Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Forensic Science with Foundation Year

at Wrexham Glyndwr University - Wrexham Campus United Kingdom

Learn and work in a real production environment – this Professional Sound and Video course is developed in close collaboration with the BBC, Skillset and leading industry experts.

The course, which focuses on exploring current and emerging technologies applicable to still and moving image production, also sound design for installations, and is different to many as students can engage in the day-to-day operation of the television studio and audio production facility, extending student participation beyond the lecture theatre.

Students will also develop a theoretical and practical understanding across a range of skills in pre-production, production, post-production, audio design and live sound.

The course centres around the use of the university’s audio recording and television studio where students explore single and multi-camera filmmaking in addition to lighting and acquisition for audio visual effects work. It is designed to teach and develop skills across disciplines and covers a broad range of technologies that will help in the development of your own portfolio.

As well as the television studio, the course is built around the practical use of the university’s Centre for the Creative Industries and its wide range of facilities.  The centre is home to BBC Cymru Wales in North East Wales.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year degree (without a foundation year) BSc (Hons) Professional Sound and Video

Key Course Features

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• The Centre for the Creative Industries supports work across a range of creative disciplines using the latest in television production technology.
• Wrexham Glyndwr’s Television Studio, which features 4K and High Definition cameras and equipment and multi camera control room.
• Post-production facilities both Mac and PC based with grading and finishing suite
• Students lead Glyndwr.tv live sessions, streamed live and featuring a mixture of high profile as well as local bands and performers.
• There are two audio post-production studios in the Wall Studio and TV studio respectively.
• Calon FM Community radio station is based in the creative industries building and offers volunteer and collaboration work. The University is one of only three higher education institutions to have such a facility on campus.
• Our graduates have collaborated with a range of local companies including NHS Wales, Wales Rugby League, Clwyd Theatre Cymru and numerous local organisations and productions.
• Past graduates have gone on to work with media companies such as the BBC, Universal Music, QVC and Technicolor and other students have taken on freelance roles and formed their own production companies.
• Previous Creative Industries events at the University have included Ffresh Student Moving Image Festival of Wales and an annual Creative Futures networking event.
• The IT facilities form a core part of course delivery, introducing a range of Non Linear Editing software such as Final Cut, Premiere and AVID as well as colour correction, compositing and 3D packages. The audio is catered for by use of Logic, Protools, MAX, MSP, Jitter and various bespoke packages. These IT facilities are also open access and are available to students in order to develop their skills.

 With its special focus on comics, this degree will provide you with the technical and creative skills to develop both your illustrative style and flair for storytelling. The programme introduces a broad range of creative skills, from the generation of ideas to their technical production through printmaking, bookbinding, 3D materials, life drawing, traditional and digital media, with an emphasis on drawing and the development of a unique personal style. 

Students will

• Work with experienced and industry active staff, learn how to write stories, draw comics and produce a professional portfolio
• Have opportunities to explore visual sequencing, narrative imagery, anthropomorphism and character development
• Gain personal, professional and entrepreneurial skills, learning about the business of working as a freelance artist
• Be encouraged to work on live briefs and competitions

Key Course Features

• You will be part of a vibrant and creative community of commercial artists including children’s book artists, illustrators, animators, game artists and designers.
• You will be taught by a teaching team with a broad range of experience working professionally in the comics and illustration industries.
• We encourage our students to self-publish and learn how to produce high-quality production prototypes to pitch to the publishing industry through the use of our in-house Bindery.
• Our students have won illustration prizes and awards such as the Oxford University Press Illustration competition, the Macmillan Children’s Book competition, the Caldecott Society and D&AD awards and been nominated for prestigious Eisner and Silver Reuben Awards.

Today’s businesses demand the ability to have computer systems and networks, which operate on a global scale – so there is a high demand for people with the skills to make this happen.

This is a technology-infused course that includes a mix of technology, security and networking modules with many hands-on practical opportunities.

Developing critical skills that are looked for in this industry is an emphasis throughout the course and is put to the test through practical hand-on projects. These help to ensure that your thinking remains cutting edge and gives you the confidence that you are going to be able to keep up with the fast pace of change in this field.

As well as developing technical knowledge our computer network and security course also develops key skills, which are critical in this industry such as team working, communication and business skills. These are developed through opportunities to work on real life projects.

There is an emphasis on the installation, operation security, and maintenance of computer systems and networks used in business and industry and you will learn the fundamentals of data communications and how to apply your knowledge to manage, design, implement, configure and operate secure networks on a professional footing as well as how to identify a range of significant threats to network security and formulate and implement defence strategies.

You will have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for your degree and Cisco Systems state-of-the-art equipment is used in practical sessions.

Key Career Features

• Includes a foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• Extensive PC and networked computer facilities with Internet access.
• A specialist computer laboratory dedicated to computer networking.
• The computing subject area is a recognised Cisco Academy. You have the opportunity to complete the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) qualification whilst studying for your degree.
• Accreditation is being sought for the honours degree from the British Computer Society (BCS), which would mean that you would gain exemption from part 1 and part 2 of the Society’s Professional Examinations.
• This course responds to identified skills gaps and you will develop the critical understanding, knowledge and skills needed for successful employment.
• The University is home to ARCLab, which specializes in research in the field of Computing and Computer Science.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year programme (without the foundation year) BSc Computer Networks and Security

Our renewable and sustainable engineering degree tackles some of the biggest challenges facing mankind today - affordable energy, climate change, global warming and pollution control.

For students wanting to be at the forefront of new engineering and cost effective solutions that will help satisfy the need for renewable energy, this degree could be your next step.

Developed by research-active staff with strong professional and academic experience, the course focuses on providing students with the skills and experience needed for careers, working with and developing innovative technologies in a variety of sectors, including renewable energy, sustainable technology, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction and many more.

Numerous case studies and field visits throughout the course, give the degree real-world context. Previous visits have included trips to Electric Mountain (hydro scheme), Sustainable Building Envelope Centre (SBEC), Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), photovoltaic manufacturing/ research centres and wind, solar, hydro and biomass plants.

You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BEng (Hons) Renewable and Sustainable Engineering (four years including foundation year)

Key Course Features

• Excellent facilities that include well-equipped computer-aided design laboratories, modern electronics laboratories, specialist manufacturing systems, simulation software, industry-standard instrumentation laboratories, industry specification. Rapid Prototyping facility (fused deposition method) Subsonic wind tunnel laboratory and well-equipped thermo-fluid dynamics lab including a fully operational Pelton wheel and Francis turbine.
• Small class sizes allow for strong tutorial and laboratory experiment support and advice.
• Dedicated maths support for students.
• There are opportunities for industrial visits to local companies, wind farms, biomass plants, Hydro plants and the centre for alternative technology.
• You will have access to industry standard software packages such as Altium Designer, Multisim, HP VEE, MATLAB & Simulink, Abaqus, AutoCAD, Fluent, Pro Engineer, SolidWorks.

If you are fascinated with behaviour and wonder why people do what they do, then our psychology course – which is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) – will be ideal for your questioning mind.

As a psychology student at Wrexham Glyndwr University you will have access to a diverse range of facilities including our psychometric lab, flight simulator, high-tech sports performance lab, experimental cubicles and simulation lab.

On this hands-on, practical degree, you’ll discover the fascinating science behind how people think, act, react and interact.

Throughout the course you will gain a greater understanding of social interaction, individual development and the way in which the brain interprets information that we deal with on a daily basis.

The scientific nature of psychology is emphasised throughout the course with specific modules relating to social psychology, developmental psychology, individual differences, cognitive psychology, and psychobiology. You will develop your statistical and research skills through regular laboratory based practicals and in the final part of the course you will complete a substantial final project on a topic of your choice.

Students can take part in our annual real-time training exercise.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year degree (without a foundation year) BSc Psychology

Key Course Features

• Includes foundation year to prepare you for further years of study.
• Small and friendly department with a research-active academic team.
• Fully supportive of student research interests.
• Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) – students will also have the opportunity to attend and present at the BPS conference at level 6.
• Facilities used on the course include a psychometric lab, teaching laboratories with modern computing facilities, a high tech sports performance lab, experimental cubicles and a simulation lab.
• Practical sessions in each module to give hands-on experience of the applicability of theory and/or develop students research skills. We believe that as psychology is about real life, formal lectures should be enhanced by experiential learning. All set lectures in the morning are supplemented by a practical exercise in the afternoon. These practicals relate directly to the theory studied in the morning session and use the excellent and varied resources available at the university.  

Mental ill health is estimated to cost the Welsh economy £7.2billion each year. It can arise from a combination of factors and people living with mental health issues may require support from a range of services such as housing, social enterprise and community organisations as well as statutory health and social care services.

That’s why it’s vital there are knowledgeable practitioners to fill roles which will help to reduce the stigma, disadvantage and inequality experienced by people living with mental health issues and to work within communities to promote good mental health and wellbeing.

This course:

• Is orientated towards prevention and recovery
• Combines theory with work based learning to ensure that our graduates are perfectly placed to access a variety of careers in this ever-developing sector
• Is in a subject area rated 90.4% for satisfaction with teaching and 97.4% for satisfaction with learning opportunities (WGU analysis of unpublished National Student Survey data 2020)

Students will:

• Work on assignments that reflect the real life skills needed by future employers
• Develop their self-awareness, emotional literacy, reflective and interpersonal skills – all of which are key to becoming an effective and competent practitioner
• Be assigned a personal tutor on enrolment who will support them throughout their time on the programme
• Benefit from the department’s open door policy and established peer mentor system

This course is also available to study with a foundation year BSc (Hons) Mental Health & Wellbeing (four years including foundation year)

Key Course Features

• The programme team work with local employers to ensure that the theory taught is relevant to current practice in the sector.
• Delivered by academics from a range of backgrounds, which means that you will be part of a diverse community of practice.
• Established peer mentor scheme, so you can obtain support from students already undertaking the programme.
• Innovative and flexible teaching methods are embedded throughout, including interactive lectures, tutorials, case studies, workshops, online activities and learning resources.
• Work based experience which you can tailor to your own area/s of interest in years two and three of the programme.
• Opportunities to take part in additional relevant events and volunteering within the wider University, giving you a full portfolio of experience on graduation.

This course offers a practical programme of study, enabling you to bring characters to life. This specialised Animation programme will transform you into a versatile creative in the art of the moving image. Designed and developed from the ground up with employability as the core aim, you will develop skills in 2D, 3D and stop motion animation.

You will finish your studies with the professional skills and creative thinking strategies to pursue a career within animation studios, work as a freelance artist, or start your own studio.

Students will

• Learn the principles of visual communication and drawing and apply them to character design, background design, storyboarding and scene layout.
• Explore the principles of animation with a focus on 2D digital techniques.
• Work in teams on a short film to be submitted to film festivals, both nationally and internationally.
• Practice character animation using 3D techniques to build up a professional show reel.
• Specialise and develop a final degree project that will push on the boundaries of your skills to ensure you stand out from the crowd in the job market.

You can also choose to study this course as a three year degree (without the foundation year) BA (Hons) Animation or as a four-year integrated masters option MDes Animation

Key course features

• Official partnership with http://TechUpandGo.com. With direct links to live 3D Animation projects.
• Latest industry standard software used such as Autodesk Maya, Toon Boom Harmony, Dragon Frame and the Creative Cloud suite.
• Access to Wacom Cintiq tablets and a purpose built stop motion studio.
• Industry-focused visits to gain first hand insight into how creative media companies function and the variety of employment opportunities that are available in the development of your career aspirations. There are also other study trips to festivals and expos.
• Opportunities to enter competitions.
• There is strong pastoral care within a friendly creative community with an emphasis on team building and collaborative work. Contact hours with tutors is high with enthusiastic and supportive sta? who are knowledgeable, research-active practitioners.

Explore drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, video and lens-based media and printmaking and then take the opportunity to specialise, combine areas or to remain broad-based. You will be able to develop as a creative independent artist with opportunities to take on commissions, showcase your work in exhibitions and enter competitions.

You will develop your own unique visual art practice and learn how to creatively use skills and chose materials to express your ideas. Our dedicated studio spaces enable you to test out ideas and learn not only through making, but also through a process of installing, re-installing and reconfiguring as you gain an understanding of how to convey your passion and your creative ideas to audience.

You can also choose to study this course as a three-year programme (without the foundation year) BA (Hons) Fine Arts

Key Course Features

• Includes a foundation year to establish skills in many areas of fine art practice and prepare you for further years of study.
• We have vibrant studio spaces set within a traditional Art School environment, allowing students to test out ideas through making.
• Small group sizes allow for individual support.
• Our experienced tutors are passionate about their subjects and regularly produce and exhibit their own work, both nationally and internationally, as well as writing about art practice in books and journals.
• We have strong links with a range of galleries and other exhibition spaces in Wales and the rest of the UK.
• Opportunities to study abroad or take part in projects with an international dimension.
• Students are encouraged to exhibit their work and to gain knowledge from high profile visiting artists.

Computing specialists are in high demand as technology now plays a role in almost everything we do. Our computing degree combines the core principles of the field with a forward-looking approach to embracing and driving new developments.

The subject area is 1st in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).

Students will

• be prepared for a career in an exciting industry with highly sought-after skills in computer programming, database development, networking, website development and information systems design
• develop practical skills useful in any field of business, such as problem-solving, teamwork, project management and how to use information technology effectively and understanding specialised software
• gain practical experience through work placements and working on real-life projects

Key Career Features

• These courses respond to identified skills gaps. They will provide you with the critical understanding, knowledge and skills needed for successful employment.
• Personal Development Planning is integrated throughout the course to develop the skills framework necessary for effective personal, academic and career management.
• The university is home to ARCLab, which specializes in research in the field of Computing and Computer Science.
• Newly refurbished IT labs.
• Host of biennial internet research conference attracting delegates from across the world.
• Optional Industrial Placement Year gives students the opportunity to experience the workplace first-hand and gain valuable employment experience for the future.
• *subject area is 1st in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).

The Football Coaching and the Performance Specialist degree is an innovative programme which integrates football coaching awards into an academic course to help you gain employment in the football industry.
The degree is designed in partnership with the Football Association of Wales (FAW), expanding your football-specific knowledge and its application to the football environment. 

Students will

• be prepared to work as a coach or performance specialist (Physiologist, Psychologist, Performance Analyst or Development Officer) in the world of football
• develop practical coaching skills in addition to developing an understanding of the application of sports science (physiology, psychology, performance analysis) and the social context of the sport of football
• develop your coaching profile by working towards the Football Association of Wales (Level 2) C Certificate  and (Level 3) UEFA B coaching licences 
• network with experienced coaches and practitioners from the professional environment within the United Kingdom and further afield

You can also choose to study this course as a foundation year BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and the Performance Specialist (four years including Foundation Year). 

Key Course Features

• Students will work towards Football Association of Wales (Level 2) C Certificate and (Level 3) UEFA B coaching licences. 
• The dynamic lecture environment will support and challenge students to engage in all aspects of the coaching process including hands-on practical coaching, physiology, psychology, performance analysis and coaching pedagogy.
• Engage with research-active lecturers and industry professionals.  
• Lecturers are research active, which means that the curriculum is engaging, current and relevant.
• The staff team includes specialists who have extensive applied knowledge and practical experience of working across the performance range from grassroots to the elite environment.
• Additionally, students have the opportunity to gain applied experience working within a variety of football settings. Extensive links with partners provide students with the opportunity to develop vocational and industry-relevant skills.
• Excellent student support from approachable staff. Students engage on a journey which takes them from personal development in the early part of their degree to professional development as they progress through the course.