Forensic Investigations BSc (Hons)

Course overview

Study level: Undergraduate

Forensic investigation is an exciting and challenging area of study, which involves an understanding of forensic analysis and investigative techniques, including the interpretation and presentation of evidence.

The course provides the breadth of skills and techniques which could enable you to pursue diverse careers including those in fraud management, digital forensics, social media and other investigatory roles.

• There is a valuable element of laboratory work and our course touches upon a range of forensic science and investigative techniques.
• We focus on providing a practical experience, using real-life case studies and scenarios, work placements, industry visits² and skills development, as well as traditional academic approaches.

How you'll learn

The emphasis of our course is very much on providing a practical, hands-on experience through guest lectures, work placements, industry visits, skills development and the study of real-life case studies (all subject to availability and potential additional costs for industry visits).

We incorporate a wide range of teaching methods, for example, you may find yourself in a VR simulation exercise or interviewing police officers.

Recognising the continual advancements in scientific analysis, we will monitor and discuss contemporary issues such as those concerning victims of serious crime, the impact of the media upon major investigations and the investigation of major disasters. We also offer a range of field trips², which have previously included the National Justice Museum in Nottingham, where students are given a historical perspective of the development of justice and take part in researching archived case papers and documents, and a team building and problem solving day at an activity centre, where you can take part in a range of activities, including problem solving exercises and some physical activities (both field trips and team building courses are subject to availability and additional costs may apply).

Throughout the course you are strongly encouraged to gain practical work experience. You have the opportunity to take a sandwich year on a professional placement or you may opt for a short placement². Others have opted for a shorter placement. Long and short-term placements have resulted in us helping organise a range of internships in the UK and abroad. Students from our course are also able to get involved in the West Midlands Police Streetwatch scheme, which enables them to work alongside officers in promoting student safety and crime prevention. Participation in this scheme is voluntary and is subject to security checks.

Teaching methods include: lectures, group work, seminars, tutorials, laboratory skills, flipped classroom, PC labs, mock courtrooms, interviewing and simulation exercises.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which ican include:

• On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
• Group work
• Self-directed learning
• Work placement opportunities.

If you would like more information, you can request information about teaching hours.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

• Phase tests
• Essays
• Group work
• Presentations
• Reports
• Projects
• Digital storyboards
• Individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Facilities

The Forensic Investigations degree is delivered at the Coventry University campus in Coventry.

There are a number of state-of-the-art facilities⁴ available:

• Two fully functional houses with video and audio links to a central control room where we stage simulated crime scenes.
• Ethical hacking lab isolated from outside networks where digital forensics is taught.
• 20 VR Oculus Quest 2 headsets for 3D simulations and spatial reconstructions.