Program Overview

If you want to help solve crimes, it pays to understand criminality from many different angles. This course gives you much broader skills, knowledge and experience than a more traditional ‘forensic science’ degree. Using facilities shared with a real police force, this degree is always relevant, innovative and up-to-date.

From crime scene to evidence lab to court room, you’ll find out how forensic investigation fits into the history, policy and practice of the criminal justice system. And you’ll study the causes of crime, learning what really makes a criminal.

Course highlights

• Develop specialist skills in the latest forensic facilities including simulated crime scenes, and labs with fingerprinting, DNA analysis and forensic imaging kit
• Explore new experimental techniques including the use of Virtual and Augmented Reality, inspired by innovative VR research at the University of Portsmouth
• Learn from criminology, probation and policing experts who are actively involved in industry, and who shape its future with ground-breaking research in areas like forensic interview techniques and wildlife crime
• Benefit from our strong partnerships and links with the criminal justice and forensic investigation industry – previous field trips have included visits to a police fingerprinting bureau and a military CSI training HQ
• Hear from guest speakers such as fire investigators, crime scene managers, pathologists, specialist police officers, firearm officers and forensic archaeologists
• Tailor your degree from a wide range of modules, including crime and mental health, hate crime, dangerous offenders and public protection
• Gain pre-entry qualifications for careers in the police or probation service, and develop skills in problem solving and analysis that all kinds of employers value