BSc(Hons) Forensic Science with Foundation Year gives you a compelling mix of academic knowledge, practical experience and advanced skills to fast-track your career.

Why study forensic science?

Forensic scientists apply scientific analysis to criminal and civil investigations, producing evidence that's admissible in a court of law.

It's a fascinating and rigorous scientific discipline that will build your knowledge of biology and chemistry, as well as your advanced problem-solving, data interpretation and communication skills.

Covering crime scenes, laboratory and courtroom work, forensic science offers a springboard into rewarding careers in the justice system and beyond.

Why UWE Bristol?

Accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, BSc(Hons) Forensic Science was designed with input from professional forensic scientists to give you a full understanding of the way science is used to investigate crime.

You'll gain hands on experience with a diverse breadth of forensic instrumentation in our fantastically equipped, industry-standard laboratories.

Our state-of-the art crime scene simulation suite enables you to develop key practical skills in crime scene processing across volume and serious crime in both domestic and commercial contexts.

You'll also have the opportunity to experience the role of an expert witness by presenting evidence and responding to questions in our realistic mock courtrooms.

Guest lectures from inspirational professionals will give you insights into specialist topics and our course structure means you can tailor the degree to suit your specific interests.

Additionally, you'll be encouraged to undertake summer internships and placements, with workshops and specialist support available to assist with your applications.

Where can it take me?

The knowledge and skills you'll gain through this degree are widely transferable to other fields and disciplines. As a result, you'll not only be qualified to work within the forensic science industry, but it will also open many career paths in allied sectors such as pharmaceutical, environmental, and biomedical laboratories in addition to professions in policing, law, and teaching.

Careers / Further study

The knowledge and skills you'll gain through this degree are widely transferable to other fields and disciplines. As a result, you'll not only be qualified to work within the forensic science industry, but it will also open many career paths in allied sectors.

Our graduates have successfully gained employment as crime scene investigators and finger mark analysts within local and neighbouring police forces. Our graduates have also gone on to work with some of the country's largest forensic science providers, including Cellmark and Eurofins.

Additionally, our graduates have used their skills within NHS laboratories, pharmaceutical laboratories, as well as in environmental monitoring services.

Many graduates also choose to pursue postgraduate study, particularly in specialist fields such as toxicology and anthropology, in addition to postgraduate research degrees.

The scientific problem solving, numerical and communication skills you'll gain will also put you in a strong position for working in other sectors, from financial services to law, with several students recently securing employment as data scientists within large corporations.

Some graduates take their study of law further and complete a one-year law conversion course to become a barrister, while others pursue careers in teaching and education.

Overall, a forensic science degree can be a fantastic stepping stone into a broad range of careers.

As a graduate, you'll be eligible to apply for a range of postgraduate courses at UWE Bristol, which will give you advanced knowledge and support your career development. These include MSc Biomedical Science, MSc Forensic Science, MSc Applied Transfusion and Transplantation Science, MRes Applied Sciences, MSc Sustainable Food Systems, MSc Health Technology, MSc Science Communication and MSc Applied Wildlife Conservation.

Get inspired

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.