Crime and Investigation (with Foundation Year) BSc (Hons)

This course includes a foundation year - ideal if you need additional preparation or if you dont have sufficient grades to join Year 1 of a degree.

Course details:
The BSc (Hons) Crime and Investigation course draws on law, crime scene science, criminology and investigation, giving you a broad, holistic and stimulating learning experience.

Knowledge and skills developed will be valuable across a range of careers such as the police, prison service, probation service, border force, intelligence services, forensic services, and civilian investigative roles.

Your teaching team have substantial professional and teaching experience, and delivery methods are varied, including practical skills and theoretical knowledge with a real-life flavour. They draw upon local case studies to enrich your learning experience in class and by sending you out into the community. Put theory into practice using our fingerprint lab, crime scene evidence room and our crime scene house which presents over 30 crime scene areas.

Our well-established links and network of contacts with criminal justice organisations and practitioners, locally and nationally, our Policing Clinic, strong links with Her Majesty’s Prison, probation service, and Cleveland Police ensures your course is relevant and adds additional depth and breadth to your studies.

First-class facilities enable you to develop and hone important professional and practical skills including our simulated police station equipped with interview rooms, a custody office and an enquiry desk. You benefit from an immersive learning experience and expand your understanding of practical procedures. In addition, our replica court room has the features of a modern court and offers invaluable courtroom experience to increase your awareness of the needs of victims and witnesses.

We have a proven track record of working effectively with policing and criminal justice partners which provide unique employability opportunities. Our exceptionally talented crime and investigation team are from a variety of backgrounds including policing professionals and academia giving you an authentic and current learning experience.

We support you to build your confidence as you progress through the course. We’ll teach you how to study well, write coherently and critically engage with ideas, develop professional and practical skills, experience and knowledge giving you key transferable skills, which form the foundations of a successful career.

Top reasons to study this course
1. It’s incredibly varied and interesting – you’ll enjoy it.
2. You develop an in-depth knowledge of crime, criminals and the criminal justice system.
3. Find out what causes crime and be part of the solutions.
4. Your career choices are varied including the police, prison, and forensics services.

After the course:
You can enter a broad range of careers including the police service as a police officer or member of police staff (for example, crime scene investigator, intelligence analyst, fingerprint examiner), other law enforcement or criminal justice agencies, voluntary organisations, the public sector or the law sector, and postgraduate training or study.

All programmes are designed to incorporate employability skills development alongside your degree course. Our staff utilise their extensive connections to provide many and varied opportunities to engage with potential employers through fairs, guest lecture sessions, live projects and site visits. In addition we offer a series of workshops and events in the first, second and third year that ensure you are equipped with both degree level subject knowledge PLUS the practical skills that employers are looking for in new graduate recruits.

Our award-winning careers service works with regional and national employers to advertise graduate positions, in addition to providing post-graduation support for all Teesside University alumni.

Choosing Teesside University means joining a modern, ambitious university that puts students first. Named Modern University of the Year 2026 (Daily Mail University Guide 2026) and recognised for its outstanding student experience, Teesside combines award-winning teaching with the support you need to succeed.

Based in Middlesbrough, the university has invested millions into creating a vibrant campus packed with industry-standard facilities, study spaces and social hubs. You'll also have access to Adobe Creative Campus tools, helping you build valuable digital skills alongside your degree.

From day one, you'll be part of a welcoming student community with excellent support services, societies, sports clubs and opportunities to boost your career prospects. If you're looking for a university that helps you achieve more and make the most of student life, Teesside could be the perfect fit.