undergraduate school of chemical and postgraduate programmes · 2021. 1. 6. · bsc forensic...

School of Chemical and Physical Sciences

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Programmes2019 entry

Top 10 for Forensic Science in the UK

keele.ac.uk/forensic

2 | FORENSIC SCIENCE

ContentsWelcome 3Why Study Forensic Science at Keele? 6Degree Programmes 9Degree Content 10BSc Forensic Science (Single Honours) 10MSci Forensic and Analytical Investigation 12CSFS Accreditation 13BSc Forensic Science and Criminology (Single Honours) 14 BSc Combined Honours (Forensic Science and another subject) 16What is it like to study forensic science at Keele? 18Teaching and Support 19Study Abroad 20Looking to the future 21Careers 22MSc Analytical Science for Industry 23What some of our graduates say 24How to Apply 26Meet Us 27




FORENSIC SCIENCE | 3

WelcomeWelcome to Forensic Science at Keele University. This brochure is intended to tell you more about the undergraduate degree programmes we offer and what it is like to study Forensic Science at Keele.

But don’t just take our word for it. Find out also what some of our graduates feel about their Keele experience, read what career choices they have made and how their Forensic Science degree from Keele has prepared them for life after university.

Forensic Science is often defined as the application of science to the work of the courts of law. In many people’s minds this leads to a focus on crime scene investigation which, though a very important part of the forensic process, does not fully provide a true picture of what the forensic scientist actually does and what knowledge and skills you need to be a professional forensic scientist.

The forensic discipline embraces a wide range of scientific topics, many of which are based on analytical science – the science of measurement, characterising materials, usually at the molecular level, and determining what is in a sample and how much of various components are there.

Such scientific investigations are applied to physical evidence - that is materials found at crime scenes or associated with potentially illegal activities; examples include explosives’ residues, drugs, inks, glass fragments, fire accelerants, paints, fibres and hairs. In practice this means using microscopy, chromatography, spectroscopy and related specialist techniques which are also fundamental to some laboratory work in chemistry, biology and geology, to examine forensic materials. Forensic science also includes the science of pattern matching as applied to fingerprints, shoe-marks, tool-marks and tyre-marks as well as a range of other specialist areas of study which are relevant to forensic investigation such as pathology, anthropology, blood-spatter analysis, ballistics, geosciences and digital sciences.

So what makes forensic science distinctive and why is a degree in forensic science different to studying other sciences?

Firstly, forensic science is a broadly-based discipline incorporating many aspects of the core sciences so if you enjoy working across several areas of science then forensic science may be for you.

Secondly, it is problem-based where the problem is explaining the physical evidence, and so the scientist has to be able to devise and apply methods of experimental investigation and analysis appropriate to each individual situation.

Thirdly, the forensic scientist needs to understand the context of the case in order to properly interpret the experimental results and communicate their meaning to the court. This also implies that the forensic scientist must be able to explain their scientific work in a clear and understandable way to non-scientists such as those working in the court.

These generic attributes of the forensic scientist are also strongly relevant to the analytical scientist working in business and industry where the problems relate to commercial products, their development, production and quality control; for example, in the environmental, pharmaceutical or chemical products sectors. For this reason studying a forensic science degree with a strong emphasis on analytical science will prepare you well for a wide range of science-based careers outside of the forensic business sector, as well as within it.

Dr David Thompson Programme Director, Forensic Science


Reasons to choose Keele

Why eele?of our research

was classified as world-leading or of international

importance Research Excellence

Framework 2014

97%

in the Teaching Excellence Framework

HEFCE 2017

GOLDAWARD in England

for Course SatisfactionGuardian University

Guide, 2018

No.1Graduate

EmployabilityHESA 2017 – graduates in work or further study within six months of graduation

96%



Travel Times10mins Stoke-on-Trent by car

40mins To Manchester by train

50mins To Birmingham by train

1hr 30mins To London by train

Edinburgh

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Manchester

Stoke-on-Trent

Birmingham

Oxford

Keele

Liverpool 1hr

1hr

London1.5hr

1hr

With over 600 acres we have the largest single-site campus in the UK

600 ACRES

for campus sustainability

UI Green Metric ranking 2017

GLOBALTOP 20





Why Study Forensic Science at Keele?

Forensic science is the application ofscience within a legal context and forensic

scientists are key to the criminal justicesystem in investigating and helping to

prosecute crimes.




TOP 10 IN UK FOR FORENSIC

SCIENCE

COMPLETEUNIVERSITY GUIDE

2019

The Forensic Science degree programmes at Keele are designed to provide you with an outstanding understanding of forensic science whilst exposing you to a range of facilities and techniques you will find in a typical forensic laboratory. We provide a friendly teaching environment that allows you to develop your knowledge and skills under the guidance of forensic academics and practitioners. We provide a range of Forensic Science programmes to suit your interests and career aspirations.

You will be taught in our dedicated forensic science laboratory and crime scene facilities. The laboratory contains a range of modern analytical instrumentation that is commonly used in commercial forensic laboratories. This will allow you to gain experience on the type of equipment you will be using in your future careers. Having a crime scene house allows us to provide context to our teaching and gives you experience in a typical environment encountered by a forensic scientist.

The teaching environment within the school is very friendly and supportive. All academics in forensic science have an open door policy so you are able to seek help and advice when you need it. You will also be supported by a team of technical staff and demonstrators who are also key sources of help and advice, particularly in the laboratory.

You will also be allocated a personal tutor when you arrive at Keele who will monitor your progress throughout your studies and is another source of help and advice. All of this helps explain why we have been voted as a top 10 provider of Forensic Science programmes in the UK for 2019 by the Complete University Guide.




Degree ProgrammesThe Forensic Science degree programmes offered at Keele combine high quality, research-led, teaching with state of the art facilities to provide a solid start to your future career. Our modern laboratory facilities combined with industry standard equipment will help make that transition into industry or further study easier upon graduation.Studying Forensic Science gives you a wide range of career opportunities and as such we offer several different course options to enable you to tailor your studies to your interests or wider career plans.

The single honours BSc Forensic Science and the MSci Forensic and Analytical Investigation degree programmes allow you to study solely Forensic Science for either 3 or 4 years respectively. Following these routes you will study towards a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Master of Science (MSci) qualification. Our combined honours programme allows you to study Forensic Science alongside another subject with the opportunity to focus on one of these subjects in the third year.

Below is an overview of the Forensic Science programmes that we offer at Keele, you will find more information on these individual programmes on the subsequent pages of this booklet.

BSc Forensic Science (Single Honours)This 3 year undergraduate programme will allow you to gain the full Forensic Science experience. In addition to our core forensic modules you will also study other areas of Forensic Science such as digital forensics and anthropology. Additionally, you will develop your professional skills such as presenting evidence as an expert witness. By studying this programme you will also be eligible to continue on to the MSci Forensic and Analytical Investigation.

MSci Forensic and Analytical InvestigationThis 4 year integrated masters degree is designed to give you in-depth Forensic Science experience together with developing your skills as an active researcher. You will focus on developing experience with a broad range of analytical techniques related to forensic analysis and further develop your professional skills. In the final year you will spend 50% of your time undertaking an individual research project that will focus on a specific ‘forensic’ problem. Entry to this programme can be obtained at the point of entry to the university or at year 2 providing you are studying either the single honours or major route in Forensic Science.

BSc Forensic Science and Criminology (Single Honours)This 3 year undergraduate programme will allow you to gain a greater understanding of why crimes are committed and how we use science to investigate them. Choosing this route will allow you to gain a firm understanding of Forensic Science and Criminology and to understand how these two disciplines work together to solve crime. By following this degree programme you will be eligible to continue on to the MSci Forensic and Analytical investigation.

BSc Combined Honours (Forensic Science and another subject)Keele is the only university to offer Forensic Science in a genuine combined honours combination with all three core sciences and the only university to offer Forensic Science and Physics. This 3 year undergraduate programme allows you to combine Forensic Science with up to 9 other subjects. The combined honours programme also allows you to major in one of your chosen subjects for your final year.



Degree ContentThis section gives a brief indication of the content of each of the programmes listed earlier.

BSc Forensic Science (Single Honours)UCAS Code F415

Due to the ever changing nature of crime the forensic scientist needs to have a broad understanding of many areas of Forensic Science. Our BSc Forensic Science course is a three-year single honours programme that will provide you with an outstanding grounding in Forensic Science.

Year 1The aim of the first year is to bring all students, from a variety of different backgrounds, to the same level of understanding in core chemistry, practical laboratory skills and to introduce some of the core areas of forensic science. In the autumn semester you will study the two “principles” modules which will cover the core Chemistry required for the course and provide an introduction to Forensic Science.

Alongside these you will also study the Understanding Crime and Cybercrime modules. The former of these will provide a context for crime from different perspectives and highlight different approaches used to measure crime. The Cybercrime module will provide you with an understanding of digital infrastructures, such as the internet, and how these are used to facilitate crime. This module will also introduce the techniques that are used to collect digital evidence. In the spring semester you will study two core forensic modules and there is elective space that gives you some choice in your studies. The two forensic modules in this semester are Forensic Analysis and Forensic Identification. The Forensic Analysis module focuses on the key spectroscopic techniques used by the forensic scientist in the analysis of chemical substances and the basic statistical methods needed for data analysis and interpretation of results.

The Forensic Identification module is more biological in nature and includes the study of protein biology, DNA, genetic markers and an introduction into biological sample preparation and analysis.

Year 2In the second year the focus is to develop the core themes within the forensic discipline which are directly relevant to professional practice and related evidence types. In the autumn semester you will expand your understanding of chemical separation techniques and spectroscopic analysis such as Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in the Spectroscopy and Advanced Analysis module. In the Forensic Anthropology module, you will discover how we investigate skeletal remains to determine the identity of an individual and their possible cause of death. You will also learn how we obtain and interpret DNA profiles from biological material in the Forensic Genetics module and how to investigate questioned documents in the Forensic Document Analysis module. In the spring semester you will study the chemistry of illicit drugs and their effect on the body as well as how these are identified in the Drugs of Abuse module. In the Criminalistic Methods module you will investigate marks and impressions left at the crime scene such as blood spatter patterns and fingerprints and how these are analysed and imaged for use as evidence.

You will learn how we investigate the changes after death and how insects can be used to determine the possible cause and time of death in the Forensic Taphonomy module and how we can gather evidence from a range of digital devices in the Digital Forensics module.

Year 3In the third year you will study additional core areas of the subject as well as undertaking a year long team research project and an individual dissertation project. This year you will also undertake a ‘crime scene to court’ project as part of the IEPE module that will allow you to gain experience of the entire ‘forensic’ process from the collection of evidence at a crime scene to its presentation in court. In addition to this you will also study the pharmacology and toxicology of a range of different drugs and poisons in Forensic Toxicology and the chemistry of combustion applied to explosives and arson in Evaluation of Evidence: Explosives and Arson module. These modules are delivered in the autumn semester. In the spring semester you will study how geophysics is used to detect buried remains together with aspects of forensic archaeology in the Forensic Geosciences module. You will also learn how you analyse glass, paints and fibres along with forensic ballistics in the Advanced Topics in Forensic Analysis module.



Field coursesAs part of the BSc Forensic Science we aim to expose you to the cutting edge of forensic investigation to give you practical experience that you can take with you into your future career. One way of achieving this is through the use of field courses that are imbedded into the programme. As these are a compulsory part of the course the associated costs of attending are included in the course fees.

An example of a field course that we have previously offered is a short human identification course at the Forensic Anthropology Centre at the University of Tennessee USA; this is colloquially known as the ‘Body Farm’. During this visit the students received lectures on forensic anthropology, osteology and taphonomy and had the chance to practice their skills using human skeletal remains. We aim to offer this opportunity to all students studying this programme in the future.

Autumn Semester Spring Semester

1st Year Modules Forensic Science PrinciplesChemical Science PrinciplesUnderstanding CrimeCybercrime

Forensic AnalysisForensic IdentificationTwo Elective Modules

2nd Year Modules Spectroscopy and Advanced AnalysisForensic Genetics Forensic Document AnalysisForensic Anthropology

Criminalistic MethodsDrugs of AbuseDigital ForensicsForensic Taphonomy

3rd Year Modules Forensic ToxicologyEvaluation of Evidence: Explosives and Arson

Forensic GeoscienceAdvanced Topics in Forensic Analysis

Interpretation, Evaluation and Presentation of Evidence (IEPE)Forensic Science Team ProjectForensic Science Dissertation

Note: Modules shown in bold are also taken by Combined Honours students

Module structure of the BSc Forensic Science (Single Honours)

This course is accredited by



MSci Forensic and Analytical InvestigationUCAS Code F412

This distinctive integrated masters degree brings together forensic investigation and forensic analysis with analytical investigation by chemical and physical techniques in the broader sense, to provide a coherent study programme of direct relevance to the work of a great many employers in science-based businesses.The MSci degree is structured around three years study of Forensic Science as a single honours programme, followed by an additional year studying solely Forensic Science and Analytical Investigation. The focus in year 4 of the MSci is on developing knowledge and skills in analytical science in the professional and forensic contexts, extending your literature review, research and science communication skills, and acquiring a thorough understanding of the context of crime scene management and investigation, amongst other factors, to the interpretation and evaluation of a wide variety of evidence types.

In the autumn semester half your time is devoted to acquiring a detailed theoretical and practical understanding of a wide range of chromatographic, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques and their application to the study of crime scene evidence and other materials.

Over this final year of the MSci you will also undertake an individual research project within forensic and analytical science in which you will develop confidence in research planning, practical laboratory work, data analysis and reporting, all at a level typical of the professional context. This MSci independent project occupies half the study programme in year 4.

Module Structure of the MSci in Forensic and Analytical Investigation in Year 4


Year 4 Research Skills for Analytical Science Forensic Evidence: At the Crime Scene and in the CourtAnalytical Science: Principles and Practice

MSci Independent Project

Jehangir Baig, BSc Forensic Science and Criminology

“Since leaving Keele University, I joined Nottinghamshire Police

as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI), I was there for 4 years and more recently joined Gloucestershire

Police as Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO). I love my job and thank the Keele degree course for the knowledge base and practical

confidence I was given.”.



CSFS AccreditationFrom 2010, Keele University has been an institution accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (formerly the Forensic Science Society). The Society’s most recent visit was in April 2018 to assess the courses, facilities and staff base, against the three component standards they regard as essential for the provision of forensic science education at degree level.

These are:• Crime scene investigation• Laboratory analysis• Interpretation, evaluation and presentation of evidence

Following this visit, we undergo regular checks by the society to ensure we are worthy of retaining accredited status. The society has commended Keele on the following aspects of its forensic science programmes:• Commitment and approachability of the staff and

organisation of the programme• Extensive and diverse contributions from external

professionals• Extensive investment in analytical facilities• Comprehensive teaching of statistics integrated within the

forensic science context• Extensive and wide-ranging, final-year research projects• Strong forensic context in the teaching and assessment

of all modules• The crime scene facilities including the CCTV coverage and

the ability to undertake vehicle crime scenes• The introduction of new Forensic Anthropology content

On this basis the Single Honours Forensic Science and the MSci Forensic and Analytical Investigation programmes are fully accredited by the CSFS whilst all the Combined Honours routes have recognised degree status from the CSFS.

The Forensic Science programme at Keele University also complies with the Higher Education Funding Council Subject Benchmark for Forensic Science published in 2012.

www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/Subject-benchmark-statementforensic-science.aspx

This course is accredited by



BSc Forensic Science and Criminology (Single Honours)UCAS Code F4L6

This single honours degree programme is designed to develop an understanding of why crimes are committed and how we use science to investigate these. This programme will provide you with a firm understanding of both Forensic Science and Criminology and how they are used together to investigate crime.

Year 1The aim of the first year is to bring all students, from a variety of different backgrounds, to the same level of understanding in core chemistry, practical laboratory skills and to introduce some of the core areas of forensic science. In the autumn semester you will study the two “principles” modules which will cover the core Chemistry required for the course and provide an introduction to Forensic Science and Criminology.

Alongside these you will also study the Understanding Crime and Cybercrime modules. The former of these will provide a context for crime from different perspectives and highlight different approaches used to measure crime. The Cybercrime module will provide you with an understanding of digital infrastructures, such as the internet, and how these are used to facilitate crime. This module will also introduce the techniques that are used to collect digital evidence. In the spring semester you will study two core forensic modules and two core Criminology modules. The two forensic modules in this semester are Forensic Analysis and Forensic Identification. The Forensic Analysis module focuses on the key spectroscopic techniques used by the forensic scientist in the analysis of chemical substances and the basic statistical methods needed for data analysis and interpretation of results.

The Forensic Identification module is more biological in nature and includes the study of protein biology, DNA, genetic markers and an introduction into biological sample preparation and analysis. The Criminology modules in this semester are Criminal Justice: Process, Policy and Practice and Investigating Crime. The Criminal Justice module looks at the organisations and individuals who attempt to deliver criminal justice and provides an overview of the various agencies involved in the justice system. Investigating Crime focuses on the development and consequences of modern investigative techniques and how criminal investigations are conducted and managed.

Year 2In the second year the focus is to develop the core themes within the forensic and Criminology disciplines which are directly relevant to professional practice and related evidence types. In the autumn semester you will expand your understanding of chemical separation techniques and spectroscopic analysis such as Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in the Spectroscopy and Advanced Analysis module. You will also learn how we obtain and interpret DNA profiles from biological material in the Forensic Genetics module. From a Criminology perspective you will take look at how globalisation has affected crime and the justice system in the Crime and Justice in a Global Context module and look at the ways mental health issues are classified and dealt within the justice system in the Mental Health and Offending module. In the spring semester you will study the chemistry of illicit drugs and their effect on the body as well as how these are identified in the Drugs of Abuse module. In the Criminalistic Methods module you will investigate marks and impressions left at the crime scene such as blood spatter patterns and fingerprints and how these are analysed and imaged for use as evidence. You will learn about how policing is organised and how the people and institutions involved in policing relate to each other in the Policing and the Police module. In the Research methods in Criminology module you will discover how social science research skills are applied to the study of crime and the Criminal Justice system.



Year 3In the third year you will study additional core areas of the subjects as well as undertaking a yearlong team research project and an individual dissertation project. This year you will also undertake a ‘crime scene to court’ project as part of the IEPE module that will allow you to gain experience of the entire ‘forensic’

process from the collection of evidence at a crime scene to its presentation in court. In addition to this you will also have the option to study the pharmacology and toxicology of a range of different drugs and poisons in Forensic Toxicology or studying how geophysics is used to detect buried remains together with

aspects of forensic archaeology in the Forensic Geosciences module. The chemistry of combustion, applied to explosives and arson, will be studied in the Evaluation of Evidence: Explosives and Arson module along with a Criminology elective module of your choice.

Module structure for the BSc Forensic Science and Criminology (Single Honours)


Year 1 Chemical Science principlesForensic Science PrinciplesUnderstanding Crime Cybercrime

Forensic AnalysisForensic IdentificationCriminal Justice: Process, Policy, and PracticeInvestigating Crime

Year 2 Spectroscopy and Advanced AnalysisForensic GeneticsCrime and Justice in a Global ContextMental Health and Offending

Criminalistic MethodsDrugs of AbuseResearch Methods in CriminologyPolicing and the Police

Year 3 Evaluation of Evidence: Explosives and Arson Forensic Geoscience (option)Forensic Toxicology (option)Criminology Elective

Forensic Science Team ProjectInterpretation, Evaluation and Presentation of Evidence (IEPE)Criminology Dissertation

External Examiner report

“The learning environment including laboratory resources

and technical support is excellent”



BSc Combined Honours (Forensic Science and another subject)UCAS Code listed below

Keele is the only university to offer Forensic Science in a genuine combined honours system. Studying on this programme will allow you to combine your forensic studies with another subject. There are currently up to 9 different subjects that you can choose from. Undertaking this route will mean that you spend 50% of your time studying each subject. You can opt to study both subjects for all 3 years (combined honours) or there is a chance to study both for 2 years and then focus solely on one of these subjects in the third year (major route). These programme routes allow you to personalise your degree studies based on your ultimate career goals.Whichever route you decide to take, all Forensic Science students take the same core modules in the first and second years. Modules generally have a focus on chemical aspects of forensics, on biological aspects or on criminalistic science which includes topics where the evidence and its analysis is often unique to the forensic discipline and not wholly based on biological or chemical methods, for example, fingerprints and other marks and impressions, documents analysis or blood-spatter pattern analysis.

Year 1The aim of the first year, particularly in the autumn semester, is to bring all the students, from a variety of academic backgrounds, up to the same level of understanding across core chemistry, practical laboratory skills and indeed the discipline of forensic science itself. This is achieved through the two “principles” modules. In the spring semester one module has a biological basis while the other focuses more on chemical science. Forensic Identification includes study of protein biology, DNA, genetic markers and an introduction to chromatographic separation techniques. In contrast, Forensic Analysis focuses on the key spectroscopic techniques used by the forensic scientist in the analysis of chemical substances and the basic statistical methods needed for data analysis and interpretation of results.

Year 2The focus in the second year is to explore many of the core themes within the forensic discipline which are directly relevant to professional practice where the related evidence types of DNA, marksand impressions, drugs analysis and the use of forensic imaging techniques, are of daily importance.

In the autumn semester, you will expand your understanding of chemical separation techniques and the spectroscopic analysis of evidence at the molecular level using methods such as Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). In parallel, the module on Forensic Genetics explores the methods for producing DNA profiles from biological material and explains how these are interpreted to provide strong identification evidence for the court. In the spring semester the focus moves to the study of the chemistry of drugs of abuse, their effects on the human body and how drugs may be identified in the forensic context. You will also study bloodstain patterns, fingerprints and other marks and impressions, and forensic imaging in the module Criminalistic Methods.

The Forensic Science modules taken for years 1 and 2 by students undertaking the combined honours route are shown in bold on page 11. The content of the third year will vary depending on whether you are taking a major route in Forensic Science or continuing to study a second subject.The following combined honours programmes are available to students interested in studying another subject alongside Forensic Science

• Astrophysics and Forensic Science (FF54)

• Biology and Forensic Science (FC41)

• Chemistry and Forensic Science (FF41)

• Computer Science and Forensic Science (FG44)

• Forensic Science and Human Biology (FC4C)

• Forensic Science and Neuroscience (FB41)

• Forensic Science and Physics (FF43)

• Forensic Science and Psychology (FC48)

• Medicinal Chemistry and Forensic Science (FF4C)



Year 3 Combined Honours Forensic ScienceThe final year of the combined honours course features study of further core areas of the subject, independent project work within a team context and the opportunity to tailor your study programme by a choice of option module. In Forensic Toxicology you will study aspects of pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology and toxicology and their application to forensic investigations; optional attendance at a post-mortem examination forms part of this module. Combustion chemistry forms the basis for the study of explosives and arson which together with an understanding of how forensic evidence is evaluated in the context of the case and the court, comprise the second module in this semester.

At the start of the autumn semester you will embark on your work for the team project and this continues through to the second semester. Here you work with two or three other students on a topic but each plans, carries out and writes up their own particular piece of experimental work which contributes to the overall outcomes of the project.

In the spring semester, you select an option module; for example, Forensic Geosciences which includes the study of geophysical techniques for the detection of buried remains together with aspects of forensic archaeology and forensic entomology or Advanced Topics in Forensic Analysis which includes the analysis of glass, fibres and paints plus forensic ballistics.

Year 3 Major Route Forensic ScienceIf you are taking the major route you study all the core modules that form the combined honours degree route plus both the option modules and, in addition, take two more modules, one of which is worth30 credits (double the size of a standard module). This double module moves the focus of the degree towards understanding the work of the forensic practitioner and the professional contextwithin which they work. In the autumn semester you will study the scientific examination of a crime scene, carry out practical scene exercises and write crime scene reports. This is complemented bylectures and laboratory work on the analysis of chemical analytical data plus lectures and problem classes on forensic statistics. In the spring semester you will work on the analysis of evidence from your final mock scene; this may include drug residues in drinks, shoe-marks, transferred fibres or indented writing on documents. Alongside, there are guest lectures on expert witness training. You then write up an expert witness report and take part in a cross-examination based on your report, in the moot courtroom at Keele.

To complement the team project you also take another module of independent work in researching and writing a short dissertation on a forensic topic outside the main areas of study within your degree.

Lucy Greenwood studied BSc Forensic Science

“Keele University was my first choice of study as it offered me the subject combination I wanted to do through its combined

honours programme – this would provide skills in two academic areas and open up

a wider range of employment opportunities after graduation. My three years at Keele were the best time of my life. Not only was Keele great for my academic ambitions but the

friendly atmosphere in such a pretty campus made the social

aspect of Keele great fun as well. Keele has enabled me

to discover what my life-long goals are for my career and now I have graduated, I am

going on to postgraduate study for an MSc in Toxicology

at Birmingham University”.

Module Structure of the Major Route in Forensic Science in Year 3

Module Structure of the Combined Honours in Forensic Science degrees in Year 3


Year 3 Forensic Toxicology Choose one option moduleForensic GeosciencesAdvanced Topics in Forensic Analysis

Evaluation of Evidence: Explosives and Arson

Forensic Science Team Project


Year 3 Forensic Toxicology Forensic Geosciences

Evaluation of Evidence: Explosives and Fire

Advanced Topics in Fo-rensic Analysis

Forensic Science Team Project

Interpretation, Evaluation and Presentation of Evidence

Forensic Science Dissertation



There is one large laboratory devoted to forensic science and two others designed for chemistry work. In addition, there are two chemical analytical laboratories, a crime scene facility and an adjacent faculty computer laboratory.

You will get experience in working in pairs as well as in small groups in laboratory work across all years of the course. For example, you will work in groups of three or four in the team project and in the crime scene investigation teams in the final year. Most laboratory work is done by pairs of students though you keep separate records of your work and most laboratory assessment is individual.

You will be allocated a personal tutor and there is a year tutor for each year of the course. You will rapidly be on first-name terms with your tutors, and staff and students get to know each other quickly through working together in the laboratories.

Forensic Science staff operate an open door policy, meaning that a student only has to knock on a door or send an email to arrange a meeting with any staff member.

All laboratory classes are supported by academic staff and technical staff as well as post-graduate student demonstrators, most of whom have previously studied forensic science at Keele.

There is a Forensic Science Student Academic Representative system which meets each semester to discuss the progress of the course and deals with any issues raised by the students. Why not volunteer to contribute as a student representative?

What is it like to study forensic science at Keele?Most modules are taught using a combination of lectures and laboratory classes, often with problem classes included as well. The laboratory work is designed to complement the lecture material in the module. These sessions will give you hands-on experience of the type of equipment you would expect to be using in a forensic laboratory.

Jasmine Mears BSc

“Throughout my course, I learnt so much through taught material, practical laboratory sessions and

problem classes, all of which complemented each other and there were plenty of

helpful and friendly lecturers, technicians and post-graduates around to solve any problems

that you may have.”



Teaching and SupportWhat assessment tasks are set?Most modules in forensic science are assessed by an examination and by coursework. Over all of the Forensic Science programmes, the ratio of examinations to coursework is around 50:50.

Coursework can take many forms and the variety of assignments you undertake enables you to gain a wide range of essential communication and other skills.

Some modules include short class tests to encourage revision and provide feedback on your progress.

Deadlines are set for submission of work and staff attempt to return marked work normally within 2 weeks.

In the final year, the team project module and dissertation are wholly coursework assessed.

In the Drugs of Abuse module you will prepare a witness statement for the court.

In Forensic Toxicology you will undertake problem-based-learning sessions on case-studies involving unexplained death. Case studies are used frequently to illustrate forensic science in the real world.

You will become familiar with some of the research literature in forensic science through preparing the literature review for your team project and by carrying out appraisals of individual papers as coursework in some modules.

Laboratory work is assessed in many ways including laboratory diaries, reports, pro-formas, poster presentation and oral assessment.

Feedback is provided on all student work and in most cases this is supplemented by written or oral comments provided on returning the work itself.

Some formative work is set, principally to provide feedback where no mark is recorded.

External examiners report 2017

“The use of a wide range of assessments is clearly helping

to develop the students’ transferable skills.”

”The use of the new Crime Scene House in student

Teaching and Learning is an excellent example of good

practice.”

”There is a lot of evidence of very high quality teaching and learning on this degree

programme.”



Study AbroadCrime is a global problem with different countries often dealing with key ‘local’ issues alongside those that affect us all. The Study Abroad programme at Keele with allow you to experience the different approaches taken to solving crime around the world.

The Forensic Science programmes at Keele allow you to study abroad for either a semester or an entire year at one of our partner universities. This will give you the opportunity to experience the study and application of forensic science in a different country. In an increasing globalised world this will give you a fantastic experience that will set you out from the crowd when looking for employment or further study after your degree.

To find out more about the opportunities available to Keele students, see the link below: keele.ac.uk/study/studyabroad/ opportuntitiesforkeelestudents



Looking to the futureEnsuring that the Forensic Science programmes provide you with the best teaching experience we are constantly looking to improve our teaching facilities. The Central Science Laboratories due to open in 2019 represent a £34 million development in the natural sciences.

The Central Science Laboratories will contain state-of-the-art teaching laboratories that will enhance the delivery of forensic science to our future students. It will contain a range of wet and dry laboratories that will ensure that all of our teaching is carried out in a modern bespoke environment. These laboratories are due to open for the 2019/20 academic year.

More detail on this project can be found at the link below: keele.ac.uk/estates/projects/currentprojects/ investmentinsciencefacilities/centralsciencelaboratories



CareersWhat Keele graduates do nextWithin our Forensic Science programme, the emphasis is on both the scientific approach to forensic problems and the key skills our graduates will acquire. This means that our forensic science graduates are particularly well placed to progress, not only to a wide range of scientific careers, but also to administrative and management roles where communication skills, analytical and problem-solving abilities are greatly valued.Our graduates have entered careers within the professional forensic science sector, for example to technical jobs in one of the many private sector providers which cover everything from DNA profiling to digital forensics, or as analytical scientists and researchers within the broader business sector such as chemical analytical consultancies, pharmaceuticals or environmental monitoring. Others have joined the “crime sector” as police or military police officers, as forensic specialists within the police force including crime scene investigator roles, or to other civilian jobs within these organisations. Many enter into a variety of more general graduate occupations such as scientific publishing or administrative roles.

In common with other physical science disciplines, some of our forensic science graduates also undertake postgraduate qualifications such as an MSc, PGCE or PhD qualification prior to entering employment. in the UK

for Graduate Employment (97.5%)

HESA 2016 – graduates in work or further study within six months of graduation

No.1





MSc Analytical Science for IndustryMany of our undergraduate students choose to follow a postgraduate degree programme at Keele. The MSc Analytical Science for Industry at Keele University provides the opportunity for you to acquire post-graduate-level research and employability skills within the Analytical Sciences sector, in an industrial context, hence providing a strong educational background for a research career in either academia or industry.As a student on the programme, you will benefit from our research expertise and our links with industries that provide the foundation for placement opportunities for our students. All students on the MSc Analytical Science will undertake 30 weeks in a placement with an industrial partner, either in Keele University’s laboratories or at the industrial partner’s premises, which will ultimately boost their employability skills.

Distinctiveness of the ProgrammeThe focus of the MSc Analytical Science for Industry is learning through research and the substantial ‘hands on’ research training with industrial partnership makes this a distinctive course in the UK Higher Education Sector.

The programme runs full-time over one full year with three semesters, Semester 1 starting in late September. It comprises six modules which are designed to develop a sound understanding of analytical science:

Semester 1• “Research Skills for Analytical Science”

- overview of the research environment in the UK and key scientific literacy and communication skills

• “Analytical Science: Principles and Practice” - worth 30 credits, brings a deep focus on a variety of individual analytical methods from both a theoretical and practical angle.

• “Research in Industry” - perspective of industrial research (IP issues, regulations, methods validation)

Semesters 2 and 3• “Independent Research Project: Portfolio”• “Independent Research Project: Report”• “Independent Research Project:

Research Communication” are together worth 120 credits and will bring a real emphasis on hands-on experience and independent thinking.



This is what some of our graduates say:

Josh Tedd, BSc Computer Science and Forensic Science

“Since leaving Keele and obtaining a first class degree, I have been employed by a

digital forensics company as a trainee mobile phone forensic analyst after bettering 30 other applicants. I firmly believe that

the education and the experience I gained from my time at Keele

secured me this amazing job and I am forever grateful at

the expertise, friendliness, and professionalism of the staff.

The dual honours system really made a difference as I managed to gain the unique, individual

skills of both a computer scientist and a forensic scientist,

which fits perfectly within my job! Thank you Keele, I will

miss you!”

Richard Bridgett, BSc Forensic Science with Biology

“I enjoyed my time as an undergraduate at Keele

immensely. The variety of topics studied and skills

acquired during the course are stimulating and diverse and

it equips you well for various jobs after graduating. Before returning to undertake my

PhD at Keele on “The Isolation of Feeding Stimulants within Honey Bee Pollens”, I spent

time working for the forensic investigations unit of Cheshire

Police where my role was to routinely apply the techniques

I had learnt at Keele to the enhancement and imaging of fingerprints within casework.

I also worked for a global pharmaceutical company where I utilised the instrumental skills

I acquired through study of chemical analysis.”

Rebecca Spruce, BSc Chemistry and Forensic Science

“When I graduated from Keele I quickly got a job at the Forensic

Science Service working as a forensic analyst in the road

traffic accident department. The knowledge and lab experience

I had gained at Keele was a huge influencing factor in

securing this job and going straight into a forensic job after

graduating was an amazing experience, my three years of hard work and studying had rewarded me with a fantastic

opportunity. My next job landed me a role at an environmental

forensic laboratory where I have been working for 2 years. The education and laboratory skills I received at Keele have

undoubtedly led me to the work experience and career path

I have today.”





Student spotlight“I graduated from Keele University in 2012 after an amazing experience. I spent 4 years at Keele and learnt so much in that short amount of time. Keele provides a brilliant atmosphere; being a campus university it has everything that you need on campus makes it the transition to university life easier and enjoyable. Also, the nightlife was fantastic and provided new things whenever possible, it couldn’t be faulted. Forensic Science is such a broad area of science, and is ever expanding, so I was grateful to the variety of topics we covered at Keele. One of the big advantages was the extensive time spent in the laboratory getting hands on experience with a range of analytical instrumentation, which related to the theory topics being taught in lectures. It was very helpful to be able to put lecture material into practice and this enabled me to learn the information much more thoroughly. I was impressed by the amount of laboratory time we were given and the variety of instruments available. After leaving Keele I managed to get a job as a science technician at a high school initially, where I think my extensive laboratory experience definitely helped me to secure the position. However, in June of 2013 I succeeded in gaining a job as a forensic scientist within a drugs department.

I definitely feel that the degree course I studied at Keele provided me with an excellent advantage when applying for this job due to the amount of instrumentation we were able to use and the breadth of information we were taught. My course had a module devoted to the analysis of drugs of abuse which definitely gave me the information I needed to get through my interview. It taught me many techniques that are used within the forensic field such as TLC, GC-MS and HPLC which I now use on a daily basis within my job.

I have been a forensic scientist now for over 4 and a half years and was recently promoted to a Reporting Forensic Scientist in April. I now write statements on cases that have been examined and are sent out to police forces across the country. I now work more closely with police officers and police staff to ensure that they receive all the information they need on current cases they are working on.

I feel very grateful to have found a job in my chosen field and I know my degree at Keele was definitely worth all the effort I put into it.”

Carlie Whiting BSc Forensic Science with Criminology Reporting Forensic Scientist at Key Forensic Services



How to apply Applications for all the Forensic Science undergraduate courses at Keele should be made through UCAS (See ucas.com for details). The individual course codes are shown next to the programme names in this brochure.

Independent applicants in the UK UK applicants, who are not at school or college, apply online independently. You are responsible for paying the correct application fee, for obtaining and attaching the academic reference and for submitting the completed application online to UCAS.

International Applicants Outside the UK (EU and Worldwide) Unless your school or college is registered with UCAS, individuals from the EU (excluding the UK), and worldwide, can apply online independently.

Advice is available from British Council offices and other centres overseas, such as your school or college. You are responsible for paying the correct application fee, for obtaining and attaching the academic reference and for submitting the completed application online to UCAS.

For all applicants, there are full instructions at ucas.com to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate. UCAS also has a comprehensive guide called Applying Online, which can be downloaded from ucas.com



Meet us Experience Forensic Science at Keele for yourself. We hold a number of open days and have various visit options throughout the year. It is a great chance to see our facilities and meet the staff. We’d love to see you and say hello.

Open Days Open Days will give you a chance to meet the staff who deliver the Forensic Science programmes at Keele as well as an opportunity to see the facilities we teach in. Whilst it may seem scary to visit the university for the first time, these days are a great opportunity to ask all of those questions that you have about the university and the courses you are interested in. There will also be a chance to see the campus as a whole including the accommodation, and, of course, the social activities that are available at Keele! Book your place at keele.ac.uk/opendays

Offer Holder Days Offer Holder days are a chance to re-visit the department and get a first-hand experience on how we teach forensic science. These days will involve a number of small activities that you can take part in to enable you to experience your first taste of teaching in a university. You will not require any prior forensic science knowledge to take part in these but it will give you an opportunity to meet some new people who will also be joining the programme with you.

If you apply to Keele and are made an offer, you will automatically be invited to attend one of these days. keele.ac.uk/visiting/offerholderdaysforapplicants

Independent Visits If you are unable to attend either of the Open or Offer Holder Days you are more than welcome to arrange a visit to the university at any time to discuss your interests with one or more of our academics. This is a chance to see the university when it suits you and you can discover Keele at your own pace. We do not offer any formal sessions on an independent visit but you are more than welcome to tell us what you are interested in and we can show you the relevant parts of the university. More information on independent visits can be found at the web site below: keele.ac.uk/visiting/independentvisits

The question you remember on the way home!We know from our experience at university that there is always another question that you forgot to ask. If so, please feel free to contact the Forensic Science admissions tutor or programme director, we are both very friendly and are more than happy to answer any questions you (or your parents!) may have, our email addresses are below! Dr David F. Thompson - Programme Director for Forensic Science: [email protected] Mrs Victoria Cartwright – Admissions Tutor for Forensic Science: [email protected]



If you have any questions please contact Mrs Victoria Cartwright Forensic Science Admission Tutor+44 (0) 1782 733584

School of Chemical and Physical SciencesLennard-Jones LaboratoriesKeele UniversityKeeleStaffordshireST5 5BG+44 (0) 1782 [email protected]

@keeleforensicskeele.ac.uk/forensic

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