Biological and Forensic Sciences (with foundation year)
Coventry University
UCAS Code: CFDF | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff
5 GCSEs at A-C/4-9 including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.
About this course
The foundation year of this Coventry University degree will be delivered from our CU Coventry campus. Course delivery from year 1 of the degree onwards will be from our Coventry University campus.
This course aims to provide you with a solid grounding for building a career in biological and forensic sciences.
The foundation year seeks to develop your core understanding within the sciences, including biology, chemistry and physiology, in addition to developing our academic and communication skills further. Students who successfully complete their foundation year will then progress onto the Biological and Forensic Sciences BSc (Hons) degree within Coventry University’s School of Life Sciences.
The degree aims to blend the study of human biology with the techniques used in forensic laboratories, including analysis of blood, fibres, particulates, fingerprints, drugs, documents, DNA, fire/explosives residue and other trace evidence. You will be taught key experimental techniques and develop essential experimental, data handling, reporting and broader scientific skills, such as literature researching, information technology, bioinformatics, data processing and the use of statistics.
Our experienced staff aim to adopt a ‘Crime Scene to Court’ approach to their teaching, which should help you to understand forensic science, in particular the need to methodically collect samples, analyse them and present the results to the standard required by the courts.
**Key benefits of the degree**
* A teaching team of multidisciplinary experts from various subjects, including biologists, chemists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, forensic scientists, investigators and lawyers who bring their research and practical experiences into their teaching
* Hands-on practical experience, both in the state-of-the-art Superlab+ and in the immersive crime scene simulation houses and outdoor search and decomposition facilities, so that students can confidently walk into a graduate job knowing that they have already used the same equipment used in hospital, commercial, police and research laboratories
* 3D printing lab where students can learn to design and 3D-print their own creations
* Regular expert guest lectures from professionals in their field, who provide insight into the numerous employability options available (subject to availability)
* Opportunities to study international cold cases and take a global approach to their studies with collaborative online projects and the possibility of international field trips.
See our website for further details.
Modules
Foundation Year includes:
Introduction to Health and Disease
Foundation of Anatomy and Physiology
Introduction to Cell Biology
Foundation of Chemistry
Year One
In your first year, you will join a vibrant community of students studying bioscience-related courses in biomedical science, human biosciences and pharmacology. The common first year ensures that you have a firm understanding of core areas of modern biosciences, from the cellular and molecular level through to whole body anatomy and physiology. These subjects are underpinned by relevant aspects of chemistry, maths and data analysis.
The topics are taught in an integrated manner to ensure that the links between disciplines such as biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology are evident. You will also have the opportunity to start to apply your knowledge to collecting and analysing evidence from a crime scene, in the Applied Techniques in Biology module. You are supported with the aim of becoming a confident, competent and safe laboratory scientist.
Modules
Human physiology: Homeostasis and Health
Genetics, Heredity and Evolution
Structure, Function and Analysis of Biomolecules
Cell Communication, Structure, and Function
The Microbial World
Applied Techniques in Biology
Year Two
In year two, you will build on your knowledge of biology in areas such as genetics, microbiology, neurophysiology and human health and disease. You will study forensic aspects including crime scene evaluation, collection, preservation and analysis of evidence linked to legal aspects of criminal cases. You will continue to extend your skills and competencies, including effective communication to diverse audiences, in both scientific and non-scientific arenas. Individual professional development activities enable you to identify strategies and approaches to enhance your own capabilities and to build your professional profile.
Modules
Fundamentals of Forensic Science
Microorganisms in Human Health and Disease
Human Genetic Diversity
Forensic Science and Evidence Analysis
The Immune System in Health and Disease
Neurophysiology
Placement Year
Our sandwich degree option allows a full year work placement, which can be taken abroad, or you can undertake a study year abroad*. Previous students in our department have been successful in securing places to study in Spain, France, Canada and the US.
If you choose to do a work placement year*, you will pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or participating institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.
Final Year
The final year will build on the knowledge of biological and forensic sciences. You will further develop research skills and will undertake a research project which will be designed and reported with the support of an academic supervisor, providing a capstone experience to the course. Studying international cold cases will allow you to take a global approach to your studies with collaborative online projects (subject to availability) and the possibility of international field trips*. You will also study the application of cutting-edge forensic techniques to real-life cold cases and test your presentation skills reporting forensic evidence in a mock courtroom.
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated. Before accepting any offers, please check the website for the most up to date course content. For full module details please check the course page on the Coventry University website.
*For further information please check the course page on the Coventry University website
Assessment methods
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
Tests
Essays
Group work
Presentations
Reports
Projects
Coursework
Individual Assignments
Laboratory competency tests
Portfolios
Mock court room oral testimony
Posters
Critical reviews
Reflections
Case study-based approaches with scenarios based on real world issues
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biosciences (non-specific)
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Forensic and archaeological sciences
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Biosciences (non-specific)
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
These stats refer to the prospects of graduates from general courses in biosciences. About a quarter go into further study and for those who go into work, bioscience, teaching and finance jobs are the most common types of employment. But you can go into most careers with this kind of degree — the majority of jobs for graduates don’t ask for a particular degree subject - and you will acquire a wide range of skills valued by many employers. If you want to find out more specifically about the prospects for your chosen subject, it might be a good idea to go on open days and talk to tutors about what previous graduates from your chosen subject went on to do.
Forensic and archaeological sciences
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Biosciences (non-specific)
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£18k
£23k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Forensic and archaeological sciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£18k
£22k
£24k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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