BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation Bachelor's degree at Arden University
BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation at Arden University. You'll study core theory alongside research methods, applied practice and specialist options, and develop professional skills through an independent project.
About this course
Start your journey with a BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation degree offered online at Arden. Kickstart your Forensic career with our bachelor’s/undergraduate course. Apply now! From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Forensic and Criminal Investigation is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Arden University. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For General Studies graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 75% in highly skilled roles. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 35% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Level 4 6 modules
- Introduction to Forensic Investigation20 credits
- Introduction to Criminal Investigation20 credits
- Police Custody20 credits
- Witnesses: An Introduction20 credits
- Criminal Investigation: Procedures and Practices20 credits
- Analysis and Application of Forensics20 credits
Level 5 7 modules
- Forensic Trace AnalysisCore20 credits
- Forensic BiologyCore20 credits
- Civilian EmployabilityCore20 credits
- Death Investigation and the CoronerCore20 credits
- Transnational Organised CrimeOptional20 credits
- IntelligenceOptional20 credits
- Community PolicingOptional20 credits
Level 6 4 modules
- Forensic Anthropology20 credits
- Environmental Forensics20 credits
- Law Enforcement: Vulnerability and Risk20 credits
- Special Investigations Portfolio60 credits
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This online degree combines forensic science and criminal investigation within a broader General Studies framework. You'll usually start with core concepts and academic skills, alongside introductions to the subject's main strands and data literacy. In Year 2, you'll progress to intermediate study connecting the programme's themes, apply your learning through team-based project work, and choose optional modules to broaden your expertise. By Year 3, you'll specialise in areas of forensic and criminal investigation that suit your interests, develop professional skills through work experience or placement, and complete an independent capstone project. Throughout, the course emphasises the interdisciplinary nature of the field, such as applied projects, research methods, and professional development.
Who it's for
You're someone drawn to understanding how criminal investigations work and the science underpinning forensic evidence. This suits you if you're analytical, methodical and interested in applying scientific thinking to real-world cases. You might be working in law enforcement, security or related fields and seeking formal qualification to advance your career, or exploring forensics as a new direction. The part-time format works well if you need flexibility around existing commitments. You'll find the workload manageable if you're self-directed and comfortable learning independently online, though expect to engage seriously with research and practical problem-solving throughout the course.
Careers & job market
Across General Studies graduates nationally, around 85% are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating, with 65% in highly skilled roles or continued study. Starting salaries for recent graduates typically fall between £24,000 and £30,000; after three years, the range is £20,825 to £29,400, and after five years, £25,075 to £35,400. These are national figures from Graduate Outcomes and LEO data, not university-specific guarantees. Your earning trajectory will depend on your specific role, employer and career choices. Most entrants to this course held A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) degree is delivered online by Arden University, a UK degree-awarding body founded in 1999. The course is studied part-time and taught in English. The university received a 'Requires Improvement' rating in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 assessment of teaching quality.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 71% |
| another higher-education qualification | 17% |
| Other | 5% |
| a previous degree | 3% |
| an Access course | 3% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 3% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Arden University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Legal professionalsSOC 2020 241 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £45,000
- Managers, directors and senior officialsSOC 2020 1 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £51,733
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 50; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where General Studies graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
General PractitionerMatchMedicsGeneral ManagerParkside RecruitmentGeneral ManagerThe Management Recruitment Group (MRG)General ManagerBite TalentGeneral ForemanCONTRACT SCOTLAND LIMITEDGeneral PractitionerFlexzo AiIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 6.3 out of 10: NSS 79% · in work or study 75% · continued 35%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Arden University
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Is General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Arden University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Arden University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Arden University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Arden University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Arden University
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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