Forensic Science and Criminology

Forensic science and criminology is a combination that approaches crime from two complementary directions: the physical evidence that crime scenes yield and the social and psychological understanding of why crimes occur and how societies respond. Forensic science applies laboratory and analytical methods to investigate physical traces, including biological material, chemical residues, fibres, digital data and pattern evidence, while criminology examines the theories of criminal behaviour, the operation of the criminal justice system and the wider social context of crime and deviance.

At the University of Keele, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year, a work placement and a year abroad. The sandwich and placement elements give you direct professional experience, whether in forensic laboratories, police services, criminal justice organisations or related settings, developing both technical and professional skills. The year abroad provides the opportunity to engage with forensic science and criminology in a different national context, where different legal frameworks and evidence standards shape practice in illuminating ways.

You will develop laboratory skills in forensic analysis, including DNA profiling, trace evidence analysis, forensic toxicology and crime scene examination, alongside criminological knowledge of offending behaviour, policing, victimology and the criminal justice process. Scientific method, data analysis, critical thinking and report writing are developed throughout.

Graduates go on to careers in forensic laboratory work, crime scene investigation, forensic intelligence, policing, the criminal justice system, research, education and regulatory agencies. Some go on to postgraduate study in forensic science, criminology or related fields. The combination of scientific and social science training is valued by employers who need professionals who understand both the evidential and the procedural dimensions of criminal justice.