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CALMALINK · COURSES

Forensic Science BSc (Hons) with foundation year

University of Bradford

Apply scientific thinking to evidence, investigation and human remains where relevant to the course. Build laboratory and analytical skills for forensic and wider scientific work.

Modules shown cover the university degree stage. Confirm the Oxford International foundation route and progression conditions.

BradfordOn CampusNext intake: please enquire
Choose this course
01

Is this for you?

For learners seeking a preparatory year before degree-level study. Confirm the exact college route and progression conditions for your offer.

02

What you will learn

Published modules

Selected published modules. Options and availability may change between intakes. Subject guidance. The exact curriculum for this course variant needs confirmation with the provider.

  • Scientific FrameworksDegree stage: First year
  • Principles of Forensic and Crime Scene InvestigationDegree stage: First year
  • Introduction to Crime and Criminal JusticeDegree stage: First year
  • Forensic Examination and Analysis of Physical EvidenceDegree stage: Second year
  • Crime Scene InvestigationDegree stage: Second year
  • Forensic ChemistryDegree stage: Second year
  • PlacementDegree stage: Fourth year (option)
  • Forensic Taphonomy: the degradation of human remains and death-scene materialsDegree stage: Final year
  • DissertationDegree stage: Final year
  • Forensic GeneticsDegree stage: Final year

Put it into practice

Illustrative examples based on these subjects; assessed activities are confirmed by the provider.

  • Illustrative example: Compare simulated investigative traces and write a report distinguishing observations, interpretation and uncertainty.
Subject areas

Subject guidance. The exact curriculum for this course variant needs confirmation with the provider.

Forensic scienceEvidence analysisScientific investigation
03

Explore your career potential

Gross annual figures. Region and source are shown for each occupation.

Indicative occupational salaries, not guaranteed earnings after this course.

Forensic scientist

Related career

Forensic scientists collect and analyse physical and digital evidence to support criminal and accident investigations.

Starting out
£27,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£45,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Laboratory technician

Related career

Laboratory technicians carry out tests on samples for scientific research, product development and medical diagnosis.

Starting out
£24,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£31,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Quality control assistant

Related career

Quality control officers check that a company's products and services meet quality standards.

Starting out
£25,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£40,000

How to get there: Develop practical evidence for this occupation through relevant projects, placements or work; employer selection and role-specific skills requirements still apply.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Police officer

Additional training or accreditation required

Police officers respond to incidents, investigate crimes and work closely with communities to keep them safe.

Starting out
£30,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£48,000

How to get there: Requires the employer’s formal recruitment and occupational training route, with eligibility, fitness, security and background checks; the academic course is not the professional qualification.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Higher education lecturer

Additional training or accreditation required

Higher education (HE) lecturers research and teach academic and vocational subjects at universities and higher education colleges.

Starting out
£37,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£65,000

How to get there: Usually requires postgraduate specialisation, often a doctorate, plus research and teaching evidence in the relevant subject; competitive academic recruitment applies.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Scenes of crime officer

Additional training or accreditation required

Record crime scenes and recover material evidence for investigations.

Starting out
£24,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£43,000

How to get there: Requires forensic scene-training, evidence-handling competence and employer vetting; build practical forensic experience and pass the recruiting service’s selection.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Intelligence analyst

Additional training or accreditation required

Assess information and risks to support investigations and decisions.

Starting out
£27,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£55,000

How to get there: Develop specialist research, quantitative, legal or regulatory knowledge for this role and relevant work evidence; professional training or employer vetting may be required.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Biologist

Related career

Biologists study living things, including people, animals and plants, along with the environments they live in.

Starting out
£24,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£40,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Biotechnologist

Related career

Biotechnologists study plants, animals, microbes, biochemistry and genetics to develop new products and improve existing ones.

Starting out
£27,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£57,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Microbiologist

Related career

Studies microorganisms in health, industry and environmental applications.

Starting out
£23,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£45,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Biochemist

Related career

Investigates chemical processes in living organisms.

Starting out
£28,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£53,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Chemist

Related career

Analyses substances and develops chemical products or processes.

Starting out
£26,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£40,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Technical author

Related career

Explains complex products and processes through clear user documentation.

Starting out
£27,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£50,000

How to get there: Develop practical evidence for this occupation through relevant projects, placements or work; employer selection and role-specific skills requirements still apply.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Patent attorney

Additional training or accreditation required

Combines technical knowledge and patent law to protect inventions.

Starting out
£35,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£95,000

How to get there: Requires a suitable technical/science degree, employment-based patent training, professional examinations and IPReg registration; this degree is only the academic starting point.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Data analyst-statistician

Additional training or accreditation required

Interprets data to inform decisions and explain patterns.

Starting out
£28,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£65,000

How to get there: Demonstrate the role’s coding, quantitative or systems skills through practical projects; fill any specialist technical gaps and satisfy employer assessment and security checks where relevant.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Health and safety adviser

Additional training or accreditation required

Helps organisations prevent workplace injury and illness.

Starting out
£26,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£48,000

How to get there: Obtain appropriate occupational safety training, such as a recognised NEBOSH qualification, and practical risk-assessment experience; the academic course does not itself confer safety competence.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Environmental consultant

Related career

Assesses environmental effects and advises on improvement and compliance.

Starting out
£25,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£50,000

How to get there: Check the role’s required scientific subjects and methods; build laboratory, field or applied research experience. Specialist postgraduate study may be required; clinical registration is a separate route.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Water treatment worker

Additional training or accreditation required

Operates treatment processes and monitors water quality.

Starting out
£24,000
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
£40,000

How to get there: Complete employer process and safety training, meet medical requirements and obtain the relevant water-industry safety passport; laboratory knowledge alone is insufficient.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Secondary school teacher

Additional training or accreditation required

Secondary school teachers teach children from 11 to 16, or up to 19 in schools with sixth forms.

Starting out
£34,000
UK median (2025)
£47,632
Experienced
£53,000
How to read the median

Median for SOC 2313: secondary education teaching professionals. It includes different experience levels. Covers different career stages; this is not starting pay or a course outcome. The sample requires more than one year in the same job and excludes self-employment.

ONS · ASHE 2025

How to get there: Complete subject-appropriate teacher training leading to QTS for England, with required subject knowledge, placements and safeguarding checks; this course alone does not award QTS.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21

Medical sales representative

Additional training or accreditation required

Explains pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals and manages commercial relationships.

Starting out
Not published
Typical reference
Not published
Experienced
Not published

How to get there: Build scientific product knowledge and sales skills; medicines representatives require employer training and the applicable ABPI examination under the PMCPA Code.

Scope: UK · per yearSalary source · 2026-10-21
04

Study options and entry

Availability checked: 04/11/2026, 07:31

Campus, mode and intake
Bradford · On Campus · please enquire
Duration
To be confirmed
Published tuition fee
£9,790 / year
Awarding university
University of Bradford
Entry requirements and routes

Level 3 64 UCAS Points

English language

ELLT test, No english test for On-site Level 3 holders.

Interview or assessment

No Interview

Classes and attendance

2-3 days a week on campus, 9 am to 3pm

05

Funding and support

FUNDING AWAITING CONFIRMATION

CalmaLink needs to check this course’s funding before confirming it to you.

Student Finance England

Tuition fees: To be confirmed

Maintenance: To be confirmed

Most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 use the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). You must be under 60 on the first day of the course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. At 60 or over, an additional living-cost loan may be available: we review this with you. If the course has not been confirmed as LLE-funded, check it with us.

For courses starting before 1 January 2027, the Tuition Fee Loan has no upper age limit. If you are 60 or over at the start of the first academic year, eligible full-time living-cost support is up to £4,582 in 2026/27, depending on household income.

Most courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 use the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE). You must be under 60 on the first day of the course to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. At 60 or over, an additional living-cost loan may be available: we review this with you.

Previous study does not rule you out: it depends on what you studied, whether you received UK funding and the course. We review it with you.

Student Finance England makes the decision. We help you check. Official source

Course funding does not guarantee individual approval or a particular amount.

Funding source
Attendance and English

To receive a Maintenance Loan you normally need regular in-person classes during the week. A course offering only weekend attendance does not normally meet these requirements. Before enrolling, confirm the timetable and any applicable exceptions with the provider and Student Finance England.

The provider will check that you meet the English requirements for this course, whether you are a Home or international student. Declaring your level does not replace their assessment.

Read the official attendance guidance

Bradford publishes disability, wellbeing and student support services. Its Disability Service can assess individual study needs. For an Oxford International foundation stage, confirm college support separately.

Sources and review

Academic information reviewed: 2026-10-21

Catalogue availability and curriculum/salary evidence are checked on separate dates.

Official course page
Sources and review (25)

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