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Forensic and Analytical Science

Entry requirements


A level

B,C,C

To include Chemistry with English and Maths at GCSE grade 4/C if not held at A-Level.

Access to HE Diploma

M:45,P:15

Pass 60 credits to include at least 45 credits at Level 3 grade merit in a science related discipline. Chemistry will also be required.

HNC (BTEC)

P

In a relevant subject

HND (BTEC)

P

In a relevant subject

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

27

To include Higher Level Chemistry at Grade 4 with English and Maths at Standard Level grade 4 if not achieved at Higher.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H3,H3,H3

To include Chemistry with English and Maths at grade O2 if not achieved at Higher.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DMM

In a science related discipline.

Accepted

Scottish HNC

Pass

In a relevant subject with A in the graded unit for consideration for entry to year 2.

Scottish HND

Pass

In a relevant subject with graded units AA for consideration for entry to year 3

Scottish Higher

B,B,B,C

To include Chemistry with English and Maths at National 5 grade B if not achieved at Higher.

T Level

P

In a relevant science course with a high level of Chemistry

UCAS Tariff

102-104

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

4years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Forensic science

The role of analytical science in forensic investigations is becoming increasingly important due to the major developments in analytical chemistry and advances in molecular biology. Forensic Science involves the analysis of biological chemical or physical samples collected as evidence during a criminal investigation.

The skills of the forensic scientist provide crucial scientific evidence which may link a suspect with the scene of the crime, the victim or the weapon. In addition, the key problem solving and analytical skills developed in forensic & analytical science are widely sought after in many other industrial sectors including the oil, gas, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Our course was the first in Scotland to be accredited by the Forensic Science Society. It is accredited in all three of the Society’s Component Standards – Laboratory Analysis, Crime Scene Investigation, and Interpretation, Evaluation and Presentation of Evidence.

It is delivered by highly experienced forensic practitioners and analytical scientists who are focused on providing you with the scientific and investigative skills you will need to succeed in this highly competitive profession.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£6,750
per year
England
£6,750
per year
EU
£6,750
per year
International
£15,040
per year
Northern Ireland
£6,750
per year
Republic of Ireland
£6,750
per year
Scotland
£1,820
per year
Wales
£6,750
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Main Site - Aberdeen

Department:

School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences

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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.

84%
Forensic science

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.

Forensic and archaeological sciences

Teaching and learning

90%
Staff make the subject interesting
95%
Staff are good at explaining things
80%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
65%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

90%
Library resources
95%
IT resources
95%
Course specific equipment and facilities
45%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

82%
UK students
18%
International students
33%
Male students
67%
Female students
82%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
D
C

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.

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.

£19,000
med
Average annual salary
100%
high
Employed or in further education
50%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

26%
Science, engineering and production technicians
16%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
16%
Other elementary services occupations

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

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.

£21k

£21k

£25k

£25k

£31k

£31k

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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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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This is the percentage of applicants to this course who received an offer last year, through Ucas.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here