Applied Bioscience with Forensic Investigation
Entry requirements
A level
Including Biology or Human Biology. Year 2 entry with A Levels in BBC including Biology.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
including 3 subjects at H4 (one of which should be Biology or Human Biology) For year 2 entry, 30 points including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry at Higher Level
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Including Biology or Human Biology
Scottish Advanced Higher
Advanced Highers in Biology plus National 5 Chemistry at C
Scottish HNC
Year 2: Applied Science; Bioscience.
Scottish HND
Year 3: Biotechnology; Bioscience; Biomedical Science: Environmental Science: Industrial Biotechnology; Applied Biological Science
Scottish Higher
Including Biology or Human Biology
T Level
UCAS Tariff
Including Biology or Human Biology
About this course
**OVERVIEW**
UWS’s BSc (Hons) Applied Bioscience with Forensic Investigation will equip you with the forensic analysis skills to assess crime scenes and analyse biological and chemical evidence. It will also develop your complex problem solving skills.
It aims to produce well-qualified, highly skilled graduates who meet the demands of the UK and international biotechnology, food, pharmaceutical, life sciences and forensic sectors.
**PRACTICAL FOCUS**
Modern analytical techniques, practice-based and research skills are key strengths of this degree.
In addition, you have the option to undertake a 12-week placement during Year 3 of your studies, allowing you to apply the skills, techniques and knowledge you’ve gained to real-world settings.
If you opt not to undertake the optional placement, the alternative is to undertake two university based modules; Bio-case study and Bio-professional Practice which aim to develop some of the key skills and competencies required in the work place.
**PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION**
This degree has been accredited by the Royal Society of Biology (RSB). Accredited degrees contain a solid academic foundation in biological knowledge and key skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. This course meets, in part, the academic and experience requirement for the Membership of the RSB and Chartered Biologist (CBiol) status.
**CAREER PROSPECTS**
**Jobs**
UWS Applied Bioscience with Forensic Investigation graduates are well qualified to enter a range of related medical professions, providing you meet the requirements of the employer and employment opportunities, including:
// NHS hospital laboratories // Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service laboratories // Health Protection Agency laboratories // Research & development laboratories for the medical, pharmaceutical, veterinary and food sectors // Primary and secondary teaching
There are various areas where good scientific skills are required including clinical laboratories, analytical laboratories, research laboratories, contract research organisations, distillers and support companies.
**Further Study**
UWS Applied Bioscience with Forensic Investiagtion graduates often continue their studies on taught master's (MSc) or research options (MRes, MPhil, PhD) in Biomedical Sciences or Biotechnology subject areas. The BSc (Hons) Applied Bioscience with Forensic Investigation is also acceptable to all Schools of Education as an entry qualification to the Postgraduate/Professional Diploma in Education for Biology and General Science teaching.
Modules
In Year 1, you be given a general introduction to various biological disciplines, from cell and molecular aspects to ecological and environmental topics. You will be introduced to the role of a forensic scientist and research specific cases.
In Year 2, your studies will include how to identify, collect and analyse biological trace evidence from a crime scene. You will acquire expertise in the use and application of microscopy in a forensic investigation. Subjects including molecular genetics, biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology will be introduced.
In Year 3, you will study DNA and controlled substances and will apply your knowledge to investigate a crime scene scenario. You may have some choice in which bioscience to focus on e.g. microbiology, immunology or biochemistry. A valuable career enhancing 12-week work placement is possible in a research, hospital or company laboratory.
Your final year of studies will see you focusing on forensic specialist subjects taking you from the crime scene to the courtroom while gaining in-depth knowledge of your chosen biological subjects and their applications. A critical part of your final year of study is a detailed supervised project where you participate in research in a subject area of your choice.
Assessment methods
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and workshops.
You will also have the opportunity to take part in group work and independent learning to develop your transferable skills such as research, presentation, communication and working as part of a team.
This degree is assessed using a variety of assessment methods including:
// Written examinations // Coursework // Practical assessment
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
Visit www.uws.ac.uk/scholarships
The Uni
Lanarkshire Campus
Health and Life Sciences
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.
Chemistry
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.
Chemistry
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
Chemistry graduates are in demand from a wide range of industries, from the food, oil, chemicals and pharmaceuticals to consultancy, technical analysis and teaching. They're also prized by business and finance employers for their research and data handling skills — anywhere there is research and data to be explained, you can find chemistry grads. If you want a career in research, you need a doctorate, so start planning now if you fancy one of these exciting and challenging jobs - but good students can usually get grants to take a doctorate, so don't worry about the financing if you think you have what it takes. The recession wasn’t too kind to chemists, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry (one of the key employers for chemists), but things are getting back to normal for this flexible group and it's one of the few degrees that is bucking the current trend and increasing graduate numbers.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Chemistry
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£23k
£29k
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).
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?
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