Forensic Biology BSc Hons | University of Chester

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Course Summary

This course offers a combination of forensic aspects with a thorough grounding in the traditional science of biology, in particular the molecular biology techniques and DNA profiling. The techniques you will learn are transferable to other biological disciplines, and provide a solid foundation for a wide range of graduate careers.

Teaching is delivered by an experienced and committed team of lecturers, supported by practicing experts from many forensic disciplines. Emphasis is placed on the development of key skills, equipping you with the necessary theoretical basis and practical experience to enter many areas of employment in both forensic and biological sciences.

You’ll have the opportunity to involve yourself in a range of practices, from a crime scene to a court.

What You'll Study

The Physical and Natural Sciences Foundation Year route is an ideal place to begin your journey in academic sciences.

The Foundation Year is designed to give you a strong knowledge and skills base aligned with your chosen four-year degree. Following a solid grounding in scientific principles or behavioural sciences in your first block of teaching, you will study bespoke modules aligned with your discipline. This could involve studying the human body in health and disease and how to encourage healthy and sustainable behaviours, or the biology of terrestrial and marine animals and the impacts of their interactions with humans, or you might focus on the physical sciences and how they can help change the world for the better. Whatever you aspire to, we can offer you a supportive and incremental introduction to your science degree.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If, during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

The course contains core modules at each level of study.

At Level 4, students are introduced to the essential principles, mechanisms and concepts needed to understand forensic biology. Students will receive a comprehensive education in biosciences, from biochemistry and cell biology to organisms.

Level 5 builds upon this broad base of knowledge and considers how principles are applied, and how pathology, microbiology and molecular biology are used in forensic investigations. There are opportunities for fieldwork or work experience at Level 5, as students consider future employment.

At Level 6, students focus upon the benefits of biosciences and applied biological knowledge. Subjects such as biotechnology, pharmacology and toxicology are considered as opportunities for problem solving.

Throughout the course, students receive extensive training to develop their professional scientific skills; this includes generating scientific questions, planning, designing and carrying out experiments, and analysing and interpreting data. This culminates in a dissertation project at Level 6.

This course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, students study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. At Level 6, the dissertation module will be delivered alongside other modules.

Average scheduled contact hours range between approximately six and ten hours per week, depending upon the module, level of study, number of practical sessions and the complexity of the material being taught. The course is delivered through a mix of in-person and online learning. Students can expect to take part in lectures and seminars. Alongside this, students will develop relevant skills (e.g., laboratory, field and computer skills) through practical sessions, field trips or work placements.

Independent learning is an important part of this course. Students should expect to spend an average of 30-34 hours per week on independent study, which might include following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, using the University’s library, working with peers and preparing work for assessment.

Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by occasional guest lecturers and speakers.

There will be a broad range of assessment methods so that students are exposed to the different types of tasks they might encounter in the workplace. These will include coursework in the form of written pieces, laboratory reports, data processing and presentations. In some modules, students will encounter group work and practical assessments, as well as end-of-module assessments.

We continuously review the assessment methods used to ensure they adequately prepare students for graduate level employment.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence and key transferable skills to shape you into a world ready Chester graduate.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	112 points
GCE A Level	Typical offer – BCC-BBC Must include A Level Biology or Chemistry
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma (Applied Science): DMM
International Baccalaureate	28 points, including 5 in HL Biology or Chemistry
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H3 H4, including H3 in either Biology or Chemistry Scottish Highers: BBBB, including either Biology or Chemistry
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma (Science), to include 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma (Applied Science): DMM
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS Points

UCAS Tariff	72 points
GCE A level	72 points, including a grade D in A Level Biology or Chemistry
BTEC	BTEC Extended Diploma (Applied Science): MMP
International Baccalaureate	24 points, including 4 in HL Biology or Chemistry
Irish / Scottish Highers	Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4, including Biology or Chemistry Scottish Highers: CCDD, including Biology or Chemistry
Access requirements	Access to HE Diploma (Science) – Pass overall
OCR Cambridge Technicals	OCR Extended Diploma (Applied Science): MMP
Extra Information	Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A Level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs. If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree.

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Compulsory field trips are covered by tuition fees. However, the course will involve additional costs not covered by tuition fees. Students are required to purchase a lab induction pack with a laboratory coat and other required equipment; the current price is £30.00, but this may be subject to price increases depending on purchase costs. Students are also required to have waterproof clothing and boots. The quality and cost of these are at the students’ discretion, starting at approximately £50, but must be suitable for fieldwork/trips in the UK in the winter months.

Other additional costs may include the purchase of books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and travel to placements.

Students who are living away from home during their time at university will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

Who You'll Learn From

Chris Davis

Programme Leader BSc Forensic Biology (Single & Combined)

Dr Robert Coleman

Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences, Programme Leader BSc Biology

Dr Dan Baldock

Lecturer in Biology

Dr Jonathan Kyffin

Lecturer in Biology

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

The location

Modern learning resources and library

Seaborne library, seating and reception area.

Student Services

Fitness facilities

A male student wearing goggles is swimming in the training pool between the red rope lane marker lines.

Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces

Accommodation

Catering

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Roles include forensic biologist, police officer, analytical scientist, biological researcher, science teacher, crime scene examiner, and forensic DNA analyst.  The course provides skills in communication (both written and oral), encourages analytical thinking and critical analysis, and develops practical laboratory skills, enhancing employability options in a wide variety of industries.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service, which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course, and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Forensic Biology BSc (Hons)

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