MSc Forensic Science and Criminal Justice (Distance Learning)

2:1 honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject area, e.g. Forensic Science, Chemistry or Biology.

We will also consider extensive and relevant work experience, e.g. in the forensic or criminal justice sector.

You will be expected to have at least a basic knowledge of physical sciences.

For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more.

There are a number of possible sources of funding: loans and grants, bursaries and scholarships.

A postgraduate qualification is an investment in your future. Like you, we are keen that your investment pays off. There is no doubt that studying for a postgraduate qualification can help your career prospects – you will gain the deeper knowledge and high end skills and that will set you apart. Studying with us gives a clear signal to employers. It demonstrates that you have the spark, ambition and commitment to take your career to the next level. Your employer will also benefit directly from your newly acquired understanding and capabilities.

This course will equip you with the ability to evaluate and interpret different forms of forensic evidence and to consider its relevance to police investigations. You will also acquire an understanding of the many and varied techniques used to forensically examine different evidence types and how to sequence multiple techniques. The breadth of modules will enable you to acquire this skill and knowledge in a wide range of disciplines. Such skill and knowledge is an essential part of being able to demonstrate to a court of law that you are credible as an expert witness and able, therefore, to give opinion to a jury.

Year 1

The first year will equip you with the basics of understanding how forensic science is used to solve crime and how to analyse critically its use.

Modules

• Crime Scene Examination
• Trace Evidence Analysis
• Evidential Value and Interpretation
• Research Methods

Year 2

In your second year you can focus your degree, if you want to, around specialist themes that may be of particular interest to you or your sponsor.

Option modules

You will choose either six modules marked L or three modules marked L plus two modules marked F or C from:  

Physical Evidence modules

• Fingerprint Corrosion of Metal (L)
• Arson Investigation (L)
• Forensic Engineering (L)
• Toxicology of Chemical Weapons (F)
• Blood Distribution and Spatter (F)
• Environmental Forensics (C)

Biological Evidence modules

• Biological Evidence and Serology (F)
• Forensic Toxicology (F)
• Forensic Genetics (F)

Human Remains modules

• Introduction to Forensic Archaeology (L)
• Introduction to Forensic Anthropology (L)

Management modules

• Crime Scene Management (L)
• Intelligence Gathering and Data Mining of Police Data (L)

Modules marked L are delivered by the University of Leicester. Modules marked F or C are taught by the University of Florida or the University of Canberra respectively.