Criminal activity and conflict continue to pose significant threats to both national and international cultural heritage. Increased evidence of the destruction, theft, trafficking, forgery, fraud and laundering of cultural property has highlighted the need for specially qualified, skilled professionals to combat cultural heritage crime.
Cranfield's new forensic MSc was developed in discussion with cultural heritage professionals, military agencies, law enforcement and art market stakeholders. Examining current threats to a range of cultural heritage from shipwrecks to fine art, this unique postgraduate programme will equip you with the specialist skills and international network required to work in the global field of heritage crime investigation and cultural property protection.
Overview
Start dateOctober
DurationFull-time: 11 months (MSc), one year (PgDip and PgCert); Part-time: three years (MSc) or two years (PgDip and PgCert)
DeliveryBy written and practical examinations, continuous assessment, project presentation and oral exam
QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
Study typeFull-time / Part-time
CampusCranfield campus
Why this course?
This course will fit into the highly successful Forensic Master’s Programme run by Cranfield University. Cranfield teaches a suite of other Forensic MSc titles, which means that students on this course will work alongside those studying other forensic disciplines in depth, including archaeology, anthropology, ballistics and investigations. Optional modules on this new course allow its students to experience one or two modules in some of these other specialties, enhancing their employability and increasing the student experience.
Students are required to take nine core modules and choose up to two elective modules based on their particular background, future requirements or interests. This is followed by a four-month research project.
Some modules for this MSc may be taught at Cranfield University at Shrivenham.
Course delivery
By written and practical examinations, continuous assessment, project presentation and oral exam
Individual project
The individual project takes four months from April to July. The student selects from a range of titles, or may propose their own topic. Most are practically or experimentally based using Cranfield’s unique facilities.
Modules
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Compulsory modules
All the modules in the following list need to be taken as part of this course:
You will be taught by Cranfield's leading experts with capability expertise, industry knowledge and collective subject research, as well as external speakers from industry and forensics. The Course Director for our MSc in Forensic Investigation of Heritage Crime is Professor Andrew Shortland. The teaching team includes:
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Fees can be paid in full up front, or in equal annual instalments. Students who complete their course before the initial end date will be invoiced the outstanding fee balance and must pay in full prior to graduation.
Fee notes
The fees outlined apply to all students whose initial date of registration falls on or between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022.
All students pay the tuition fee set by the University for the full duration of their registration period.
For self-funded students a non-refundable £500 deposit is required, which is offset against the tuition fee.
Additional fees for extensions to the agreed registration period may be charged.
Eligibility for Home fee status is determined with reference to UK Government regulations. As a guiding principle UK or Irish nationals who are ordinarily resident in either the UK or Republic of Ireland pay Home tuition fees. All other students (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) pay Overseas fees.
Fees and funding
To help students find and secure appropriate funding, we have created a funding finder where you can search for suitable sources of funding by filtering the results to suit your needs. Visit the funding finder.
Conacyt (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia)
Cranfield offers competitive scholarships for Mexican students in conjunction with Conacyt (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) in science, technology and engineering.
Santander MSc Scholarship
The Santander Scholarship at Cranfield University is worth £5,000 towards tuition fees for full-time master's courses. Check the scholarship page to find out if you are from an eligible Santander Universities programme country.
Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year master’s at Cranfield university. The scholarship includes tuition fees, travel and monthly stipend for master’s study.
Commonwealth Scholarships
Students from developing countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK can apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship which includes tuition fees, travel and monthly stipend for master’s study.
Cranfield University GREAT Scholarships
Cranfield University is delighted to be part of the GREAT Scholarships campaign in partnership with the British Council offering scholarship worth £10,000 toward tuition fees. Scholarships for ten countries are available at Cranfield. Follow the link to check whether this course is eligible under the scholarship for your country.
Future Finance Student Loans
Future Finance offer student loans of up to £40,000 that can cover living costs and tuition fees for all student at Cranfield University.
Key organisations have supported the need for further education within this field, due to the rise in crime and high demand for highly qualified subject matter experts.
This course aims to meet these demands and improve the employment prospects for students, and promotion prospects for existing heritage professionals. Heritage is a competitive, but expanding field, and the knowledge gained from this MSc should be of real world use to enhance your chances of employment.
How to apply
To apply for this course please use the online application form.
A first or second class honours degree or equivalent in forensic science or scientific discipline, or the professional equivalent. Students with other degrees who can show a knowledge of and interest in the scientific elements of the subject will also be considered.
Security clearance for Shrivenham
Some Cranfield University courses are delivered at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham which is a Ministry of Defence (MoD) site. All applicants to courses that are wholly or partially delivered at Shrivenham must complete the BPSS (HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard V4 April 2014) prior to registration on the course or must already hold a security clearance to this level or higher.
If you are an international student you will need to provide evidence that you have achieved a satisfactory test result in an English qualification. The minimum standard expected from a number of accepted courses are as follows:
In addition to these minimum scores you are also expected to achieve a balanced score across all elements of the test. We reserve the right to reject any test score if any one element of the test score is too low.
We can only accept tests taken within two years of your registration date (with the exception of Cambridge English tests which have no expiry date).