Criminal Investigation: University of Derby

I chose the university for the course because the course seemed very unique compared to other courses I was looking at. Plus the university is situated in the Midlands. I figured it will be more affordable to live there compared to places like London.

The curriculum is very well designed. I especially liked the approach they took towards applied research. It helped me understand the basics of doing research and academic writing. Writing at level 7 was quite a challenge at first but once I figured it out, it seemed like a reasonable standard for academics.

A 2:1 undergraduate degree (any field) is mandatory. My undergraduate [BSc (Honours) Forensic Science] GPA is 7.6 For English proficiency, you either need a Mode of Instruction (MOI) Certificate or IELTS score of at least 6.5. My IELTS (Academic) band score was 7.5 or C1 grade. I also have a diploma in communication skills.

There are part time jobs available that you can start working at while studying and join full time once you graduate. I had post study work period of only 4 months. And couldn't even use that time due to covid. Once that is gone and you can have 2 years of post study work time, it should feasible to find a good job/graduate programme.

I worked part time at Deichmann as a sales assistant.

Campus infrastructure was good. The classrooms are structured in such a way that everyone gets to interact with the lecturer. The library is well stocked with books and equipped with instruments that students might need. For example, the library let's you borrow iPads and laptops if you need them to study or do online research. This is on top of the aisles of PCs they have installed. The campus is divided into zones. There are silent zones for those who don't like noise and would like to read a book, discussion zones for light chatter, and social zones for full blown conversations. The onsite coffee shop and pub keep your tummy satisfied. The campus also has a fully equipped sports centre and a religious centre.

My tuition fee was £14,000 (£11,500 with the £2000 scholarship + £500 discount for paying fees in full)

Yes, I received a £2000 scholarship based on merit and for being an international applicant.

Our faculty ranged from people who used to work with the law enforcement to people who had worked with homeland security and anti terrorism squads. Each and every individual was extremely knowledgeable and very humble on top of that. They know how to take care of their students. For example, one weekend we had a class and the cafeteria was closed. A lecture brought tea, coffee, and snacks for every student in class.

I was living in a private student accommodation (not owned by the university). It's called Abbey Lodge (part of Fresh Student Living company). It was reasonably priced (£79 per week) and had all the facilities you could ask for. Apart from being a little far from city center, it was a delight. I took a bronze room. It's 7 people on one flat, everyone gets their own room and share the kitchen and the washrooms. The kitchen was well equipped and the staff was really sweet. They conduct social events every month so you can have fun and meet new people.