BSc (Hons) Criminology & Forensic Science (Extended Degree) Bachelor's degree at Northumbria at Newcastle
BSc (Hons) Criminology & Forensic Science (Extended Degree) at Northumbria at Newcastle is taught in English and leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. The university holds Silver status in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023) and is ranked 37th overall in the Complete…
About this course
Study our Criminology and Forensic Science (Extended Degree) BSc (Hons) which includes a foundation year which has been designed to provide fundamental scientific knowledge and skills in a range of science fields. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Criminology & Forensic Science (Extended Degree) is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Northumbria at Newcastle, based in Northumbria University. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Physical sciences graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £30,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Law, 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 Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 87% (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.
- Scientific and Numeracy SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
AP0306 -
- Practical Skills in ScienceCore20 credits
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AP0307 -
- Research and Science Communication ProjectCore20 credits
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AP0309 -
- Introduction to BiologyCore20 credits
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AP0310 -
- Introduction to ChemistryCore20 credits
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AP0312 -
- Digital LiteracyCore20 credits
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AP0316 -
- Practical Skills in Forensic ScienceCore20 credits
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AP0400 -
- Process and Practices in Forensic ScienceCore20 credits
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AP0401 -
- Fundamentals of Biology and ChemistryCore20 credits
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AP0418 -
- Explaining CrimeCore20 credits
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CR4001 -
- Crime Myths and RealitiesCore20 credits
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CR4013 -
- Introduction to the Criminal Justice SystemCore20 credits
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CR4016 -
- Skills for Academic Success in a UK UniversityCore
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SE5000 -
- Body Fluids and Blood Pattern AnalysisCore20 credits
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AP0503 -
- Drugs and ToxicologyCore20 credits
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AP0504 -
- DNA ProfilingCore20 credits
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AP0551 -
- Concepts, Perspectives and Theories in CriminologyCore20 credits
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CR5001 -
- Sex Work: Theory, Practice, RegulationOptional20 credits
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CR5007 -
- The Criminal Justice System 2Core20 credits
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CR5020 -
- Drugs, Crime and SocietyOptional20 credits
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CR5022 -
- Study AbroadOptional120 credits
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AP0536 -
- Industrial Placement YearOptional120 credits
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AP0552 -
- Complex CaseworkCore20 credits
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AP0601 -
- Advanced Forensic InvestigationCore20 credits
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AP0603 -
- Interdisciplinary Criminology and Forensic Science DissertationCore40 credits
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AP0629 -
- Contemporary Policing and SecurityOptional20 credits
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CR6002 -
- Crimes of the PowerfulOptional20 credits
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CR6004 -
- Mentally Disordered OffendersOptional20 credits
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CR6007 -
- Crime, Animals and the EnvironmentOptional20 credits
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CR6018 -
- Understanding Extreme ViolenceOptional20 credits
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CR6020 -
- Life after CrimeOptional20 credits
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CR6021 -
- Crime, Technology and SurveillanceOptional20 credits
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CR6025 -
- Social HarmOptional20 credits
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CR6026 -
- Intimate Partner ViolenceOptional20 credits
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CR6028 -
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 course combines a foundation year in fundamental scientific knowledge across a range of science fields with criminology and forensic science study. Over the course, you'll typically progress from core theoretical foundations, such as criminal law, evidence handling and forensic analysis methods, to more specialised topics in areas such as criminal justice and investigative practice. You'll usually move from broadly based scientific principles and criminological theory in the early stages towards applied forensic techniques and crime scene investigation in later years. The course emphasises both the scientific and legal dimensions of criminology, preparing you for professional practice in forensic laboratories, law enforcement or criminal justice roles.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-levels or equivalent qualifications. Recent entrants typically held A-levels or equivalent (94% of accepted students), with a common UCAS tariff band of 112–127 points. The extended degree structure provides additional foundational support, making it accessible to those developing their academic skills alongside specialist study in criminology and forensic science.
Careers & job market
Across Law courses nationally, 85% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or continuing their studies. National earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically range from £23,000 to £30,000, rising to £24,225–£34,200 after five years. Specialisations available on related programmes include Criminal Law, Criminology, Commercial Law, Human Rights, Corporate, Family, Intellectual Property, and Public Law.
University & format
This is a 4-year full-time BSc (Hons) degree taught in English at Northumbria University, a public university located at Newcastle. The extended structure incorporates a foundation year to build scientific fundamentals before progressing to honours-level study. Northumbria University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and the degree is nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
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.
- 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.
Names detected beside accreditation or recognition copy on the provider course page; verify the route and intake.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 94% |
| an Access course | 3% |
| another higher-education qualification | 2% |
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.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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 Z049). 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 Northumbria at Newcastle →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 Law 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 | £30,000 | £25,000 – £34,000 | 6045 |
| 3 years after | £22,000 | £18,000 – £26,000 | 135 |
| 5 years after | £26,500 | £22,500 – £32,000 | 155 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,045. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Paralegal / TraineeTraining contract or pupillage route · 0–2 yrs
- 2Solicitor / BarristerQualified practitioner · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior AssociateLeading matters and clients · 5–9 yrs
- 4Partner / In-house CounselPartnership or heading legal · 9+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Law nationally
National figures for Law 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: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 6,045. 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 Law courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,352 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Law 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
- First-pass document review
- Standard contract drafting
- Legal research summaries
- Routine due diligence
More human than ever
- Advocacy and negotiation
- Judgement on ambiguous facts
- Client trust and ethics
- Strategy in disputes and deals
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Law 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
- Law firms
- Barristers' chambers
- In-house legal teams
- Government Legal Service
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Law graduates.
Law Firm Associates of all Practice Areas: Discuss your Overseas Relocation with Duke and Rawson – Australia/Asia/Middle East/Europe/Offshore/UKDuke and RawsonLaw Enforcement Success SpecialistAurorLaw Firm HR & Operations Lead - 12-Month ContractCharalle GroupLaw Firm Finance & Practice Manager, Leadership & OpsMcKinlay LawLaw Internship: Disputes & IBC – In-OfficeCanon SphereLaw Firm Front Desk & Guest Services (Oxford)Owen ReedIs 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 £30,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.2 out of 10: NSS 77.6% · continued 87%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Law across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Northumbria University
3,537 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 Law right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Northumbria at Newcastle from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £19,850 / 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 Northumbria at Newcastle’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 Northumbria at Newcastle and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Northumbria at Newcastle
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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