Free Qualifications??

As well as the optional Forensic Science module on the Criminology undergraduate degree, University of Leicester offers a free online course called Forensic Science and Criminal Justice which is run through the organisation Future Learn and is due to start on the week starting 3^rd October and runs for 6 weeks. This course is called a MOOC and stands for Massive Open Online Course. The courses run every term and are designed for you to work on at your own pace, so it’s pretty much perfect for a university student at any stage of your degree!

For the past three weeks, I have also been taking the Forensic Psychology – Witness Investigation online course which is run through the same organisation. This one runs for 8 weeks and I’ve been enjoying it a lot! I’ve found it a great way to spend an easy couple of hours a week accompanying my studies in Criminology and keeping my productiveness levels feeling satisfied. It’s extremely interactive; involving articles, recorded videos and audio recordings, and even including the opportunity to solve a crime whilst importantly learning about theories and the real life, often shocking, truth about witness investigation and miscarriages of justice. The online nature of the course means a huge breadth of people across the world will be taking the course at the same time and have the opportunity to comment and discuss.

One of the best things about these courses is that anyone can do them regardless of your degree subject or even whether you’re at university, plus they’re free! I’m really looking forward to starting the Forensic Science and Criminal Justice course particularly as I think it will add to my experience of the University’s Forensic Science module, but the other great thing is that it gives you the opportunity to learn about the topic without necessarily having to do a degree module. A friend on Leicester’s Psychology degree and I are both taking the Forensic Psychology course and are both drawing our own useful aspects from the course.

Take a look at this link if you’re interested in browsing what’s available! There are 220 courses with very varying subjects so there’ll almost definitely be something there that grabs your interest.