6B090E - Digital Evidence: Scene to Court 01 Sep 2027 - 31 Aug 2033 | Version 0
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 6B090E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | Digital Evidence: Scene to Court | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science | ||
| Faculty Group: | Applied Science | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Forensic Science | ||
| Module Leader: | Rachael Medhurst | ||
| Module Team: | Beth Jenkins | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2027 | Final Year of Intake: | 2032 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 30 | Credit Level: | 6 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100385 - computer forensics | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 0 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2027 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2033 |
Module Aims
To equip students to critically evaluate digital forensic methods, tools, and techniques across a range of devices and data types, assessing their investigative significance and evidential value within the legal and professional frameworks governing digital evidence.
To enable students to critically analyse the role of digital evidence across the full spectrum of criminal investigation — from crime scene management through to court — developing independent professional judgement about the opportunities, limitations, and risks associated with digital forensic evidence.
To prepare students to communicate, evaluate, and defend digital forensic findings within investigative and legal contexts, demonstrating the analytical rigour and professional accountability expected of a senior forensic investigator.
Content Summary
Digital evidence is now present in almost every criminal investigation — from volume crime to major crime, from domestic settings to organised criminal networks. This module develops your ability to critically evaluate digital forensic evidence and its investigative significance, equipping you with the knowledge and analytical skills to work effectively alongside digital forensic practitioners and to evaluate digital evidence within complex investigations.
Building on the digital evidence foundations established at Levels 4 and 5, this module extends your understanding across the full landscape of digital forensics — from crime scene management and evidence acquisition through to the analysis of computers, mobile devices, cloud data, IoT devices, and vehicle systems. You will examine the legal and professional frameworks governing digital evidence, critically evaluate the investigative opportunities and limitations presented by different digital evidence sources, and develop the ability to communicate digital forensic findings clearly and professionally in investigative and legal contexts.
The module culminates in a critical case study in which you analyse a complex investigation in which digital evidence played a central role, applying your evaluative and analytical skills to a real-world investigative challenge.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching (Workshops, Practical's and Seminars) | 56 |
| Guided Learning - Independent (Directed Reading, VLE Tasks) | 10.5 |
| Summative Assessment and Preparation | 60 |
| Formative Assessment | 12 |
| Independent Learning (Wider Reading, Research, Reflection, Consolidation) | 161.5 |
| Total Hours Selected | 300 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Critically evaluate digital forensic methods used in the identification, acquisition, and analysis of digital evidence within forensic investigations. |
| LO2 | Critically analyse and interpret digital evidence to support investigative decision-making within relevant legal and professional frameworks. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Case study | The case study requires students to critically analyse a complex investigation in which digital evidence played a central role — evaluating how it was identified, recovered, analysed, and used — and to critically assess the evidential and investigative implications across the full range of digital forensic disciplines covered in the module. | 0 | 5000 | 100 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Case study | ✔ | ✔ | |