Skip to content

Forensic & Criminal Investigation

Course Code: FDFC
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Diploma
  • Awarding body: Pearson, Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC)
  • Duration: One to two years
  • Course type: Full-time
  • Time of day: Daytime
  • When you'll study: Various days and times.
Apply now Career Coach
image
image

What's it all about?

This Foundation Diploma in Forensic & Criminal Investigation at City College Plymouth is a practical, hands-on one year course that is equivalent to one and a half A Levels. Students can choose to combine it with another course or carry on to complete a second year, giving you a qualification accepted by universities and equivalent to three A Levels. Throughout the year, students will study aspects of all the sciences – chemistry, physics and biology. When students successfully complete the course, they will be part of our community of successful former students progressing to degree courses at City College Plymouth or studying degrees such as forensic science, criminology, psychology, chemistry and public services throughout the UK.

Watch our case study here. 

Course information

This comprehensive course covers advanced core concepts across biology, chemistry, and physics alongside hands-on laboratory techniques, while offering specialised optional paths in Forensic Science.

Year 1:

  • Unit 1 : Principles and Applications of Science I (Externally Assessed)
  • Unit 2 : Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
  • Unit 3 : Science Investigation Skills (Externally Assessed)
  • Unit 4 : Forensic Investigation Procedures in Practice
  • Unit 8 : Physiology of Human Body Systems
  • Unit 9 : Environmental Forensics

Year 2:

  • Unit 5 : Applications of Criminology
  • Unit 6 : Criminal Investigation Procedures in Practice
  • Unit 7 : Applications of Criminal and Forensic Psychology (Externally Assessed)
  • Unit 10 : Forensic Fire Investigation
  • Unit 14 : Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology
  • Unit 15 : Practical Chemical Analysis
  • Unit 16 : Microbiology and Microbiological Techniques.

Students will need to have 5 GCSE’s at grade 4 (C) or above to include maths, English language and science.

There are two externally assessed units which take place as an exam and a controlled assessment task. This will be marked by the awarding body, Pearson. For the remaining units they will be assessed via assignments which will be marked by the lecturers.

 

After completing this course students can progress onto a variety of degrees dependent of the UCAS points they earn. Typically students can progress onto criminology degrees or psychology degrees. This is an excellent course to progress onto our own Foundation degree in Applied Forensic Science. Students can also use this qualification to progress onto a variety of forensic science degrees.

Please note fees are quoted for one year only.

Download course PDF

Future careers

What you could earn:

Chemical Scientists

£63,959.33

Potential salary

£22,259.72

Entry level salary

£36,612.40

Average salary

1

Annual openings in Plymouth

View career details

Related courses

Marine and Environmental Science

  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Certificate
  • Awarding body: Assessment & Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Oxford, Cambridge & RSA (OCR)
  • Duration: One to two years
  • Course type: Full-time

Social Science with Law

  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Diploma
  • Awarding body: Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA)
  • Duration: One year
  • Course type: Part-time

Psychology, Criminology, History and English Community Taster Sessions

  • Level: 1
  • Qualification: College Certificate
  • Awarding body: City College Plymouth
  • Duration: Two hours
  • Course type: Short course
View all courses

Book an open day and come visit us!

Come and visit us on one of our college open days, where you can find out more about our courses, check out our facilities and speak to current students and staff.

Book an open day
image