Forensic Sciences
Entry requirements
A level
To include Biology or Human Biology or Physics or Chemistry Entry into Year 2 with BBB to include Chemistry and Biology or Human Biology
HNC (BTEC)
Entry into Year 2 with an HNC (BTEC) in one of the following:- Applied Biology Applied Chemistry
HND (BTEC)
Entry into Year 2 with an HND (BTEC) in one of the following:- Applied Biology Applied Chemistry
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
To include Biology or Human Biology or Physics or Chemistry at S5/H4
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
To include Biology or Human Biology or Physics or Chemistry
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
Entry into Year 1 with Applied Science (all pathways) Entry into Year 2 with DDD in Applied Science
Scottish Advanced Higher
Entry into Year 2 to include Chemistry and Biology or Human Biology
Scottish HNC
Entry into Year 2 with an HNC in one of the following:- Applied Science - Graded Unit B Bioscience - Graded Unit B Biomedical Science - Graded Unit B
Scottish HND
Entry into Year 2 with an HND in one of the following:- Applied Biological Science - Graded Unit B Applied Bioscience - Graded Units BB Applied Chemical Science - Graded Unit B Applied Science - Graded Unit B Biomedical Science - Graded Unit B Bioscience - Graded Unit B
Scottish Higher
To include Biology or Human Biology or Physics or Chemistry at B
Accepted/considered on an individual basis
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Go beyond the police tape with this fascinating and highly-practical Forensic Sciences degree. Learn the techniques that underpin the recognition, identification, recovery, analysis and evaluation of information which can be used as evidence in a court of law.
Are you literate, numerate and analytical? Do you like to solve problems for fun? Are you naturally inquisitive with a passion for chemistry and biology? Put these traits to work during a Forensic Sciences degree that equips you with the knowledge required to help support the legal process.
It’s a hands-on degree, which allows you to analyse a variety of scenes in our purpose-built facilities, and learn the following physical and chemical analysis techniques in our state-of-the-art laboratories:
Crime scene investigation
Body fluid analysis
DNA profiling
Forensic chromatography & spectroscopy
Fingerprinting
Substances of abuse
This highly vocational programme is broken down into three main study areas – forensic science, chemistry and biology – and dovetails modules from the Division of Law to prepare you for a variety of workplace situations.
This course is the 5th best Forensic Sciences degree in the UK according to the 2022 Complete University Guide.
The course also scored an amazing 90% for Overall Student Satisfaction in the 2020 National Student Survey (NSS). Finally, Abertay is widely regarded as THE place to come for high quality teaching. But don't take our word for it:
Sunday Times UK University of the Year 2020 for Teaching Quality.
Guardian University Guide 2020 Top 10 in the UK for Student Satisfaction with Teaching, Course and Feedback.
National Student Survey 2020 Top 10 UK Universities for Student Satisfaction.
Modules
Year 1 core modules (subject to change over time) - FOR101 Foundations of Chemistry 1; FOR103 Introduction to Forensic Science, Practice and Techniques; LSC101 Biology 1: Biology Principles and Practice; FOR102 Foundations of Chemistry 2; LSC102 Human Physiology.
You will also be required to select one elective module. For detailed module information please check our website.
Assessment methods
We offer a broad range of learning environments, including traditional lecture and tutorial format, student-led learning, interactive class sessions, practical and a substantial element of laboratory work. We encourage independent study, meaning that you take responsibility for your own learning. Your study is assessed with a variety of methods enabling you to demonstrate progress in different ways. Coursework typically includes laboratory reports, essays and oral presentations. Formal exams typically include questions that require either short answers or essays coupled with problem-solving of forensic-related challenges. In your final dissertation you are individually supported by an experienced research active member of staff. Lab reports, essays, oral presentations and exams. Year 1 is approximately 50% exam and 50% coursework. Year 4 is approximately 100% exam in some instances - not including final year project, which is coursework based.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Abertay Campus
School of Applied Sciences
What students say
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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.
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.
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.
£25k
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 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).
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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?
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