Forensic Computing

Study options

Award

BSc (Hons)

Key facts

UCAS code:
FI42
UCAS code:
F418
Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Location:
Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:
Full-time
Study option:
Full-time, with a foundation year
Duration:
3 Years
Duration:
4 Years
Start date:
18 September 2023
School:
School of Digital, Technologies and Arts

100% employability

Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education 2018

Student-led research group

This group gives you the chance to develop your research skills

Excellent facilities

Including Forensic and Security lab, iMac lab and Cisco labs

Our Forensic Computing degree covers areas like fraud investigation, litigation and auditing, as well as the wider field of computing hardware and software.

Our Forensic Computing degree covers forensic techniques that will enable you to investigate a range of digital media – from mobile phones, to PCs and smart devices of all types. Throughout the course, you will learn how to combine theory with practice as we prepare you for future work as a forensic investigator or analyst.

The course is ideal for those who want to work with private companies that specialise in forensic work with the police or in security-related industries. The University has a partnership with Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Police Forensics Division to support the delivery of the course – to give our students an exciting opportunity to be involved with digital forensics practitioners.

Our Forensic Computing degree covers forensic techniques that will enable you to investigate a range of digital media – from mobile phones, to PCs and smart devices of all types. Throughout the course, you will learn how to combine theory with practice as we prepare you for future work as a forensic investigator or analyst.

The course is ideal for those who want to work with private companies that specialise in forensic work with the police or in security-related industries. The University has a partnership with Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Police Forensics Division to support the delivery of the course – to give our students an exciting opportunity to be involved with digital forensics practitioners.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Forensic Computing

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: BSc (Hons) Forensic Computing

Course content

You will have the opportunity to take the EC-Council Ethical Hacker Certification, to gain the skills you need for careers in forensic computing. You will have access to our industry standard facilities that include the latest forensic hardware as well as dedicated labs to carry out your research projects. Our lab has its own private internal network, containing some of the latest equipment and software and is designed to emulate the conditions found within digital analysis laboratories.

Our student-led research group – Digital Forensics & Cyber Security – gives you the chance to develop your research skills, to propose and carry out research projects. You may also get to publish work in journals and at conferences.

We encourage students to undertake a placement year, with previous students working for a variety of organisations such as GCHQ, police high-tech crime units and cyber security businesses.

You will have the opportunity to take the EC-Council Ethical Hacker Certification, to gain the skills you need for careers in forensic computing. You will have access to our industry standard facilities that include the latest forensic hardware as well as dedicated labs to carry out your research projects. Our lab has its own private internal network, containing some of the latest equipment and software and is designed to emulate the conditions found within digital analysis laboratories.

Our student-led research group – Digital Forensics & Cyber Security – gives you the chance to develop your research skills, to propose and carry out research projects. You may also get to publish work in journals and at conferences.

We encourage students to undertake a placement year, with previous students working for a variety of organisations such as GCHQ, police high-tech crime units and cyber security businesses.

Academic year

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Typically the majority of modules are 30 academic credits with a smaller number of 15 credit modules. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The full-time course has one start point in September.

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Typically the majority of modules are 30 academic credits with a smaller number of 15 credit modules. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester, with part-time students taking proportionately fewer credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6. The full-time course has one start point in September.

First recipients of Rob Shaw Award announced

News

New awards, honouring a charismatic computing lecturer who died last year, have been presented to graduates demonstrating forensics excellence.

Modules

This module map provides an indicative list of the modules that make up your course. Each module is worth a specified number of credits: you take a combination of compulsory and optional modules, enabling you to cover key subject knowledge while developing your own interest. You must take modules worth a total of 120 credits at each level of the course. The number of optional modules you can take depends on the number of compulsory modules at a given level, you may have more choice in later parts of the course.

Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. You can always find the most up-to-date information about your modules and who is teaching them in our module catalogue. We aim to ensure that all optional modules run as scheduled. If for any reason an optional module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Before you can register on some optional modules, you may be required to have undertaken prerequisite modules. Some module combinations may not be allowed.

Entry requirements

112-120 UCAS Tariff points

  • GCE A Levels - grades BBC or equivalent
  • Pearson BTEC National Extended Diploma - grade DMM
  • Access to HE Diploma - Pass Access with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points. Applicants to Staffs who are taking the Access to HE Diploma receive a reduced tariff point offer as part of our access and participation plan activity
  • UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma - grade of Merit overall
  • OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma - grade DMM
  • T Levels - Eligible T Level applications will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of P (A*-C) or Higher Pass as a condition of offer

All applicants need GCSE minimum grade C Mathematics and English Language, or recognised equivalent.

If you don't have 112 points you can join this award with 48 points and study four foundation modules for a year before moving on to this degree title.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Computing and Digital Technologies

Blog

Read the latest computing blog from Computing and Digital Technologies

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Software Development

You'll have access to development environments for desktop, mobile and enterprise applications. Plus access to our mobile/smart devices development lab, with a variety of mobile devices for testing.

Careers

Graduates from our Forensic Computing degree work in a wide range of fields from public organisations such as schools, police and local government to private companies such as KPMG, Ernst & Young and Touche Ross. Our graduates have also found employment at the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 16-18 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and laboratory practicals. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups of around 16-18 students. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor at least twice a year. You will be taught in first-class learning spaces throughout your course. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include study skills (including reading, note-taking and presentation skills); written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy); academic writing (including how to reference); research skills; critical thinking and understanding arguments; and revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management).

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Examination feedback may take a variety of formats. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Your study time will consist of class contact hours, self-directed learning, assessment and placements where appropriate. Your actual contact hours will depend on the subject area, on the option modules you select and professional body requirements. A typical composition of study time for this course is:

Your study time will consist of class contact hours, self-directed learning, assessment and placements where appropriate. Your actual contact hours will depend on the subject area, on the option modules you select and professional body requirements. A typical composition of study time for this course is:

Year 1

29% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
71% of time in independent study
0% of time in work based learning

Year 2

24% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
76% of time in independent study
0% of time in work based learning

Year 3

12% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
88% of time in independent study
0% of time in work based learning

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, laboratory or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve utilising a range of digital resources including our virtual learning environment; reading journals, articles and books; working on individual and group projects; undertaking research in the library; preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning will be supported by a range of excellent facilities. These include the library, open access computer facilities, informal learning zones, a range of laboratories and performance and studio spaces.

When not attending lectures, seminars, laboratory or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve utilising a range of digital resources including our virtual learning environment; reading journals, articles and books; working on individual and group projects; undertaking research in the library; preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning will be supported by a range of excellent facilities. These include the library, open access computer facilities, informal learning zones, a range of laboratories and performance and studio spaces.

Year 1

0% practical assessments
45% coursework
55% written exams

Year 2

33% practical assessments
25% coursework
43% written exams

Year 3

0% practical assessments
50% coursework
50% written exams

Fees

For the course starting on 18 September 2023 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands
Full-time To be confirmed

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by visiting: www.gov.uk

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus BSc (Hons) Full-time 18 September 2023 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at Staffordshire University, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of Staffordshire University enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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