Forensic Science

Forensic science applies the methods and rigour of natural science to the investigation of crime, providing the physical and biological evidence that criminal investigations and courts depend on. It is a field that encompasses biology, chemistry, physics, and information science, applied to contexts ranging from DNA profiling and toxicological analysis to digital forensics and document examination. The discipline demands both technical precision and an understanding of the legal frameworks within which scientific evidence is gathered, interpreted, and presented.

London South Bank University's four-year full-time Forensic Science with Foundation Year degree has a typical entry tariff of 88 points. The foundation year provides a grounding in the scientific concepts that underpin forensic science, giving students the knowledge and practical skills they need to enter the BSc programme with confidence. As the course itself describes, the modular structure allows all science foundation students to study together initially, with the option to change programme at the end of the foundation year through consultation with the course director if your interests develop in a different direction.

You will then study the core areas of forensic science, including biological and chemical analysis, crime scene investigation, forensic toxicology, evidence handling, and the legal context of forensic practice, developing the laboratory skills and professional understanding the field demands.

Forensic science graduates work in forensic laboratories, crime scene investigation units, the police service, the National Crime Agency, coroners' services, and environmental and food safety testing. Many pursue postgraduate study in specialist areas of forensic science, and some move into doctoral research. The scientific skills and analytical rigour the degree provides also support careers in the pharmaceutical industry, environmental monitoring, and clinical laboratory science.