University to close down forensics department

Students at a university studying for a masters in forensic investigation have been "left in limbo" after being told the course will not be available next year.

One student at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the amount of modules on offer this year had also been reduced.

She said "it was not the degree she signed up for" as she did not enrol "to have my modules chosen for me".

In a statement the university said it had "taken the difficult decision to reduce the overall size of its course portfolio and to reduce staff" and its "forensics programme forms part of these plans".

It added it had made the decision in response to financial challenges "including rising costs, changes to Level 7 apprenticeship funding and a decline in the numbers of international students coming to study in the UK".

The Cranfield Forensic Institute, which has had a recent investment of £7.2m, is world-renowned and attracts many international students.

The anonymous student said modules in the forensic field were not accessible at any other university in Europe.

She said the ability to attend the Shrivenham campus in Oxfordshire, at the MoD Defence Academy with its access to modules in ballistics, explosives, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence, is what drew her to apply for the degree.

There were originally 21 elective modules to choose from and in August this was cut to 15.

On Tuesday, students were told out of those 15 modules, only eight would be running and they did not include digital scene forensics.

The student the BBC spoke to said "all the options for my future have been taken away" and she felt "more for the international students than I do for myself".

She said she did not know if she would get her £1,300 deposit back if she withdrew within the permitted two weeks from registration.

Cranfield University said: "While the availability of modules can be subject to change, we remain focused on delivering on our commitments to our students."

In August, Cranfield said it planned to cut almost 200 jobs in order to safeguard its future.

In a statement, it explained it had faced challenges due to reduced international student numbers and increased costs.

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