Forensic Science and Criminology

Forensic science and criminology combines the physical and biological sciences of criminal investigation with the social scientific study of crime and the criminal justice system. Forensic science provides the technical tools for analysing physical evidence at crime scenes and in laboratory settings, from DNA profiling and toxicology to digital forensics and trace evidence examination. Criminology provides the theoretical and empirical frameworks for understanding why crime occurs, how it is defined and responded to, and how criminal justice institutions operate.

Together they give you a degree that spans laboratory practice and social analysis in a way that is both intellectually rich and professionally relevant.

At Bedfordshire, this four-year full-time programme includes a professional practice year, giving you structured professional experience within the forensic science, criminal justice or research sectors. The programme is awarded Recognition by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, which is a mark of quality and professional relevance that distinguishes it from programmes without such recognition. You will develop your laboratory skills in forensic science alongside your sociological and criminological knowledge, engaging with the evidence base for forensic methods and the realities of how forensic evidence is used within the criminal justice system.

The professional practice year gives you the opportunity to work in a forensic laboratory, policing environment, research organisation or criminal justice agency, building the applied experience that employers in this competitive field consistently value.

Graduates move into forensic science laboratories, policing, criminal justice, probation, research and the voluntary sector. Some graduates continue to postgraduate study in forensic science, criminology or law, and some pursue professional registration with the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences as their careers develop.