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Year Zero Laboratory Sciences (integrated with Forensic Science BSc)

Ideal for those who want to pursue a career in the forensic science field but don’t have the relevant grades to study Forensic Science at degree level. The initial year of this full time, 4-year integrated programme with Year Zero will teach you the core skills in chemistry, biology, mathematics, IT and communication needed when you progress to the Forensic Science BSc (Hons) at DMU.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

The initial year of this course is taught by DMUIC, which occupies a single, specially-designed site in the heart of the DMU campus. As a DMUIC student, you will have full access to all the university’s facilities including the library, gym, bookshop, cafes and computer labs. During this year, you will be taught in small class sizes by experienced tutors, receiving excellent academic teaching and superb support to ensure that you get all the help you need to succeed and progress to the Forensic Science BSc (Hons)/MSci degree.

The first year of this full-time, four-year course is ideal for careers in the medical and healthcare professions or laboratory science, but do not have the relevant grades to study Forensic Science at degree level. You will be taught the core skills in chemistry, biology, mathematics, IT and communication, providing you with the key requirements needed to study Forensic Science BSc (Hons) at DMU.

Once you have successfully completed the year zero stage of your degree at DMUIC and have met the criteria for continuation, you will continue studying directly with the university on our Forensic Science BSc (Hons) degree  - a course which is professionally accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and developed in collaboration with Leicestershire Police, ensuring your learning remains relevant to current practice and standards.

Key features

  • Direct progression on to the Forensic Science BSc (Hons)/MSci programme at DMU following successful competition of the Year Zero programme.
  • You will study a range of topics including human biology, cell biology, chemistry and biochemistry and their relevance to health and life sciences in the wider context, as well as communication skills.
  • Learn from experienced tutors, who combine academic teaching excellence with high levels of support to help you succeed.

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Biomedical Science

Forensic Science BSc (Hons)/MSci

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: BLS3

Start date: September

Duration: 4 Years FT integrated with Forensic Science BSc (Hons) Degree

Location: DMUIC

Fees and funding: For 2025/26 tuition fees will be £9,250

Find out more about tuition fees and available funding.

 

Additional costs: You may incur additional costs for this programme, including the cost of travelling to and from project/placement locations.

How to apply

Submit a study-related enquiry

 

This course is available to UK students only. EU and International students may wish to consider our International Year Zero Pharmacy route through DMUIC. Find out more on the DMUIC website.

Entry criteria

GCSEs

Maths and English Language GCSE at grades C/4, or above

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no element at lower than 6.0, or equivalent (by end of YZ)

A Levels

48 UCAS points from at least two A Levels at grades EE. One subject must be either Biology or Chemistry.

BTEC

Applied Science BTEC accepted at 48 UCAS points or above

T Levels

Pass in Science T Level with a grade D or E on the core

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

 

Interview: No

Work experience: None required

Personal Statement selection criteria:

  • Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
  • Information relevant to the course applied for
  • Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence

 

UCAS Tariff changes

Students applying for courses starting in September will be made offers based on the latest UCAS Tariff.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

 

 

  • Human Biology
  • Basic Microbiology
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Study Skills 1 - Introduction to DMU
  • Study Skills 2 - Information Technology & Numeracy
  • Study Skills 3 - Communication Skills
  • Cell Biology
  • Chemistry 1
  • Chemistry 2
  • Introductory Biochemistry


Note: Modules and delivery order may change for operational purposes. The university regularly reviews its courses. Course content and structure may change over time.

You will be taught by experienced tutors, receiving excellent academic teaching and superb support to ensure that you get all the help you need to succeed.

Each module in your Year Zero programme of study has different methods of assessment related to what you are expected to learn (learning outcomes) on that particular module. This means that you should see a clear relationship between the learning outcomes in your module handbook and the assessment task you are being asked to do. 

Types of assessments:

Assessments come in three main forms:

  • Diagnostic assessment allows you and your tutors to see your strengths and weaknesses so you can focus your efforts more effectively (e.g. your tutor may ask you to complete a task in class which you can then ‘mark’ yourself and see where your strengths and areas for focus lie).
  • Formative assessment allows your tutors to give you feedback which you can use to improve (e.g. you may be asked to write a report for one of your earlier assignments). You will be a given a mark and feedback for this which you can then use to improve your report writing in a later assignment or exam question.
  • Summative assessment in which your grade or mark counts towards your final module mark (e.g. an exam at the end of a module).

In order to ensure that you can achieve your full potential, you will receive regular feedback on your assessed work. Feedback will be given in a variety of ways: written, verbal, audio-visual, email and so on. Feedback has one purpose - to assist you in reflecting upon and revising your work. If you do not act on feedback, or choose not to engage in the different feedback opportunities, your grades are likely to suffer.

For all assignments submitted on time, our aim is to mark and return your work within 20 working days. Your tutors will make every effort to ensure that this target is met.

Blackboard is the university’s Virtual Learning Environment. You will use Blackboard as an integral part of the teaching and learning experience throughout your time at DMU. Almost all of your modules will have a Blackboard site which module leaders will use to post information and exercises to supplement formal, face-to-face teaching. You will also submit work through Turnitin via the specific module Blackboard sites.

 

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Facilities

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Purpose-built clinical skills areas allow you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment. You will receive guidance and support from staff, to ensure that your practical ability in the clinical skills suites is accurate.

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Campus Centre

The home of De Montfort Students' Union (DSU), our Campus Centre offers a welcoming and lively hub for student life. Conveniently located at the heart of campus, it includes a convenience store, a Subway and a Starbucks. Here you can find the DSU-owned charitable accommodation service Sulets and DSU’s shop, SUpplies, selling art supplies, stationery and clothing, and printing and binding services. The building is also home to the DSU officer team. 

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Graduate careers

Our graduates go on to work in a variety of areas including law enforcement, forensic science, crime scene and scientific support work, analytical chemistry, general scientific analysis, health and safety, and the insurance industry.

Forensic Science graduate Lauren Dougan was “ecstatic” when she landed her dream job working for ALS Food & Pharmaceutical, the UK's leading provider of food and drink testing services.

Lauren, who hopes to progress within the company and possibly study for a master's, said: “The best thing about my job is it allows me to transfer all the skills I learned at DMU and apply them to a real-world situation.”

Other graduates from this course have gone on to work for world-leading forensic science employers including LGC Forensics, Orchid Cellmark, GlaxoSmithKline, Reckitt Benckiser and 3M

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