Cranfield University is investing £3.5 million in the latest forensic science technology at its Cranfield campus.

Building on Cranfield’s distinctive strength in defence and security, this forensic science teaching and research facility will be unparalleled in the UK.

Cranfield Forensic Institute (CFI) will be among some of the very best in the world in their specialist fields of crime scene investigation, digital forensic investigation and non-destructive analysis.

Students and staff will have access to new facilities such as a virtual reality autopsy table, digital forensics laboratory, crime scene investigation rooms and a simulated mass grave excavation site.

CFI is the renowned home for the many forensic-related disciplines at Cranfield University, such as ballistics, explosives, materials science, engineering failures and forensic archaeology and anthropology.

We are the only university in the world to accommodate these disciplines within a science and technology faculty. We have extensive expertise and exceptional facilities in a wide range of forensic sciences specialities.

Our students have access to excellent laboratory facilities for the analysis of a wide range of materials, including modern and archaeological bone, art historical pieces and archaeological artefacts and explosives.

CFI is a world-class teaching department for the many forensic-related disciplines at Cranfield University, such as archaeology, ballistics, engineering failures, explosives and materials science. 

Our superb facilities and excellent industry links provide you with highly-desired standards of education and research, making CFI unique within the postgraduate education sector.

At the heart of our teaching is the Forensic Master's Programme, which includes our themed MSc courses:

The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences accredits four of our five MSc courses, with work underway to get the new Forensic Investigation of Heritage Crime MSc accredited.

Make an enquiry today

Explore our portfolio of Forensic CPD short courses

The Cranfield Forensic Institute provides excellent laboratory facilities for the analysis of a wide range of materials, including modern and archaeological bone, art historical pieces and archaeological artefacts, and explosives.

Facilities include:

  • X-ray microtomography (micro-CT)
  • X-ray diffraction (XRD)
  • X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
  • Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
  • Raman and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).

Many of the instruments have additional features that are not routinely available, including ATR mapping and a temperature stage for FTIR analysis, XRF mapping, dual detector powder XRD, and nano-CT analysis.

The electron microscopy suite has recently had new variable pressure scanning electron microscopes with elemental (EDS) and microstructural (EBSD) analysis installed.

Research and Development

The research and development activities at Cranfield Forensic Institute are of the highest quality with publications in the best journals and formal collaborations with the likes of Harvard University and the J. Paul Getty Trust.

Our new laboratory facility is unique in the UK: we provide a research environment coupled with forensic contamination and audit control.

CFI’s expertise, particularly in the area of materials analysis applied to forensic science, provides high-value consultancy for casework and testing that is high margin and supports the other activities.

We operate the following research groups: