Welcome to your Forensic Investigation course

There are lots of online resources that are relevant to forensics that you can access before you arrive on campus. These are not compulsory, but here are a few to get you started:

• Introduce yourself to the subject with this simplified guide to forensic science
• Read the New Scientist Forensics to learn more about research into forensic investigation methods
• Listen to our CrimeTapes Podcast
• Listen to The Life of a Real CSI Podcast
• Watch Season 4 of “Forensics: Catching the Killer” on Sky, featuring our laboratories and students. (subscription required)

Additional Resources:

• The College of Policing website also offers a range of material associated with forensics, from key process to job roles and requirements to articles on forensic based practice. For this article on ‘Forensic marking to deter repeat victimisation related to domestic abuse and sexual offences’.
• The Forensic Regulator ensures that the provision of forensic science services across the criminal justice system is subject to an appropriate regime of scientific quality standards.
• The European Network of Forensic Institutes produces a variety of best practice manuals on a range of topics that you might find interesting to scan through, but lease don’t feel you need to read them. They might come in useful during the course though.
• Visit the webpages of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences who are the professional body for the area.

As a student, we’ll help you build confidence in your abilities, so when you reach the workplace, you feel fully prepared. Sian is a Digital Forensic Investigator with Greater Manchester police.

She talks about the skills and knowledge she gained on both her undergraduate and postgraduate courses at University of Staffordshire, and how they led her to her current role which she secured before graduating.

She also shares the most rewarding parts of her role now and how she’s able to make a difference in the world.

Workstreams were created to ensure academia addresses real life Forensic challenges. Each work stream is assigned joint leads from within both University of Staffordshire and Staffordshire Police to prioritise and oversee the projects that sit within it.

Additionally student placement opportunities have been developed to undertake short, medium and long term projects. The designated work stream structure also allows for continuity for projects longer than 12 months where needed. There are also opportunities for students to undertake research projects (both undergraduate and postgraduate) in areas of specific interest to the partnership, during their degree studies.

The partnership is overseen by a Programme Board with senior representatives from the contributory organisations and chaired in rotation by a strategic lead from the University and the Police

Find out more