BSc (Hons) Forensic Science (with a foundation year) Bachelor's degree at Stoke On Trent College
BSc (Hons) Forensic Science (with a foundation year) at Stoke On Trent College. You'll move through core theory and research methods, apply your learning to real investigative scenarios, and undertake a substantial independent project.
About this course
BSc (Hons) Forensic Science (with a foundation year) is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Stoke On Trent College. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Forensic and archaeological sciences graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for History, 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 Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 55% (2021-23; 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.
Year 1 7 modules
- Case Studies In Criminal JusticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module will enable you to consider a range of factors, challenges, issues and mistakes that can and have influenced criminal justice outcomes and explore how change can overcome and improve these outcomes in both UK and international contexts.
- Crime Scene ProcessingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module will provide you with a fundamental understanding of crime scene processing. During the module you will practise digital photography, utilising our Crime Scene House to give you a real world setting to develop your skills.
- Introduction To Forensic BiologyCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module incorporates the fundamental aspects of biology to support the biological aspects contained in later levels of your degree. The basics of the diversity of life will be covered, including DNA as the central dogma of molecular biology and the unifying mechanism in all life.
- Introduction To Forensic ChemistryCompulsory20 credits
Module details
An introduction to forensic science will provide the students with a core understanding of the role of a forensic scientist in both criminal and civil cases. The module will review real cases to highlight forensic techniques, the development of the rules governing expert witnesses, a general understanding of the legal system and the reasons for the procedures to be followed in scene / evidence management.
- Practical Forensic Scientific TechniquesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Utilise forensics in practical scenarios; understand how the laboratory translates into the real-world. Build scientific models of data and apply them to what you see experimentally. This module will introduce you to the biological, chemical, mathematical and computational tools you need to succeed as a forensic scientist.
- Detection And Analysis Of DrugsOptional20 credits
Module details
In this option module you will gain an understanding of what drugs of abuse are, their effects on the body, how they may be made and how they can be tested in an analytical laboratory.
- Digital Evidence ProcessingOptional20 credits
Year 2 9 modules
- Analytical Methods In Forensic ScienceCompulsory20 credits
- Biological Methods In Forensic ScienceCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Forensic Genetics and DNA-profiling: Basic genetics (classical, molecular and population) relevant to forensics - patterns of inheritance (nuclear and cytoplasmic), alleles and polymorphisms. Detection of polymorphisms, genes in populations.
- Marks And TracesCompulsory20 credits
- Research Skills In ForensicsCompulsory20 credits
- Advanced Digital Evidence ProcessingOptional20 credits
- Chemical And Biological Interactions In ForensicsOptional20 credits
- Forensic Anthropology In The 21St CenturyOptional20 credits
- Specialist Scene InvestigationOptional20 credits
Module details
In this module, you will explore methodologies involved in investigating specialist crime scenes, focusing on incidents such as fires, explosions, and other terrorism-related crimes. You will learn about and demonstrate an understanding of the forensic approaches, techniques, and legal considerations required when handling these types of scene.
- Vehicle Collision InvestigationOptional20 credits
Year 3 7 modules
- Collection And Analysis Of Scene EvidenceCompulsory20 credits
- Expert Witness And The Legal SystemCompulsory20 credits
- Forensic Research ProjectCompulsory40 credits
- Modern ForensicsCompulsory20 credits
- Forensic Field SchoolOptional20 credits
- Synthetic Chemistry For Forensic ScienceOptional20 credits
- Techniques In The Identification Of Human RemainsOptional20 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.
Who it's for
You're drawn to puzzles that matter: how evidence tells a story, where science meets justice, what happens when lab work influences real cases. You have curiosity about chemistry, biology or analytical methods, and the patience for painstaking detail work. You'll thrive if you enjoy both independent thinking (your project is genuinely yours) and working within frameworks, and if you're comfortable with the emotional weight of the subject matter. This programme suits people ready to bridge academic knowledge and frontline criminal investigation.
Careers & job market
Across History courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with 55% in highly skilled roles or continuing their education. Forensic science graduates commonly pursue roles in police laboratories, crime-scene investigation, pathology support, or specialist consultancy. Starting salaries for graduates nationally range from £23,500 to £31,000 fifteen months after graduating. Your degree is nationally recognised through the UK degree-awarding body, qualifying you for regulated forensic roles.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) is taught full-time over 4 years at Stoke-on-Trent College, a higher education college located in Stoke-on-Trent. Instruction is in English. The qualification is a nationally recognised degree awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Entry & how to get in
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 (code F410). 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 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. 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
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Stoke On Trent College →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 History graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £25,000 | £22,500 – £28,500 | 1095 |
| 3 years after | £21,500 | £18,000 – £25,500 | 130 |
| 5 years after | £25,000 | £21,000 – £30,500 | 120 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,095. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in history · 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 History nationally
National figures for History 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.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 1,095. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with History courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,423 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How History 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 History 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
- Museums & archives
- Heritage bodies
- Schools
- Civil service & media
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit History graduates.
History & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingChartereastdulwichHistory & Humanities Lead, Flexible, Impactful TeachingThe Charter Schools Educational TrustHistory Teachers in Kirklees and HalifaxCV-LibraryHistory TeachersSABIS NETWORK SCHOOLSIs 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
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 5.5 out of 10: continued 55%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Historical, philosophical and religious studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Stoke-on-Trent College
1,962 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is History right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Stoke On Trent College from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £17,085 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 Stoke On Trent College’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 Stoke On Trent College and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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