Crime and Investigative Studies (with placement year)

Learn about forensic science, crime scene processing, policing and the law, and experience the real world of crime and investigation.

• Study a course accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, gaining essential skills for a career in this field.

• Bring the world of work to life through Live Briefs; designed and developed with local police forces and other linked organisations, giving you invaluable exposure to ‘real world’ problem-solving.

• Learn in our outstanding crime scene simulation facilities and SuperLab in our £45m Science Centre.

• Get hands-on with industry-standard technology, such as 360-degree cameras and technology systems.

• Benefit from our lecturers’ breadth of expertise and experience.

Are you interested in crime, forensic science, policing and the law, but unsure which subject to study? You’ll cover them all on our Crime and Investigative Studies degree course.

As a BSc (Hons) Crime and Investigative Studies student in Cambridge, you’ll learn not only how to process a crime scene but also how to investigate a crime from scratch. We’ll consider all the processes involved through modules including Forensic Scene Examination.

We’ll help you to understand the practical aspects of crime, and how they affect everyday investigations. You’ll look at different types of crime – from burglary through to murder – and find out how these are investigated by the Police, and how other agencies such as fire and rescue contribute to investigations.

You'll gain experience through work placements, internships and field trips – and open up career possibilities in criminal justice, crime analysis, fire investigation, fraud, policing and victim support.

Our three-year degree course is accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) and explores traditional investigative methods used by the Police, as well as newer approaches such as evidence-based policing. You will also learn how to present professional reports in both a policing environment and within a court of law.

Use our superb crime scene rooms to learn the skills of a crime scene examiner, as well as industry-standard technology such as 360-degree camera and technology systems. The crime scene rooms feature video and audio CCTV so you can be assessed and receive valuable feedback.

As well as benefitting from our tutors’ knowledge, you’ll attend guest lectures from different Police forces and organisations, for example; Essex Police, Northamptonshire Police, Beds, Cambs & Herts Tri-Force CSI, Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency and get an understanding of the workplace through visits to places such as the Crown Court, and other field trips.

You have the option to take a placement year as part of your course, and gain valuable work experience.

Going to university can offer you a series of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. As part of your course, you could study abroad with one of our short-term Global Experience programmes. Opportunities include summer schools and placements, lasting from one to four weeks and funded by ARU’s UK Turing Scheme grants.

Year 1:
United Kingdom Legal Systems and Law for Forensic Scientists (15 credits)
Applied Science for Forensic Investigators (30 credits)
Introduction to Forensic Photography and Methodologies (30 credits)
Investigative Skills (15 credits)
Biological and Trace Evidence Analysis (30 credits)
Professional and Personal Development - Level 4

Year 2:
Forensic Scene Examination (15 credits)
Police and Forensic Investigations (15 credits)
Fire Investigation (15 credits)
Professional and Personal Development - Level 5
Mass Fatality Incidents (15 credits)
Evidence Based Policing (15 credits)
Digital Forensics (15 credits)
Project Preparation (15 credits)
Ruskin Module (15 credits)

Year 3:
Work Placement (120 credits)

Year 4:
Undergraduate Major Project (30 credits)
Management of Major Investigations (30 credits)
Specialised Topics in Investigative Science (15 credits)
Forensic Pathology (15 credits)
Forensic Anthropology (15 credits)
Major Investigations (15 credits)

Throughout the course, we’ll use a range of assessment methods to measure your progress. Our course has a hands-on approach, so a lot of your assessment will be through practical work. Your assessments will include traditional exams and assignments, as well as your performance in practical work, presentations, mock courts and group work.

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

• The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences