Forensic Investigation

Forensic investigation is a discipline that applies scientific and analytical methods to the detection and investigation of crime, drawing on forensic science, criminal justice, investigative psychology and evidence-based policing. It is a field that demands both technical precision and sound procedural understanding, because the value of forensic evidence depends entirely on how it is collected, preserved, analysed and presented. A forensic investigator must understand not only the science but the legal and ethical contexts in which that science operates.

At the University of St Mark and St John in Plymouth you will study this three-year full-time programme, which covers the investigative skills required to use forensics effectively alongside other investigative techniques such as interviewing suspects and witnesses. You will develop knowledge of scene examination, evidence recovery, crime scene analysis, forensic psychology, investigative decision-making and the criminal justice processes that govern how evidence is used. The programme is designed to give you both the scientific grounding and the procedural understanding to work effectively in investigative contexts.

The typical entry tariff for this programme is around 136 UCAS points, and Plymouth's location in the South West provides connections to local police, criminal justice and public safety organisations.

Graduates of forensic investigation programmes work across the criminal justice system and related fields. Roles in scene examination, evidence handling, investigative support, intelligence analysis, victim services and crime prevention are all accessible career paths. Many graduates join the police service, either in civilian forensic roles or through officer training, while others work in private forensic laboratories, security and risk management, or the wider public sector.

Postgraduate study in forensic science, criminology, investigative psychology or criminal justice is a further option for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or pursue research in the field.