Biological and Forensic Sciences (with foundation year)

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.