Forensic Chemistry

Apply your passion for chemistry to the complex world of forensic analysis and investigation. From core chemistry principles to hands-on crime scene techniques, our Forensic Chemistry BSc brings together essential themes and applied skills from both subjects. You'll develop practical experience by working in state-of-the-art chemistry laboratories and authentic crime scene simulation settings, allowing you to gain professional abilities in gathering, processing and evaluating forensic evidence. With these practical and professional skills, you'll be prepared for an exciting career in Forensic Chemistry.

Why choose this course?

• Top 10 in the UK for Forensic Science (Complete University Guide, 2025)

• Chemistry ranked No.1 in the UK with 96% of students expressing satisfaction with their course (NSS 2025, broad-based universities)*

• Develop your practical and professional skills in our indoor and outdoor crime scene simulation facilities.

• Use a wide variety of industry-standard instrumentation in Keele's state-of-the-art Central Science Laboratories.

• Gain a certification in expert witness training

Forensic Chemistry covers a breadth of topics and enables you to build practical, analytical, problem-solving and research skills, preparing you for exciting career opportunities.

Advancements in chemistry are driving modern forensic evidence analysis. In this programme you’ll develop skills vital for today’s chemists and deepen your understanding of chemistry’s core principles, from atomic bonding to techniques for measuring and observing chemical reactions.

You’ll explore the techniques used for the recovery and analysis in crime scene investigation (CSI) and discover how chemical analysis of evidence forms the backbone of forensic science. There's a focus on how modern analytical techniques can detect the compounds in forensic materials and how concepts from physical and inorganic chemistry can explain what we observe in chemical reactions. You’ll enhance your CSI skills and knowledge in areas such as drug-related crime, pharmacology, forensic imaging, and blood spatter analysis, and you’ll gain confidence in communicating forensic findings to diverse audiences.

A major focus of the programme is developing your hands-on experience. You'll use professional equipment and techniques in well-equipped chemistry labs and modern forensic science facilities. Our dedicated crime scene simulation areas include indoor and outdoor scenarios including vehicle and fire examinations and our Crime Scene House. Optional modules allow you tailor your studies to specific interests, enhancing your understanding of topics such as sustainable chemistry and forensic toxicology.

There are opportunities to boost your employability including an additional certification in expert witness testimony, undertake a work placement year or complete an optional flexible work placement module.

*We have compared the positivity ratings of all participating UK institutions using the NSS 2025 sector data to determine Keele's position relative to other broad-based universities (i.e. excluding specialist institutions and further education colleges).

About Keele

Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university. We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level. Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.