Undergraduate BSc (Hons)
Chemistry (Forensic Science)
with a Professional Placement
Choose chemistry to change the world and your future.
Choose chemistry to change the world and your future.
Curious about the structure of chemicals and the reactions they have with one another? Interested about how chemistry is applied across a range of forensic science disciplines? Enter the fascinating world of Chemistry with Forensic Science at Kent to gain the knowledge and practical skills in aid of tackling the challenges of the 21st century - from drug design and analysis to understanding the science that underpins and supports crime scene investigation.
Our distinctive course provides a carefully curated set of ‘chemistry in context’ modules where you will apply your skills and knowledge to interesting case studies and in the solution of real-world chemical and forensic science problems.
On your year in professional placement, you’ll work in industry for a year, gaining relevant work experience and putting into practice the skills you’ve learnt. The paid placement takes place between your second and final years and can be in the UK or abroad. You'll also produce an independent research project.
This course is fully accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
Your Chemistry degree opens the door to lots of exciting careers; taking a professional placement year helps you discover some of those options.
Study a wide range of modules from core chemistry concepts to how it can help build a better world with an introduction to chemistry and the environment.
Our lecturers are innovative teachers and active researchers: Professor Jennifer Hiscock is in a team that created a material that can stop supersonic impacts.
Spend a year studying abroad at one of our partner universities. We currently have links with institutions in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Australia.
You'll use industry-standard equipment from the start of your degree.
BBC including Chemistry, Biology or Physics at grade B
The University will consider applicants holding/studying BTEC Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) in Applied Science at DMM.
112 Tariff points, Typically H5, H5, H6 at HL including HL Chemistry, Biology or Physics at 5
Mathematics grade C or 4
N/A
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
The University welcomes applications from Access to Higher Education Diploma candidates. for consideration. A typical offer may require you to obtain a proportion of Level 3 credits in relevant subjects at merit grade or above. A typical offer for stage 1 would be: Access to HE Diploma 45 at level 3 Credits with 18 credits at Distinction and 24 credits at Merit and contain at least 12 Level 3 credits in Chemistry. A science programme including Chemistry Level 3 credits would be required.
The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
You'll work on the foundations of chemistry, before further developing your knowledge of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry alongside important practical laboratory skills.
Chemistry, as one of the physical sciences, is rooted in careful observation of the natural world and experimentation. This module teaches the key skills required to work in a chemical laboratory, analysing unknown systems and synthesising new ones, and learning how to apply the theories and ideas from lecture modules to socially and industrially relevant problems.
This module presents a unified understanding of the structure of matter, linking physical properties to bonding and energy, and providing the tools necessary to begin to describe and analyse chemical problems. Key concepts such as mass balance and bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic, and intermolecular) are linked to analytical methods to show how these fundamental ideas can be measured and used.
This module will provide an initial look into chemistry and the environment, introducing important concepts such as pollution and climate change. The effects of chemical disasters will also be considered. Additionally, this module will begin to provide students with the wider skills necessary to study chemistry at university.
An introduction to the core Mathematical skills required within the Chemical and Forensic Sciences. These core skills will be complemented with a variety of problem-solving applications in Chemistry and Forensic Science.
As scientific methods and instruments advance, computers become ever more important in data analysis and acquisition. This module introduces to the concept of programming languages and their uses, and presents a practically minded course on using simple programming to solve problems relevant to chemistry, and to automate the analysis and presentation of data.
Organic chemistry underpins not only much of the chemistry of living things but also modern materials, dyes, medicines, and more. This module discusses the structure of organic molecules in detail, showing the shape of molecules dictates their properties, and how Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) can exploit this to determine the structures and thus properties of unknown molecules. Fundamental modes of reactivity of organic molecules are discussed, showing how simple mechanisms can be used to build complex and useful compounds.
Inorganic chemistry considers the rich and varied chemistry of all the periodic table. This module shows how the variation in bonding across the periodic table leads to predictable and useful trends in structure and properties. The fundamental properties and reactivity of the transition metals are examined in detail to show how their magnetic and spectroscopic properties may by understood and exploited, laying the groundwork for future applications.
This module discusses the key ideas of thermodynamics and kinetics in a chemical context. It shows how the universe may be understood in terms of the flow of energy from high to low, and how this allows not only an understanding of what transformations are possible but also how fast they will occur. These essential physical principles are then applied to real world phenomena such as batteries, showing that even the most fundamental theories have direct and important applications in the modern world.
In addition to core chemistry modules, you will immerse yourself in modules that provide specialist forensic science knowledge and application.
After successfully completing stage 1 at your first attempt, with an average pass mark of at least 60%, you have the opportunity to spend a year in industry between Stages 2 and 3. We give advice and guidance on finding a placement.
Please note that acceptance onto the course is not a guarantee of a placement. The responsibility of finding a placement is on the student, with help and support from the department. If you cannot find a placement, you will be required to change your registration for the equivalent BSc programme without the Year in Industry option.
You take all compulsory modules then choose either FSCI6010 Fires and Explosions or FSCI6003 DNA Analysis & Interpretation. Alongside your modules, you also complete an independent research project.
The degree is made of a combination of lectures, laboratory classes, project work and problem solving seminars.
Assessment is by a combination of written examinations, continuous assessment and other assignments. You must pass the Stage 1 examinations in order to go on to Stage 2. The year in industry mark also counts towards your final degree result.
Coursework assessments include practical laboratory skills, presentation skills as well as essay and report writing.
Please note that there are degree thresholds at stage 1 that you will be required to pass in order to continue onto the next stages.
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.
Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For programme aims and learning outcomes please see the Programme Specification.
You'll graduate with an excellent grounding in scientific knowledge and extensive laboratory experience, as well as a toolbox of transferable skills highly sought after by employers. These include excellent communication and problem-solving skills; the ability to work independently or as part of a team; analytical thinking; and effective time management. Typical graduate destinations include:
The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,850.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,385.
Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Applying to Kent in Clearing is quick and easy. Just apply below, complete our short application form and we will be in touch.
To study Chemistry (Forensic Science) BSc you first apply to the Chemistry BSc. Your pathway modules will begin at stage 2.
You can apply directly to Kent if you pay international fees, live outside the UK or Ireland and haven’t previously applied through UCAS and don’t intend on doing so.
If you decide to apply direct to Kent, there will be no application fee.
Alternatively you can apply through UCAS as above.
We welcome applications from students all around the world with a wide range of international qualifications.
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