First Year Pathway in Optometry, Medical and Life Science - Continue to Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Forensic Science

This undergraduate pathway will provide students with the necessary skills to begin studying at level 4 in courses related to Optometry, Medical Science and Life Sciences. Students will be introduced to the core skills necessary to succeed in higher education, including thinking critically, researching and referencing appropriately, demonstrating appropriate numeracy and ICT skills, and communicating effectively verbally and in writing. In addition to these fundamental study skills, students will be given an introduction to the various scientific disciplines underpinning the life sciences. Fundamental mathematical skills will be covered in order to support students’ other subjects and give them confidence in manipulating data. Students will be introduced to molecular and cellular biology, and how these fields are applied to real-world investigations. Students will also study the biology of micro and macro organisms, with reference to both human and animal structures. Students will be introduced to the core concepts of chemistry, with a particular focus on organic chemistry, and will also be given a grounding in the core principles of physics, applied to living organisms. The course will teach students the principles of forensic science, from crime scene to court room. Based in the £45m Science Centre in Cambridge, students will analyse and investigate a range of evidence in crime scene rooms and the forensic lab. With a focus on chemical and biological analysis, students will find out what that evidence means. They will get hands-on with specialist analytical equipment, under the guidance of expert tutors. And students will learn outside the classroom too, with visits to law courts and a local mortuary, and opportunities to work with local police forces and forensic labs. Graduate with advanced skills in chemistry, biology and laboratory analysis – ready to start a career as a forensic scientist.