Best Universities for Forensic Science in the UK 2027
University of Lincoln tops our 2027 forensic science ranking with 103 points, combining 95% teaching quality, 91% academic support and strong all-round metrics. University of the West of England, Bristol comes second with 102 points and the highest academic support in the field at 98%. University of Exeter is third with 100 points. We ranked 31 UK universities across eight metrics: graduate earnings, teaching quality, student satisfaction, academic support, safety, cost of living, social life and sustainability.
Forensic science graduate earnings range from £18,000 (Glyndwr, 18th) to £29,000 (Nottingham Trent, 4th). University of Kent (6th) and Staffordshire University (15th) and Teesside University (20th) all achieve 100% on both teaching quality and academic support. Robert Gordon University (5th) achieves 100% teaching quality. London Metropolitan University (27th, last) has the lowest academic support (62%) and lowest teaching quality (56%) in the field. University of West London (22nd) achieves 93% teaching quality but only 66% academic support.
For how these universities compare across all subjects, see the Unifresher best universities overall ranking and our best universities for employability.
Forensic Science University Rankings 2027
| # | University | Grad Earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching Quality | Academic Support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Lincoln Lincoln |
£26,000 | 78% | 95% | 91% | 103 |
| 2 | University of the West of England, Bristol Bristol |
£25,500 | 74% | 88% | 98% | 102 |
| 3 | University of Exeter Exeter |
£25,000 | 79% | 92% | 88% | 100 |
| 4 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham |
£29,000 | 76% | 94% | 93% | 99 |
| 5 | Robert Gordon University Aberdeen |
£27,000 | 77% | 100% | 95% | 97 |
| 6 | University of Kent Canterbury |
£26,000 | 72% | 100% | 100% | 96 |
| 7 | Northumbria University, Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne |
£22,000 | 74% | 84% | 96% | 95 |
| 8 | Keele University Newcastle-under-Lyme |
£23,000 | 81% | 99% | 96% | 91 |
| 9 | Bournemouth University Bournemouth |
£25,000 | 71% | 88% | 91% | 90 |
| 10 | De Montfort University Leicester |
£24,000 | 70% | 91% | 93% | 89 |
| 11 | Kingston University Kingston upon Thames |
£27,500 | 71% | 86% | 98% | 85 |
| 12 | Coventry University Coventry |
£28,000 | 72% | 93% | 92% | 84 |
| 13 | University of South Wales Pontypridd |
£22,000 | 72% | 88% | 87% | 83 |
| 13 | University of Greenwich London |
£28,000 | 69% | 94% | 92% | 83 |
| 14 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield |
£28,500 | 74% | 91% | 91% | 81 |
| 15 | Staffordshire University Stoke-on-Trent |
£24,000 | 72% | 94% | 100% | 80 |
| 16 | University of Derby Derby |
£25,000 | 74% | 90% | 94% | 79 |
| 17 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool |
£24,000 | 72% | 81% | 81% | 78 |
| 18 | Glyndwr University, Wrexham Wrexham |
£18,000 | 74% | 80% | 77% | 77 |
| 18 | University of the West of Scotland Glasgow |
£25,000 | 73% | 95% | 97% | 77 |
| 19 | University of Winchester Winchester |
£26,500 | 82% | 82% | 85% | 76 |
| 20 | Teesside University Middlesbrough |
£23,000 | 78% | 100% | 100% | 73 |
| 21 | University of Bradford Bradford |
£25,000 | 71% | 87% | 91% | 70 |
| 21 | University of Central Lancashire Preston |
£25,500 | 71% | 98% | 94% | 70 |
| 21 | Abertay University Dundee |
£24,000 | 72% | 100% | 92% | 70 |
| 22 | University of West London London |
£22,500 | 72% | 93% | 66% | 67 |
| 23 | Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge |
£23,000 | 70% | 87% | 79% | 65 |
| 24 | University of Hull Hull |
£25,000 | 76% | 94% | 86% | 61 |
| 25 | London South Bank University London |
£25,000 | 68% | 98% | 95% | 57 |
| 26 | University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton |
£23,500 | 71% | 87% | 65% | 41 |
| 27 | London Metropolitan University London |
£23,000 | 66% | 56% | 62% | 27 |
What the ranking tells you about studying forensic science
Forensic science is one of the most popular science degrees in the UK and one of the most scrutinised by employers and professional bodies for the quality of its laboratory and analytical training. With only 31 universities in this ranking, it is a relatively contained field — but the variation in course delivery, accreditation, laboratory infrastructure and graduate outcomes is significant. This ranking scores all 31 on eight metrics.
Three universities achieving 100% on both metrics
University of Kent (6th), Staffordshire University (15th) and Teesside University (20th) all achieve 100% on both teaching quality and academic support — the only institutions in this field to do so. All three rank significantly lower than their course delivery quality would suggest if city metrics were excluded. Kent ranks 6th: its low social life and sustainability scores reduce an otherwise strong profile. Staffordshire ranks 15th: a low safety index and cost of living limitations drag its overall position. Teesside ranks 20th: the lowest sustainability index in the field. For students who specifically want the best-measured laboratory teaching and academic supervision in forensic science, all three make the strongest data case.
Abertay University at joint 21st: 100% teaching quality in forensic science
Abertay University in Dundee ranks joint 21st with 70 points and achieves 100% teaching quality alongside 92% academic support. Abertay's forensic science department is one of the more established in Scotland, with strong ties to Police Scotland and the Scottish criminal justice sector and a practical laboratory-focused curriculum. Its low overall position reflects Dundee's low sustainability and safety scores rather than course quality. For students interested in forensic science with a Scottish or criminal justice sector focus, Abertay's course delivery profile is worth examining well beyond its rank position.
Nottingham Trent University (4th) produces the highest forensic science graduate earnings at £29,000. NTU's forensic science department is well-regarded for its crime scene house training facility and its close working relationships with East Midlands police forces. It achieves 94% teaching quality and 93% academic support — strong but not the highest in the field. The £29,000 graduate earnings are £500 higher than the next-highest (Huddersfield and Coventry, both with strong course delivery scores). For students who want the best combination of graduate earnings and strong course delivery, NTU and Huddersfield (£28,500, 91%/91%) are the most compelling cases in the top half of the table.
Professional accreditation: the most important pre-application check
The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS) accredits forensic science degree programmes in the UK. A CSFS-accredited degree is the recognised quality benchmark in forensic science education and is specifically valued by employers in police forces, forensic service providers, the Crown Prosecution Service and defence forensic work. Not all universities offering forensic science hold CSFS accreditation — and accreditation status can change. Before applying, confirm CSFS accreditation directly on the CSFS website for your specific programme. An accredited degree provides a stronger foundation for professional development and the route to Forensic Practitioner registration.
For a broader view of how these universities compare, see the Unifresher overall best universities ranking. For graduate employment data, see the employability ranking.
