Forensic Science

Careers and connections

We help you to grow your skills for your future career.

Graduates from our Forensic Investigation degree have progressed onto careers as crime scene officers, police officers, prison officers, intelligence research officers, laboratory analysts, fraud investigators, digital forensic examiners, teachers, forensic technicians and fingerprint analysts. Career destinations include Cyfor, HMRC, and West Midlands Police.

Forensic Science graduates have secured roles as forensic scientists (forensic chemist, forensic biologist, DNA analyst, firearms analyst) at national providers, including Key Forensics and Cellmark. Other destinations include crime scene officers for various police constabularies, forensic technicians, fingerprint analysts, public service organisations, and many students continue into postgraduate studies and research.

Both our degrees are accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, meaning you'll graduate with a qualification that is recognised across the sector. 

Work placements

In 2026, we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Staffordshire Forensic Partnership between University of Staffordshire, Staffordshire Police and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The partnership brings the latest insights from the sector, as well as networking and work placement or experience opportunities.

Many of our alumni have benefitted from experiences they have gained from the partnership, giving them an insight into forensics roles before they graduate and growing their employability skills. 

Facilities

We've developed and invested in our facilities to ensure you're learning with industry standard equipment and cutting-edge technology. 

We've invested £2.2m in creating brand-new, life-like simulation spaces. You'll be immersed into what it's like to investigate and gather evidence from a crime scene. Our spaces include a bedsit, shop, prison cell, custody suite, two living rooms, two en-suite bedrooms, a full bathroom, office space and mock courtrooms. We can re-create a wide range of scenarios. 

Each of these spaces include the ability to record sessions, meaning you can re-watch your performance to link it to feedback from your lecturers. 

Now more than ever, employers need skilled workforces to investigate digital evidence from phones, laptops, smart home devices and drones. We’ve invested in industry standard software - so you can learn to do this whilst studying with us!

Our £30m Science Centre contains specialist forensic science labs. These house equipment you'll find in the real-world - and we train you to use it. It's important to us that you graduate with the ability to go into a role already being familiar with how to use different pieces of equipment, for example our Fingerprint Imaging Workstation and Comparison Macro- and Microscope. 

Lifelike living space

The lifellike living space in Ashley 2 lets you practice your skills in a variety of non-clinical settings, including bedroom, bathroom, lounge and bedsit. Read more

Bedrooms:

The bedroom has an en-suite bathroom and is used for simulated crime scenes where students can practise investigative skills or social work and healthcare can use the space for urgent situations and interviews.

Lounges:

The lounges have a homely feel, with comfy furniture and framed photos. Students can use these spaces for policing or forensic investigations. Social work and healthcare can also use the space for realistic interviews and clinical emergencies.

Bathroom:

The bathroom provides a lifelike backdrop for students to practise their skills. It can be used a range of simulation scenarios, such as domestic crime scenes or clinical emergencies.

Bedsit:

With a kitchen diner, bedroom and bathroom, the bedsit provides a lifelike backdrop for students to practise their skills. Scenarios can range from gathering evidence at simulated crime scenes to dealing with clinical emergencies.

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Lifelike living space

Prison cell

With its single bed and toilet, this space can be arranged as a holding cell for detainees. It’s where students can practise offender management techniques. The room can also be turned into a more long-term prison cell.

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Prison cell

Custody suite

There is a front desk where suspects are booked in after arrest. Read more

Other features include equipment for measuring height and taking fingerprints and custody photos, along with evidence bags and lockers for personal belongings.

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Custody suite

Office simulation space

The office space is kitted out with computers and desks, making it ideal for students’ digital forensic investigations. Read more

Students from a range of courses can also practise their interview skills using an appropriate scenario. 

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Office simulation space

Shop simulation space

The is ideal for simulated commercial crime scenes, where students can collect evidence and speak to witnesses or victims. Read more

They can also learn about retail law and deal with medical emergencies that occur to customers in the retail space. The space includes shelves, a counter and a small café. It’s ideal for simulated commercial crime scenes, where students can collect evidence and speak to witnesses or victims. They can also learn about retail law and deal with medical emergencies that occur to customers in the retail space.

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Shop simulation space

Blood Room

Simulate blood spatter in our Trauma Analysis facility. There are two wet rooms with resources to help you recreate a crime scene and see what kind of blood spatter occurs from different scenarios with different weapons.  Read more

Simulate blood spatter in our Trauma Analysis facility. There are two wet rooms with resources to help you recreate a crime scene and see what kind of blood spatter occurs from different scenarios with different weapons. Resources include rails to hang materials on, paper rolls to place on the walls to record the spatter for analysis (or you can use the walls themselves), and a range of weapons and materials to simulate a physical body.

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Blood Room

Criminalistics Facilities

The equipment housed in our Criminalistics Laboratories enable our students to analyse a wide range of physical evidence including fingerprints, footwear marks, glass, paint, documents, tool marks and firearms evidence. Read more

We also have a DCS5 Fingerprint Imaging Workstation, Comparison Macro- and Microscope, a SuperFume Room, Visual Spectral Comparators and an Evidence Store, which equips our Forensic graduates with the skills and knowledge needed for future employment.

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Criminalistics Facilities

Analytical Laboratory

Our Analytical Methods Laboratory has a comprehensive range of instrumentation for chemical analysis including chromatography, electrochemistry, molecular and atomic spectroscopy.

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Analytical Laboratory

Science Centre

Our £30 million Science Centre in Stoke-on-Trent contains specialist laboratories with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. Read more

Find out more about our Science Centre Facilities. 

Outdoor simulation space

This area is used for forensic investigations, such as examining vehicles after crashes or collecting evidence from a crime scene. It can also double up as a clinical simulation area, with space for our training ambulance.

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Outdoor simulation space

Mock Courtrooms

One room is designed as a crown courtroom and the other for cases at magistrates’ court. Read more

Students can present legal arguments, act as expert witnesses, or take part in mooting.

Our digitally enabled mock court rooms are designed to create simulated scenarios for students to put theory in to practice and gain confidence, skills and knowledge to take forward in to their career. 

One room is designed as a crown courtroom and the other for cases at magistrates’ court. Students can present legal arguments, act as expert witnesses, or take part in mooting. Each space includes a dock, lawyers’ area and a bench for the judge or magistrates.

The courtrooms are used by a wide range of students from different perspectives including law students, policing, forensics, international relations and more, to give practice with not only mooting but also in presenting evidence and various other aspects of trials.

In our video, learn about simulation in our Mock Court Room, used by students to practice their skills to prepare them for their future career.

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Mock Courtrooms